HOLY THURSDAY: CHRISM MASS AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

VATICAN CITY, APR 1, 1999 (VIS) - At 9:30 a.m. today, John Paul II presided at the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, during which the commitment to priestly service was renewed, the oil for the anointing of the sick, of catechumens and chrism were blessed.

In his homily, the Pope said that Holy Thursday "is the day in which we especially recall the priesthood which Christ instituted at the Last Supper, uniting it indissolubly with the Eucharistic sacrifice."

Christ, he continued, "has made us partakers in his unique priesthood, so that all altars throughout the world and in all periods in history could represent the bloody and unique sacrifice of Calvary. Holy Thursday is the great feast of priests."

"We serve Christ so that his unique priesthood might always live and work in the Church for the good of the faithful. We serve the Christian people, our brothers and sisters, that through our sacramental ministry, they might partake ever more fully in Christ's redemption."

At 5:30 p.m., John Paul II presided in St. Peter's Basilica at the concelebration of the Lord's Supper. During the liturgy, he washed the feet of twelve priests, and during the offertory, received a donation which will go to victims of the earthquake in the Colombian dioceses of Armenia and Pereira.

"The Church," said the Pontiff in the homily, "lives on the Eucharist. ... As a sacramental renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross, it is the summit of the work of redemption. (The redeeming work) proclaims and makes that Mystery present today, which is a source of life for every person."

John Paul II recalled that after the consecration, "the priest proclaims 'Mysterium fidei!' ... Yes, today we particularly understand that the 'mystery of the faith' is truly great, and the simplicity of the Eucharistic symbols - the bread, wine, altar, and fraternal banquet - ever more exalt its depth."

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GOOD FRIDAY: CONFESSION, THE LORD'S PASSION, WAY OF THE CROSS

VATICAN CITY, APR 2, 1999 (VIS) - As is by now customary on Good Friday, the Holy Father heard the confessions of some faithful in St. Peter's Basilica, starting at noon.

At 5 p.m. the Holy Father presided at the Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica. During the Liturgy of the Word the Gospel of St. John was read, followed by a homily given by the Preacher of the Pontifical Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap. The liturgy continued with the Prayers of the Faithful and Veneration of the Cross, and ended with communion.

At 9:15 p.m., the Pope led the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum. This year's meditations on the fourteen stations were written by the Italian poet, Mario Luzi.

At the end, John Paul II addressed the faithful present in off-the-cuff remarks: "'In manus tuas Domine, commendo spiritum meum', 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' These words are Christ's last cry on the Cross. ... Today we wish to put them on the lips of all those people who have lived in the twentieth century, in this second millennium, because these words, this cry of Christ who suffers, his last words are not a conclusion, they are a beginning. This means an opening to the future."

In the prepared text, the Pope referred to the works of Isaiah in the Song of the Suffering Servant, which are, he said, "a true 'Gospel of the Cross.'" These words "resound in our hearts this evening at the end of the Way of the Cross, here at the Colosseum, an eloquent reminder of the suffering and martyrdom of many believers who paid with their blood for their faithfulness to the Gospel."

"Christ is 'despised and rejected' in those reviled and killed in the war in Kosovo and wherever the culture of death triumphs; the Messiah is 'crushed for our sins' in the victims of hatred and evil in every time and place. Peoples divided and struck by incomprehension and indifference seem at times to have 'gone astray like sheep'."

"Yet on the horizon of this scene of suffering and death, hope shines forth for humanity. ... In the night of sorrow and abandonment, the Cross is a torch which keeps alive the expectation of the new day of the resurrection."

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COMMUNIQUE ON ARCHBISHOP TAURAN'S MISSION IN BELGRADE

VATICAN CITY, APR 1, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon was the following communique on the mission of Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, in Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:

"Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, returned this afternoon to Ciampino airport at the end of his mission in Belgrade, which began this morning at 10:00 with a visit to Foreign Affairs Minister I. Jovanovic, and a meeting with the President of Serbia, Mr. M. Milutinovic.
"At 1 p.m., Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran was received by Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian-Orthodox Church.

"At 3 p.m., a meeting took place in the presidential palace with the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, to whom the papal envoy gave a personal letter from the Pope.

"Before leaving Belgrade, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran made the following declaration:

'1. I did not come to offer a solution but to express the Holy Father's deep concern for the tragic situation which is causing tremendous suffering for countless people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

'2. During my talks today, I presented the following points:

'a. Pope John Paul II is close to those who are suffering, without distinction of race, creed, or political ideas. He ardently desires that every people be respected with equal dignity. This should be fulfilled out of respect for history and law.

'b. Every day the Pope receives from numerous parties requests for aid for the people who have been mistreated, forced to flee their homes, without counting those who have been killed! The Pope believes that no political cause can ever justify cruelty, and that such a situation should cease so that humanitarian organizations can intervene and offer their help to alleviate the sufferings of so many of our brothers and sisters.

