TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF BISHOP CLEMENTE RIVA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the telegram sent by Pope John Paul to Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of Rome, for the death yesterday of Bishop Clemente Riva, former auxiliary of the diocese of Rome.

The Pope especially recalled Bishop Riva's "profound spirituality," his "drive in evangelization and the generous and abounding pastoral commitment, especially in inter-religious dialogue and with the world of culture."

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ALBANIA: ARCHBISHOP CORDES CONVEYS POPE'S SOLIDARITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" is today in Albania to "bring to the refugees of such an inhumane tragedy" as that of Kosovo, writes John Paul II in a message to the prelate, "my spiritual and material solidarity and that of the entire Christian people."

Having stated that the conflict in Kosovo "is causing untold suffering to peoples, and is sowing hate, violence and death," the Pope adds: "I am closely following the development of the situation and I pray to the Lord, Father of Mercy, that He take pity on his children who are being so sorely tried."

"Tell the children, mothers and elderly people that you meet," he writes, "that the Pope is with them, and that he will continue to be with them until a just and lasting peace reigns in the lands of the Balkans. In this twentieth century, those peoples have seen too much bloodshed and too many tears. May the peace so longed-for finally be established."

The Cor Unum president, who will convey the Pope's message, will visit refugees at the Kukes camp and will meet with the president of the Republic of Albania and with those responsible for the local church, and particularly with Caritas.

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: EASTER TRIDUUM

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - During today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that during Holy Week "we commemorate the central events of our redemption. The core of this week is the Triduum of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection."

"Holy Week leads us to meditate on the meaning of the Cross." The Father "freely gave his Only Son to redeem humanity. How could we fail to give thanks to Him (for this)? ... Faced with the Cross, the eloquent call of God's mercy, how could we not repent of our sin and experience a conversion to love? How could we not concretely make reparation for harm caused to others and return goods acquired dishonestly? Forgiveness requires concrete gestures. Repentance is only true and efficacious when it is transformed into tangible acts of conversion and just reparation."

He noted that tomorrow, Holy Thursday, every bishop, surrounded by his priests, will preside at a Chrism Mass and will consecrate the Holy Oils. In the evening, "at the end of the Mass of the Lord's Supper ('In Cena Domini') there will be adoration. ... Good Friday is an intense day, in which the Church will have us listen once again to the narration of the Passion of Christ. The 'adoration' of the Cross will be the focus of the liturgy."

John Paul II said that until Holy Saturday evening "there will be a period of deep silence. ... This silence will be broken by the joy and light of the evocative rites of the Easter Vigil and the glorious song of the 'Alleluia'(will resound). It will be the encounter of faith with the Risen Christ, and the Easter joy will continue for the following fifty days."

"Let us prepare ourselves" he concluded, "to relive these events in prayerful union with the Blessed Virgin Mary."

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HOLY SEE STUDIES PROPOSALS FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration early this afternoon: "Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano this morning received a group of Russian politicians, including former Prime Minister Igor Gaidar, who came to show their proposals for an initiative which might aid the reestablishment of peace in the Balkans."

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DECLARATION ON VATICAN MEETING ON SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the declaration issued last evening by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on yesterday's meeting in the Vatican on the situation in Yugoslavia:

"Under the presidency of Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a meeting took place on the afternoon of Tuesday March 30, to which ambassadors to the Holy See of NATO member countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council were invited.

"The purpose of the meeting was to inform the ambassadors of the Holy See position concerning the current situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and to have an exchange of opinions in this regard.

"Cardinal Sodano mentioned Pope John Paul II's concern for the peoples who are suffering and Holy See action to contribute to a speedy solution to the crisis.

"Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, expressed the Holy See position with regard to: a) appreciation for efforts made in recent months by the international community to end the dramatic situation of the peoples in Kosovo; b) necessity to end military operation so that violence may not have the last word; c) urgent sending of humanitarian aid for refugees and evacuees; d) involvement of the UN and the OSCE in the peace process.

"Information was also presented with regard to steps taken in recent times by Secretary of State with various governments and international organizations."

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, vice gerent, and Don Patrizio Milano, pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Loreto.

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PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION TO HOLD PLENARY IN APRIL

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - The Pontifical Biblical Commission announced in a communique published today that it will hold its annual plenary session in Rome from April 12 to 16 in the International House of the Clergy, under the presidency of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The meeting's theme will be "Relationships Between the New and Old Testament, Between Christians and Jews."

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FOURTH POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL MEETING FOR AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, presided at the fourth meeting of the Council for the Special Assembly for America on March 23-24 in the Vatican. Joining him were 3 cardinals, 7 archbishops, 2 bishops and 4 synod staff members. The fifth post-synodal meeting is scheduled for February 22-23, 2000.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Diego Causero, apostolic nuncio in the Central African Republic and in Chad, as apostolic nuncio in Syria.

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