Friday, April 30, 1999

MESSENGERS AND WITNESSES OF THE GOSPEL OF CHARITY


VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today the Pope received the participants in the 24th General Chapter of the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa.

The Holy Father said: "In times like the present, marked by the contrast between the wealth of one part of humanity and the miserable conditions of huge numbers of poor, frequently reduced to hunger amidst the indifference of so many, an increase in love is necessary in order that consciences be stimulated and people of good be persuaded to open themselves to the needs of justice and solidarity."

John Paul II requested that the sisters be "messengers and witnesses of the Gospel of charity. Re-ignite hope and courage in the people you meet. Show them the tenderness of God, who never abandons his children. In order for this witness to be lasting and authentic, it must be constantly regenerated in the pure waters of Grace. You must listen to God's word and translate it into daily life".

"Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa ... saw Christ in the poor and they proposed Him as a complete answer to their most pressing problems." He concluded: "Their example is a constant lesson for you all".

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PRESS CONFERENCE FOR UPDATE ON JUBILEE


VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - At a press conference held this morning in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, respectively president and secretary general of the central Jubilee committee, presented an update on Vatican plans for the Holy Year 2000.

They were joined by other staff members of the central committee as well as by Msgr. Ugo Moretto of the Vatican Television Center and Franco Iseppi of RAI, the Italian state television.

Journalists received dossiers in English, Spanish, Italian and French which explained the Mass for the Holy Year, the Holy Father's prayer for the Jubilee (Italian only), the hymn of the Great Jubilee (French only) and a Great Jubilee Year 2000 Competition for Young People. The objective of the latter, it was pointed out, is to invite young people "to reflect upon the religious significance of the Jubilee," and to present their thoughts in poetry or prose. This is open to children, pre-adolescents and adolescents.

Two initiatives were presented during the press conference: A Jubilee video service which will be transmitted by the three RAI channels (Italian Radio and Television) as well as by a number of regional channels, and the distribution of a series of pamphlets - in stadiums, highway toll booths, stations and many other public areas - on organizational aspects of the Jubilee.

As regards the Internet site of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee (www.jubil2000.org), at present it exists in seven languages, not including German which will be incorporated soon. The projects in Russian, Chinese and Arabic are at a very advanced stage. Each language has 1,500 pages that may be consulted - this number will reach 16,000. They deal with the main themes and events of the Great Jubilee and cover both spiritual and organizational aspects.

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CELEBRATIONS FOR THE CENTENARY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF NICE

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the letter of the Holy Father in which he appoints Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France as his special envoy to the May 2 celebrations for the third centenary of the cathedral of Nice, France. The letter is written in Latin and dated March 25.

Cardinal Lustiger will be accompanied by Msgrs. Gerard Foiret and Roger Berg.

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ITALIAN CATHOLIC SCOUT ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 25 YEARS


VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul to Msgr. Diego Coletti, general ecclesiastical assistant of the association of Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of AGESCI.

In the Letter, dated April 23, the Pope outlines "three new frontiers, three objectives (which the scouting movement should pursue): the new evangelization, educational challenges and the building of a world of peace."

He addresses the educational leaders and ecclesiastical assistants: "Do not be afraid to propose great ideals to young people, because scouting is a training area for difficult virtues. Place the image of Christ - His heroism and His holiness - in front of the eyes of the young boys and girls whom you meet."

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PADRE PIO OF PIETRELCINA: BIOGRAPHY OF A BLESSED


VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - On Sunday May 2, in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II will beatify Capuchin Friar Pio of Pietrelcina, known the world over as Padre Pio, who died at the Franciscan friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, on September 23, 1968, at the age of 81.

After Sunday's beatification, the penultimate step to sainthood, he will be known as Blessed Padre Pio.

He was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, in the southern Italian archdiocese of Benevento in the region of Campania, to Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa De Nunzio. Devoted to St. Francis of Assisi, his parents had him baptized the following day, and named him Francesco.

The son of peasant farmers, Francesco grew up in humble surroundings, in a home filled with love and faith. His youth and adolescence were marked by liveliness, curiosity, and, according to biographers, occasional mischievousness. They also point out that he seemed to have a "special spiritual life."

Francesco received both First Communion and Confirmation when he was 12.

On January 6, 1903, age 16, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars Minor at Morcone and, 16 days later, was clothed in the Franciscan habit and given the name Brother Pio. He concluded the novitiate year, made his profession of simple vows and, on January 27, 1907, made his solemn profession.

Brother Pio was ordained to the priesthood on August 10, 1910 at Benevento. For health reasons he lived at his home until 1916, when he was transferred to the friary of Santa Maria delle Grazie at San Giovanni Rotondo where he remained until his death in 1968, and where he is buried.

