THE FULL FACE OF HUMANITY: CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS AND THE HOLY SEE TO HOST A CONFERENCE ON WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FOR A JUST SOCIETY

THE FULL FACE OF HUMANITY: CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS AND THE HOLY SEE TO HOST A CONFERENCE ON WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FOR A JUST SOCIETY

Promoting a culture of encounter in which women’s experiences and expertise are valued and included in the development of just societies; exploring the sociological, ethical obstacles, challenges and opportunities concerning women’s participation in leadership and decision making at all levels; listening to the concrete experiences of Caritas in working with women wherever they suffer, struggle and hope for a better future, in order to shape the principles and best practices that allow for the flourishing of the full face of humanity.

These are the aims of the two-day conference organised by Caritas Internationalis and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNESCO on the 27th – 28th of October, under the patronage of UNESCO. The event titled, “The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society”, will bring together more than 30 speakers from around the world to discuss these key issues.

The conference will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and live-streamed on the Vatican News YouTube channels in English, French, and Spanish (Vatican News – YouTube)

VATICAN INSIDER: SOME TRIVIA AND FUN STORIES FROM THE VATICAN (PART II) – UNESCO “REGRETS” TURKISH DECISION ON HAGIA SOPHIA, A WORLD HERITAGE SITE – JULY 24, FEAST OF BELOVED LEBANESE SAINT CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

Click here for English edition of weekly L’Osservatore Romano: https://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/pdfreader.html/ing/2020/07/ING_2020_030_2407.pdf.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NewsletterOR-EN

VATICAN INSIDER: SOME TRIVIA AND FUN STORIES FROM THE VATICAN (PART II)

Wherever you are as you listen to Vatican Insider this weekend, if you’ve decided to spend a brief moment with me, I think I have a fun offering for you in what is normally the interview segment.

I’ve called this Special “Inquiring Minds Want To Know” because I’m going to bring you some trivia – some little known, and often unusual facts about the Vatican, Popes or the Church. Join me for Part II as I look at who is the patron saint of television, the story of the statue of St. Peter in the basilica named for him and why Popes wear white. I’ll also look at who made one of the most visited nativity scenes in Rome and lastly, will tell you which has the biggest dome – St. Peter’s Basilica or the U.S. capitol?

Remember these stories might be a bit of trivia but they are not trivial!

UNESCO “REGRETS” TURKISH DECISION ON HAGIA SOPHIA, A WORLD HERITAGE SITE

There could be an interesting twist in Turkey’s July 10 decision to turn the once Christian basilica-then mosque-then museum of Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. In 1934, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, which later became a UNESCO world heritage site. It was Turkey’s current president Erdogan who announce the recent change on July 10. Reaction against the change poured in, not only from many Turks but from around the world and one of the strongest voices was that of UNECSO.

Two things in particular struck me and I have contacted UNESCO but do not have an answer as I write:

1. “This decision announced today raises the issue of the impact of this change of status on the property’s universal value. States have an obligation to ensure that modifications do not affect the Outstanding Universal Value of inscribed sites on their territories.”

2. “UNESCO calls upon the Turkish authorities to initiate dialogue without delay, in order to prevent any detrimental effect on the universal value of this exceptional heritage, the state of conservation of which will be examined by the World Heritage Committee at its next session.”

Both of these imply some possible change in the monetary aspect of being a World Heritage site, such as monies earmarked for restoration, etc.

Hagia Sophia re-opened today for Muslim prayer. Today’s date was important as July 24, 1923 marks the date that Allied powers and Turkey signed the Treaty of Lausanne that ended the Ottoman Empire and signaled the start of the Republic of Turkey. An estimated 7,000 police closed off and policed a large portion of Istanbul adjacent to Hagia Sophia. Those who could not get inside brought their own prayer rugs and prayed outside in the adjacent garden area. An estimated 1,000 faithful prayed inside, including President Erdogan.

Following is the complete statement from the UNESCO website:

Hagia Sophia: UNESCO deeply regrets the decision of the Turkish authorities, made without prior discussion, and calls for the universal value of World Heritage to be preserved.

Paris, Friday 10 July – The Director-General of UNESCO deeply regrets the decision of the Turkish authorities, made without prior discussion, to change the status of Hagia Sophia. This evening, she shared her serious concerns with the Ambassador of Turkey to UNESCO.

Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a property inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. “Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries. Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue,” said Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

This decision announced today raises the issue of the impact of this change of status on the property’s universal value. States have an obligation to ensure that modifications do not affect the Outstanding Universal Value of inscribed sites on their territories. UNESCO must be given prior notice of any such modifications, which, if necessary, are then examined by the World Heritage Committee.

UNESCO also recalls that the effective, inclusive and equitable participation of communities and other stakeholders concerned by the property is necessary to preserve this heritage and highlight its uniqueness and significance. The purpose of this requirement is to protect and transmit the Outstanding Universal Value of heritage, and it is inherent to the spirit of the World Heritage Convention.

These concerns were shared with the Republic of Turkey in several letters, and again yesterday evening with the representative of the Turkish Delegation to UNESCO. It is regrettable that the Turkish decision was made without any form of dialogue or prior notice. UNESCO calls upon the Turkish authorities to initiate dialogue without delay, in order to prevent any detrimental effect on the universal value of this exceptional heritage, the state of conservation of which will be examined by the World Heritage Committee at its next session.

“It is important to avoid any implementing measure, without prior discussion with UNESCO, that would affect physical access to the site, the structure of the buildings, the site’s moveable property, or the site’s management,” stressed Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. Such measures could constitute breaches of the rules derived from the 1972 World Heritage Convention. (https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-statement-hagia-sophia-istanbul)

JULY 24, FEAST OF BELOVED LEBANESE SAINT CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

On one of my visits to Lebanon, a very good friend took me to Saint Maroun Monastery in Annaya, the shrine of St. Charbel, perhaps the most beloved of Lebanon’s saints, beloved by both Christians and Muslims. We spent an afternoon and early evening exploring the Monastery of St. Maroun, the hermitage and small museum and also attended Mass in a church built in 1840. Our final moments were at the tomb of the saint that, since 1952, has been in a cave-like structure.

Thousands and thousands of medically-verified miraculous healings have been attributed to St. Charbel’s intercession. For the past 70 years, since the healings have been recorded, more than 29,00 such cases have been archived.

Charbel, a Catholic Maronite monk and priest renown for his holiness, lived from May 8, 1828 to December 24, 1898. for several decades after his death, his body was incorrupt. Though his body is no longer incorrupt, his tomb is one of several in the world that has oil exuding from it, said to have miraculous healing as attested to by many witnesses.

I have a small bottle of that oil – still unopened – from that visit.

Here are some photos I took on that afternoon visit. The shrine is well above sea level and it was cold as we were on our mini pilgrimage.

ITALIAN PROSECCO REGION NOW A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

‘Tis the season to consume a chilled Prosecco wherever you are – poolside in Honolulu, in an air-conditioned restaurant in DesMoines, on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy or sharing a late night dinner outside a Roman trattoria cooled by summer evening breezes.

And, as of yesterday, there was further reason to enjoy – and rejoice over – Italy’s famed Prosecco!

ITALIAN PROSECCO REGION NOW A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Congrats to Italian wine makers! Salute!

On Sunday, July 7, reports ANSA, the Italian news agency, the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene on Sunday became a UNESCO world heritage site.

The announcement was made by the World Heritage Committee in Baku.

The 97-square kilometres of vine-clad slopes and borghi on the left side of the Piave River thus became the 8th site in Veneto and the 55th in Italy to make the UNESCO list.

“A unique place of value has been recognized,” said Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Veneto Governor Luca Zaia.

Located in northeastern Italy, the site includes part of the vine-growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production area. The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages and farmland.

 ANSA/ANDREA MEROLA

For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man. Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular checkerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes.

In the 19th century, the bellussera technique of training the vines contributed to the aesthetic characteristics of the landscape.

With the addition of the Prosecco Hills, Italy extended its lead in the UNESCO rankings over China, Spain, and France.

JFL: I also read a few days ago in http://www.thelocal.it that there is another terrific Italian sparkling wine that is lesser known than Prosecco and that is Franciacorta DOCG. This is made using what wine makers call il metodo classico (classic method).

As thelocal.it explained: “il metodo classico is the same method that champagne uses – a second fermentation in the bottle. Franciacorta by law has a longer minimum time for this than champagne; 24 months as opposed to 18, and comes from the shores of the Iseo Lake in the southern part of Lombardy. The grapes allowed are Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay.”

PS – there is a still (non sparkling) version of Prosecco called Prosecco spento