FIRST GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 1999 (VIS) - The First General Congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops was held this afternoon in the Synod Hall. It began at 5:05 p.m. in the presence of Pope John Paul and 165 synod fathers, and ended at 7:10 p.m.

The meeting began with a greeting by President Delegate, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski. Speaking Latin, he highlighted the "multiple and rich traditions of the European peoples," the noteworthy political changes that had taken place in the last decade in Europe and the relationship between religion, Christianity in particular, and the cultures of Europe.

Notwithstanding many problems, said the cardinal, including the "rebuilding" of Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, "signs of hope have not been lacking in these years."

The president delegate continued: "New perspectives of hope opened up even on the ecumenical terrain, in the relationship between East and West: among the many positive signs of this should one not mention the (Pope's) visit to Romania and the encounter with Patriarch Teoctist?"

"Our common meditation," Cardinal Macharski concluded, "will show us, in a better way, in the forthcoming days, what our responsibilities are during the present moment towards our Europe, victoriously emerging from historical, civil, moral and religious constraints, a Europe which, despite fatigue and crisis, is moving towards integrated renewal, which the Church sees as possible by maintaining hope in the Lord Jesus."

The next speaker this evening was Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, who also addressed the assembly in Latin.

He reviewed the history of this second assembly for Europe, including Pope John Paul's convocation announcement on June 23, 1996 in Berlin and his announcement on April 18, 1997 of the theme: "Jesus Christ, Alive in His Church, Source of Hope for Europe."

Cardinal Schotte also spoke of the appointment of the members of the pre-synodal council and of the council's functions, the drafting by council members of the "Lineamenta," the preparation of the "Instrumentum Laboris," and the criteria used in selecting the synod participants. Participants, he stated, number 179: There are 72 "ex officio members," 84 elected members and 23 who were appointed by the Holy Father.

The secretary general then reviewed the synod's preparatory work, as well as the calendar of events of the synod, which officially began this morning with the concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Relator General, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, gave an overview of the situation of the Church on the threshold of the third millennium: challenges and difficulties, as well as hopes for re-evangelizing the continent.

"The work of this synod," he said at the beginning of his speech in Latin, "may justly be considered a contribution to the examination of conscience which the Jubilee requires from us all. Europe will have to re-examine the path that, since 1989, it has been following towards the construction of a new unity based on freedom, justice and solidarity. We must examine the situation of the Church regarding the new evangelization. The new evangelization represents the specific contribution the Church can make towards the longed-for spiritual, social and economic rebirth of our peoples with the final objective, inherent in the mission entrusted to the Church by the Lord and which constitutes her very reason for existence, namely, announcing and offering to humanity the Gospel of salvation."

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and of the totalitarian systems, said Cardinal Rouco, "some people imagined that there would naturally follow a period in which Europeans were finally going to see the realization of their ideals of freedom and justice in full respect of human dignity."

"Nonetheless, we must note that no small number of more or less well-founded hopes from these years has finished in disillusionment and disappointment, both in East and West. In the East, hopes have been dashed for a growth that would quickly lead to a level of economic well-being similar to that of the most developed nations in the West."

Among the "situations that weaken Church life in Europe today and that do not allow her to offer that clear witness of Christ and His Gospel that is so urgently required," are the exaggerated nationalism that led to war in the Balkans, the lack of ideals among Europeans, "many of whom have only the ideal of immediate exploitation of whatever life can offer in the way of pleasure," the crisis in the family, the falling birth-rate and abortion.

The archbishop of Madrid stated: "Secularist culture, dominant in our modern day Europe, presents many difficulties in a person's life and in the announcement of the Gospel." He added: "Europe is today faced with a fundamental decision: Conversion to the God of our forebears, whose Son was made flesh for the love of humanity, or separation from the spiritual roots that gave rise to real humanism in Europe. Our task as Church members is to announce the living God with our words and deeds, that is, to proclaim the Gospel of Hope. ... We must announce the Gospel with a full, courageous faith. ... The days of fear and neurosis have passed. We still commit errors in our preaching and in our pastoral work, yet we trust that our own shortcomings are more than compensated for by the Word itself, when we present it clearly and faithfully."

