GENERAL AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The theme of today's general audience celebrated in St. Peter's Square, was "Knowing the Father.'" The Pope said that "we can know God as Father on different levels, according to our perspective and the aspect of the mystery contemplated."

The Holy Father explained that "there is a natural knowledge of God from creation. This leads us to recognize in Him the origin and transcendent cause of the world and the human person." However, "it is not possible to know the depths of divine fatherhood, but only as God himself shows himself."

"In the events of the history of salvation what reveals itself more and more is the initiative of the Father who, with his interior action, opens the hearts of believers to welcome his Incarnate Son. Knowing Jesus, they will be able to know the Father also."

John Paul II said that "knowing the Father means, then, finding in him the source of our being and our unity as members of one family, but it also means being immersed in a 'spiritual' life, the same life of God."

"The proclamation of the Son," he concluded, "continues to be, therefore, the royal road to know the Father and to make Him known. ... God is the one Father of all, wishing to offer salvation to all through the work of His Son. It is what St. John's Gospel calls the gift of eternal life."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Osorio Bebber O.F.M. Cap., prelate of the territorial prelature of Coxim, as bishop of Joacaba (area 10,202, population 256,800, Catholics 220,000, priests 37, religious 88), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Henrique Muller, O.F.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Joacaba was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Luc J. Matthys as bishop of Armidale (area 115,000, population 168,564, Catholics 40,553, priests 34, religious 68), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Drongen, Belgium, in 1935, was ordained a priest in 1961, and since 1998 has been dean and pastor of Melbourne cathedral.
- Accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Hilarion Capucci B.A., apostolic visitor for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Western Europe, on having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Bishop Enzo Dieci, auxiliary for Rome for the northern pastoral sector, together with Fr. Tommaso Pacini, O.C.D., pastor of the parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Panfilo, and a parish curate.

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