THE POPE RENEWS HIS CALL FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Pope held a meeting in the synod hall with members of the Italian Episcopal Conference, who are participating in their 46th general assembly and who have just completed their "ad limina" visits that began some months ago.

John Paul II began by referring to the dangers of modern society, dangers also present in Italy, such as the "tendency to reject God" or to put Him "so to say, between parentheses," or moral subjectivism which "leaves the way open to egotism and consumerist fashions. ... However, precisely in the face of these difficulties, the Church in Italy is becoming ever more clearly aware of the mission and the new evangelization to which it is called."

The Holy Father recalled that the theme of vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life is being dealt with in the general assembly. He said: "Truly Christian families and enthusiastic parish and youth communities are still today the natural environment in which genuine vocations may be born and develop. ... Also ever more necessary is an organic, diocesan pastoral ministry for vocations."

After mentioning "the tragic state of war and ethnic cleansing which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has been experiencing over the last few years," he said: "I wish to express my great appreciation for the numerous testimonies and initiatives of concrete solidarity that are being practiced by religious institutions, Caritas and voluntary organizations, especially in refugee reception areas as well as in so many other parts of Italy. With you, I renew the call I made in Bucharest together with the Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist ... to definitively lay down arms."

Thereafter the Pope spoke of "the great themes of the family and of life" to which "the Italian Church is committed with prophetic courage, above all in promoting a family pastoral ministry. ... You rightly encourage the shouldering of social responsibility, both by the families themselves and by family associations, with the aim that in legislation, in social policy and in administrative norms and decisions the rights of the family are protected; a family based on matrimony, in harmony with constitutional dictates, without confusing it with other forms of cohabitation."
He praised the commitment of those who "fight for legislation that protects the legitimate family and the human embryo. Everyone knows that decisions are involved here that could gravely compromise the humanistic character of our civilization."

John Paul II concluded by referring to the Italian school (system) and, specifically, to difficulties in "finding the way to effective equality for all schools." On this subject, he indicated that "the great national assembly on Catholic schools, which is being organized and will take place in Rome at the end of October, is more than ever relevant. I am happy to be able to confirm, from this moment, my participation."

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