PONTIFICAL COUNCIL PUBLISHES DOCUMENT ON SHRINES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - On Tuesday May 25 at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, there will be a conference to present the document, "The Shrine. Memorial, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God," which was prepared by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerary Peoples.

Those scheduled to participate include Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Francesco Gioia, respectively president and secretary of the pontifical council, and Crescenzio Sepe, secretary general of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee.

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CHILDREN, THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE JUBILEE OF FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Family is preparing the Jubilee of Families which will take place in Rome on October 14-15, 2000 within the framework of the Third World Meeting of the Holy Father with Families.

A note from the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee indicates that, in keeping with the theme chosen by the Pope, "Children, The Springtime of the Family and of Society," this event will be the occasion to deal with the relationship of children with parents and with the social environment, as well as to analyze the problems of abuse, exploitation and violence against minors.

On Saturday, October 14, prayer meetings will be held for families on pilgrimage, both in the jubilee basilicas and in a number of national churches in Rome. In St. Peter's Square on the same afternoon, there will be a meeting of testimony and celebration of the families with the Pope. On Sunday morning, also in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II will preside at a celebration of the Eucharist during which he will administer the sacrament of marriage to 12 couples from different countries in representation of all the continents.

On October 12, 13 and 14, in the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas an international theological-pastoral congress will take place on the theme chosen for the Jubilee of Families. About 1,200 people are expected to attend, including family representatives, delegates and experts.

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BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, A MORAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the Forum of Spiritual Leaders on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which he called "the preeminent instrument to bring about the complete elimination of nuclear weapons."

Speaking at U.N. headquarters about the preparations for the 2000 Review of the NPT, he said that "despite all the difficulties, ... the Holy See never wavers from what it has said on several occasions: 'Nuclear weapons are incompatible with the peace we seek for the 21st century. They cannot be justified. They deserve condemnation. The preservation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty demands an unequivocal commitment to their abolition. ... This is a moral challenge, a legal challenge, and a political challenge. That multiple-based challenge must be met by the application of our humanity'."

The archbishop pointed out that the 1995 extension of the NPT was accompanied by a Program of Action "which called for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). ... Since then the CTBT has been signed by 152 States, but its ratification by the requisite number of States and hence entry into force is far from certain."

The Holy See observer went on to list some of the signs of lack of progress in the NPT process: delayed negotiations for a fissile ban; barely discernible "'systematic' progress in nuclear disarmament"; "START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) is not yet in force"; "nuclear testing by new States"; "continued high military spending in virtually every region of the world"; "resurgence of militarism in the resolution of the dispute over Kosovo and the continued intransigencies in Iraq"; and "the many conflicts ravaging Africa."

"Enormous human suffering, atrocities and forced deportations of peoples are an unacceptable scourge," affirmed Archbishop Martino. "The gross violations of human rights and human dignity are intolerable and must be stopped. There can never be peace in the world while such injustices abound."

He added that "while militarism of all kinds must be checked, the abolition of nuclear weapons is the prerequisite for peace in the 21st century. ... Therefore, the present difficulties must be overcome.

"In order for the 'road map' to be clearer," the archbishop remarked, "the Holy See favors a new set of 'Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament' to be adopted by the 2000 Review," suggesting that these "should reinforce the political accountability that is critical to the vitality and viability of the NPT process."

In concluding remarks, he stressed that "the activities of believers in the field of disarmament are a blessing and a service to humanity."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in the Philippines.
- Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio in Bangladesh. - Six prelates from the Kenya Episcopal Conference on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Bishop Boniface Lele of Kitui.
- Bishop Philip Anyolo of Kericho.
- Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich, military ordinary.
- Bishop Maurice Anthony Crowley, S.P.S. of Kitale.
- Bishop Norman King'oo Wambua of Bungoma.
- Bishop Luigi Locati, vicar apostolic of Isiolo.

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