He continued: "There are various signs that lead us to think that integral, clear and renewed preaching of the risen Christ, the resurrection and eternal life will be a priority over the next few years. ... Have we not spoken too little and in too fragmentary a fashion on the future glory that the Church expects for her children and for the whole of creation? ... Another indication that speaks in favor of giving particular importance to preaching the last article of faith is the increasing recourse by many of our contemporaries - including some baptized - to certain substitutes for true hope, such as belief in reincarnation, astrology and other prophesying techniques.... Hedonism and even ethical cynicism ... are undoubtedly a sign of a deficiency in true moral fiber. ... The paradoxical skepticism of modern day Europeans - children of the 'culture of liberty' - concerning the true extent of man's free decisions, also makes us think of the necessity of speaking to such people with renewed commitment about the eternal dimension which is implicit in all levels of their being, called to perfect communion with God."

Cardinal Rouco Varela went on to refer to European unity: "The professional dedication of Christians to politics and the public order of society takes on a new and pressing urgency in light of the process - already fairly advanced - of building European unity upon the solid foundation of justice, freedom and peace."

"We must keep working so that 'the most basic right, the right to life of every person', is put fully into practice, 'and that the death penalty be abolished. This fundamental and indispensable right to life does not only imply that every person must be able to survive, but that each can live in just and dignified conditions.'"

"It is equally important," he added, "not to neglect a serious family policy, which guarantees the rights of married couples and children. This is particularly necessary for social cohesion and stability."

Finally, said the cardinal archbishop of Madrid, "a new, clearer emphasis must be placed on the Church's desire to contribute to creating closer ties of solidarity and cooperation within Europe as well as with peoples from other parts of the world, especially the most needy."

Europe "is passing through a precarious situation placing it at an historical crossroads. Despair, which is more or less acknowledged but clearly evident in such situations as those resulting from the family or demographic crises, affects all sectors of social life, especially youth who are without work and bereft of hope for a meaningful life."

"The Church, united to the destiny of Europe since the start of her evangelizing mission, looks upon the situation with concern. However, numerous signs exist which nourish our hope, a hope based solely on faith in Jesus Christ. In His incarnation - whose 2000th anniversary we are about to celebrate in the Holy Year - He united Himself in a particular way to every person. Many Europeans have found in him the meaning of life; they have formed a culture with deep Christian roots and diffused the Gospel throughout the world. Today in Europe, the Church continues to profess Jesus Christ, celebrating the mysteries of His life and serving Him in Charity."

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THIRD GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 1999 (VIS) - The third general congregation of the synod for Europe began this afternoon in the Synod Hall, in the presence of Pope John Paul II, at 5:05 p.m. President delegate on duty was Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany. The meeting, at which 153 synod fathers were present, concluded with the angelus prayer at 6:55 p.m.

Following are excerpts from several of the speeches given during this congregation:

ARCHBISHOP TADEUSZ KONDRUSIEWICZ, APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA FOR THE LATIN RITE. "In Europe evident progress has been made in integration in the West and the formation of new independent States in the East. We also have seen material and spiritual solidarity between the West and East, where the Church is being reborn and is growing according to pastoral needs. On the other hand, disappointment is also evident. The West is undergoing a spiritual crisis, and the East, instead of the expected spiritual rebirth, is sullied by imitation of the worst aspects of the West: consumerism, and ethnic, inter-confessional and inter-religious conflicts. There is a widening gap between the development of civilization and values of the spirit. Europe must make a choice that will determine its future. ... Today, the institution of the family is unprepared to perform its mission as the basic cell of society, to raise a future generation which is morally and physically healthy, to collaborate in the building of a civilization of love. We must comply unhesitatingly with the teachings of the Church and support the pastoral mission for the family; it is a question of being or not being."