'c. The Pope is convinced of the validity of diplomacy because it is based on reciprocal respect, on listening to the legitimate aspirations of others, and on courtesy. He believes that only a political solution will offer the possibility for the people of this region to live together in peace.

'd. In a few days time, Christians of the world will celebrate Easter - the celebration of the (victory of) life over death. His Holiness, and many religious leaders, like Patriarch Pavle with whom I met, consider that it would be a great humanitarian gesture to cease all military operations during the week which separates the commemoration of this Feast, in the East and in the West (from April 4 to 11). Of course, such an initiative will have to be accompanied by measures on the ground to pursue these very objectives. Obviously, humanitarian organizations must be able to enter without risk and resume their urgent and essential work.

'3. I believe that there are neither victors nor vanquished. We should do our utmost so that peace triumph. This is what Pope John Paul II has written to President Milosevic, to Secretary General of Nato Solano, and to President Clinton.

'I hope and pray that my visit - which above all is an expression of John Paul II's ministry of peace - might help to make the voice of conscience heard in the hearts of all once again. This is the objective of the diplomatic work of the Holy See. The Pope and those who work with him believe that mankind is always better that it seems. For this reason, we never lose hope. The Holy See hopes that, once again, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will find peace for all and will occupy the place which is hers in Europe'."

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EASTER SUNDAY: MESSAGE AND "URBI ET ORBI" BLESSING

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 1999 (VIS) - At 10:30 a.m. today, Easter Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection, John Paul II presided at the solemn concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Square.

The altar was decorated with thousands of flowers, plants, trees and plants, traditionally donated by Dutch farmers.
At the end of Mass, the Pontiff read his Easter message and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.

"'Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus', said the Pope. "The day that the Lord has made is the day of wonder. ... 'Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ... were the first to find the tomb empty. Privileged witnesses of the Lord's Resurrection, they brought the news of it to the Apostles."

"This is the day when, like the disciples, every believer is invited to proclaim the amazing newness of the Gospel. But how can this message of joy and hope be made to resound when many parts of the world are immersed in sorrow and tears? How can we speak of peace, when people are forced to flee, when they are hunted down and their homes are burned to the ground? When the heavens are rent by the din of war, when the whistle of shells is heard around people's homes and the ravaging fire of bombs consumes towns and villages? Enough of this cruel shedding of human blood! When will there be an end to the diabolic spiral of revenge and senseless fratricidal conflict?

"From the Risen Lord I invoke the precious gift of peace above all for the devastated land of Kosovo, where tears and blood continue to mingle in a tragic spectacle of hatred and violence. I think of those who have been killed, of those made homeless, of those who have been torn from their families, of those being forced to flee. Let the solidarity of everyone be mobilized, so that finally brotherhood and peace may begin to speak once more!"

"On this holy day, I feel duty bound to make a heartfelt appeal to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, in order for help to be brought to the mass of people gathered at the border of Kosovo."

The Pope also spoke of regions of Africa "where the distressing fires of war are slow to disappear; to the countries of Asia where dangerous social tensions are far from abating; and to the countries of Latin America, committed to advancing on their laborious and uneven path towards goals of greater justice and democracy."

"Peace is possible, peace is a duty, peace is everyone's prime responsibility!"

At the end of his message, the Pope wished the faithful a Happy Easter in 61 languages.

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DECLARATION BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, APR 3, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls today made the following declaration:

"This morning, Saturday April 3, 1999, a meeting took place in the Vatican between His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, and president of the Italian Council of Ministers Massimo D'Alema. Also present were Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, Lamberto Dini, minister for foreign affairs, and Marco Minniti, under-secretary to the presidency.

"During the talks, there was an exchange of opinions on the current conflict in Yugoslavia, particularly on the urgency of humanitarian aid, and on the way of reestablishing dialogue among the parties concerned."

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HOLY SATURDAY: BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION OF EIGHT CATECHUMENS

VATICAN CITY, APR 3, 1999 (VIS) - At 8 p.m., the Pope presided in St. Peter's Basilica at the solemn Easter vigil, during which he administered the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation to eight catechumens - five men and three women who came from six countries.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope blessed the new fire in the atrium of the basilica and lit the pascal candle, which was carried in procession to the altar.

John Paul II addressed the catechumens at the beginning of his homily: "Through Baptism you will become members of the Body of Christ, fully sharing in the mystery of communion found there. May your lives be immersed forever in this Easter mystery, so that you will always be true witnesses of God's love."

"In this year dedicated to God the Father, how can we fail to think of this night, Easter night, as the great night of the Father's 'vigil'? This 'vigil' of God embraces the entire Easter Triduum. But in a special way the Father 'keeps watch' during Holy Saturday, whilst the Son lies dead in the tomb. The mystery of Christ's victory over the sin of the world is kept safe precisely in the Father's keeping watch."

Having quoted the words of the psalm, "the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone", the Pope concluded: "This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church and we are proud to profess it on the threshold of the third millennium, because the Passover of Christ is the hope of the world, yesterday, today and forever."

