EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: "WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THE LORD'S DAY"

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father to Archbishop Giuseppe Chiaretti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve, Italy, for the 4th Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, which will come to a close on September 19 in Perugia.

The Pope recalls that "the theme (of the congress), 'We cannot live without the Lord's day', makes reference to the Apostolic Letter 'Dies Domini' concerning Sundays". He requests "that the faithful of Perugia-Citta della Pieve intensify with renewed enthusiasm the value and importance of the Sunday celebration, 'great school of charity, justice and peace'. May the meeting in prayer with God in the liturgy vitalize their apostolic commitment, lived with incessant thanksgiving to the Father, who is rich in mercy".

"It is my heartfelt wish that this Eucharistic Congress may cause the desire for sanctity to grow within the faithful of the entire diocese, an indispensable condition for an apostolic commitment capable of making a mark upon society. In fact, it is being most fittingly recalled during the various stages of the congress that, alongside a renewal in methods of pastoral care and in forms of evangelization, it is first of all necessary to arouse in the entire Christian community a true fervor for sanctity".

JPII-LETTER;EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS;...;CHIARETTI;VIS;19990902;Word: 220;

TELEGRAM FOR PLANE CRASH IN BUENOS AIRES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 1999 (VIS) - The following telegram was sent, in the Pope's name, by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio S.J., of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the plane crash that happened in that city on the night of August 31:

"Having heard with great sadness the tragic news of the air accident that took place in the Argentine capital, plunging so many families into mourning, His Holiness John Paul II offers his prayers for the eternal repose of the deceased, and raises an invocation to the Lord that He concede comfort and spiritual serenity to those who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

"I entreat Your Excellency to pass on the Holy Father's sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to express his paternal closeness and solicitude. At the same time, the Holy Father imparts a heartfelt apostolic blessing as a sign of hope in the Risen Christ."

TGR;AIR ACCIDENT;...;ARGENTINA; SODANO; BERGOGLIO;VIS;19990902;Word: 170;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of Kamloops, Canada, presented by Bishop Lawrence Sabatini C.S., in conformity with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

RE;...;...;SABATINI ;VIS;19990902;Word: 40;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences nine prelates from the Zambia Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe of Lusaka. - Archbishop James Spaita of Kasama.
- Bishop Dennis Harold De Jong of Ndola.
- Bishop Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone.
- Bishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Mbala-Mpika.
- Bishop Andrew Aaron Chisha of Mansa.
- Bishop Noel Charles O'Regan S.M.A., of Solwezi.
- Bishop Paul Duffy O.M.I., of Mongu.
- Fr. George Lungu, apostolic administrator "sede vacante" of Chipata.

AL;...;...;...;VIS;19990902;Word: 90;