POPE SIGNS APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "ECCLESIA IN ASIA"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul arrived at New Delhi's Sacred Heart Cathedral at 6 this evening where, in the presence of more than 300 of Asia's bishops, as well as priests religious, lay people and representatives of other Christian denominations, he signed the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Asia."

"Like all of you," he said at the start of his homily, "I have been deeply saddened these last days by seeing all the great suffering of the people of the eastern coastal region caused by the recent cyclone. As a guest of India I wish to assure everyone of my prayers for the victims, for those who are now struggling to overcome very difficlt circumstances. I renew the appeal I have already made to the international community to give prompt and practical assistance to alleviate such suffering."

"As a pilgrim," the Holy Father continued in English, "I pay homage to the continent which is the cradle of great religious traditions and ancient civilizations. How can we not be moved by Asia's ceaseless passion for the Absolute, for what is beyond our earthly vision?"

The Pope then pointed out that the synod for Asia, which took place in Rome from April 19 to May 14, 1998, "surveyed the situation of the Church in Asia and of the entire Asian continent in the perspective of the Lord's command to preach the Gospel to all nations. We did so, conscious that the world advances towards ever new possibilities of development and that Christians have special responsibilities as we enter the Third Christian Millennium."

"Most of the Churches in Asia are comparatively small in number," observed the Pope, "but they have shown themselves great in fidelity to Christ and to the Gospel, even in times of persecution. ... In some cases, Asian Christians dwell in lands scarred by conflicts, which are at times presented as the effect of religion. What a travesty of true belief this is! ... People of all religions must emphatically show that religion and peace go together!

"But let there also be peace for religion. Let the right to freedom of belief and worship be respected in every part of this continent! For if this the most basic of rights is denied, then the whole edifice of human dignity and freedom is shaken. 'Ecclesia in Asia' clearly notes that in parts of Asia explicit proclamation is forbidden and religious freedom is denied or systematically restricted." Religious freedom must be recognized, he stressed, as a fundamental human right.

Urging the Church in Asia to continue her "saving dialogue" with the followers of other religions, John Paul II exclaimed; "Let no one fear the Church! Her one ambition is to continue Christ's mission of service and love, so that the light of Christ may shine more brightly, and the life that He gives may be more accessible to those who hear His call."

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CONCELEBRATED MASS CONCLUDES SYNOD FOR ASIA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 7, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father and Asia's cardinals and bishops concelebrated Mass this morning in New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in the presence of 40,000 faithful, to close the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops.

The Pope began his homily by noting that November 7 is the Hindu Diwali, or Festival of Lights. "Today throughout this vast country many people are celebrating the Festival of Lights. We rejoice with them ... and we too exult in the light and bear witness to the One who is the 'true light that enlightens every man'."

During today's Mass, Pope John Paul consigned the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Ecclesia in Asia," to the continent's bishops. He said "it is fitting that this document has been signed and issued in India, the home of many of Asia's time-honored cultures, religions and spiritual traditions" which "have left an indelible mark on the history of the human race."

The Holy Father then expressed "affectionate" greetings to his brother bishops of the Latin Church, the Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankar Church, to the many priests present, and to the men and women religious.

"In a special way," he stated, "I entrust the fruits of the synod to the members of the laity, for it is you above all who are called to transform society by infusing the 'mind of Christ' into the mentality, customs, laws and structures of the world in which you live. One of the main challenges before you is to bring the light of the Gospel to bear on the family, and on the defense of human life and dignity. ... The Church looks to the lay men and women of Asia to reflect the light of Christ wherever the darkness of sin, division and discrimination distorts the image of God in His children."

"Dear brothers and sisters," John Paul II concluded, "what does the Church need of her members at the dawn of a new millennium? Above all that you be witnesses who are convincing. ... As 'Ecclesia in Asia' reminds us: a fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire. The Gospel can only be preached if bishops, clergy, those in the consecrated life, and the laity are themselves on fire with the love of Christ and burning with zeal to make Him known, loved and followed."