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HOLY SEE COMMUNIQUE ON POSSIBLE CEASEFIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 1999 (VIS) - The following communique was released this evening by the Holy See Press Office:

"If the news concerning a cessation of military and police operations in Kosovo on the part of the the Federal Yugoslav authorities, and the start of negotiations with representatives from the peoples in that republic and the return of its inhabitants is confirmed, it will certainly be a question of an important step towards peace. Obviously all the other parties involved must respond with an attitude of welcome. The Secretariat of State, however, is still waiting anxiously for official confirmation. One thing is certain: continuing with the violence of recent days would represent a serious obstacle in the negotiated search for peace and human co-existence."

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MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS FOR ELECTION OF POPE SYLVESTER II

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 6, 1999 (VIS) - In a Letter dated March 10 and made public today, Pope John Paul appointed Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, as his special envoy to the commemorative ceremonies on April 11 in Aurillac, France, for the millennium anniversary of the election of Pope Sylvester II.

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REGINA COELI: APPEALS FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO, AID FOR REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, APR 5, 1999 (VIS) - Both before and after praying the Regina Coeli today from Castelgandolfo, the Pope spoke of the dramatic situation in Kosovo and the Balkans, and pleaded for peace to be restored in that region and for assistance to be given to the victims of the conflict, in particular the refugees.

Recalling that today is Easter Monday, also called Monday of the Angel, the Holy Father said: "Today we repeat 'Christ, my hope, is risen!', and beseech Him for courage in fidelity and perseverance in good. Above all we invoke peace, the gift He obtained for us with His death and resurrection. We pray that the precious gift of peace might be given especially to our brothers and sisters of Kosovo, where the Easter bells have not rung out in celebration and where, unfortunately, the war continues with destruction, deportations and death."

Following the Regina Coeli prayer, John Paul II greeted "the inhabitants of Castelgandolfo, who always welcome me with great thoughtfulness, and all those who gathered here on this day of calm relaxation.

"We cannot, however, forget those who are going through moments of great suffering. I think with affection of the many refugees of Kosovo who are living in dramatic conditions.

"With all my heart I thank those who are generously trying to help them. I especially appreciate Italy's commitment in Albania, as well as in Italy itself, in a vast and generous aid program called 'Rainbow'. I encourage public and private institutions, volunteers organizations and individual citizens to intensify their efforts to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters who are so sorely tried."

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POPE RECEIVES UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, immediately following the weekly general audience, the Holy Father received the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sadako Ogata who then met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, according to a communique published this afternoon.

The communique continues: ""During the talks, the high commissioner illustrated the tragic data of the humanitarian catastrophe of Kosovo and the measures taken to face it, which were adopted by the summit that the UNHCR called yesterday in Geneva.

"The Holy See, for its part, expressed appreciation for the mobilization by the international community and for the quick assistance given by many countries, groups and individuals, and gave assurance of the solidarity of Catholic humanitarian organizations. Already last week, the Holy Father had sent Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', to Albania to bring his comfort and to coordinate the efforts of ecclesial organisms."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD'S DEMANDING LOVE FOR US

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 1999 (VIS) - At today's weekly general audience, which began at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul focussed on God's love for us which, he said, "cannot leave us indifferent, rather it asks us to reciprocate with a constant commitment of love."

"In the Old Testament," he observed, "the Law was seen as a sign of God's paternal love for His people, showing them how to live correctly in order to inherit the divine promises. Obedience to God is the source of life and blessings; separation from God causes man to fall under the power of evil and death."

The Holy Father then pointed out that "Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to bring it to fulfillment. He teaches us that the heart of the Law is the commandment to love God and to love our neighbor by treating others as we would want them to treat us. This is the path to follow if we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father."
In concluding remarks on the love of God the Father, John Paul II said: "While he proclaims the Father's love, Jesus never fails to remind us that this is a demanding love. ... In all His words and actions, Jesus seeks only to do the Father's will. In obedience to the Father Jesus gives up His life for us. 'Greater love than this has no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends'."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in Ukraine, as apostolic nuncio in the Philippines.

- For the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops which will take place in the Vatican October 1-23 1999:
- President delegates: Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, archbishop of Cracow, Poland; Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany; Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Vatican City.
- Relator general: Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, Spain.
- Special secretaries: Archbishop Josef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin, Poland; Bishop Vincent Nichols, auxiliary of Westminster, Great Britain.
- Commission for the Message: President: Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, Italy; Vice-president: Archbishop Audrys Juozas Backis, archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Commission for Information: President: Archbishop Istvan Seregely of Eger, Hungary; Vice-president: Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, Germany.

On Saturday, April 3, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Sergio Alfredo Fenoy as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Rosario (area 13,500, population 1,600,000, Catholics 900,000, priests 267, religious 533), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1959, was ordained a priest in 1983 and since 1995 has been rector of the Major Seminary of the same archdiocese.

On Friday April 2, it was made public that Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France, was appointed as the Pope's special envoy at the third centenary commemorative celebrations of the cathedral of Nice, France, which will take place on Sunday May 2, 1999.

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