PAPAL INTERVIEW ABOARD PLANE EN ROUTE TO MEXICO

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, as is his custom on long trips, spoke today with reporters aboard the plane which carried him to Mexico City. A transcript of much of that 20-minute interview was provided courtesy of Vatican Radio.

QUESTION: "How would you judge the evolution on the American continent during the past 20 years, as well as the continent's 'lights and shadows'?"

ANSWER: "I think that the revolution can also be seen through this American synod, with all of the Americas together: the north, center and the south, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. It was the first time ever for a pan-American synod. Some deliberated on the traditional categories of the contrasts between North and South, between the American North and the Latin South, the rich North, the poor South. These contradictions seem to have been overcome by all the bishops of America who worked together and gave America, from the North to the South, a common Christian dimension. "

Q: "How do you view these 20 years of transition in Mexico? What has changed since the first trip you made, (especially) now that there are (diplomatic) relations between Church and State? What are the Church's great challenges in the third millennium?

A: "I recall that (20 years ago) at the airport the priests were dressed in civilian clothing, because it was not possible to go around in clergyman's clothing, and they said that the Pope had broken the law. Things have changed, even diplomatic relations. I think that the Mexican people are not the same as 20 years ago.

Q: "The indigenous question is one of the most serious in Mexico. In Chiapas there is a situation of undeclared war. What solutions and hopes do you have for Chiapas and the indigenous peoples?

A: "Today certainly it seems that there is much thought of replacing the theology of liberation with indigenous theology, which would be another version of marxism. I think that the true solution can be found in solidarity. Chiapas is in the same place where first there was an Aztec city. They were the first land owners here, in these places, and they have their rights. Today there is a democratic constitutional state, the State has laws which must resolve the many problems of indigenous and non-indigenous (peoples) through dialogue."

Q: "What will your message be for President Clinton when you meet him in St. Louis?

A: "Twenty years later the situation is different. When I came for the first time, in Mexico there was still the situation between West and East, the Soviet bloc and the United States. Today this has changed. There is no longer this confrontation. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States remained alone. I don't now if this is good or bad, but this is how it is. I think that in this field the synod document tried to give an answer. The final document is the answer to this question (which) means, how do the United States see this new situation, the new world situation, not only their own?

Q: The Pope was asked to review the situation in Cuba one year after his trip.

A. "A year later, I am rather happy about this trip. For example, I will cite the fact that one fruit of this trip is that Christmas is now (a holiday) for all Catholics and citizens. It is a great step forward. There was also an invitation to stopover in Cuba. ... I think this trip to Cuba was important, perhaps the most important one last year."

Q: A reporter asked the Holy Father if he "still has enthusiasm for pastoral trips, after so many miles." If so, what countries would he like to visit.

A. "The biggest ones. First there was the USSR, now it is Russian, both European and Asian. Then there is China. So you see the world is not so small. We shall see, Certainly the Pope is older. I still have the will and availability."

PV-MEXICO;INTERVIEW;...;...;VIS;19990125;Word: 670;