ARCHBISHOP JOZEF MICHALIK, ARCHBISHOP OF PRZEMYSL OF THE LATINS. "We thank the Lord who gave the strength to the Holy Father, who goes down in history as the defender of the life of the unborn child. In his first book published in Poland, 'Love and Responsibility,' we can see the fervor that has filled so many lay persons and priests to bear light on this matter in the world. Today, once again, we can see how important and up to date the defense of life is, faced with the false progress of euthanasia and genetic manipulations, of social progress without moral principles. Today's Europe presents many victories in the field of science, with great well-being for some nations, a well-being built by the people themselves, capable and diligent. But Europe is dying with its demographic decline because many families no longer demonstrate the wish for life. Is this the fruit of a fleeting mode or a strategic plan of some ideology that knew how to exert pressure on human egotism, sowing false ideals that paralyze even evangelization?"

CARDINAL EDUARDO MARTINEZ SOMALO, PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR INSTITUTES OF CONSECRATED LIFE AND SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE. "To speak about Europe in the context of evangelization recalls the particular role played by consecrated life in the first and second millennium. Europe and consecrated life have lived in a fertile symbiosis for the greater part of their history. Today's situation has changed greatly. In this new context, voices emerge that see little value in the contribution of consecrated life in the next millennium. Pessimistic voices, beginning with the diminished numbers, nonetheless, today we still have the gift of approximately 450,000 religious women and 100,000 religious men in the different parts of the continent! ... Today's man is in urgent need of close contact not only with saintly persons but also with saintly communities. This is the 'quality' of consecrated life capable of re-evangelizing the new Europe and arousing vocations with an authentic pastoral work enlivened by prayer. ... In today's society, so involved with the production and consumption of material goods, a strong witness of spiritual goods is truly necessary. Today's Europe is being built on the primacy of the market. Even ethics, which has become more secular, excludes any reference to God."

BISHOP WILLIAM KENNEY C.P., AUXILIARY OF STOCKHOLM. "The Scandinavian Bishops ... ask that the Synod call for concrete action to help the poor of Europe whatever the reason is for their poverty. This means even greater solidarity with the poorer countries of our own continent. At the same time we must not forget the poor in other parts of our world. In other words we must be more generous than we are today. Secondly, we ask for the Church again to highlight the problems of the irregular immigrants in many of our countries - now numbering millions within our continent - and not allow these sisters and brothers to be forgotten. ... Thirdly, we ask that the supra-national structures of the Church such as CCEE and COMECE should be more proactive and not only reactive in these questions. We call on the Churches to provide the resources, which are necessary for these organisations to carry out such a programme."

BISHOP ROGER FRANCIS CRISPIAN HOLLIS OF PORTSMOUTH. "My experience working as a priest for the British Broadcasting Corporation and subsequently as a parish priest and as a Bishop, has convinced me that, as a Church, we are afraid of the media. We are generally reluctant to work with journalists and broadcasters and we run away from media opportunities to witness and evangelize. We pay lip service to the importance of communications in the Church and we have, again and again, committed ourselves to train our clergy, our seminarians and our people to become media-literate. But, in reality, nothing much has changed and we still regard the media as 'the enemy.' ... We belong to a people which has become progressively secularized by a culture that is largely media-controlled and yet we often neglect those very media which could help us to evangelize our culture more widely and more effectively. The media challenge us but they do not have to be a threat."

CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE. "Tasks for the Church in Europe. Europe has been traditionally Christian. Now it is getting religiously more pluralistic. The following tasks seem therefore necessary: a) Better doctrinal preparation of all Catholics. Many lay faithful know too little about the Catholic faith. The risk when such Catholics meet other believers is therefore great. b) Train more specialist Catholic personnel in the knowledge of other religions, especially Islam, and on how to meet their followers. c) Involve other religious, cultural and governmental institutions in the defense of the human right to religious freedom in other countries where another religion is that of the majority and where reciprocity is lacking. d) The Church in each country or diocese should analyze the spread of the sects in its area, the reasons why some of them attract Catholics, and what pastoral action seems indicated for the Church."

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SECOND GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Second General Congregation began this morning in the Synod Hall in the presence of the Holy Father at 9 a.m., and adjourned at 12:35 p.m. There were 164 synod fathers present.

