Press Release from the Holy See Regarding the Jubilee for Apostolic Nuncios (15-17 September, 2016)

2016-09-15-Vatican

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For the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Holy Father has called for a gathering for the Pontifical Representatives from 15-17 September, 2016.  Of the 108 Pontifical Representatives currently active will participate, 106 will participate in this significant event; only two of them find it impossible to come to Rome.  Of the 108 Pontifical Representatives, 103 are Apostolic Nuncios, who are ordained bishops, and 5 are Monsignors who carry out the mission of being Permanent Observers to various international organizations.

The meeting will begin on Thursday, 15 September with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Secretary of State, His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin at 8:00 in the Cappella del Coro in the Vatican Basilica.  On the same day, there will be two conferences in the Synod Room of the Paul VI Hall aimed at presenting current developments pertinent to the work of Nuncios: the first, entitled The World Today – The Church Today – Pope Francis will be presented by the President of the Sofia University, Mons. Piero Coda. The second, Genesis and an Approach to the Case of the Culture of Gender will be presented by Rev. Robert A. Gahl, Associate Professor of Fundamental Ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. An evening meal is planned in the Casina di Pio IV in the Vatican Gardens, at which the Holy Father will be present.

The morning of Friday, 16 September will be dedicated to working meetings with the superiors in the Secretary of State; while the afternoon will see a third current-issues conference presented by His Eminence Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.  His talk will be titled Interreligious Dialogue: Relations with Islam.  In the evening, a convivial encounter with the heads of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and with the accredited Ambassadors to the Holy See living in Rome will take place on the balcony of the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums.

Saturday, September 17 will be a day dedicated to spirituality.  The 40 Apostolic Nuncios Emeriti are also invited to participate, although some of them will be prevented from doing so by health reasons or their distance from Rome.  At 7:30, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pontifical Representatives will concelebrate Mass with the Holy Father. They will afterwards gather in the same chapel for a spiritual reflection by Mons. Pierangelo Sequeri, President of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies.  At 10:00 the Pontifical Representatives will pass through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and at 11:15 the Holy Father will receive them in the Sala Clementina in the Apostolic Palace. The encounter of the Pontifical Representatives will conclude at 13:00 with a shared meal, with Pope Francis present, at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

As part of the ongoing celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Holy Father has also invited all 163 of those with collaborating roles in the Pontifical Delegations  – Counselors, Secretaries, and Attachés – to the Vatican on 18 November for the celebration of a Jubilee Day.