MEETING WITH
POLAND'S NEW PRESIDENT
Communique from the Press Office
This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Bronislaw Komorowski, president of the Republic of Poland. The President subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
The cordial discussions began by recalling the felicitous coincidence of the president's visit with the thirty-second anniversary of the election to the papacy of Servant of God Pope John Paul II.
Attention then turned to the importance of dialogue between Church and State, each according to its own competencies, for the promotion of the common good.
The parties expressed their mutual desire to continue effective co-operation in areas of joint interest - for example, in education and in promoting the fundamental values of society - and emphasis was given to the importance of defending human life in all its stages.
The meeting closed with an exchange of opinions on the current situation in Europe.
Pope meets Polish President
on anniversary of JPII's election
10 OCT 2010 (RV) - Pope Benedict today received the President of Poland in private audience here at the Vatican. The meeting came on the 32nd anniversary of the election of the Polish born Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wotjtyla w as the successor of Peter.
A statement released by the Vatican Press office noted the “happy coincidence” of the visit on this anniversary and went on to say that both the Pope and President focused on the importance of dialogue between Church and State, in order to promote the common good." ...
[The story goes on to quote from the press communique.]
After the private talks there was an exchange of gifts in a more informal atmosphere.
President Komorowski gave the Pope a facsimile manuscript of the music of Frédéric Chopin, whose bicentenary is being celebrated this year.
The Pope in return gave the President a medal of his pontificate.
Before the meeting with the Holy Father, President Komorowski participated on Saturday morning at a Mass celebrated in the Vatican Grottoes, at the tomb of John Paul II.
After the Mass, the head of state and his wife knelt in prayer before the tomb of the Polish Pope and laid a bouquet of white and red flowers, the colours of Poland.
ADDENDUM:
The story fails to note that the Polish president, his delegation, along with Cardinals Stanislaw Diszwisz and other top Polish prelates are in Rome for the canonization tomorrow of Blessed Stanislaus Sołtys, priest of the order of Canons Regular of the Lateran, born Sept. 27, 1433 in Kazimierz (Poland) where he died on May 3, 1489.
Also in Rome for tomorrow's canonization are Cardinals Pell of Sydney and the Cardinal of Melbourne, along with Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrew-Edinburgh, leading pilgrims for Mary MacKillop, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, born of Scottish parents on Jan. 15, 1842, in Fitzroy (Australia) and died Aug. 8, 1909 in Sydney.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregaiton for Bishops, and until recently Archbishop of Montreal, will lead Canadian Church officials for the canonization of Blessed Andre Bessette (secular name, Alfred), religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, born in Saint-Grégoire d'Iberville (Canada) on Aug. 9, 1845, and died in Montréal on Jan. 6, 1937.
No word so far on an official Spanish delegation for Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (nee Juana Josefa), Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (1845-1912).
The two other Blesseds to be canonized tomorrow are Italian:
- Blessed Giulia Salzano, Founder of the Congregation of the Catechist Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, born Oct. 12, 1846 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Italy) and died May 17, 1929, in Casoria and
- Blessed (Camilla) Battista da Varano, nun of the Order of St. Clare and founder of the Monastery of St. Clare in Camerino (Italy), born April 19, 1458, in Camerino, where she died on May 31, 1524.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 20/10/2010 02:15]