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."

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POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "ECCLESIA IN AMERICA"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Ecclesia in America," signed and dated yesterday afternoon in the apostolic nunciature in Mexico City, was formally turned over to the bishops and people of the continent during this morning's Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in conclusion to the synod for America.

The 140-page document, whose title means "The Church in America," was published in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin. It is divided into an introduction, six chapters and a conclusion.
In the Introduction, the Holy Father reviewed the path of the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in the Vatican from November 16 to December 12, 1997. He recalled that he had proposed such a synod both at the 1992 Fourth General Assembly of the Latin American Episcopate and again in 1994 in the Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente."

Saying that the past - the celebration of the fifth centenary of the evangelization of America - and the future - the new evangelization of the third millennium - both provided the backdrop for this assembly, the Pope highlighted the synod's theme, "Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: The Way to Conversion, Communion and Solidarity in America" as well as its "experience of encounter."

He also stressed the unity of the continent by speaking of "America" in the singular: "I asked that the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops reflect on America as a single entity, by reason of all that is common to the peoples of the continent, including their shared Christian identity."

Chapter I is entitled "The Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ." Here, the Pope looks at "Encounters with the Lord in the New Testament," "Personal encounters and community encounters," "Encountering Christ in the time of the Church," and "We encounter Jesus through Mary."

In this section on Mary, whom he calls "the spokeswoman of her Son's will," the Holy Father speaks of her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531, leading to the now centuries-old devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe. And he writes: "I welcome with joy the proposal of the Synod Fathers that the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother and Evangelizer of America, be celebrated throughout the continent on December 12."

Concluding Chapter I, we have "Places of encounter with Christ." These places, he says, include Scripture, the liturgy, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist, and our encounter with Christ in "the persons, especially the poor, with whom Christ identifies himself."

In Chapter II, "Encountering Jesus Christ in America Today," The Pope traces the situation of the men and women in America and their encounter with the Lord, the Christian identity of America, and the fruits of holiness as seen in the continent's many saints. He writes: "The Synod Fathers proposed - and I find this a very timely initiative - that there be prepared a 'collection of short biographies of the Saints and the Beatified of America, which can shed light on and stimulate the response to the universal call to holiness in America'."

In this same chapter John Paul II also looks at a number of other topics, including some problematic areas for the continent, which he further develops and for which he suggests remedies in Chapter V, "The Path to Solidarity."
Among these topics: popular piety, the Eastern Catholic presence, the Church in the fields of education and social action, growing respect for human rights, the phenomenon of globalization, growing urbanization, the burden of external debt, corruption, the drug trade and ecological concern.

In that section dedicated to human rights; Pope John Paul says: "Among the positive aspects of America today, we see in civil society a growing support throughout the continent for democratic political systems and the gradual retreat of dictatorial regimes; this has immediate moral implications. ... 'The rule of law is the necessary condition for establishing true democracy'. There can be no rule of law, however, unless citizens and especially leaders are convinced that there is no freedom without truth. ... 'The fundamental rights of the human person are inscribed in human nature itself, they are willed by God and therefore call for universal observance and acceptance."

In Chapter III, "The Path of Conversion," the Pope examines the urgency of the call to conversion, its social dimension, the need for conversion to be ongoing and for the faithful to be guided by the Holy Spirit to a new way of living. He also looks at the universal call to holiness, Jesus as the one way to holiness and penance and reconciliation. In this last part, he reiterated the Synod Fathers' request "that priests give the necessary time to the sacrament of Penance, and strongly and insistently invite the faithful to receive the sacrament."

In the part on the social dimension of conversion, John Paul II writes: "It is most important, especially in a pluralistic society, to understand correctly the relationship between the political community and the Church, and to distinguish clearly between what individual believers or groups of believers undertake in their own name ... and what they do in the name of the Church, in communion with their Pastors. ... The Church ... can in no way be confused with the political community nor be tied to any political system."

"The Path to Communion" is the title of Chapter IV. This is divided into sections dedicated to: the Church, sacrament of communion; Baptism and the Eucharist; bishops as builders of communion; communion between particular Churches and fraternal communion with the Eastern Catholic Churches; priesthood, consecrated life and permanent diaconate; promoting vocations; the lay faithful; women; challenges facing families; children and young people; relations with other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, with Jewish communities and with non-Christian religions.

