JUBILEE INITIATIVES PRESENTED IN PRESS OFFICE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - At 12:30 this afternoon in the Holy See Press Office, there was a presentation of the latest initiatives for the Jubilee Year 2000, including the October inter-religious assembly in Rome, the newest publications from the Jubilee's central committee and the Vatican Radio programs which will be dedicated to the forthcoming Holy Year.

Participants included Cardinal Francis Arinze and Bishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, president and secretary of the central Jubilee committee, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., program director at Vatican Radio, and Sean Lovett, who heads "Jubilaeum," Vatican Radio's special new Holy Year program for Romans and for pilgrims in Rome.

Cardinal Arinze pointed out that, while for Christians the Jubilee Year 2000 "is a celebration of 2000 years of the Christian era, of the birth of Jesus Christ, many other believers are interested." He highlighted Pope John Paul's affirmation in "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" that "the eve of the Year 2000 will provide a great opportunity, especially in view of the events of recent decades, for inter-religious dialogue. ... In this dialogue the Jews and Muslims ought to have a pre-eminent
place."

In line with the Holy Father's invitation, he said, and "in line with Catholic faith and practice, especially in our times," the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue has organized an inter-religious assembly to be held in Rome from October 25 to 28.

The cardinal explained that the assembly is divided into three parts: a two-day meeting for dialogue and reflection, a "fraternal journey to Assisi" and the final day of prayer, fasting and a ceremony in St. Peter's Square in the presence of Pope John Paul II. There are 235 participants scheduled to attend, representing 48 countries and 20 religious traditions.

Fr. Lombardi then explained that Vatican Radio, from the start of Advent on November 28, 1999, to the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's on January 6, 2001, has created two new radio stations which will present daily programs in five languages for the city of Rome and for the pilgrims who come here for the Jubilee Year 2000.
"We like to call this initiative 'the Jubilee live'," said the radio's program director. Urging pilgrims to carry small portable radios with them, he said that the first station, which will broadcast news, pilgrim information, interviews and live programs, such as papal Masses, in Italian, English and French, will be available at FM 105 MHz or MW 527 kHz. The second station, for Spanish and Portuguese, with occasional German programs, will be broadcast on FM 96.3 MHz or on MW 1260 kHz. The first program each day on both stations will start at 6 a.m.: the last one starts at 10:10 p.m.

Fr. Lombardi said that the programs, entitled "Jubilaeum: Holy Year with Vatican Radio," will offer information on how and where pilgrims may participate in Jubilee ceremonies, how and where one can see the Holy Father, announcements from Jubilee organizers, guides to exhibits and cultural events of interest, suggestions on how to avoid crowds, and information on Jubilee events in Jerusalem.

Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe presented two books prepared by the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee: "Blessed be the Lord Throughout the Centuries: Celebrations and Prayers for the Holy Year" and "The Pilgrim's Vademecum."

Referring to the first of these books, the archbishop said it is addressed, above all, to episcopal conferences and national and diocesan committees who "must productively involve the faithful in the jubilee event."

The texts contained in the volume are liturgical, meditative and formative in nature. "In addition to the Pope's Prayer and the Jubilee Hymn, the text of the 'Holy Year Mass' is also included." Furthermore, Archbishop Sepe added, "for all Sundays, solemnities and feasts of the Holy Year, closing prayers are suggested for the Prayer of the Faithful."

The secretary of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 affirmed that, "along with celebrations of the Word of God in Advent and Lent and various other Jubilee feasts, suggestions are made inviting Christian communities to pass the night in prayer during the passage from the year 2000 to 2001."

For its part, the "Vademecum" contains "the information necessary in order that groups and individual pilgrims may know and make use of ... the various prayer initiatives and meetings offered them by the Church of Rome in the course of the Jubilee period."

Archbishop Sepe indicated that this book "presents the significance of the holy places, and timetables for the various liturgical celebrations and sacred rites in the patriarchal basilicas and other Roman churches. ... Activities with and for young people occupy a special place."

He concluded by saying that the "Vademecum" offers two types of pilgrimage; one aimed at the individual faithful or group who pass only one day in Rome, and another for those who pass more than one day.

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