MODERATORS FOR LANGUAGE GROUPS ARE CHOSEN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 6, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this evening was the list of the moderators chosen for each of the nine language groups. They are:

ENGLISH A: Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland.

ENGLISH B: Bishop Patrick Joseph Walsh of Down and Connor, Ireland.

FRENCH A: Archbishop Emile Marcus P.S.S., of Toulouse, France.

FRENCH B: Archbishop Louis-Marie Bille of Lyon, France.

GERMAN: Bishop Wilhelm Emil Egger O.F.M. Cap., of Bolzano-Bressanone, Italy.

SPANISH-PORTUGUESE: Archbishop Jose da Cruz Policarpo, patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal.

ITALIAN A: Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini S.J., archbishop of Milan.

ITALIAN B: Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of the Pope for the diocese of Rome, Italy.

ITALIAN C: Bishop Adrianus Herman Van Luyn S.D.B., of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

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EIGHTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 6, 1999 (VIS) - Shortly after 5 this evening, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, president delegate on duty, opened the eighth congregation of the Special Assembly for Europe. The Holy Father was present at this session, as were 162 synod fathers. Cardinal Jan Schotte, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, began the meeting by reading the list of the moderators who had been chosen for the nine language groups. The meeting closed at 7 p.m.

Following are selections from eight of the speeches given this evening:

ARCHBISHOP ANGELO MASSAFRA, O.F.M., OF SHKODRE, ALBANIA. "Evangelization is required to rebuild the human and Christian fabric; we use all means of communication: press, TV, radio. We urgently need suitable training for lay people committed in the social and political spheres. ... Spiritual and economic development is the only way to peace in the Balkans. Let us rebuild the destroyed bridges and homes ... but above all let us reconstruct consciences and hearts (that are now) full of hate. Racial conflict, mixed with and/or depicted as religious conflicts, have triggered man's most primitive instincts of destruction. May moral conscience rise up against the arrogance and logic of domination of man over man. ... I would like to propose to the Synod Fathers and the CCEE (this is my personal proposal) that they summon an Ecumenical and Inter-religious Conference for peace and dialogue, for the spiritual and moral reconstruction of the Balkans, and that this take place together with the commitment of Western governments to economic reconstruction."

CARDINAL JAN CHRYZOSTOM KOREC S.J., BISHOP OF NITRA, SLOVAKIA. "Looking at the past, I would like to give a brief and true testimonial to that part of the local Church persecuted in Slovakia. ... For us, the persecuted, there was no true Christian life without, at the same time, a certain degree of humility and love. ... As a clandestine bishop during the forty years of persecution, I secretly ordained almost 120 priests. All respected and lived celibacy. Among the laity, we have also had and still have today, people who respect and live celibacy! The Church needs truly faithful and holy sons and daughters."

CARDINAL LUCAS MOREIRA NEVES O.P., PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS. "As the fruit of two millennia of history, Europe is today experiencing a turning point of civilization never seen before. One of the main elements of this crisis is the effort for European unity. ... It is a pity that until now unity has been sought in the economic sphere (with the Euro), the political one (European Parliament) and the diplomatic sphere (abolition of passports). Moral and spiritual aspects are still too weak. Unity should be a form of courageous solidarity within the continent and Europe towards the rest of the world. We await the 'globalization of solidarity.' Here, the role of bishops comes in. He is not a substitute for the laity: the bishop is not a politician, an economist, a sociologist, an agent of culture. He is an illuminator of Christian conscience in lay persons who are deeply committed to the structures and the institutions that form the world - that form Europe."

CARDINAL KAZIMIERZ SWIATEK, ARCHBISHOP OF MINSK-MOHILEV, BELARUS. "The mysterious ways of Divine Providence caused me to spend 60 years of my priesthood in pastoral work in Belarus, within the territory of the Soviet atheistic-materialistic regime. Consequently, I felt the effects of the communist system. Among other things I spent two months in death row and ten years in a communist concentration camp. After the fall of the totalitarian system, I was an eye-witness to and participated in the subsequent religious freedom. A move towards faith began to spread. The rebirth of the Church may be considered a powerful force for the spiritual rebirth of the nation. ... The menace of pluralism arrives from the West (freedom wrongly understood). The different sects are the great peril. ... An important role must be given to liturgy. To bear witness with one's own holiness is 'the basic condition for a true evangelization'."

CARDINAL BERNARDIN GANTIN, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS. "Apart from discussions in the historical field, Europe has received so much and has also given so much that no more should be asked of it. Despite the degeneration in a spiritual sense and in the metaphysical dimension of human concerns, Europe, with its economic strength, its creative intellect, its technology, and the attention it gives to protecting and supporting freedom, continues to be an important center for the reawakening of conscience. Therefore Europe plays an important role at the heart of globalization, which is such a major issue today, and in the future of Christian faith. ... Even if today a demographic shift is taking place from the Christian community of Europe towards other continents, Europe still has a great missionary responsibility. We must be convinced of this."

