CARMELITES, 700 YEARS AS CUSTODIANS OF A ROMAN BASILICA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from John Paul II to Father Ubaldo Pani, O. Carm., prior of the parochial basilica of Saints Sylvester and Martin in the Hills, on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the donation of this basilica to the Carmelites by Pope Boniface VIII.

In the letter, dated May 1, the Holy Father recalls that Boniface VIII entrusted the basilica with the double intention of pastoral care for the faithful and as a place to study theology for those embarking upon the Carmelite life.

"In its seven centuries of life, the community of your convent has experienced how divine Providence has guided both the religious who have lived here and all those who have prayed with devotion in this place, towards a genuine ascetic and spiritual life."

The Pope manifested his joy that, "in keeping with the teaching of Bishop St. Martin of Tours, defender of the poor, to whom this basilica is dedicated, you show great concern for those in need. A concrete example of your dedication to charity is the 'shower center' for the neighborhood poor."

The Pontiff closes the letter by requesting that this commemoration "stimulate all members of the Carmelite Order to continue with renewed vigour along the path of sanctity and faithfulness to the original charism."

MESS;BASILICA SYLVESTER; MARTIN;...;PANI;VIS;19990504;Word: 230;

MAKE THE RICHES OF GOD'S WORD MORE AVAILABLE TO FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Bishop Wilhelm Egger, president of the World Catholic Federation for the Biblical Apostolate, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its founding.

John Paul II says in the message, written in English and dated May 1: "It is my fervent hope that you and your colleagues will continue to do all you can to ensure that the inexhaustible riches of God's word are made ever more available to Christ's faithful, that they may be better prepared for the challenges that engage their faith."

The Pope affirms that, "in helping the bishops to teach the way of truly biblical prayer, preaching and theology, the federation stands not on the margins of the Church's pastoral life but at its very heart, and that is a reason for great gratitude. I also encourage you to foster the ecumenical dialogue which follows when Scripture is studied and shared by people of different religious allegiances."

MESS;CATHOLIC BIBLICAL FEDERATION;...;EGGER;VIS;19990504;Word: 180;

"AD LIMINA" TALK FOCUSSES ON EVANGELIZATION OF URBAN CULTURE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father met with the bishops of Ontario, Canada, in Rome on their quinquennial "ad limina" visit, and focussed his talk to them on the new evangelization, in particular the "formidable challenge" of evangelizing urban culture.

Speaking both English and French, the Pope stressed that "such an evangelization is certainly needed at the dawn of the third Christian millennium. ... A great new task now beckons and it is unthinkable that we should fail in the evangelization of the cities."

"The phenomenon of the megalopolis has long been with us," stated Pope John Paul, "and the Church has not been slow to consider how best to respond." He cited Paul VI's writings on this question, where he noted "how increasing and irreversible urbanization is a great challenge to human wisdom, imagination and powers of organization." Urbanization has produced "a new loneliness" for people, "a belt of misery in silent protest at the luxury which blatantly cries out from centers of consumption and waste. There arises a culture of discrimination and indifference. ... (And) it is often the dark underside of urbanization which occupies your immediate pastoral action."

"Cities," he pointed out, "hold out the promise of employment and entertainment, appearing to be the answer to poverty and boredom when in fact they generate new forms of both.

"For many people, especially the young, the city becomes an experience of rootlessness, anonymity and inequality, with the consequent loss of identity and sense of human dignity. The result is often the violence that now marks so many of the large cities, not least in your own country." He observed that, at the "core of this violence ... is deep-seated disappointment, ... (and) a loss of confidence in institutions." Today's world, he said, is profoundly secular. "In this 'city of man' we are called to build 'the city of God'."

He said that "three very precise elements" are required of pastors for the evangelization of urban areas: "catechesis, liturgy and the organization of pastoral structures - elements which are radically linked to the three dimensions of the bishop's ministry: teaching, sanctifying and governing." Their objective, he added, is "a new and deeper experience of community in Christ, which is the only efficacious and lasting answer to a culture marked by rootlessness, anonymity and inequality."

But, stated the Pope, "we can no longer expect people to come spontaneously to our communities." The Church must seek out people, for which she needs "urban lay missionaries" and a "new missionary heroism," which "must shine even more brilliantly than in the past. ... It is vital for seminaries and houses of formation to be clearly seen as mission schools."

He stressed the role of the parish in this new evangelization, saying that it remains the "privileged place" for meeting Jesus and for a liturgical life "centered on the real presence of the Lord." And, he emphasized, "we must not allow the anonymity of cities to invade our Eucharistic communities. New methods and new structures must be found to build bridges between persons."

The Holy Father added that "Catholic schools and other institutions must also open themselves to the pastoral priorities necessary for evangelizing cities." He exhorted Catholic institutions to keep their identity free from "influences linked to secularization."

In closing remarks, Pope John Paul said: "In a community more fully conscious of Christ's presence the megalopolis will find the God-given sign pointing beyond a culture of rootlessness, anonymity and inequality. The culture of life will be nurtured ... and this in turn will generate a culture of human dignity."

AL;URBAN EVANGELIZATION;...;CANADA;VIS;19990504;Word: 600;

AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, respectively president amd secretary general of the Committee and Presidential Council for the Great Jubilee of 2000.

AP;...;...;... ;VIS;19990504;Word: 40;

MESSAGE TO BUDDHISTS FOR THE FEAST OF VESAKH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the message from Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, on the occasion of the Vesakh, the annual Buddhist feast that commemorates the main events of the life of Buddha.

Theravada Buddhism, widespread in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Timor, celebrates this feast on the day of the full moon of the sixth lunar month (Vesakh).

Given below are extracts from the message entitled: "Christians and Buddhists: In Renewed Solidarity for the Good of the Humankind."

"On this occasion, the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God made man and our Lord and Saviour, we invite you to share in our joy. The Catholic Church also takes this opportunity to renew her friendship and commitment to dialogue with the various religious traditions of the world so that, working together for the good of humankind, we may all experience greater purification and conversion of heart. ... In spite of the differences which exist between Buddha dharma and the Christian faith, there are many possibilities and potentialities for dialogue, and the results so far recorded are not inconsiderable."

"Our world can legitimately boast of many achievements: Scientific, technological and especially medical progress in the service of human life, a greater awareness of our responsibility for the environment, efforts to restore peace and justice wherever they have been violated, a desire for reconciliation and solidarity among different peoples, particularly in the complex relationship between the North and the South of the world."

"But our world is also marked by numerous painful and alarming conditions. ... Denial of objective moral norms of right and wrong, moral decadence, erosion of family values, ... discrimination based on sex, race, religion, etc., are just a few expressions visible in our society which are contrary to the teachings of our respective traditions. They tarnish the very image of religion. Building on the friendly relations which already exist between our two religious traditions both at the global and the local level, cannot Buddhists and Christians collaborate more closely and work in solidarity to alleviate these problems?"

CON-DIR;BUDDHISM; VESAKH;...;ARINZE;VIS;19990504;Word: 370;