FOUNDATION PREPARING JUBILEE CONGRESS ON ETHICS AND FINANCE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 11, 1999 (VIS) - This morning at Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father welcomed the participants in a meeting promoted by the "Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontefice" Foundation, currently meeting in the Vatican to prepare an international congress on "Ethics and Finance" during the 2000 Jubilee Year, within the framework of the Jubilee of the World of Labor.

The Pope highlighted that, "within the pervasive phenomenon of globalization, which marks the current historical moment," there is the "so-called 'financialiazation' of the economy. ... This phenomenon poses new and difficult questions, even under an ethical profile." One of these questions, he remarked, is "the problem of the relationship between wealth produced and work, given that today it is possible to rapidly create great wealth without a quantitative link to the work undertaken."

To better direct economies to work for the common good, and not that of a few, the Holy Father suggested that those working in the field of finance could themselves "prepare codes of ethics or behavior which are binding on the sector. ... Leaders of the international community ... could then adopt suitable juridical instruments to face crucial situations." In particular, he added, "Christians who work in the economic and financial sectors, are called to find possible ways to actuate this duty of justice."

The Pope then pointed out that the Church, through her social doctrine, has always "been careful to be the guardian of human rights, with special attention for the poor. ... (The Church) is aware that, 'even if the economy and moral discipline, each in its own sphere, rest on their own principles, it would be erroneous to affirm that the economic order and the moral order are thus disparate and foreign, one to the other."

Saying that the processes of globalization "do not have per se ethically negative connotations," he warned, nonetheless, against progress which could "generate, and in fact has already produced, ambivalent or decidedly negative consequences, especially damaging to the poor."

What is needed is "a sense of global justice ... which takes into consideration the structural interdependence of relations between men beyond national borders. In the meantime it would be opportune to support and encourage those projects of 'ethical finance', 'micro credit' and 'commercial equality and solidarity' which are within the reach of everyone."

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NEW AMBASSADOR FROM JAPAN PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 11, 1999 (VIS) - Today at Castelgandolfo, Pope John Paul received the Letters of Credence of Toru Iwanami, Japan's new ambassador to the Holy See.

He began his French-language discourse by recalling that Japan this year is celebrating the 450th anniversary of the arrival of St. Francis Xavier, patron of missions, who "contributed to building bridges and creating fraternal relations between the East and West. The life and work of St. Francis Xavier also reminds us of the importance of spiritual and religious freedoms which ... are the indispensable conditions for the building of a nation, as well as for collaboration and friendship among peoples." And the Pope lauded "the attitude of tolerance in Japan, which remains attached to its traditions of openness to different religions."

"One cannot forget," the Holy Father went on, "that your country is one of the symbols of peace, ... because the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are for all men today a message, inviting all peoples ... to commit themselves more resolutely in favor of peace. Indeed, they evoke for our contemporaries all the crimes committed during the Second World War against civil populations. ... In order not to forget past atrocities, it is important to teach the young generations the incomparable value of peace among individuals and peoples, for the culture of peace is contagious."

Then, turning to the Church in Japan, the Pope stated that "though small in number, Catholics are called to take an active part in the public life of Japanese society, ... to participate in its evolution and transformation, so that it will always be at the service of people." He highlighted the Church's long tradition of activity in Japan, "especially in the educational domain," as well as her "care to transmit to young generations a civic sense in addition to the spiritual and moral values needed for their personal life and their insertion into society."

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CELEBRATION FOR THE CENTENARY OF MADAGASCAR DIOCESE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 11, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father to Cardinal Armand Gaetan Razafindratandra, archbishop of Antananarivo, Madagascar, naming him as special envoy at the closing celebrations for the centenary of the evangelization of the diocese of Antsirabe, due to take place from September 17 to 19. The letter, written in Latin, is dated August 27.

The Pontifical Mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Fr. Vicent Sylvestre Randrianaivozaka, vicar general of the diocese of Antsirabe and Fr. Louis Ernest Razakarisoa, provincial superior of the Missionaries of our Lady of La Salette.

JPII-LETTER;SPECIAL ENVOY;...;RAZAFINDRATANDRA;VIS;19990913;Word: 110;

BISHOPS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SANCTITY OF CLERGY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 11, 1999 (VIS) - For the third consecutive day John Paul II received prelates who have just completed their quiquennial "ad limina" visit, welcoming the bishops of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference.

"In your mission as pastors of the people entrusted to your care," said the Pope, "you must be, above all, promoters and models of communion. ... Such union between bishops is particularly necessary in our times, given that pastoral initiatives take many forms and transcend the limits of individual dioceses. Furthermore, communion must be rendered concrete in pastoral cooperation and in common projects and programs."

The Holy Father confirmed that, even though most Puerto Ricans are Catholics, "at times they lack a solid and mature faith." For this reason, many seek to fill their interior emptiness "allowing themselves to be drawn in by hedonism and evading their responsibilities."

Faced with such a situation, the Holy Father continued, "united as an Episcopal Conference, do not cease to give teaching on the problems that concern your island, without supplanting the responsibility of politicians and lay people and while respecting Catholics' freedom of choice on the status and future of Puerto Rico."

The Pope went on to talk about the clergy and highlighted that "the grave responsibility that priests be saints falls above all on bishops; consequently they must take great care in overseeing the continual formation of the clergy."

After encouraging the prelates "to continue to promote intense vocational parochial care within parishes," he said: "You must dedicate your best attention and greatest energies to new candidates, forming them in communal fraternity and giving them a solid theological and cultural base, particularly ensuring that they be men of God." He added that "it is necessary to revitalize the seminaries of San Juan and Ponce, selecting suitable and saintly teachers, who steadily accompany the young as they follow Christ in the service of the Church."