Following Mass, in pre-angelus reflections on Mary, the Pope said: "To you, Mother of the Church, we entrust the results of the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops."

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POST-SYNODAL EXHORTATION "ECCLESIA IN ASIA"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II's Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Ecclesia in Asia," was signed by the Pope and presented during a meeting with the bishops of Asia which began at 6 p.m. today in New Delhi's Sacred Heart Cathedral,

The 140-page document was published in English, French, Portuguese, and Italian. It is divided into an introduction, seven chapters and a conclusion.

In the introduction, the Holy Father recalls the agenda of the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops - held in the Vatican from April 19 to May 14, 1998 - whose theme was "Jesus Christ the Savior and His Mission of Love and Service in Asia: 'That they may have Life and have it abundantly'."

The Pope remarks that "Jesus was born, lived, died and rose from the dead in the Holy Land" and, consequently, that small part of Asia "became a land of promise and hope for all mankind." He goes on to recall that with the Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" he "set out a program for the Church to welcome the Third Millennium of Christianity, a program centered on the challenges of the new evangelization." An important part of this "was the holding of continental synods so that bishops could address the question of evangelization according to the particular situation and needs of each continent" and, in this context, he refers to the Special Assembly for Asia.

The first chapter, "The Asian Context," is dedicated to an examination of the religious, cultural, socio-economic and political realities of the continent as well as of the situation of the Church in the region. Asia, "the earth's largest continent and ... home to nearly two-thirds of the world's population," is heir "to ancient cultures, religions and traditions" and "cradle of the world's major religions." During the Special Assembly for Asia, writes the Pope, the synod fathers also analyzed the changes that the 20th century has brought about in the physiognomy of the continent: urbanization, mass emigration, the phenomenon of tourism - at times associated with prostitution - and the "persistent reality of poverty and the exploitation of people," with particular emphasis on that of women. However, there are also positive signs among which the Pope mentions "the extensive economic growth of many Asian societies" and the rise of "a new generation of skilled workers, scientists and technicians" which "augurs well for Asia's development."

The Pope deplores the fact that some Asian nations "recognize an official state religion that allows little or no religious freedom to minorities" and that, in some places, Christians are seen as traitors of their own countries.

John Paul II recalls St. Francis Xavier and with him the missionaries in the East but he cautions that "despite her centuries-long presence and her many apostolic endeavours, the Church in many places was still considered as foreign to Asia, and indeed was often associated in people's minds with the colonial powers."

Chapter Two, entitled "Jesus the Savior: a Gift to Asia," proclaims that "no individual, no nation, no culture is impervious to the appeal of Jesus who speaks from the very heart of the human condition." In the third chapter, "The Holy Spirit: Lord and Giver of Life," John Paul II writes that "the Church ... must discern, in all the diverse circumstances of the continent, the Spirit's call to witness to Jesus the Savior in new and effective ways." Consequently, the synod fathers "sought to discern the principal areas of mission for the Church in Asia."

With reference to the inculturation of Catholicism in the "complex realities of Asia," the Pope writes: "Deeply aware of the complexity of so many different situations ... the Church proclaims the Good News. ... Proclamation which respects the rights of consciences does not violate freedom, since faith always demands a free response on the part of the individual."

Yet nonetheless, during the synod, Asian bishops referred to "difficulties in proclaiming Jesus as the only Savior" and described the situation in these terms: "'Some of the followers of the great religions of Asia have no problem in accepting Jesus as a manifestation of the Divine or ... as an 'enlightened one'. But it is difficult for them to see Him as the only manifestation of the Divine.' ... The difficulty is compounded by the fact that Jesus is often perceived as foreign to Asia. It is paradoxical that most Asians tend to regard Jesus ' born on Asian soil ' as a Western rather than an Asian figure."