ARCHBISHOP TADEUSZ GOCLOWSKI OF GDANSK, POLAND. "The approaching Jubilee of the Year 2000 leads the Church to reflect on the closing century, particularly on events at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Worker issues of the end of the 19th century and the end of the 20th century are closely related: in both cases technological development caused new problems as well as unemployment. At the end of the 20th century it is not only necessary to face the results of the technological revolution (electronic technology replacing workers, consequent unemployment and the need to change qualification and skills), but also to heal the wounds caused by the communist system. ... We have a need for witnesses of Christ - of lay apostles but also of priests: not as trade-unionists but as proclaimers of the Gospel, respecting the autonomy and the independence of the state and of the Church in full cooperation for the good of mankind and society. Christ is the hope for the working world: the Way, the Truth and the Life."

BISHOP MARIN SRAKIC OF DJAVKO, CROATIA. "Ecumenical dialogue takes place not only between bishops but also at a parish level. During the war (in Croatia) Catholic parishes organized charity work to help refugees and people in exile, and did not pay any attention to whether one was Catholic, Orthodox or Muslim. Unfortunately we cannot say the same for the Orthodox side. After the war priests from both Churches can meet in schools during the teaching of religion. Our Church also tries to make the lay faithful aware of the ecumenical spirit. However, we feel that this is a difficult task, because people suffered a great deal from the Serbs who sent them away from their homes. It takes time to heal war wounds. ... We are aware that the process of reconciliation and mutual forgiveness is long and difficult, but it is necessary. Up to now we have made several big strides forward. Ecumenical awareness is not easy for us, but neither is it impossible. On the contrary, it is necessary as an important condition for the credibility of our evangelization."

BISHOP VIKTOR JOSEF DAMMERTZ O.S.B., OF AUGSBURG, GERMANY. "I would like to make some observations: Priests must be clearly aware of their identity and they need new enthusiasm for their mission. Facing tasks that have become even more difficult and more involved, many priests maintain that too much is expected of them; they get discouraged and give up. They need companions on their journey who help them, instill them with courage and accompany them. We must be aware that it is Christ who truly acts in the pastoral program, who frees (us) from worries. It is necessary to rediscover a unity in one's inner life, returning to Sacred Scriptures and celebrating the liturgy with dignity. Today, the priest, above all the parish priest, is called more than ever to the service of unity. The new evangelization urges a new missionary zeal and an attentive vigil over the doubts and tragedies of so many people in difficulty. Priests depend on the support of faith, on Christian life, and on the prayers of their communities."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 7, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Luigi Conti, apostolic nuncio in Turkey and Turkmenistan.
- Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, apostolic nuncio in Kenya and permanent observer at the U.N. Offices for the Environment and Human Settlement.
- Bishop Flavio Calle Zapata of Sonson-Rionegro, Colombia.

The following participants in the Synod for Europe were invited to lunch by the Holy Father:

- Cardinal Laszlo Paskai, O.F.M., archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary.
- Cardinal Christoph Schonborn O.P., archbishop of Vienna, Austria.
- Archbishop Johannes Joachim Degenhardt of Paderborn, Germany.
- Archbishop Georg Eder of Salzburg, Austria.
- Archbishop Fernand Franck of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
- Bishop Egon Kapellari of Gurk, Austria. - Bishop Karl Lehmann of Mainz, Germany.
- Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, Germany.
- Bishop Bernhard Hasslberger, auxiliary of Munich and Freising, Germany.
- Bishop Klemens Pickel, auxiliary of European Russia.
- Fr. Wilhelm Steckling O.M.I., superior general of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, Germany.
- Fr. Heinrich Barlage S.V.D., superior general of the Society of the Divine Word, Germany.

Yesterday evening, October 6, the Holy Father received Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, vicegerent of Rome; Msgr. Aldo Zega, pastor of the parish of St. Catherine of Siena and an assistant.

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A CIVILIZATION'S WORTH MEASURED BY ITS ATTENTION TO THE AGED

VATICAN CITY, OCT 7, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke on October 5 before the plenary of the General Assembly on Item 106, the follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons. "It has been said," he stated, "that the worth of a civilization is to be measured by the attention it offers to its aged."

"We live in an age of sweeping demographic change," he noted, "a time when the estimated population of the aged in the world is 600 million out of 6 billion,and when it is estimated to grow to 2 billion out of 8.9 billion by 2050."

The nuncio continued: "For too long, however, the aged have been a neglected, often invisible sector of the population. ... Many of the aged are fragile and ill and do not have access to adequate health care. Some institutions do not want to maintain the chronically ill or those who are unlikely to recover, and insurers do not want to pay for them"

Archbishop Martino underlined the economic difficulties older people often suffer, as well as "loneliness and a sense of marginalization. In a world which values productivity so highly, elderly people are often deemed unproductive and, indeed, are too often considered a burden to others."