Following are excerpts from several of the speeches given this morning:

CARDINAL PAUL POUPARD, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE. "In the encounter with non-believers and with cultures, the mission of the Church does not stop at dialogue and at the exchange of human words. Her goal is to proclaim explicitly the Word of God, the invitation to believe in Christ, the Good News for other cultures which are also in crisis of identity: intellectual agnosticism, cultural amnesia, ethic anomoea, religious aphasia, spiritual anemia. With the grace of God, we will overcome these through a double response, intellectual and spiritual - with faith in intelligence and intelligence of faith - as the first apologists and Fathers of the Church knew how to do. They adopted His resources to bring the creative newness of the Gospel to mankind. ... The men and women of culture in Europe are numerous and determined to help us in this, as witnessed by the Acts of the pre-synodal Symposium, 'Christ, source of a new culture for Europe (The New Areopagus)', which had four main goals:
1. To re-establish the foundations: philosophy and theology, anthropology and sciences.
2. To return to the fundamental values of the family and education, the school and university.
3. To renew the humanities, the arts and communication.
4. To re-think the life of men and women in society: nations and cultures, ethics, economy and politics."

BISHOP ANDRE FORT OF PERPIGNAN-ELNE, FRANCE. "The wish for immortality lies in the hearts of men in our times, it inspires their scientific research and orients their technical prowess. Our too great discretion in the assertion of our hope for eternal life and of our desire for the 'Christ's arrival, the only destruction for death' has serious consequences. In a human condition divorced of its eschatological dimension, defeats, suffering and death become insupportable."

ARCHBISHOP FRANCISCO ALVAREZ MARTINEZ OF TOLEDO, SPAIN. "This Synod is a privileged moment when, faithful to the Spirit, we can discern how the renewed presence and mission of the Church must be. We are experiencing difficulties and challenges typical of the diffusion of a vague religiosity, including practical atheism. This de-Christianization weakens the liveliness and evangelising capacity of the Church, with the accompanying, worrisome decrease in priestly vocations, in the consecrated life and in lay commitment. Given this, our diocese must basically offer spirituality to offset materialist consumerism and individualism, and in support of family life, missionary and ecumenical vocation. We must re-establish an ecclesiology of communion between the episcopate, the consecrated life and lay people, charism and ministries. The spirituality and holiness of bishops must respond to the grace received from ordination, (and they must) live in close communion with priests, for the expression of hierarchical communion."

CARDINAL MILOSLAV VLK, ARCHBISHOP OF PRAGUE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
"The strong impact of ecclesial movements in places often quite far from the ecclesial life has been amazing. Even before transmitting the Christian truth, these movements are dedicated to living it, and before proclaiming in words the presence of the Resurrection, they make it perceptible by facts. It is also for this that the charisms recognized by the Church 'deserve ... attention from every member of the ecclesial community, beginning with priests.' One cannot deny that immaturity, intemperance, and sometimes deviations may be noted. But what the Holy Father pointed out to the entire Church during Pentecost of 1998 is the new stage of 'ecclesial maturity' of these forces. Through these forces, the Holy Spirit is giving the people of God a new face, new dynamism, and new vitality."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgrs. Leonardo Erriquenz and Francesco Bruno to the College of Apostolic Pro-notaries.

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES ON VISIT TO KOSOVO

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," leaves today for a two-day visit to Kosovo "to encourage all those persons and organizations who have committed themselves to bring a witness of Christ among those who are suffering," according to a council communique published today."

The communique adds that the archbishop's visit "hopes to contribute to the rebuilding of a peaceful coexistence in the region where everyone, Albanians and Serbs, has a right to build their own home."

During his trip, Archbishop Cordes will visit Catholic organizations and will celebrate Mass in Bishtazhin, which the Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova is expected to attend.

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NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 1999 (VIS) - Subscribers who wish to receive the complete text of the speech of the Relator General in English, Spanish, French or Italian (of which a synthesis appears above in the First General Congregation), may request it by writing to vis'vatican.va

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FOURTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 1999 (VIS) - This morning at 9 a.m. in the Synod Hall, Cardinal Paul Poupard, the president delegate on duty, convened the Fourth General Congregation, in the presence of the Pope and 168 synod fathers. This session of the special assembly for Europe ended at 12.30.

Cardinal Schotte, on the occasion of today's feast of St. Francis, expressed the best wishes of the synod participants to 10 of the synod fathers who share the name of the saint from Assisi.