Yet, the synod fathers were well aware of the "pressing need of the local Churches in Asia to present the mystery of Christ to their peoples according to their cultural patterns and ways of thinking. They pointed out that such an inculturation of the faith on their continent involves rediscovering the Asian countenance of Jesus."

The "challenge of inculturation" must be met in specific areas that merit particular attention, among which the synod fathers identified theological reflection, liturgy, the formation of priests and religious, catechesis and spirituality.

"The test of true inculturation," writes the Pope referring to theological reflection, "is whether people become more committed to their Christian faith because they perceive it more clearly with the eyes of their own culture."

As regards the liturgy, "source and summit of all Christian life and mission," John Paul II affirms that "it is a decisive means of evangelization, especially in Asia, where the followers of different religions are so drawn to worship, religious festivals and popular devotions."

In Chapter Five, "Communion and Dialogue for Mission," the Pope writes that "the local Churches in Asia, in communion with the Successor of Peter, need to foster greater communion of mind and heart through close cooperation among themselves. Vital also to their evangelizing mission are their relations with other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, and with the followers of other religions."

The synod fathers urged pastors "to devise new and effective ways of shepherding the faithful. ... Pastoral planning with the lay faithful should be a normal feature of all parishes."

Referring to the faithful who live their faith "in the midst of restrictions or even the total denial of freedom," the Holy Father makes a call to governments and the leaders of nations, "to adopt and implement policies that guarantee religious freedom for all their citizens." The Pope recalls that the synod fathers prayed for the Church's faithful in mainland China, that they "will be completely free to practice their faith in full communion with the See of Peter and the universal Church."

John Paul II highlights the fact that ecumenical dialogue "is a challenge and a call to conversion for the whole Church, especially for the Church in Asia where people expect from Christians a clearer sign of unity." This search for unity, he adds, "demands from everyone charity, discernment, courage and hope."

"The Service of Human Promotion" is the title of Chapter Six. After highlighting the synod participants' concern over the persistent violation of human rights, especially in Asia, the Pope writes that the fathers "expressed the need for all God's people in Asia to come to a clear awareness of the inescapable and unrenounceable challenge involved in the defence of human rights and the promotion of justice and peace."

Child labor, pedophilia and the drug culture are "social evils which affect children most directly and ... are compounded by others like poverty and ill-conceived programs of national development." On the other hand, the Pope states, "the Church in Asia would more visibly and effectively uphold women's dignity and freedom by encouraging their role in the Church's life, including her intellectual life, and by opening to them ever greater opportunities to be present and active in the Church's mission of love and service."

Talking of building peace, the Pontiff highlights as especially worrisome in Asia, "the continual race to acquire weapons of mass destruction." Adding, "the Synod called for a stop to the manufacture, sale and use of nuclear, chemical and biological arms and urged those who have set land mines to assist in the work of rehabilitation and restoration."

"The Synod heard many testimonies concerning the sufferings of the people of Iraq. ... With the Synod Fathers, I wish to express once again my solidarity with the Iraqi people, and I am particularly close in prayer and hope to the sons and daughters of the Church in that country."

In the seventh chapter, "Witnesses to the Gospel," the Holy Father affirms that priests, united with bishops in proclaiming the Gospel, "are called upon at ordination to be shepherds of the flock, preachers of the good news of salvation and ministers of the sacraments." Those in consecrated life, through "the search for God, a life of fraternal communion, and service to others ... can offer an appealing Christian testimony to the peoples of Asia today."

"It is the task of the Pastors to ensure that the laity are formed as evangelizers able to face the challenges of the contemporary world, not just with worldly wisdom and efficiency, but with hearts renewed and strengthened by the truth of Christ."

In closing the Pope refers to the mass media and writes that the Church must find new ways to integrate them "into her pastoral planning and activity, so that by their effective use the Gospel's power can reach out still further to individuals and entire peoples, and infuse Asian cultures with the values of the Kingdom."

