Monday, June 28, 1999

TO IRISH BISHOPS: NEW EVANGELIZATION FOR A NEW MILLENNIUM


VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning received the bishops of Ireland at the conclusion of their quinquennial "ad limina" visit and focussed on the Great Jubilee, saying that this "requires the Shepherds of the Church to intensify their efforts in the new evangelization needed to lay solid foundations for Christian living in the next millennium."

He remarked that "recent years have witnessed many changes in Irish society," some making it difficult to evangelize, while others demonstrate that "many of the faithful are eager to have a more enlightened knowledge of the faith." Examples of the latter, he said, are "the spread of prayer groups, Eucharistic adoration and pilgrimages, as well as the laity's increased involvement in evangelization."

"It is also true that the exaggerated individualism which sometimes accompanies increased material prosperity has brought in its wake a declining sense of God's presence and of the transcendent meaning of human life. The relativism which then takes hold often leads to a rejection of the objective foundations of morality and an overly subjective understanding of conscience."

The Holy Father underscored that "today it is often the laity who must be in the forefront in seeking to apply the Church's teaching to the ethical, moral and social questions which arise in their communities or at the national level. ... In this they look to the bishops for encouragement and leadership."

The Pope then turned to the fact that "the knowledge of the truth of the faith and religious practices, especially among young adults, is declining. Certainly, some of the reasons for this are external to the Church. But others fall within that watchfulness which is an essential part of the ministry of bishops."

"In the new evangelization," affirmed John Paul II, "marriage and the family must be the subject of intense pastoral action," in particular through "pre-marriage preparation. ... New ideas and new energies are needed to meet the needs of couples in difficulty, and in particular to reach out promptly and efficaciously to women facing pressures to reject the unborn life they bear. The new evangelization involves a strenuous defense of the right to life, the most basic of all human rights - more basic than any individual's, group's or government's right to choose."

The Pope urged the bishops to "have a close relationship with" and "to offer inspiration and encouragement to "their priests, their closest collaborators. He said he had been "close" to the bishops "in suffering and prayer" in the question of "those who have been victims of sexual abuse on the part of clerics or religious. ... These scandals, and a sociological concept of the Church, sometimes lead to a call for a change in the discipline of celibacy. ... The difficulties involved in preserving chastity are not sufficient reason for overturning the law of celibacy."

He observed that "a rejuvenation of the faith in Ireland can only come from a genuine renewal of liturgical and sacramental life, especially in the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Church's life. ... Reverence for the True Presence ... is particularly needed now when so much of today's culture tends to remain at the level of the ephemeral and superficial."

In concluding remarks, Pope John Paul quoted his Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" and reiterated his intention that the forthcoming Jubilee Year be "a year of the remission of sins and of the punishments due to them, a year of reconciliation between disputing parties, a year of manifold conversions and of sacramental and extra-sacramental penance." He urged them to "emphasize" the Sacrament of Penance in order to counteract "prevailing trends in contemporary culture (which) weaken the sense of sin, particularly because of a diminished consciousness of God."

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ST. PETER'S SQUARE HOSTS THE "MYSTERIES" OF MOLISE


VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today, prior to praying the angelus from the window of his private study which overlooks St. Peter's Square, the Pope addressed the organizers of a sacred procession of the so-called "mysteries", carried out by pilgrims from the Molise region of Italy in honor of the Holy Father.

John Paul II enumerated the thirteen figures which were carried around St. Peter's Square by groups of young people and children. They represented St. Michael the Archangel, the Immaculate Conception, Abraham, the Holy Family, St. Mary Magdelene, St. Crispin, St, Januarius, St. Anthony Abbot, St. Nicholas of Bari, St. Leonard of Noblac, St. Isidore, St. Roque and the Assumption of the Virgin.

The Holy Father said: "The 'mysteries' are not simply folklore, rather they have a value that is, above all, religious ... they invite us to meditate upon the history of salvation."

