APPEAL FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO AND SIERRA LEONE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 1999 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience in the Paul VI Hall, Pope John Paul remarked that "peace is still threatened in so many parts of the world. In these days, fierce and merciless manifestations are taking place, in particular in Kosovo and Sierra Leone."

He continued: "We ask God with renewed trust that where there is hate, there might be an outpouring of God's mercy, reawakening the consciences of all those who guide the future of peoples and encouraging all to work for peace.

"A particular thought of closeness and solidarity goes to the archbishop of Freetown and to missionaries who are being held hostage by combatants in Sierra Leone, in spite of their untiring devoted service to the people in that African country. I call on all responsible, so that they might be set free as soon as possible to continue their mission of evangelization and charity."

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AUDIENCE: THE "FATHERHOOD" OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 1999 (VIS) - At today's general audience held in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father spoke on the theme of "The 'Fatherhood' of God in the Old Testament."

The Pope said that "Israel recognized divine fatherhood from the sense of wonder in the face of creation and the gift of life."

"The respect which Israelite society demanded for parents led them to see God as a demanding father. In fact, Mosaic law is very strict with children who do not obey their parents, to the point of having the death penalty for whoever might strike or speak badly of their father or mother."

John Paul II recalled that "God, in saving Israel from slavery in Egypt, calls it to enter into a relationship of covenant with Him and even to considering itself his first born. ... Israel was obliged to observe a law which distinguished it from other peoples, to whom it should bear witness to divine fatherhood which it experienced in a special way."

"Divine fatherhood for Israel is characterized by an intense, constant and compassionate love. In spite of the infidelities of the people and the ensuing threats of punishment, God reveals himself as being able to continue to love them."

Likewise, "a fatherhood so divine and at the same time so 'human' in the way in which it is expressed, includes in itself the characteristics which are normally associated with motherly love. ... The divine attitude towards Israel is expressed with motherly gestures, which express tenderness and goodness."

In his greetings to pilgrims in different languages, the Holy Father asked for prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe before his forthcoming trip to Mexico, "so that she might guide the steps of the new evangelization among the peoples of Hispanic language and culture."

Finally, having recalled that we are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he invited all "to participate with prayer and concrete commitment to the cause of full communion between believers in Christ."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Javier Navarro Rodriguez, auxiliary of Guadalajara, as bishop of San Juan de los Lagos (area 12,000, population 962,756, Catholics 960,104, priests 242, religious 537), Mexico. He succeeds Bishop Jose Trinidad Sepulveda Ruiz-Velasco, whose resignation from the pastoral care of this diocese was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Giuliano Frigeni, P.I.M.E., as bishop of Parintins (area 75,654, population 168,000, Catholics 159,000, priests 17, religious 37), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Bergamo, Italy, in 1947, made his vows in 1974, was ordained a priest in 1975, and in 1996 was elected regional councillor of the P.I.M.E. for the north of Brazil.

- Appointed Fr. Fernando Chavez Ruvalcaba, as bishop of Zacatecas (area 59,000, population 1,064,196, Catholics 985,000, priests 181, religious 416), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 1932, was ordained in 1961, and since 1997 has been diocesan administrator of this same diocese.

- Appointed Bishop Luis Morales Reyes of Torreon, as archbishop of San Luis Potosi (area 27,333, population 1,899,000, Catholics 1,737,000, priests 260, religious 799), Mexico. The archbishop-elect was born in Churumuco, Mexico, in 1936, was ordained a priest in 1962, was consecrated a bishop in 1976 and since 1990 has been bishop of Torreon. He succeeds Archbishop Arturo Antonio Szymanski Ramirez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese was accepted by the Holy Father, on having reached the age limit.

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