EPISCOPAL UNITY: A MODEL AND HOPE FOR ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message for Peace from the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia and Eritrea, in which the Catholic bishops appeal for reconciliation and peace between the two nations. The Message, dated April 29 and written in English, was signed by 11 prelates and is addressed to "the clergy, religious, laity and all people of good will."

An accompanying note recalls the late April meeting of the episcopal conference in the Pontifical Ethiopian College in the Vatican, as well as their individual and group encounters with Pope John Paul on April 27, when he gave them a Message of his own. The note, stating that this was the first conference meeting in a year due to the outbreak of military hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea, also explained that the bishops met "to talk of matters of common interest, as well as to show the unity of the episcopacy as an example and hope for the two nations."

The bishops write of the "tragic consequences of the refusal of God's gift of peace," including "families broken up because of forced displacement, ... children and civilian people killed by shellings and bombings", and the deportation or detention of citizens.

"The sufferings and pains brought about by violent conflicts show that the path of war is neither wise nor useful for our countries, but only a source of sorrow and destruction."

"How do we break the vicious cycle of violence?" they ask. "How do we heal the wounds? ... A culture of peace and human rights needs to replace a culture of death and violence. This is the answer to be pursued."

"Peace is not merely the absence of war and is not limited to maintaining the balance of power between adversaries," write the bishops. "Peace is 'tranquillity of order'. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity."

They note that "the two countries have accepted the Framework of Peace proposal prepared by the Organization of African Unity as a starting point for negotiations," and add: "The gift of peace, however, is from above and our heavenly Father will grant it to His children asking for it."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Erminio De Scalzi as auxiliary bishop of Milan (area 4,243, population 5,015,925, Catholics 4,714,950, priests 2,582, religious 9,528), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Saronno, Italy in 1940, was ordained a priest in 1964 and since 1994 has been episcopal vicar for the city of Milan.

- Fr. James F. McCarthy of the clergy of the archdiocese of New York, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese (area 12,212, population 5,213,513, Catholics 2,347,100, priests 2,097, religious 5,553), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1942 in Mount Kisko, New York, was ordained a priest in 1968 and since 1996 has been parish priest of "Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish."

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CARDINAL TO TAKE PART IN DIOCESAN ANNIVERSARY, ECUMENICAL MEETING

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 1999 (VIS) - A communique today from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity announced that council president, Cardinal Edward Cassidy, on Sunday, May 16 will take part in the concluding celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the diocese of Pinerolo in northern Italy, presiding over Mass in the cathedral and delivering the homily.

On May 17 at the Synod Hall of the Casa Valdese, or Waldensian House, in Torre Pellice, Cardinal Cassidy and Rev. Paolo Ricca, pastor of the Church of Waldensians, will speak on the "Ecumenical Way of the Churches: Catholics and Evangelicals in Dialogue" at an ecumenical encounter organized by the priests of the diocese and the pastors of the Church of the Waldensians.

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JUBILEE NEWS FROM FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 1999 (VIS) - On May 3, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee for the Jubilee Year 2000, met in Paris, France with delegates from the dioceses and the Catholic movements of that country who are preparing the great celebrations for next year.

According to information supplied by the Central Committee for the Jubilee, during this visit Cardinal Etchegaray announced that at the end of October 2000 an inter-religious congress will take place in the presence of the Pope to examine how religions can collaborate in the face of the challenges of the third millennium. Cardinal Etchegaray said that "tomorrow, the great problem will not be atheism, but a sincere and profound coexistence between religions and the manner in which Christianity must maintain its identity without sliding into syncretism."

Furthermore, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the U.S.A. has just published the calendar of its Jubilee celebrations. "The Church in the U.S.A." says a statement, "is preparing itself for the Holy Year with a novena from the start of November to the end of December 1999."

The U.S. Jubilee committee has so far organized 15 Jubilee days dedicated to specific groups of people, such as children, mothers, fathers, migrants and refugees, farmers, catechists and entertainers, or specific themes such as peace and justice, the environment, and reconciliation. A special occasion will be the Day of Families which will be celebrated on Thanksgiving Day. This traditional American holiday takes place each year on the last Thursday of November and in the year 2000 falls on November 23.

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