The Pope stresses the "value of a communion transcending the individual conferences of bishops," and suggested that "it would be helpful to specify more exactly the nature" of inter-American gatherings and "to establish special commissions to explore more deeply issues which concern America as a whole."

On the role of the laity, he says: "The renewal of the Church in America will not be possible without the active presence of the laity. ... On a continent marked by competition and aggressiveness, unbridled consumerism and corruption, lay people are called to embody deeply evangelical values such as mercy, forgiveness, honesty, transparency of heart and patience in difficult situations. ... A good number of lay people in America legitimately aspire to contribute their talents and charisms 'to the building of the ecclesial community as delegates of the word, catechists, visitors to the sick and the imprisoned, group leaders, etc.'() The Synod Fathers expressed the hope that the Church would recognize some of these works as lay ministries, with a basis in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, without compromising the specific ministries proper to the Sacrament of Orders. This is a large and complex issue and some time ago I established a Commission to study it."

In the section "Leading children to encounter Christ," the Holy Father recalls that "the Synod Fathers rightly deplored and condemned the painful condition of many children throughout America who are denied their dignity, their innocence and even their life. ... Special mention was made ... of the problem of the sexual abuse of children and child prostitution."

Chapter V, "The Path to Solidarity," focusses on solidarity as the fruit of communion, and the Church's social doctrine vis-a-vis: the globalization of solidarity; human rights; preferential love for the poor and the outcast; foreign debt; the fight against corruption; the drug problem; the arms race; the culture of death and a society dominated by the powerful; discrimination against indigenous peoples and Americans of African descent and the question of immigrants.

Of the Church's social doctrine, the Holy Father writes: "To this end, it would be very useful to have a compendium or approved synthesis of Catholic social doctrine, including a 'Catechism' which would show the connection between it and the new evangelization."

A section of this chapter is dedicated to "the social sins which cry to heaven ... Among these must be mentioned: 'the drug trade, the recycling of illicit funds, corruption at every level, the terror of violence, the arms race, racial discrimination, inequality between social groups and the irrational destruction of nature. These sins are the sign of a deep crisis caused by the loss of a sense of God and the absence of those moral principles which should guide the life of every person. ... The best response to this tragic situation is the promotion of solidarity and peace, with a view to achieving real justice. ... Encouragement and support must be given to all those who are examples of honesty in the administration of public finances and of justice."

In the section on the foreign debt, John Paul II says: "Once more I express the hope, which the Synod Fathers made their own, that the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace together with other competent agencies, such as the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, 'through study and dialogue with representatives of the First World and with the leaders of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, will seek ways of resolving the problem of the foreign debt and produce guidelines that would prevent similar situations from recurring on the occasion of future loans'."

This chapter embraces a strong defense of life and decries the death penalty, abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

The sixth and final chapter is entitled "The Mission of the Church in America Today: The New Evangelization." Saying that "the Church in America must speak increasingly of Jesus Christ, the human face of God and the divine face of man," this chapter highlights the importance of catechesis and the need to evangelize culture and centers of education. In the part on evangelization through the media, the Pope states: "On this point, the Synod Fathers suggested a range of concrete initiatives to make the Gospel effectively present in the world of social communications."

Chapter VI also looks at the challenge of sects and says, in this regard: "The success of proselytism by sects and new religious groups in America cannot be ignored. It demands of the Church on the continent a thorough study, to be carried out in each nation and at the international level, to ascertain why many Catholics leave the Church. ... To this end, it is more necessary than ever for all the faithful to move from a faith of habit, sustained perhaps by social context alone, to a faith which is conscious and personally lived."

Pope John Paul expresses "hope and gratitude" in the Conclusion and ends with a prayer to Jesus Christ for the families of America.

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MAY THE CONTINENT OF HOPE BE THE CONTINENT OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 1999 (VIS) - The Pope this morning celebrated Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Mexico City, the largest Marian shrine in the world, where he closed the Synod of Bishops for America. Concelebrants included 500 cardinals, arcbishops and bishops and 5,000 priests.

"Today in this Basilica of Guadalupe, the Marian heart of America," he said in his homily, "we give thanks to God for the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, ... lived with the Bishop of Rome as a fraternal experience of meeting the Risen Lord, a path to conversion, communion and solidarity in America."