The document closes with the gratitude and encouragement of the Pope to "the great family of the Church" in Asia for its witness and its generous commitment to the task of evangelization. He entrusts the Church in Asia to the Virgin "at the threshold of the third millennium of the Christian era."

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TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS: "I COME AS A PILGRIM OF PEACE"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 7, 1999 (VIS) - This afternoon at 5, the Holy Father held an encounter with leaders and representatives of other religions and other Christian confessions at the Vigyan Bhawan, a conference center in New Delhi whose name means "palace of science." Later this evening the Vigyan Bhawan will host events for the start of the three-day Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali.

"I come as a pilgrim of peace," the Pope told the assembly. "On the occasion of Diwali, ... I express the hope that this meeting will speak to the world of the things which unite us all. ... My presence among you is meant as a further sign that the Catholic Church wants to enter ever more deeply into dialogue with the religions of the world." He went on: "It is a sign of hope that the religions of the world are becoming more aware of their shared responsibilities for the well-being of the human family. This is a crucial part of the globalization of solidarity."

"The path before us is demanding, and there is always the temptation to choose instead the path of isolation and division, which leads to conflict. This in turn unleashes the forces which make religion an excuse for violence." Repeating what he told a recent inter-religious assembly in Rome, the Pope affirmed: "Religion is not, and must not become, a pretext for conflict. ... Religion and peace go together: to wage war in the name of religion is a blatant contradiction."

He then highlighted the essence of dialogue, saying it "is never an attempt to impose our own views upon others. ... What it means is that, holding firmly to what we believe, we listen respectfully to others, seeking to discern all that is good and holy, all that favors peace and cooperation."

Pope John Paul closed by stressing that "one of the principal demands of freedom is the free exercise of religion in society. No State, no group has the right to control either directly or indirectly a person's religious convictions, nor can it justifiably claim the right to impose or impede the public profession and practice of religion."

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JOHN PAUL II ARRIVES IN GEORGIA ON FIRST EVER VISIT

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 1999 (VIS) - At 2:15 this afternoon, after a five and a half hour flight from New Delhi, Pope John Paul arrived in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on his first visit to this republic in the Caucasus. He was greeted by President Eduard Shevardnadze and by His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

Georgia, a former Soviet republic which became independent in 1991, has a population of 5.4 million, of whom 100,000 or 1.8 percent are Catholic. The apostolic administration of the Caucasus, established in December of 1993, administers to 50,200 Latin-rite Catholics in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The ordinariate for Armenian Catholics of Eastern Europe also includes Georgia. An ordinariate is an ecclesiastical geographical structure set up for Eastern Catholic communities which do not have their own hierarchy in place.

In his speech at the welcome ceremony, the Holy Father referred to the visits to the Vatican by both President Shevardnadze and Patriarch Ilia II. He thanked the former "for your invitation to come to Georgia," and the latter because, "without your fraternal support I would not be here now to visit the Church over which Your Holiness presides."

"I am deeply moved," he observed, "by the long and glorious history of Christianity in this land." From the early fourth and late fifth centuries, he added, "Christianity became the seed of successive flowerings of Georgian culture, especially in the monasteries; and the Church became the guardian of the nation's identity which was so often threatened."

"Set between East and West," he continued, "the Church in Georgia has always been open to contacts with other Christian peoples. At times, the bonds between the Georgian Church and the See of Rome have been deep and strong; and, though at other times there have been tensions, the awareness of our common Christian vocation has never faded completely."