Following are selections from some of the talks given this morning:

BISHOP JAVIER ECHEVARRIA RODRIGUEZ, PRELATE OF THE PERSONAL PRELATURE OF OPUS DEI. "Church unity requires that the bonds of communion be evident; that is to say, profession of the same faith, common celebration of the sacraments and apostolic succession by means of the Sacrament of Orders. Clear unity, with no shadows, within every local Church, between local Churches and between all of them and the Church of Rome, attracts people of good will and promotes ever more intense unity. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, and this fact must increase our sense of responsibility. The Church's sanctity must show itself in her decisive desire to combat personal sin and its consequences, at an individual and social level. The help of the faithful in this task is of great pastoral importance."
ARCHBISHOP FERNAND FRANCK OF LUXEMBOURG. "Emigration within the context of globalization. Because of globalization, Europe constitutes one of the planet's great poles of attraction. The continent must resist the temptation to close in on itself and it must take full responsibility for its own history, proposing true collaboration with less fortunate countries. ... The presence of immigrants as an opportunity for Catholicism. Immigrants entreat that our fellows, created in God's image, be recognized as brothers and sisters, similar and at the same time different. They also demand the defense of dignity and of all people's inalienable rights. ... Emigrants are full members of the Church in the country that welcomes them. To operate within the diversity of languages and traditions of believers and pastoral care workers, is the challenge that constantly faces the Church."

CARDINAL ADRIANUS JOHANNES SIMONIS, ARCHBISHOP OF UTRECHT. "Humanity is contemporaneously living with many different 'truths' - a consequence of the pretention it has to absolutely dominate reality - but it no longer recognizes truth. We have the presumption that we can decide what is and is not possible. The relationship with Mystery as the basis of reality has been broken. Consequently, given that reality and man's nature are incomprehensible, the world has become a kind of game and the State seems to represent the only, though stifling, protection for society. Today the Church is a minority. There are only few who know who Christ is and how to find Him. Even the Church is influenced by the dominating mentality, with the consequent risk of reducing the Gospel to a mere repetition of words or moral appeals which, nonetheless, do not give the necessary responses to a world that lives in confusion."

BISHOP CHRISTO PROYKOV, APOSTOLIC EXARCH FOR CATHOLICS OF THE BYZANTINE-SLAV RITE IN BULGARIA. "We express our gratitude towards the other Churches of Europe which have contributed to the rebirth of spiritual life. Bulgaria has remained a point of stability in the Balkan region because it has not been contaminated by the germ of nationalism. In the Balkans, the Orthodox Church and Catholic Church come together in Bulgaria. Today we realize that the things which unite us are more numerous than those which divide us because the Christian root of our faith is the same - the root which lies at the foundation of the history of Europe."

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AUDIENCE WITH PILGRIMS IN ROME FOR BEATIFICATIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today in the Paul VI Hall the Holy Father received pilgrims who had come to Rome for the beatification of the priests Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri, Edward Joannes Maria Poppe, Arcangelo Tadini and of the religious Mariano da Roccacasale, Diego Oddi and Nicola da Gesturi.

In his address, the Pope invited the faithful to give thanks to God "for the precious gift of these new Blesseds." He added: "You will return to your countries and your homes with the firm commitment to follow the example of the new Blesseds."

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POPE BEATIFIES SIX SERVANTS OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, during the celebration of Mass in St. Peter's Square, the Pope beatified six Servants of God, five Italians and a Belgian, whom he called in his homily "faithful workers in the vineyard of the Lord."

The Holy Father spoke first of Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri (1821-1893), priest of the Third Order of the Servants of Mary, founder of the Sisters Servants of Mary of Galeazza. "As a poor 'rural priest,' as he loved to call himself, he gathered souls through his preaching, in which he expressed his own deep interior conviction. In this way he became a living icon of the Good Shepherd."

Speaking of Blessed Edward Maria Joannes Poppe (1890-1924), priest, the Pope said: "He is today a model for priests, especially for those of his own country, Belgium. He invites them to conform their lives to that of Christ the Shepherd, in order to be like Him; 'ardent priests' who love God and their brothers and sisters."

