GENERAL AUDIENCE: DEATH AS A MEETING WITH THE FATHER

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - "Today it has become difficult to talk of death because wealthy society tends to shy away from this reality, the thought of which only causes anguish," said the Pope during this morning's general audience in St. Peter's Square.

The subject of this Wednesday's catechism was "Death as a Meeting with the Father." The Holy Father said that divine revelation has enabled man to understand that God "could not have created death because He does not delight in the death of the living. God's original project was different, but it was contrasted by the sin that man committed under the influence of the devil." Nonetheless, "with his death and Resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and its consequence, death."

Scripture, John Paul II went on, tells us that "the righteous need not worry as they are the elect, destined to receive the promised legacy; they will be placed at the right hand of Christ."

"Death, as experienced by the believer as a member of the mystical body, opens the way to the Father. ... As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: 'Death, ... for those who die in Christ's grace, ... is a participation in the death of the Lord, so that they can also share his Resurrection.'"

The Pope concluded by indicating: "It is necessary to pass through death, but in the certainty that we will meet the Father when 'the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality'."

At the conclusion of the audience, John Paul II invited those present to join him and the Church of Rome tomorrow, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, to pray for peace in the Balkans and the whole world.

In his greetings to Italian pilgrims he asked them to accompany him in prayer "during the pilgrimage to Poland which, God willing, I will start this Saturday. I ask you to pray in order that this trip, the longest I have undertaken to my native land, may bear the desired spiritual fruit."

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POPE TO MEET TOMORROW WITH U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"In the face of the worsening situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the resulting humanitarian drama, the Holy See has not ceased to demonstrate its deep concern and to undertake various initiatives.

"His Holiness, Pope John Paul II has constantly reiterated the necessity of putting an end to violence and of starting a just and global dialogue. In this context, His Holiness has expressed his desire to meet Kofi A. Annan, secretary general of the United Nations Organization, in order to examine the situation and to propose ways and means to resolve the crisis and construct peace in the Balkans.

"The secretary general has happily agreed to meet the Pope on Thursday, June 3 at 1 p.m.

"On April 27, 1999 His Holiness, in a personal letter addressed to the secretary general, wrote: 'The Holy See greatly appreciates the fact that the United Nations finds its full role in the management of a crisis which involves the entire international community. It is indeed urgent that laws and institutions be heard and not silenced by the din of arms'.
"Thursday's meeting will serve to highlight the specific role given to the United Nations and the secretary general by the international community."

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POPE INAUGURATES NEW VATICAN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning visited and inaugurated the Vatican's new three-story underground parking facility, expressing "great satisfaction for this new structure" which "helps make Vatican City more welcoming and serviceable, while keeping intact, even enriching, its artistic and environmental characteristics."

He said that, during his visit, he came to "realize its usefulness and above all how it had been planned and built, fully respecting the environmental impact. The green areas have not been reduced and obvious improvements have been made in the street layout."

John Paul II congratulated "everyone who has collaborated in planning and building" the parking lot, and asked the Lord's blessing "on this building, on the cars which will be parked here and above all on everyone who, for whatever reason, enters here."

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CALL FOR PEACE IN COLOMBIA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - At the conclusion of this morning's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope made a call for peace in Colombia:

"Sad news continues to arrive from Colombia where last Sunday, at the Church of the Transfiguration in the city of Cali, an armed group sacrilegiously interrupted the celebration of Mass and kidnapped numerous people, among them the priest. In the past, similar acts have occurred in the interior of the country, such as at El Pinon (Magdalena), and murders of clergy have taken place."

"In the face of events of such magnitude, I renew my urgent call for peace, respecting the rights of persons and with commitment to a dialogue that may bring about the desired solution to this grave crisis. I accompany this hope with a request in my prayers that God grant peace to Colombia."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Elevated Bishop Jose Carlos Melo C.M., auxiliary of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, to the dignity of archbishop.

- Appointed Msgr. Dino De' Antoni, vicar general of Chioggia, Italy, as archbishop of Gorizia (area 1,030, population 180,100, Catholics 179,500, priests 160, religious 462), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in Chioggia, Italy, in 1936 and was ordained a priest in 1960. He succeeds Archbishop Antonio Vitale Bommarco O.F.O. Conv., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese was accepted by the Pope upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Jorge Ruben Lugones S.J., as bishop of Oran (area 55,000, population 193,000, Catholics 161,800, priests 32, religious 66), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in 1952 in Veinticinco de Mayo, Argentina, was ordained a priest in 1988 and since March 1999 has been assistant at the parish of S. Pietro a Famatina.

- Appointed Fr. Mario Pasqualotto P.I.M.E., as auxiliary of Manaus (area 65,146, population 1,295,315, Catholics 1,133,000 priests 101, religious 230), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Valenza Po, Italy, in 1938, he was ordained a priest in 1965 and since 1995 has been parish priest of Maues.

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VATICAN OBSERVATORY SUMMER SCHOOL TO START JUNE 13

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Seventh Vatican Observatory Summer School in Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics will be held from June 13 to July 10 at the observatory headquarters in the papal summer residence at Castelgandolfo, near Rome, according to a communique from the Vatican Observatory.

Twenty-five young scholars from 21 different countries were selected to participate in this summer school. The selection process took place in Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. at the offices of the Vatican Observatory Research Group at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory.

"The purpose of the school," says the communique, "is to help young people at the beginning of their program of higher studies to develop quality research careers which will be nourished by interchange on an international scale. Many of the students from developing countries who participated in the six previous schools are now pursuing studies or post-graduate research at renowned institutions. The Jesuit Community of the Vatican observatory has provided scholarships to five of them to begin their graduate studies."

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PRESENTATION OF VIDEO SERIES: "THE GREAT JUBILEE OF 2000"

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - During today's general audience a series of ten videos entitled "The Great Jubilee of 2000" was presented to the Pope. Later, in the Holy See Press Office, this initiative was explained to journalists.

Participating in the conference were: Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, respectively president and secretary general of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000; Fausto Fontecedro, representative of the State Polygraphic Institute and Mint; Msgr. Ugo Moretto, director of the Vatican Television Center; Alberto Michelini, author and coordinator of the work and Leandro Castellani, director of the series.

During this morning's presentation, it was explained that there are 10 cassettes in the series and that they are divided into two themes. The first group, made in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center, touches upon the person and pontificate of John Paul II: The Pope and Young People; The Pope and Religions; The Pope and Human Rights; John Paul II and Marian Devotions; The Pope, Families and Children.

The second group, realized in collaboration with Editalia, looks at themes linked to the Jubilee in its historical and artistic aspects: Pilgrims' Itineraries; From Jerusalem to Rome; The Nativity in Art; the Catacombs and Christian Rome; The Four Patriarchal Basilicas.

Each video lasts approximately 30 minutes. They are distributed by "Terzo Millennio," may be purchased individually and are available in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish.

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