John Paul II, in concluding remarks, pointed out that "Christianity has contributed much to Georgia's past and it must contribute no less to its future. Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, ... an event which symbolically opened a new era in the life of many countries. An atheistic ideology had sought in vain to weaken or even eliminate from this land the religious faith of its people. The followers of all religions suffered serious opposition. Today we must admire and give thanks for the witness of your perseverance."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Canon Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento Clemente, rector of the major patriarchal seminary, as auxiliary of the patriarchate of Lisbon (area 3,735, population 2,205,077, Catholics 1,894,315, priests 639, permanent deacons 20, religious 1,929), Portugal. The bishop elect was born in Torres Vedras, Portugal, in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- Fr. Peter Ri Ki-hun, chancellor of the archdiocese of Seoul, Korea, as military ordinary for Korea.
- Msgr. Marcello Zago, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as his special envoy to the celebrations for the centenary of the erection of the first three apostolic prefectures in the Amazonian regions of Peru, due to take place in Lima, Peru, on January 30, 2000.

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MEETING WITH PATRIARCH AND MEMBERS OF HOLY SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 1999 (VIS) - At 5:30 this afternoon (2:30 p.m. Rome time), in Tbilisi's patriarchal palace, the Pope took part in a meeting with His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of all Georgia, and 20 members of the Holy Synod.

After listening to the words of Patriarch Ilia II, the Pope indicated that "it is significant that this first visit of a Bishop of Rome to the Orthodox Church of Georgia is taking place on the eve of the Great Jubilee of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Son of God." He expressed his desire that the meeting and the kiss of peace exchanged with the Catholicos "be a grace-filled step towards a renewed fraternity between us, and towards a more truly shared witness to Jesus Christ and to the Gospel of eternal life."

"I wish to assure you of the Catholic Church's veneration and admiration for the Church of Georgia. Having its roots in the original Jerusalem community, the Church of Georgia is one of the earliest Christian communities."

The Pope gave thanks to God "for the results of the contacts which have taken place between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in recent years, beginning with the historic meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I and Pope Paul VI."

After referring to the establishment of the Joint International Committee between the two Churches, he said: "I am confident that the documents of the dialogue can serve as a basis for clarifying our relationship and for avoiding misunderstandings where Catholics and Orthodox live side by side. The work must continue, and whatever obstacles appear along the way can be patiently resolved in a spirit of brotherhood and sincere love of the truth."

The Holy Father concluded by saying that his daily prayer would be that "cooperation between our Churches will increase at every level, as an eloquent and necessary expression of the witness to the Gospel which Orthodox and Catholics are called to give. I assure you that my representative in Georgia will make every effort to foster this relationship of cooperation and understanding in a spirit of true Christian charity, free from misunderstanding and distrust, and marked by complete respect."

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REPRESENTATIVES OF EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES MEET IN BOSTON

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father to Cardinal Achille Silvestrini and, through him, to all those taking part in the meeting of bishops and religious superiors of the Eastern Catholic Churches in America and Oceania with the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. It began yesterday in Boston, U.S.A., and ends November 12.

Dated November 1, solemnity of All Saints, the Pope's Message to the prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, recalls that "the purpose of this meeting is to bring the different Eastern Churches together for reflection and common prayer in order that ... they may recognize the unique characteristics of their presence in America and Oceania and identify the path of commitment for the future." He notes that participants will especially examine the consequences of the massive diaspora on the life of the Oriental Churches in their traditional territories.

This is the fourth in a series of similar encounters held since 1996 to examine the life of the Catholic Oriental Churches in diverse parts of the world.

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PAPAL MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PLENARY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul has sent a Message to the members of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, on the occasion of their plenary assembly in the Vatican from November 6 to 9, stating that his apostolic visit to India and Georgia had prevented him from addressing the plenary in person.

The Pope highlights the council's "important role in promoting the social teaching of the Church." Noting that the assembly's theme is the current environmental crisis," and by extension, "the use of the earth's resources," he writes: "Reflecting on the environment in the light of Sacred Scripture and the social teaching of the Church, we cannot but raise the question of the very style of life promoted by modern society, and in particular the question of the uneven way in which the benefits of progress are distributed."

The council can serve the Church and mankind, he says, "in promoting a deeper understanding of the obligation to work for greater justice and equity in the way people are enabled to share in the resources of God's creation."

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