John Paul II said that he had come to Mexico "to place the Apostolic Exhortation 'Ecclesia in America' at the feet of the 'mestiza' Virgin of Tepayac, Star of the New World, who gathers together the pastoral findings and suggestions of the synod, entrusting to the Mother and Queen of this continent, the future of evangelization."

Having spoken in Portuguese and French, the Pope then said in English: "The Church must proclaim the Gospel of life and speak out with prophetic force against the culture of death. May the continent of hope also be the continent of life! This is our cry: life with dignity for all!"

"The time has come," he said, "to banish once and for all from the continent every attack against life. No more violence, terrorism and drug-trafficking! No more torture or other forms of abuse! There must be an end to the unnecessary recourse to the death penalty! No more exploitation of the weak or racial discrimination or ghettoes of poverty! Never again!"

The Holy Father ended his homily in Spanish: "I wish to entrust and offer the future of this continent to Mary Most Holy, Mother of Christ and of the Church. For this reason, I have the joy of announcing here that I have declared that December 12 be celebrated as a liturgical feast in the whole of America in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe."

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PROCLAIM JESUS CHRIST WITH RENEWED ZEAL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 1999 (VIS) - Following a 13-hour flight from Rome, the Pope arrived this afternoon at Mexico City International Airport. "God willing," he said, "may this visit which begins today encourage all to make a generous effort to proclaim Jesus Christ with renewed zeal before the new millennium which is close at hand."

Having greeted President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce of the United Mexican States, and through him the entire Mexican people, the Pope said that the main aim of his fourth pastoral visit to Mexico is to present tomorrow in the Basilica of Guadalupe, "together with bishops from the whole American continent, the fruit of the Synod held in Rome over a year ago."

"I arrive in a country where the Catholic faith was basis for intermarriage between native Mexicans and Spaniards and which transformed former ethnic and antagonistic plurality into fraternal unity and common destiny. It is therefore not possible to understand Mexico without the faith brought from Spain to these lands."

"I arrive in a country," he added, "whose history encompasses ... three realities ...: the ancient and rich sensitivity of indigenous peoples; ... Christianity rooted in the soul of the Mexican people; and modern rationality, of European influence, which has so wished to extol independence and freedom."

In conclusion, he said; "I will ask Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the end of a fruitful and turbulent century, that the next might be a millennium in which Mexico, America and the whole world have secure paths of fraternity and peace ahead of them."

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NTIMATE RELATION EXISTS BETWEEN THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND PAIN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II this afternoon visited the sick at the regional Dr. Adolfo Lopez Mateos Hospital in Mexico City. Having greeted the sick people individually, he gave a message to Bishop Jose Lizares Estrada, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Healthcare Workers, in which he reflects on the value of pain in the context of the redeeming work of Christ.

"People," writes the Pope in the message read to the sick, "are called to joy and happiness, but daily experience many forms of pain, and illness is the most frequent and most common expression of human suffering. In the face of this situation, one spontaneously asks: "Why do we suffer? For what reason do we suffer? Does it mean anything that people suffer? Can the experience of physical or moral pain be a positive one?"

"For Christians, these are not questions which have no answer. Pain is a mystery. ... It is part of the mystery of the human person, which only becomes clear in Jesus Christ. ... The person finds the answer in so far as they partake in the sufferings of Christ."

This partaking in the life of Christ "carries with it the sharing in his pain." There is an "intimate relationship between the Cross of Jesus - the symbol of supreme pain and the price of our true freedom - and our pain, suffering, affliction, difficulties and torment which can weigh down our souls or take root in our bodies."

The Holy Father states that "we are never alone faced with the mystery of suffering. We live this with Christ, who gives meaning to our whole lives: in moments of joy and peace, as well as in moments of affliction and difficulty. With Christ all has meaning, including suffering and death; without Him, nothing is fully explained, even legitimate pleasures which God has brought together with various times in human life."

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DO NOT LET THE LIGHT OF FAITH BE EXTINGUISHED!

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II celebrated Mass this morning at the Hermanos Rodriguez speedway in Mexico City, in the presence of well over 1 million people, and invited the faithful not to "let the light of faith be extinguished. Mexico continues to need it to be able to build a more just and fraternal society, in solidarity with all those who have nothing and who hope for a better future."