The Pope highlighted the importance that lay people commit themselves in ecclesial and social life. "The Church, through an assiduous and profound formation of lay people at a spiritual, moral and human level, must help them to be evangelical leavening in modern society."

On the subject of the family, the Pope recalled the "growing number of divorces and the high percentage of children born outside matrimony. This makes clear the urgent necessity of promoting a catechesis that illustrates both the greatness and dignity of conjugal love in keeping with the divine plan, as well as its requirements for the good of the couple and the children."

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APPEAL IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSES IN EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today, after praying the angelus at Castelgandolfo, John Paul II made a fresh appeal for peace in East Timor:

"My thoughts go once again to East Timor where brutal violence persists and intensifies, being practiced even against the Catholic Church which has long been seeking dialogue and reconciliation.

"I must communicate the deep sadness I feel for yet another defeat of any sense of humanity as, on the threshold of the third millennium, fratricidal conflict once again kills and destroys without pity.

"I express once again my total condemnation of the grave abuses of human rights that are being perpetrated in the territory, in a vain attempt to cancel the wishes expressed by the people and their legitimate aspirations.

"I renew my appeal to the politicians and military responsible, as well as the international community, to listen to the cries of the weak and the defenseless and come immediately to their aid.

"Finally, I invite you to pray to the Most Holy Virgin, Queen of peace, for the dead, the injured, the refugees and all those who weep and suffer. May she, who on the day of her Nativity we called "dawn and hope of salvation," be such also for the people of Timor, who do not cease to faithfully await a brighter future."

Afterwards, in greeting the faithful the Pope said, speaking in Portuguese: "In the face of a world marked by growing tensions and hatred, this Sunday's Gospel teaches us to pardon all, as each brother is worth all the Blood of Christ spilt on the Cross."

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ANGELUS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND REASON

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1999 (VIS) - Prior to praying the angelus today from Castelgandolfo, the Pope remarked that, in many parts of the world, school starts this month. He reminded teachers and students that one year ago he signed the Encyclical "'Fides et Ratio' ... which deals with the relationship between faith and reason, a decisive theme for culture and for existence itself."
"The path of reason," he stated, "goes, so to speak, from the world to God the creator." By contrast, "in knowing faith, the process goes rather from God to the world: God wished to manifest Himself in history, with a language and message which go well beyond that of creation. This revelation, made through intimately linked words and gestures, is the event with which God meets men and speaks to them 'to invite and admit them into communion with Himself'."

The Holy Father concluded: "To God who revealed Himself we owe 'obedience of faith'. It is a question of an obedience offered in full liberty; free, that is, not only from external constrictions, but also from that blind, unquestioning faith which is nourished by emotions and subject to every change in sentiment. Reason plays an important role in avoiding unquestioning belief. Reason is called to discern the signs with which God has endorsed His revelation, so that man, in welcoming it, might fully adhere to it."

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POPE ATTENDS A CONCERT AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1999 (VIS) - This evening at Castelgandolfo, John Paul II attended a concert of classical music promoted by the "Lucchini" Foundation of Brescia, Italy.

At the end of the concert, the Pope thanked the pianist and the organizers and made clear his desire that the Foundation, "through its many activities, might contribute to spreading those human and spiritual values that form the fundamental base for the moral, civil and economic progress of the whole of society."

JPII-GREETINGS;CONCERT;...;CASTELGANDOLFO;VIS;19990913;Word: 90;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 13 SEP, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Ubaldo Calabresi, apostolic nuncio in Argentina.
- Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, prime minister of Lesotho and his entourage.
- Archbishop Gerardo Pierro of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, Italy.
- Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, apostolic administrator "sede vacante ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Dili, East Timor.

On Saturday, September 11, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Bulaitis, apostolic nuncio in Albania.
- Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, apostolic nuncio in France.
- Bishop Salvatore Boccaccio of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino, Italy.

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BISHOP BELO OF EAST TIMOR TO GIVE A BRIEFING TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, SEP 13, 1999 (VIS) - Tomorrow, September 14, at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, apostolic administrator "sede vacante ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Dili, East Timor, will hold a briefing for accredited journalists.

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TALY'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO HOLY SEE PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 13, 1999 (VIS) - Raniero Avogadro, Italy's new ambassador to the Holy See, today presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father, who received him at the apostolic palace in Castelgandolfo.

In his welcome speech, the Pope underlined the historical ties which bind the Roman Pontiff to Rome and to Italy. He remarked that "Catholicism has marked the country with infinite signs of faith and charity," from works of art with religious themes, to "saints of exceptional stature," to "outstanding personalities of every order of the People of God, with singular contributions of genius and style to the Roman Curia."

John Paul II pointed out that "in this century, the misunderstandings and crises which had accompanied the formation of Italy as a free, national state, were happily overcome." He underlined that, while the Church's temporal domain had "its undeniable function," the 1929 Lateran Pacts settled the question of the Papal States, ratifying "the establishment of Vatican City State, which was given that minimum territorial basis necessary to assure the Pope and Holy See absolute sovereignty and independence." The Concordat, he added, became "a guarantee for that free exercise of religious life which is among the first of all human rights."

The Pope then spoke of the collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church "in the promotion of mankind and the good of the country." This collaboration, he said, must be "deepened and pursued," especially in questions regarding the defense of human dignity, the recognition and defense of the family, "the basic cell of society and its natural foundation," and in education. On the latter subject, he stressed the need for "effective juridical and economy parity between state and non-state schools."

Pope John Paul concluded by addressing remarks to the role of Christian Italy within the context of both Europe and the Mediterranean region: "Co-builder of a Europe of the spirit, artisan of peace in the Mediterranean, custodian of that ancient Christian soul which is part of its makeup and history: this is the Italy of my hopes!"

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