NINETEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 1999 - The nineteenth and final general congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops began at 5 p.m. today, and lasted just under one hour. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, archbishop of Krakow, Poland. Pope John Paul and 165 synod fathers were in attendance.

During the assembly the names of the members of the post-synodal council were announced, the synod fathers voted on the Final List of Propositions, Cardinal Jan Schotte disclosed the gifts that the participants would receive and there was a final salutation by Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany, and one of the three presidents delegate for this synod.

Those elected to the post-synodal council or appointed to it by the Holy Father are:

- Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop of Prague (CZECH REPUBLIC). - Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid (SPAIN).
- Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, Archbishop of Genoa (ITALY).
- Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, O.P., Archbishop of Vienna (AUSTRIA).
- Archbishop Nikolaos Foscolos of Athens (GREECE).
- Archbishop Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (VATICAN).
- Archbishop Audrys Juozas Backis of Vilnius (LITHUANIA).
- Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Apostolic Administrator for European Russia for the Latin Rite (RUSSIA).
- Archbishop Jozef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin (POLAND).
- Archbishop Josip Bozanic of Zagreb (CROATIA).
- Archbishop Joseph Dore of Strasbourg (FRANCE).
- Bishop Karl Lehmann of Mainz (GERMANY).
- Bishop Lubomyr Husar M.S.U., Auxiliary Bishop by Special Appointment of the Major Archbishop of Lviv in the Ukraine (UKRAINE).
- Bishop Vincent Nichols, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (GREAT BRITAIN).

Following the announcement of these names, there was a vote on the Final List of Propositions. the result of which will be announced tomorrow during the meal with the Holy Father.

Cardinal Jan Schotte, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, then told the assembly that the presidents delegate wished to consult the synod fathers regarding a possible site for the celebratory phase of the synod, where the post-synodal apostolic exhortation would be promulgated.

He also revealed that the synod fathers and other participants in the special assembly for Europe will receive gifts from the Holy Father as a memento of their work these past weeks. The synod fathers who are bishops will receive a silver Latin pectoral cross and chain in commemoration of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Other participants will receive the official medal, in bronze or silver, which has been issued on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Pope John Paul's pontificate.

All synod participants will receive a second gift: a volume containing 669 speeches given by the Holy Father on Europe from the start of his pontificate in October 1978 to August 31, 1999. The speeches were assembled by Msgr. Mario Spezzibottiani, an expert at the synod. Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, wrote the presentation.

Cardinal Joachim Meisner closed the nineteenth congregation with words of gratitude to Pope John Paul II.

"With great attention and patience you have followed the debate during the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. We bishops, dedicated to the Magisterium and immersed in the mandate of preaching, almost tend to lose the attitude of listening. Therefore, on the occasion of this synod, we feel the weight of listening."

The cardinal then recalled that Pope John Paul has brought to term 14 synods - five general, one extraordinary and eight special assemblies.

"You invited," he added, "the participants of each assembly and the prelates on 'ad limina' visit to share at the table of the pontifical house. We admire Your Holiness. We thank you with all our hearts for the participation in our different solicitudes."

"Following the example of Your Holiness," the archbishop of Cologne added, "we bishops must visit and invite the parishes and the communities of our dioceses. And thus, even the parish priests in our territories should visit and invite the associations, families and faithful to common prayer and preaching.

"To you, most Holy Father," Cardinal Meisner concluded, "we give our greatest thanks for your example and authority. With feelings of piety, admiration, and mutual trust we are united to the head of the College of Bishops. ... 'Ad multos annos' (Many more years)."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano as pontifical legate at the ceremony for the reopening to worship of the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and the consecration of its new papal altar, due to take place on November 28, 1999.

- Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, pontifical representative in the Antilles, as apostolic nuncio in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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DECLARATION ON VERDICT IN ANDREOTTI TRIAL

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 1999 (VIS) - Responding to journalists who asked about the acquittal this morning, in Palermo, Italy, of seven-time Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti, who had been on trial accused of consorting with the mafia, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls said he "repeats the Holy See's satisfaction, expressed one month ago in Perugia, when Senator Andreotti was acquitted at another trial."