The Holy Father noted with joy that the "'mystery' of the Immaculate Conception, which passes in procession immediately after the 'mystery' referring to the primordial victory of the faithful angels over the rebel angels, recalls that at the start of man's history, God's grace existed. ... The last 'mystery' to pass is the Assumption into heaven of the body and soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this represents the glory into which the Virgin has entered and to which are called all those who accept Christ's redemption."

"I sincerely hope that these meaningful forms of popular religiosity, born within communities that are rich in faith, continue today to be valid instruments of evangelization. May they serve to encourage contemplation and prayer and motivate, especially in the young, the same spiritual enthusiasm as in previous generations."

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PROMULGATION OF DECREES BY CONGREGATION FOR CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - Today in the Clementine Hall, the following decrees were promulgated in the presence of John Paul II, the members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and postulators of the respective causes:
- Two decrees regarding miracles attributed to the intercession of Blesseds:
- Cristobal Magallanes, Mexican, and 24 companions, diocesan priests and laity, martyrs, murdered for the faith between 1915 and 1937 during persecutions against the Church in Mexico.
- Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra, Spanish, foundress of the Institute of the Servants of Jesus (1842-1912).

- Five decrees regarding miracles attributed to the intercession of Servants of God:
- Arcangelo Tadini, Italian, diocesan priest, founder of the Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth (1846-1912)
- Marie Ann (ne Marie Esther Soureau-Blondin), Canadian, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann (1809- 1890).
- Rosa Gattorno, Italian, widow, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of St. Ann (1831-1900).
- Caterina Volpicelli, Italian, foundress of the Servants of the Sacred Heart (1839-1894).
- Francsco Marto, Portuguese, witness of the apparition of Fatima (1908-1919) and Jacinta Marto, Portuguese, witness of the apparition of Fatima (1910-1920).

- Three decrees regarding the martyrdom of Servants of God:
- Maria Guadalupe (ne Maria Francesca Ricart Olmos), Spanish, (1881-1936) of the Second Order of the Servants of Mary, martyred for the faith on October 2, 1936 in Silla, Spain
- Maria Baldillou, Spanish, and 5 companions of the Institute of Holy Schools, Daughters of Mary; and Dolores and Consuelo Aguiar-Mella Diaz, Spanish, lay people, martyred for the faith August 8, 1936 in Valencia, Spain, and September 19, 1936 in Madrid, Spain.
- Maria Stella (ne Adelaide Mardosewicz) and 10 companions of the Institute of the Holy Family of Nazareth, martyred for the faith August 1, 1943 in Nowogrodek, Bielarus.

- Eight decrees regarding the heroic virtue of Servants of God:
- Jeronimo Maria Usera y Alarcon, Spanish, priest and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God (1810-1891).
- Pablo de Anda y Padilla, Mexican, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of the Minim Daughters of Mary Immaculate (1830-1904).
- Giorgio Preca, Maltese, diocesan priest and founder of the Society for Christian Doctrine (1880-1962).
- Columba (ne Joseph Marmion), Irish, priest of the Order of St. Benedict (1858-1923).
- Maria del Paso de Jesus Sacramentado (ne Maria del Paso Cabanillas) Argentinian, foundress of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Argentina (1821-1885).
- Maria della Passione (ne Helen de Chappotin de Neuville), French, foundress of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary (1839-1904).
- Maria Teresa Chiramel Mankidiyan, Indian, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family (1876-1926).
- Caritas (ne Marie Josephine Caroline Brader), Swiss, foundress of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate. (1860-1943).

Among those present were archbishops Jose Saraiva Martins and Edward Nowak, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, as well as a group of cardinals.

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NEW CZECH AMBASSADOR PRESENTS HIS LETTERS OF CREDENCE


VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - The new ambassador of the Czech Republic, Martin Stropnicky, today presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father who remarked that, "your country is called to participate actively, as an important factor of unity, in the construction of the new Europe."

