THE JUBILEE 2000 AND THE EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office on Thursday October 21, at 11.30 a.m., a document from the Congregation for the Oriental Churches will be presented, entitled "The Jubilee 2000 and the Eastern Catholic Churches."


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CATHOLIC AND JEWISH SCHOLARS TO STUDY VATICAN ARCHIVES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Edward Cassidy, President of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, announced today that this Commission and an international committee of Jewish leaders have agreed to appoint a joint team of Catholic and Jewish scholars to review published volumes of Church archival material covering the World War II period.

Joining the cardinal in making the announcement was Seymour D. Reich, chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). The New York attorney welcomed it as a "useful first step in resolving the matter of the Vatican's role during World War II and resuming the Catholic-Jewish dialogue that has helped advance the evolving relationship between our two faiths in recent decades".

The agreement implements a proposal made by Cardinal Cassidy and accepted by the 1998 meeting in Rome of the International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee, comprised of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and IJCIC. It specifies that 11 volumes of Vatican archival material, published between 1965 and 1981 and which relate to the Church's role during World War II, will be examined by a joint team of three Jewish and three Catholic scholars.

The hope was expressed that any question and differences that now exist or may arise can be resolved through the joint review approach. During their review, the six scholars may also draw on the knowledge and assistance of other specialists, including colleagues and associates.

The names of the three Catholic and Jewish scholars who will serve on the review team will be announced in the very near future.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. George J. Lucas of the clergy of the archdiocese of St. Louis and rector of the Kenrick-Glennon major seminary, as bishop of Springfield in Illinois (area 39,195, population 1,129,814, Catholics 171,363, priests 188, permanent deacons 1, religious 696), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in St. Louis, U.S.A. in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1975. He succeeds Bishop Daniel L. Ryan, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - The following participants in the Synod for Europe were invited to lunch by the Holy Father:

- Fr. Vaclovas Aliulis M.I.C., former vicar general of the Congregation of the Marian Clergy for the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., Lithuania.
- Jesus Carrascosa, director of the International Center of Communion and Liberation, Spain.
- Juana Carrascosa, member of the International Center of Communion and Liberation, Spain.
- Msgr. Bruno Forte, member of the International Theological Commission and professor of dogmatic theology at the faculty of theology of southern Italy, Naples, Italy.
- Fr. Edmund Michael Garvey C.F.C., superior general of the Christian Brothers, Ireland.
- Francisco Jose Gomez Arguello Wirtz, co-founder of the Neo-Catechumenal Way, Spain.
- Fr. Jesus Maria Lecea Sainz S.P., president of the Spanish Conference of Superiors Major, Spain.
- Fr. Juan Antonio Martinez Camino S.J., professor of theology at the Pontifical University 'Comillas' in Madrid and director of the secretariat of the Spanish Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, Spain.
- Fr. Candido Pozo S.J., professor of dogmatic theology at the faculty of theology of the University of Granada, Spain.
- Fr. Jozef Rapacz, professor at the Pontifical Academy in Krakow, Poland.
- Msgr. Pedro Rodriguez Garcia of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei, professor of theology at the faculty of theology of the University of Navarra, Spain.
- Fr. Mario Spezzibottiani, professor of special moral theology at the archiepiscopal seminary of Milan, Italy.

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LANGUAGE GROUPS MEET ON AMENDMENTS TO PROPOSITIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - The small working, or language, groups of the synod for Europe met in their twelfth session last evening from 5 to 7 p.m. They will meet again today in morning and afternoon sessions, as well as tomorrow morning.

The synod fathers continue to discuss the individual amendments. Each working group will approve the collective amendments, voted by absolute majority, and these will be presented to the special secretary by the group relators. The collective amendments will then be examined by the working group relators under the guidance of the synod's general relator and with the assistance of the special secretaries and experts. The Final List of Propositions will be presented during the 17th general congregation on Thursday, October 21.

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OFFICIAL VISIT OF ITALIAN PRESIDENT CIAMPI

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Italian Republic, on an official visit to the Vatican. President Ciampi took office on May 18 this year.

In his address, the Pope indicated that Italy "is well integrated among the sister nations of Europe." This continent "which has reached unexpected levels of well-being, is today faced with the task of re-thinking itself in order to adapt its structures to higher goals, perhaps goals hardly yet imagined. Progress cannot be merely economic."

The economic dimension, he continued, must be "crowned by a 'centrality of the soul.' ... In this sense, it becomes essential that the public authorities recognize those basic human values upon which the very foundations of society rest. Pluralist State does not mean agnostic State."

After referring to the Italian nation's vocation to peace, John Paul II highlighted that "it is important that this situation persist, because only in the context of peace can the complex problems challenging the nation be faced and appropriately solved. Life must be guarded from conception and guaranteed, with love and dignity, in its natural evolution. Life is born and grows in the family, the fundamental cell upon which the nation stands, and which deserves ever improved assistance."

"Then," he went on, "there is school, which must be free and open to the moral and intellectual growth of the young generations. ... Finally, there is work." On this subject, he made a call to the public authorities to, "with all means possible, assist individuals to express their creative potential. It would be a grave fault to remain indifferent and confine the young to corrupting idleness."

The Pope concluded by highlighting the "traditional and well-tested hospitality of the Italian people," which will welcome the pilgrims who come to Rome in the year 2000.

Later, as prescribed by protocol, President Ciampi visited Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, with whom he had a private interview. He was then accompanied to the Sala Regia, where Cardinal Sodano presented him to the diplomatic corps. The official ceremony concluded with the visit of the president to St. Peter's Basilica.

This afternoon Cardinal Sodano, accompanied by Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re, substitute for General Affairs, will visit the Quirinale, official residence of the Italian President, to return the visit.

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TELEGRAM FOR DEATH OF TANZANIA'S FIRST PRESIDENT

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, in Pope John Paul's name, to Benjamin Mkapa, president of Tanzania, for the death of that country's first president:

"Having learned with sadness of the death of Julius K. Nyerere, first president of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Holiness Pope John Paul II sends condolences to you and the nation. He commends the former president's soul to the mercy and love of Almighty God and prays that those who mourn his passing will ever increase their commitment to serving the greater good of the country in true justice and with respect for the rights and dignity of all. Upon the Tanzanian people His Holiness cordially invokes God's blessings of peace."

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PRESS OFFICE ON VISIT BY PRESIDENT CIAMPI

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 1999 (VIS) - The following declaration was made this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on the visit earlier today by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to Pope John Paul II:

"Today, Tuesday October 19, 1999, His Holiness John Paul II received Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Italian Republic, accompanied by an official delegation.

"For the occasion the Holy Father addressed an important speech to the head of State. The speech is published separately together with the Italian President's reply.

"Also published is the speech with which Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano presented the illustrious guest to the diplomatic corps.

"In the course of discussions, the Pope and the cardinal secretary of state once again highlighted the need for collaboration between Church and State in promoting the moral values which form the basis of society, as the Pope said in his address: 'Pluralist State does not mean agnostic State.'
"In this context, the exchanges dwelt particularly on promoting the family and on the education of youth. Precisely in order to meet the rights of the family and of the young, the question was again raised of the need for effective educational liberty in keeping with the model already commonly accepted throughout the European Community."

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