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CLOSING MASS FOR THE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY FOR EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 1999 (VIS) - Today at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, John Paul II presided at a solemn Eucharistic concelebration with the synod fathers, thus marking the close of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops whose theme has been, "Jesus Christ, Alive in His Church, the Source of Hope for Europe."

In his homily, the Pope indicated that this synod "closes with the sign of the joyous witness that comes from the experience of Christ, living in His Church. The source of hope, for Europe and for the entire world is Christ, the Word made Flesh, the only mediator between God and man."
"With firm conviction," the Holy Father went on, "the Church reiterates to the men and women of the year 2000, especially those who live submerged in relativism and materialism: welcome Christ into your existence! ... Christ is the future of man."

The Holy Father affirmed that "this announcement of hope, this Good News, is the heart of evangelization." He underlined that the synod fathers' work has adopted "the call of the Spirit to the Churches in Europe to commit themselves to face the new challenges." To the fathers he said, "you have not been afraid to look, with a clear eye, upon the reality of the continent, noting the light as well as the shadow. Furthermore, faced with the problems of the present time, you have indicated useful orientations to make the face of Christ more visible, through more incisive annunciation corroborated by coherent witness.

"In this context, light and consolation shine forth from the saints that fill the history of the European continent." He went on to recall Saints Edith Stein, Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Siena, whom he has proclaimed co-patronesses of Europe. He also recalled those who, "in the obscurity of family, professional and social life, lived a saintliness no less generous or authentic," as well as those "confessors of the faith and the many martyrs of this last century. All of them ... have built Europe as a spiritual and moral edifice, leaving the most precious of inheritances to future generations."

John Paul II concluded the synod by asking that Europe "guarantee, adhering creatively to its humanistic and Christian traditions, the primacy of ethical and spiritual values. This is a hope that 'comes from the firm conviction that there can be no true and fertile unity for Europe if it is not built on its spiritual foundations'."

Following the Eucharistic concelebration, the Holy Father invited the participants to a fraternal meal at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

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SEMINARY FORMATION, A CHARTER OF PRIESTLY LIFE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 1999 (VIS) - Shortly after noon today, in the Clementine Hall, the Pope welcomed professors and seminarians from Paris, accompanied by their archbishop, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger who, he recalled, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his episcopal ordination on December 8.

John Paul II, addressing them in French, praised "the attention the diocese of Paris gives to priestly formation, the importance of which is capital. The elements acquired during formation ... are for each priest like a charter of his priestly life."

"Your formation in the seminary and your permanent formation," the Pope went on, "make you ready for your mission. What you have started to practice with regularity must remain the rule of your life: meeting the Lord in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, trusting love towards the Church, liturgical and personal prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, fraternal behavior, which is like the soul of the priesthood, and solicitude towards the people of God, especially the poor."

"Through priestly ordination you will be configured to Christ, Head and Pastor," concluded the Pope. "Love the Church, just as the Lord loved it, devoting Himself to her."

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CARDINAL ARINZE RECEIVES INTER-FAITH AWARD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 1999 (VIS) - In Rome this afternoon, Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue will receive a gold medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews for his "outstanding achievements in inter-faith relations."

The medallion will be presented in recognition of his devoted service as president of the pontifical council and for the work done under his direction by the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims.

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CHURCH CELEBRATES WORLD MISSION DAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 1999 (VIS) - Prior to reciting the angelus this morning, Pope John Paul recalled that the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops closed with a Mass yesterday in St. Peter's Basilica. "What frequently emerged from the synod's work," he stated, "was the call to believers to be courageous missionaries of the Gospel on our continent."

"The invitation to be missionaries," the Pope went on, "takes on a universal dimension today because, in fact, we are celebrating World Mission Day, the last of the Millennium. ... In this perspective, the October 22, 2000 celebration of a special missionary Jubilee day and of the World Mission Congress, organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will be of special interest."

