Dr. John Haas Appointed to Pontifical Academy for Life

Last Tuesday Pope Benedict appointed Dr. John Haas to serve on the Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life.  Dr. Haas is the President of the National Catholic Bioethics Center which I have linked on my sidebar.  He is also a Knight of Malta.

Here is the press release.

June 22, 2010. John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L., K.M., President of The National Catholic Bioethics Center, has been appointed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI to serve as a member of the Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life for a period of five years. Dr. Haas was appointed as an Ordinary Member of the Academy by the Holy Father in 2006. The Academy chose to announce the appointment on June 22, the feast of the English martyrs Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More who “gave their lives for principles which are very much still actual and which are deeply relevant for the work of the Academy in the defense of human life.”

The Pontifical Academy for Life was established by Pope John Paul II with his Motu Proprio "Vitae Mysterium" on February 11, 1994. The first President was the noted French physician, geneticist, and Servant of God Dr. Jérôme Lejeune who was an ardent defender of life and the researcher who discovered the chromosomal cause of Down syndrome which came to be called Trisomy 21. The principal objective of the Academy is the study of problems of biomedicine and of law relative to the promotion and defense of life and especially the direct relation that they have with Christian morality and the teachings and directives of the Church's Magisterium. The academy for life is autonomous but collaborates closely with the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia committed to the service of life.

The Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life consists of 8 of the members of the Academy including the President, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, and the Chancellor, Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula of Spain, who is a moral theologian and physician.

Dr. Haas has said of the appointment, “I am deeply honored and humbled with this appointment from the Holy Father and pray that I, with my colleagues at The National Catholic Bioethics Center, may make some real and lasting contributions to the building up of a Culture of Life worldwide.”

Dr. John Haas Appointed to Pontifical Academy for Life

Last Tuesday Pope Benedict appointed Dr. John Haas to serve on the Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life.  Dr. Haas is the President of the National Catholic Bioethics Center which I have linked on my sidebar.  He is also a Knight of Malta.

Here is the press release.

June 22, 2010. John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L., K.M., President of The National Catholic Bioethics Center, has been appointed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI to serve as a member of the Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life for a period of five years. Dr. Haas was appointed as an Ordinary Member of the Academy by the Holy Father in 2006. The Academy chose to announce the appointment on June 22, the feast of the English martyrs Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More who “gave their lives for principles which are very much still actual and which are deeply relevant for the work of the Academy in the defense of human life.”

The Pontifical Academy for Life was established by Pope John Paul II with his Motu Proprio "Vitae Mysterium" on February 11, 1994. The first President was the noted French physician, geneticist, and Servant of God Dr. Jérôme Lejeune who was an ardent defender of life and the researcher who discovered the chromosomal cause of Down syndrome which came to be called Trisomy 21. The principal objective of the Academy is the study of problems of biomedicine and of law relative to the promotion and defense of life and especially the direct relation that they have with Christian morality and the teachings and directives of the Church's Magisterium. The academy for life is autonomous but collaborates closely with the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia committed to the service of life.

The Governing Council of the Pontifical Academy for Life consists of 8 of the members of the Academy including the President, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, and the Chancellor, Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula of Spain, who is a moral theologian and physician.

Dr. Haas has said of the appointment, “I am deeply honored and humbled with this appointment from the Holy Father and pray that I, with my colleagues at The National Catholic Bioethics Center, may make some real and lasting contributions to the building up of a Culture of Life worldwide.”

Pope Benedict Receives Fra' Matthew Festing Grand Master of the SMOM

Pope Benedict Receives Fra' Matthew Festing Grand Master of the SMOM

Pope Lauds Charity Work of Order of Malta

On the Feast of St. John the Baptist Pope Benedict met with the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra Matthew Festing. Here are some of the highlights of the story. The full story can be read at the Zenit website.

In the 25-minute meeting, the Holy Father and the grand master discussed the Order's 10-year plan established during the strategy meeting held January in Venice. They also considered ecumenical dialogue promoted by the Order with the Russian Orthodox Church, medical and social care administered in theHoly Land, and assistance to immigrants offered in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard. They discussed as well the humanitarian aid offered by the Order in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Benedict XVI lauded the work of the order and urged them to stay faithful to their charism of caring for the poor and sick, giving testimony of the faith.The Holy Father also greeted the members of the Order's governing body, the majority of whom were elected for another five years during the general chapter [held earlier this month in Rome.]

Pope Lauds Charity Work of Order of Malta

On the Feast of St. John the Baptist Pope Benedict met with the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra Matthew Festing. Here are some of the highlights of the story. The full story can be read at the Zenit website.

In the 25-minute meeting, the Holy Father and the grand master discussed the Order's 10-year plan established during the strategy meeting held January in Venice. They also considered ecumenical dialogue promoted by the Order with the Russian Orthodox Church, medical and social care administered in theHoly Land, and assistance to immigrants offered in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard. They discussed as well the humanitarian aid offered by the Order in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Benedict XVI lauded the work of the order and urged them to stay faithful to their charism of caring for the poor and sick, giving testimony of the faith.The Holy Father also greeted the members of the Order's governing body, the majority of whom were elected for another five years during the general chapter [held earlier this month in Rome.]

New Cardinal Patronus of the Order of Malta

Pope Benedict has nominated Archbishop Paolo Sardi to succeed Cardinal Laghi as the Cardinal Patronus of the Order of Malta.

Archbishop Sardi has been in the Office of the Secretariat of State since the time of Paul VI, he was the Vice-Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber who sealed the papal apartment when Pope John Paul II died. During his tenure in the office of State he was reportedly a speech writer for John Paul II. He also has the title of Apostolic Nuncio with Special Tasks. Archbishop Sardi will be 75 years old in September and will likely be made a Cardinal at the next consistory.

New Cardinal Patronus of the Order of Malta

Pope Benedict has nominated Archbishop Paolo Sardi to succeed Cardinal Laghi as the Cardinal Patronus of the Order of Malta.

Archbishop Sardi has been in the Office of the Secretariat of State since the time of Paul VI, he was the Vice-Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber who sealed the papal apartment when Pope John Paul II died. During his tenure in the office of State he was reportedly a speech writer for John Paul II. He also has the title of Apostolic Nuncio with Special Tasks. Archbishop Sardi will be 75 years old in September and will likely be made a Cardinal at the next consistory.