"May the word of Christ reach those who have not yet heard it! May you have the courage to give witness to the Gospel in the streets and squares, in the valleys and mountains of this nation! Promote the new evangelization, following the guidelines of the Church."

Having evoked the Church's call to conversion, which "becomes more pressing in this time of preparation for the Great Jubilee," the Pope said: "The entire Church must begin the new millennium by helping her children to purify themselves of sin and evil. May she extend her horizons of holiness and faithfulness so as to partake in the grace of Christ."

The Holy Father reminded all, particularly young people, of Christ's invitation to follow him: "Be generous, don't stop answering the Master who is calling. Follow him so as to be, like the apostles, fishers of men." He encouraged parents to be "the first in nourishing the seed of vocation in their children" and bringing them up according to the principles of the Gospel.

Lastly, he entrusted the young people of Mexico and the crusade for life to the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "I entrust to her intercession the poor with their needs and wishes. Before her, with her 'mestizo' face, I lay the desires and hopes of the indigenous peoples with their own culture who hope to obtain their legitimate aspirations and the development to which they have a right. I also entrust the Afro-Americans to her care."

After Mass and before praying the Angelus, the Pontiff said that tomorrow will mark the end of the Week for Prayer for Christian Unity. "Reaching full communion among all believers in Christ is a constant aim of the Church, asking the Father with renewed fervor in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 that the desire of Christ that they might all be one, might become a reality."

"I have learned with sadness," he added, "of the barbarous assassination of Sr. Maria Aloysius of the Missionaries of Charity, in Sierra Leone, and of the worrisome information about episodes of great violence against the Church in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. No motive can justify the fierce rage against persons and institutions which for years have worked in favor of the good of everyone. Let us pray that the Lord will inspire in everyone sentiments worthy of man, who was created in the image and likeness of God."

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HUMAN HISTORY CANNOT GO AGAINST THE PERSON

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 1999 (VIS) - This evening, following a courtesy visit to the president of the republic at his Los Pinos residence, the Pope met with the diplomatic corps.

John Paul II reminded ambassadors that "the Church, faithful to her mission received from her Founder, tirelessly proclaims that the human person must be the focus of all civil and social order, and of all technical and economic systems of development. Human history cannot go against the person."

When on the level of international relations "priority is given to the economy over human values, thus weakening them, freedom and democracy suffer."

The Holy Father said that America will be the continent of hope if "the human communities which compose it, as well as its ruling class, accept a common ethical basis. ... America and the whole of humanity need essential points of reference for all citizens and politicians."

The intangible principles sanctioned by the Ten Commandments "are an obligation for both individuals and societies. These principles and others similar to them must be a dyke against all attempts on life, from the beginning up to its natural end; against wars which are spreading and the use of arms as instruments of destruction; against corruption; ... against the invasive abuse of private life on the part of authorities who approve of forced sterilization or laws which diminish the right to life; against misleading publicity campaigns which condition the truth; ... against monopolies which try to nullify healthy initiatives; ... against the abuse of drugs."

Having highlighted that little attention has been paid to moral principles during this century, the Pope emphasized that "instead of seeing them later violated, their ethical, morally binding strength must be consolidated in the new century and millennium."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Antonio Vitalino Fernandez Dantas, O.Carm., auxiliary of the patriarchate of Lisbon, as bishop of Beja (area 12,300, population 226,000, Catholics 190,000, priests 57, religious 94), Portugal. He succeeds Bishop Manuel Franco da Costa de Oliveira Falcao, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Beja was accepted by the Holy Father upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Ogdensburg, as bishop of Arlington (area 16,935, population 2,115,700, Catholics 311,351, priests 218, religious 289), United States of America.

- Appointed Fr. Philippe Ranaivomanana, as bishop of Ihosy (area 40,990, population 321,500, Catholics 32,500, priests 31, religious 70), Madagascar. The bishop-elect was born in Sarobatra, Madagascar, in 1949, was ordained a priest in 1977, and since 1996 has been vicar general of the diocese of Ansirabe.

On Saturday January 23, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Salvatore Gristina, auxiliary of Palermo, as bishop of Acireale (area 665, population 219,578, Catholics 218,323, priests 184, religious 397), Italy.

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