The Holy Father then addressed "warm greetings and thanks to the missionaries 'ad gentes' who fulfill the work entrusted to them, without letting themselves be intimidated by the difficulties, and on occasion paying the price with their lives. May our spiritual and material support for them never be lacking."

After praying the angelus the Pope then pointed out that "today, in all of the cities of Colombia, there are marches for peace. Even Colombians present in Rome join such an initiative and they have come here this morning in a sign of solidarity and to participate in the common prayer. I ask everyone to join them in invoking God for the gift of peace, and I bless and encourage the efforts that are already being taken in this direction."

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INTER-RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY OPENS IN THE VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 1999 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, opened the Inter-religious Assembly entitled: "At the Threshold of the Third Millennium: Collaboration between different religions." Taking part in the assembly, which runs from October 25 to 28, are 230 representatives of 19 religions, including Catholicism.

In the first session, the opening speech was given by Theresa Ee-Chooi, president of the International Union of the Catholic Press. She described the religious panorama in today's world and recalled "there is no religious creed that can ever condone such actions as ... burning churches, mosques, synagogues and temples or killing people with machete blows."

She went on, making reference to the possibility of different religions acting together: "It seems as if we have accepted, often unconsciously, inequality as if it were a virtue and poverty as a symptom of indolence. Some years ago, large signs put up around China proclaimed that 'it is good to make money'. No religion teaches such values. Such teaching has nothing to do with us. ... Let us begin to collaborate ... in order to reawaken in all members of our religions our common values of compassion, altruism, sharing and the simple life."

The assembly received a message from Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. He called upon religious leaders to leave behind the "tragic" times in history when killings occurred in the name of religion, and to turn away from religious fanaticism. He urged them "to collaborate so that the principles of tolerance, and respect for the dignity and freedom of conscience of human beings dominate."

Citing the proclamation of the Third Pan-orthodox Conference, held in Switzerland in 1986, the patriarch highlighted what should be the contributions of religion to the world: "the realization of peace, justice, freedom, fraternity and love among peoples, as well as the suppression of racial and other discriminations. ... We repeat this appeal to all religions, as the minimum that must be done for the peaceful coexistence of mankind."

We must, he wrote, "replace the confrontation of religions" with "dialectic and spiritual persuasion ... because our mixed societies - from the point of view of religion - and the great majority of simple people who aspire to universal peace, perceive that the fact of practicing principles of domination by force - formerly accepted by certain religions - would act against the shared peace of people and would make the great cities and multi-religious societies ... true volcanoes."

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DECLARATION ON VISIT BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 1999 (VIS) - The following declaration was made this afternoon by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office, on the visit today to Pope John Paul and to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, by Igor Sergheevich Ivanov, foreign affairs minister of the Russian Federation:

"In the course of the discussions points of view were exchanged on international current affairs, with particular reference to the situation in the Russian Federation. On this matter, the hope was also expressed that a rapid political solution would be found to the conflict in Chechnya.

"On the subject of relations between the State and the Catholic Church in Russia, a number of questions regarding the application of the law on religious liberty were examined, as was the improvement of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Russian Federation."


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DECLARATION FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 1999 (VIS) - Today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration on information that has recently appeared in the media regarding negotiations on diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China:

"We take note of this news that arises from various sources. It is well known that the Holy See wishes to have good relations with all countries. Consequently, this includes China where a Catholic community exists. However, I cannot be any more specific on news that we have not received through bilateral channels."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Igor Sergheevic Ivanov, foreign minister of the Russian Federation, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Joao Soares, mayor of Lisbon, Portugal, and president of the "Uniao Cidades Capitais Luso-Afro-Americo-Asiaticas" (UCCLA).
- Two prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Antoine Hacault of Saint-Boniface.
- Archbishop Adam Joseph Exner O.M.I., of Vancouver.

On Saturday, October 23, the Holy Father received Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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