The Pope highlighted that "it is necessary to surmount any possible divisions - unfortunately an ever present possibility in a society extremely jealous of its own rights and its own autonomy - so that (the countries of Europe) may commit themselves to setting up the structures needed for constructing a Europe of the Nations, the urgent need for which is being ever more strongly felt. It is the duty of men and women of good will to promote reconciliation and understanding between individuals and peoples, thus contributing to the affirmation of peace."

"It is important," the Pope continued, "that those responsible for public administration found their political, economic and social decisions above all on the moral criteria that form part of the collective European memory. ... In this sense, effective recognition of religious freedom is an indispensable condition for the construction of the new Europe."

John Paul II especially insisted on the necessity for the creation of a "joint commission, including representatives of the Czech Republic and of the Holy See, in order to study still unresolved questions regarding the relationship between Church and State. In this way too, the question of the restitution of Church property can be dealt with, as can that of adequate support for ecclesial institutions, according to the norms of law and the requirements of justice and democracy."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Eugenio de Araujo Sales, archbishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Archbishop Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
- Archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of Lima, Peru.
- Alberto Leoncini Bartoli, ambassador of Italy, accompanied by his family, on a farewell visit.

On Saturday, June 26, he received in separate audiences:

- Fra Andrew W. N. Bertie, prince and grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, accompanied by his entourage.
- Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo S.D.B., archbishop of Managua, Nicaragua.
- Cardinal Serafim Fernandes de Araujo, archbishop of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
- Four prelates from the Irish Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Christopher Jones of Elphin.
- Bishop William Walsh of Killaloe. - Bishop William Murphy of Kerry.
- Bishop Philip Boyce O.C.D. of Raphoe.
- Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Bishop Wlodzimierz Roman Juszczak of Wroclaw-Gdansk of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite.
- Fr. Marek Skorka O.S.B.M., provincial of the Basilian Fathers, Poland.

ITALY'S PRESIDENT CIAMPI ATTENDS MASS WITH THE POPE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration: "Yesterday morning the president of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, accompanied by his wife, attended the Mass celebrated by John Paul II. Following Mass, President Ciampi held a brief conversation with the Pope."

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POPE RECEIVES A DELEGATION FROM THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE


VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience a delegation from the ecumenical patriarchate of Constantinople, led by His Eminence Chrysostomos, metropolitan of Efesus, which is in Rome for tomorrow's celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles.
The Pope indicated that "the search for unity and full communion must be supported by everyone's prayers. May the Lord guide pastors and theologians, that together they may discover the paths to holiness and unity and that they may know how to propose (these paths) to all with the force and conviction that derive from the certainty that 'to believe in Christ means to desire unity; to desire unity means to desire the Church; to desire the Church means to desire the communion of grace which corresponds to the Father's plan from all eternity.'"

"The burning desire of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome is that there arise a great and unanimous prayer of thanksgiving with the firm intention to accomplish together the will of God. Upon a suggestion of His Holiness Bartholomew I, patriarch of Constantinople, I requested that, within the calendar of Roman celebrations for the year 2000, a day of jubilee prayer and fasting be proclaimed, on the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. ... We must give thanks to God together, with feelings of brotherhood and ecumenical commitment."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Jan Chrapek, auxiliary of the diocese of Torun, Poland, as bishop of Radom (area 8,000, population 1,050,000, Catholics 1,047,000, priests 700, religious 608), Poland. He succeeds Bishop Edward Materski whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday, June 26, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun of the clergy of the diocese of Cheongju (area 5,767, population 1,290,450, Catholics 110,000, priests 100, religious 321), Korea, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Um-seong-gun, Korea, in 1947, ordained a priest in 1976 and since 1993 has been director of the Shrine of the Blessed Martyrs at Paeti.

- Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano as pontifical legate for the closing celebration of the European Youth Meeting which will take place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from August 4-8.

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