CARDINAL FERNANDEZ DE ARAUJO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Pope, written in Latin, to Cardinal Serafim Fernandes de Araujo, archbishop of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary today of his priestly ordination.

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POPE SPEAKS ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SCIENCES TO DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 1999 (VIS) - In his talk today to members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope invited "the scientific community to pursue its research to make better known the causes of imbalances linked to nature and to mankind, so as to prevent them and to propose substitute solutions to untenable situations."

The Holy Father was addressing academy members at the start of the study week they promoted on the contribution of science to world development.

Speaking of the "growing damages caused by modern civilization to people, the habitat, climatic and agricultural conditions," he affirmed that "human behavior is often the source of serious ecological imbalances, with particularly harmful and disastrous consequences in different countries and in the world as a whole."

"It is man's responsibility," he pointed out, "to limit the risks to creation, through special attention to the natural milieu." Development must "be at the service of peoples. ... Unfortunately certain economic and political considerations and matters too often take precedent over respect for the milieu."

Citing his Encyclical "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis," John Paul II said: "'The mere accumulation of goods and services, even for the benefit of the majority, is not enough for the realization of human happiness'. Likewise, the concentration of economic and political power which answers to particular interests creates centers of power which often act to the detriment of the interests of the international community."

"It is more important than ever to set into place a world political, economic and juridical order which is based on clear moral rules, so that international relations have as their objective the search for the common good, while avoiding phenomena of corruption which gravely harms individuals and peoples, and no longer tolerating the creation of unjust privileges and advantages in favor of the richest countries or social groups."

Public leaders, said the Pope, should give particular attention to young people, especially through apprenticeships, and to developing countries and societies. "The strategies adopted ... must have as their primary objective the well-being of persons and peoples." Initiatives must be "founded on a disinterested solidarity"and "be based on a conception of the world which has man at its center and which knows how to respect the various historical and environment conditions, thus allowing for lasting development."

"Individuals sometimes have the impression that their single decisions have little effect on a national scale," said Pope John Paul in conclusion. "However, we must recall that the Creator placed man in creation. ... Thus, we can be assured that the smallest good deed done by one person has a mysterious bearing on social transformation."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Croatia on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Marin Srakic of Djakovo, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Djuro Gasparovic.
- Bishop Marko Culej of Varazdin.
- Bishop Ante Ivas of Sibenik. - Bishop Antun Skorcevic of Pozega.
- Bishop Ivan Milovan of Porec i Pula.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Bishop Enzo Dieci, auxiliary of Rome for the northern sector, together with Msgr. Vincenzo Josia, pastor of the Parish of St. Matthias, and two parish curates.

He is scheduled to receive later this evening, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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PADRE PIO'S BEATIFICATION TO BE TELECAST IN ST. JOHN LATERAN SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 1999 (VIS) - The beatification ceremony for Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on May 2 at 9:30 a.m in St. Peter's Square is scheduled to be shown simultaneously on a screen at St. John Lateran Square.

The live link-up of the event was decided this morning in the Vatican during a meeting presided by Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re, substitute for the secretary of state, at which the mayor of Rome and a group of Capuchin friars were also present.

Having examined different possibilities to allow the greatest number of faithful to participate in the beatification, given that the maximum number of reserved tickets available for St. Peter's Square has been reached, the live link-up of the ceremony from St. John Lateran's Square was chosen. After Mass, the Holy Father will go there to pray the Regina Coeli and to say a few words. Mass will have been previously celebrated in St. John's Square. A live video link-up from San Giovanni Rotondo and the two Roman squares is also planned.

The Capuchin friars will be responsible for ticket requests for St. John Lateran. Tickets for both places will be different and free of charge. The celebration will be transmitted live by Italian national television (RAI), Rete 1, and other television stations throughout the world.

For ticket requests by telephone, contact the Capuchin Friars at Foggia at the following numbers: (from outside Italy the prefix is 39 0881): 302255 or 302301 or 302302; or by fax: (39 0881) 302272. To contact the Generalate in Rome, telephone (39 06) 46201234, or fax (39 06) 46201273.

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