Referring to Blessed Arcangelo Tadini (1846-1912), priest, founder of the Sisters Workers of the Holy House of Nazareth, he recalled that, "in the school of the Eucharist he learned to break the bread of the Word of God, to exercise charity, to respond with pastoral dynamism to the social and religious challenges that characterized the end of last century."

John Paul II said that "the poor and humble life" of Blessed Mariano da Roccacasale (1778-1866), religious of the Order of Friars Minor, "following the example of Francis and Clare of Assisi, was constantly directed towards his fellow man. He desired to hear and share the sufferings of all, and then present them to the Lord during the long hours of adoration before the Eucharist."
"That same Franciscan spirituality, centered on an evangelically poor and simple life, also characterized Diego Oddi," (1839-1919) who "was a true angel of peace and goodness to all those who met him, especially because he knew how to attend the poorest and most sorely tried."

Speaking of Blessed Nicola da Gesturi (1882-1958), religious of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, the Pope emphasized that he was "a man of silence. ... Liberated from the superfluous and in search of the essential, he did not allow himself to be distracted by useless and destructive details, and wished to be a testimony of the presence of the Word Incarnate beside all men."

At the end of Mass and before praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims who had participated in the beatification ceremony and asked everyone to support the synod fathers of the Special Assembly for Europe with prayer and recitation of the Rosary, "which the Church encourages in this month of October."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and special envoy at the celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the arrival of St. Francis Xavier in Kagoshima, Japan.
- Cardinal Rosalio Jose Castillo Lara S.D.B., special envoy at the Colombian Third National Eucharistic Congress.

The following synod fathers were invited to lunch:

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of Rome.
- Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna, Bosnia- Herzegovina.
- Archbishop Giuseppe Germano Bernardini O.F.M. Cap., of Izmir, Turkey.
- Archbishop Franc Perko of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
- Archbishop Giuseppe Costanzo of Siracusa, Italy.
- Archbishop Benigno Luigi Papa O.F.M., of Taranto, Italy.
- Archbishop Josip Bozanic of Zagreb, Croatia.
- Archbishop Angelo Massafra O.F.M., of Shkodre, Albania.
- Bishop Joakim Herbut of Skopje-Prizren, Macedonia.
- Bishop Attilo Nicora, emeritus of Verona, Italy.
- Bishop Petru Gherghel of Iasi, Romania.
- Bishop Amedee Grab O.S.B. of Chur, Switzerland.
- Bishop Agostino Superbo, emeritus of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy.

On Saturday, October 4, he received Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

That same day, the following synod participants were invited to lunch:

- Cardinal Jozef Glemp, archbishop of Warsaw, Poland.
- Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek, archbishop of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus.
- Archbishop Marian Jaworski of Lviv of the Latins, Ukraine.
- Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, apostolic administrator of European Russia.
- Archbishop Janis Pujats of Riga, Latvia.
- Archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski C.M., of Gdansk, Poland.
- Archbishop Josef Michalik of Przemysl of the Latins, Poland.
- Bishop Alfons Nossol of Opole, Poland.
- Bishop Andrzej Wojciech Suski of Torun, Poland.
- Bishop Sofron Mudry O.S.B.M., of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.
- Bishop Lubomyr Husar M.S.U., auxiliary with special faculties to the major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians.
- Bishop Adam Lepa, auxiliary of Lodz, Poland.
- Bishop Stanislaw Padewski O.F.M. Cap., auxiliary of Lviv of the Latins, Ukraine.
- Fr. Czeslaw Parzyszek S.A.C., provincial superior of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, Poland.

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JOHN PAUL II'S PASTORAL VISIT TO INDIA AND GEORGIA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 1999 (VIS) - The program of John Paul II's pastoral visit to India and Georgia, due to take place from November 5 to 9, has been made public.

The Pope will arrive in New Delhi on the evening of Friday, November 5. During his stay in that city he will sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Assembly for Asia. He will celebrate a Mass for the conclusion of the synod and will meet representatives from other religions and other Christian confessions.

On Monday, November 8, he will travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, where he will meet with His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of all Georgia, and with members of the Holy Synod. On November 9 the Holy Father will meet representatives from the world of culture and science and that same evening will return to Rome.

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