He also underscored that the Holy See, and notably Pope John Paul, are "strongly convinced of the value of older people, with their accumulated experience, skills and wisdom, based on their unique, irreplaceable humanity." He added that "this concern is manifested ... in the 12,000 (Church-run) nursing homes for the aged."

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NINTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 7, 1999 (VIS) - The ninth congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops was convened at 9 this morning under the presidency of Cardinal Paul Poupard. Pope John Paul II attended this session, as he has all the previous ones. There were 166 synod fathers present. The session closed at 12:30.

Following are excerpts from six of the talks given this morning:

BISHOP FRANC KRAMBERGER OF MARIBOR, SLOVENIA. "The Catholic Church has always morally sustained the unification of the European peoples and nations, since she supports the values on which the European democratic countries are founded: justice, mutual respect, solidarity, collaboration, the equality of all men and their fundamental freedom and respect for the human person from conception until natural death and also beyond death. This Europe, whose source of hope will be Christ, living in His Church, will constitute the spiritual and pastoral commitment of all future generations of faithful, priests and bishops. The achievement of this lies in commitment to holiness."

BISHOP ALBERTO ABLONDI OF LIVORNO, ITALY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE. "After decades of conflicts and confrontations, dialogue and encounters, it would be appropriate for the Synod to make clear ecumenical proposals. ... First of all, one must clearly say that Christians are not merely 'separated brothers.' Their condition is more serious! In fact, through baptism in Christ, Christians are 'one single body.' ... There is a need for every community, opening to ecumenism, to ask itself if it truly loves the brothers of other faiths. In fact, through indifference, resentment and memories not yet overcome, all ecumenical action could lose meaning and incisiveness. ... The faithful of one religion must deal with the brothers of another by applying the principle of 'the hierarchy of truths'; drawing from them the charisms that the Holy Spirit continuously gives; confronting difficult and urgent problems such as eucharistic hospitality; appreciating what is already shared; and anticipating the joy of a unity not yet realized in ecumenical celebrations."

ARCHBISHOP FRANCOIS XAVIER NGUYEN VAN THUAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE. "A privileged instrument of dialogue with the new society is the Church's social doctrine. It is a means of evangelization because it encounters persons in their real situations in search of the meaning of justice and truth. In answer to a general hope, the Holy Father has decided to publish, during the year of the Great Jubilee, an authorized synthesis of the Church's social doctrine, similar to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He has authorized the Council for Justice and Peace to prepare this document."

ARCHBISHOP FERNANDO SEBASTIAN AGUILAR OF PAMPLONA, SPAIN. "We all agree on the need and urgency of evangelizing action. But I do not know if we have yet discovered the requirements and characteristics this much-needed evangelization must have. I offer some suggestions concerning the evangelizing action that I believe Europe needs today: Who must evangelize? The whole Church. But which Church? A Church which has itself been previously evangelized and truly converted to the Living God, a Church free from the power of ideologies and formed by people who truly live as disciples of Jesus, a Church capable of offering the world an alternative vision of life, on the personal, family, social and even political level. Only such a Church can attract the attention of our fellow-citizens and convince them that they should again adore the God of Jesus Christ, and again believe in the God of Truth. How should we evangelize? With the testimony of good works; ... By preaching centered on the proclamation of the God of Jesus Christ, the God of Grace, the death and resurrection of Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the hope of eternal life and all its moral consequences; By accepting our smallness and placing our trust in the grace of God; ... In order to walk in this direction I think it is of prime importance to devote our pastoral attention to the initiation of new Christians to a fully Christian life, focusing mainly on what could be a catechumenal process of conversion."

BISHOP ANDRZEJ WOJCIECH SUSKI OF TORUN, POLAND. "Is there a privileged place for the Church to closely reach man with the message and the witness of radical hope, the hope in Christ? The bishops must look towards the pastors of local Churches, towards the Church present in man's home, that is, towards the parish. ... Priests in local Churches know full well that ecclesial communion, while having a universal dimension, finds its immediate and visible expression in the parish. This is the ultimate local manifestation of the Church, in a certain way it is the Church herself living in the homes of her sons and daughters. Being a Eucharistic community, the parish is also an organic community, in other words, it is composed of ordained ministers and other Christians, where the parish priest - who represents the diocesan bishop - is the hierarchical link with the whole local Church."

ARCHBISHOP JAIME PEDRO GONCALVES OF BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE. "The Church in Europe and the Church in Africa, invigorated by the orientations given by their respective Special Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops, will walk together hand in hand towards the third millennium and will share the gifts received from God. A challenge to be faced is the presence of Africans: their insertion into the Church and into pastoral care, as well as their acceptance and insertion into European society. In general, many problems of justice and peace in Africa require a synergy between the Churches in Africa and in Europe. Europe must not close in on itself."

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