In the more than half century that he was a Capuchin, Padre Pio became famous, first in Puglia at San Giovanni Rotondo, then throughout Italy and the world, for his charisms of bearing the stigmata and of bilocation (the ability to be simultaneously in two different places) and for the extraordinary holiness of his life, which centered on the Mass, the Sacrament of Penance and spiritual direction. Padre Pio was noted for the remarkable number of hours he spent in the confessional and for his charity, motivating him to found the "House for the Relief of Suffering," inaugurated on May 5, 1956. He also instituted prayer groups, which he called "seedbeds of faith and centers of love," and which Pope Paul VI termed "vast rivers of praying humanity."

In an address to the superiors of the Capuchin Order in 1971, three years after the death of Padre Pio, Pope Paul VI said of him: "Look at his fame, at the worldwide following he has gathered around him! Why? Perhaps because he was a philosopher? Perhaps because he was a scholar? Because he had means at his disposition? No, because he celebrated Mass humbly, confessed people from morning to night and was, difficult to say, one who was marked by the stigmata of Our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering."

Padre Pio first received the stigmata in 1910 for a short period: they disappeared, only to reappear in 1918 and remain with him until very shortly before his death. The word "stigmata" denotes the scars that correspond to the wounds suffered by Our Lord during His Passion and Crucifixion, in His hands, feet and side.

When the stigmata appeared on September 20, 1918, Padre Pio had celebrated morning Mass and, as usual, remained in the chapel to pray. What happened next was revealed by Padre Pio in a letter to his confessor:

"I was sitting in the choir stall, giving thanks for the Holy Mass when I started feeling languid and began to nod off. All my senses experienced an incredible peace, While I was in that state, a mysterious celestial figure appeared before me. He was holding a utensil somewhat similar to a cut-throat razor with a very sharp point from which fire seemed to flow. The sight of it petrified me. The figure hurled this tool into my soul with all his strength. I cannot describe the sensation.

"I felt as though I were dying, and indeed I would have died if Our Lord had not intervened to sustain my pounding heart. When the mysterious figure left, I realized that my hands, feet and side had been pierced and were flowing with blood. You can imagine the torment I felt and continue to feel every day. The wound in my side pumps out blood constantly, especially from Thursday evening until Saturday. I fear that I am going to die from loss of blood."

A number of miracles, including several in the presence of witnesses, have been attributed to the intercession of Padre Pio. One in particular, put forth by the Postulator of his cause at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, regards the miraculous healing of an Italian woman, a devoted follower of his and a member of one of his Prayer Groups, who had become gravely ill and was inexplicably healed after praying, together with relatives and friends, at Padre Pio's tomb.

A biographical note from the Postulator General of Padre Pio's cause states: "While he was alive he was widely famous for his holiness, due to his virtues, his spirit of prayer, sacrifice and total dedication to the good of souls. In the years following his death, the fame of his holiness and miracles continued to grow, becoming an ecclesial phenomenon throughout the world and touching every type of person. Thus God showed the Church His will to glorify on earth his faithful servant."

The Order of Capuchin Friars Minor took the first steps for the cause for beatification and canonization in conformity with the Code of Canon Law. The recognition process took place from 1983 to 1990 in the diocese of Manfredonia. On December 18, 1997 the Decree on the heroic virtues of Padre Pio was promulgated. On December 21, 1998 the Decree on the miracle attributed to Padre Pio's intercession was promulgated.

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HOLY SEE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER YUGOSLAVIA TO OSCE

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon was the address yesterday to the Permanent Council of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe by Msgr. Mario Zenari, Holy See permanent representative to the OSCE. He expressed the Holy See's concern over the crisis in Yugoslavia and "urgently appealed to all nations and international charitable organizations" for generous humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Ante Jelavic, member of the presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Cardinal Mario Ce, Patriarch of Venice on his "ad limina" visit.
- Two prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Francis John Spence of Kingston.
- Archbishop Marcel Andre Gervais of Ottawa.

He is scheduled to meet later this evening with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Desiderius Rwoma as bishop of Singida (area 49,341, population 966,000, Catholics 111,600, priests 43, religious 160), Tanzania. The bishop-elect was born in Ilogero, Tanzania, in 1947, was ordained a priest in 1974 and since 1997 has been vicar general of Bukoba. He succeeds Bishop Bernard Mabula whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father upon having reached the age limit.

- Fr. Marc Stenger of the clergy of Metz, as bishop of Troyes (area 6,026, population 301,000, Catholics 211,000, priests 115, religious 305), France. The bishop-elect was born in Phalsbourg, France, was ordained a priest in 1975 and since 1992 has been rector of the Interdioscesan Seminary of Metz and national director of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy.

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