“Do not be deceived”

adminonDecember 1, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

With a colorful celebration in Sydney Harbour, Pope Benedict XVI. on Thursday at 23. World Youth Day (WYD) has been welcomed. Tens of thousands of Australians and foreign pilgrims waited in the parks on the shore of the harbor bay to catch a glimpse of the Pope. In his welcoming speech at the Barangaroo pier, Benedict XVI called out. Youth to profess their faith and protect the environment.

Pope Benedict XVI. Condemned alcohol and drug abuse, violence against women and children, and sexual exploitation and abortion. To the young Catholics he appealed: "Do not be deceived by people who see in you only consumers in a market of indefinite possibilities."During the official welcoming ceremony in the garden of Government House, the Catholic Church leader earlier also addressed the historical injustice against the indigenous people of Australia and called for reconciliation and mutual respect. At the same time, Benedict XVI praised. In the presence of Governor-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the "courageous decision of the Australian government to recognize past injustices committed against Indigenous peoples". Rudd welcomed Benedict XVI. On behalf of Australians of all faiths. The guest was "welcomed as an apostle of peace, at a time when we are all in great need of a voice of peace". Benedict XVI. For his part, praised Australia's involvement in international peacekeeping missions and conflict resolution in the Pacific region and Southeast Asia. In the afternoon, the head of the Church boarded the yacht "Sydney 2000" at the pier of Rose Bay. The approximately 45-minute drive to "Barangaroo East Darling Harbour," one of the central squares of World Youth Day, took the guest past Sydney's world-famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Before boarding the ship, a group of indigenous Australians greeted Benedict XVI. With traditional chants and a welcome dance. In his address to youth, the pope called for a rejection of violence and a commitment to sustainable development, justice, peace and the integrity of creation. Deforestation, erosion and wasteful exploitation of natural resources often make God's creation "hostile and dangerous" to the people who are supposed to preserve it, he said. The head of the church also spoke out against all attempts to push God, religion and faith out of public life and into the private sphere. He called on young people to be courageous witnesses for Christ: "Speak boldly of your faith, even if at times you encounter opposition and experience the cross of rejection.". World Youth Day, the largest event on Australian soil since the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, will continue until Sunday. Around 400 people are expected to attend the final service with the pope.000 people expected.

Sean O'Malley, Cardinal of Boston © Sarah Webb (CBA)

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, chairman of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children and archbishop of Boston, will not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin. He justified his cancellation with the events at his seminary.

Events necessitated his presence in Boston, a statement from O'Malley said. Late last week, it had become known that O'Malley was having alleged salacious goings-on at the seminary investigated. The U.S. press service CNS had reported that the cardinal had sent the seminary's rector on a semester off. This would allow the matter to be pursued promptly and "in full independence," O'Malley explained. Results should be available as soon as possible.

Sexual acts

In his statement at the time, the Boston archbishop was not explicit about what the allegations were about. However, a Facebook post in the archdiocese's community section linked to a blog post alleging that seminarians had "cuddled" while drunk and engaged in sexual acts.

At the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, O'Malley was to moderate a panel discussion on abuse prevention. But he has full confidence in the other participants and will follow the discussion from Boston, it said. Participants in the Dublin event include former members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children Marie Collins and Sheila Hollins.

Mourning for former prefect of the congregation for the clergy

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (archival photo from 2000) © N.N. (CBA)

Colombian cardinal emeritus and former prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy, Dario Castrillon Hoyos, is dead. The Colombian clergyman died in Rome on Thursday morning at the age of 88.

This information was provided by the Colombian Episcopal Conference. A few hours earlier, the bishops' conference had called for prayers for the sick cardinal via Twitter. On 21. In February 1998, Castrillon Hoyos was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. appointed cardinal.

In a telegram of condolences, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for Castrillon's "generous commitment to the Church". In the letter to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, he particularly mentions the work of the Colombian as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and President of the "Ecclesia Dei" Commission.

At the head of the Congregation for the Clergy

Born in Medellin in 1929, Castrillon studied theology in his native Colombia and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, specializing in canon law, sociology of religion, economic policy and business ethics. In 1952 he was ordained priest in Rome. After various pastoral assignments in his native diocese, he became secretary general of the Colombian Episcopal Conference in 1966. He also taught canon law at the "Universita Civile Libera" in Medellin.

Pope Paul VI. (1963-1978) appointed Castrillon bishop and coadjutor of Pereira in 1971. He took this bishop's seat in 1976. The Latin American Episcopal Council CELAM elected him secretary general in 1983 and president for four years in 1987. In 1992 John Paul II. (1978-2005) gave him the leadership of the Archdiocese of Bucaramanga; four years later he appointed Castrillon to head the Congregation for the Clergy in the Vatican. Castrillon has belonged to the College of Cardinals since 1998.

Key figure in the scandal surrounding Holocaust denier Williamson

Castrillon Hoyos was considered a key figure in the scandal surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's lifting of the excommunication of Holocaust denier and traditionalist bishop Richard Williamson. in January 2009. Hoyos was then president of the papal commission "Ecclesia Dei" in charge of the dialogue with the Piusi Friars.

He himself had always denied knowing about the Holocaust denial by Briton Williamson even before it was lifted. From 1996 to 2006, Hoyos served as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy for a large part of the more than 250.000 Catholic priests of the world.

The Colombian cardinal made a name for himself once again in 2010 at the height of the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. At the time, a 2001 letter appeared in the media in which he congratulated a French bishop for not reporting a priest accused of sexual abuse to state justice. Castrillon Hoyos was considered a close confidant of former right-wing conservative President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010) in Colombia.

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