JOHN PAUL II GREETS PILGRIMS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - At 11 this morning, speaking from his study window, Pope John Paul greeted and briefly addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The weekly general audience had not been put on the Pope's calendar for this Wednesday given the expected late hour of his arrival from Georgia after a long flight and three time zone changes.

"I greet you with affection," he said. "I returned last night from my apostolic pilgrimage in India and Georgia. In New Delhi I met many Asian bishops and faithful; in Tbilisi I visited the Catholic community and its apostolic administrator. With everyone I prayed, sharing their respective hopes and desires."

Saying that he would talk of "this interesting trip at next week's general audience," the Holy Father asked the faithful to join him in "asking God to render fruitful the seeds sown during this apostolic trip."

Thanking the authorities of both countries he visited, the Pope expressed "particular thanks to Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II for the cordiality which he showed me."

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POPE MEETS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GEORGIA BEFORE DEPARTURE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1999 (VIS) - Following his visit with members of the world of culture and science, the Holy Father went to the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Tbilisi, one of only two Catholic churches in the Georgian capital, where he met with priests, religious and a small group of lay faithful, and urged them to "work for a new springtime of the Gospel" in their land.

The encounter began at 6:45 p.m., local time. Pope John Paul, the first pontiff to visit Georgia in its millennia-old history, recalled that "this building, the only Catholic Church to remain open in Tbilisi during the period of persecution, is an eloquent symbol of persevering fidelity to Christ and unbroken communion with the See of Peter."

The city's other Catholic church, Assumption parish, was built by Capuchin Fathers at the start of the century, was closed for worship during the years of Soviet domination and requisitioned by the State for use as an office and gymnasium. It was finally returned to the Church and was reconsecrated on August 15, 1999.

The Pope greeted bishop-elect Giuseppe Pasotto, apostolic administrator of the Caucasus, and then had special words for priests, religious and laity.

To priests he said: "Like the seed which falls to the ground and dies, only to produce much fruit, your priestly ministry, carried on in simplicity and humility, quietly enriches the soil from which, by God's grace, new and abundant spiritual fruit is now emerging."

"You too, dear men and women religious, have a special place in the Pope's heart. ... Your commitment to the pursuit of perfect charity leads you to generous service of those in need, and those who, often without knowing it, are seeking the Kingdom of God amid the false promise of a world confused about right values."

John Paul II went on to say: "I give my encouragement and support to the lay faithful of this blessed land of Georgia. In your families, your parishes and your associations, celebrate your faith in Christ and be a leaven of the Gospel in society around you! ... Let the light of Christ scatter whatever shadows and darkness you may find in your own hearts and in the world around you. Do not be afraid to open yourselves to Christ and to the purifying power of His love."

After praying the Our Father with those assembled, and imparting his blessing, the Pope left for Tbilisi's international airport where he departed for Rome.

On the return flight to Rome, which lasted just over four hours, Pope John Paul used the plane's public address system, telling the journalists aboard that he was "happy to return to Rome" and adding: "I wish everyone good health." He arrived at Rome's Ciampino Airport, then took a ten-minute helicopter ride to the Vatican, arriving just after 10 p.m. local time.

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DOME OF ST. PETER'S IS NOT DAMAGED

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - The Fabric of St. Peter's, the Vatican office responsible for the care and maintenance of St. Peter's Basilica, issued the following communique in response to news regarding the presence of damaged sections in the dome of the basilica:

"The Fabric of St. Peter's denies the presence of damage to the foundations, structure and decorations of the dome and the internal vault of the basilica.

"There is no damage to the stability of the dome or to the sections closest, and the initiative to undertake an investigation, promoted by the Judge of the Vatican City, came about in the wake of the imprecise and unreliable information that has been spread in the last few days, and not because of true technical motives.

"This investigation represents part of the supervisory process normally used by institutions of the Holy See in protecting and maintaining their artistic and architectural property and it is more than ever necessary in order to refute the inexact information that has been spread.

"The cardinal archpriest of the Vatican Basilica as well as the directors and personnel of the Fabric of St. Peter's, have never given interviews or made declarations that may confirm or validate, even to a small degree, (the presence of) dangers or cracks.

"Furthermore, the restoration work that has involved various parts of the basilica, provided a further occasion to ascertain and verify the general condition of the whole basilica complex, which has been shown to be in perfect condition."

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DEDICATION OF THE "REDEMPTORIS MATER" CHAPEL

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - On Sunday November 14, the Holy Father John Paul II will preside at a ceremony for the dedication of the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel in The Vatican's Apostolic Palace, where a mosaic has recently been completed.

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ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF ST. BRIDGET

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father will preside at the celebration of the first vespers of the 33rd Sunday "per annum", with Dr. Karl Gustav Hammar, Lutheran archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, Dr. Jukka Paarma, Lutheran archbishop of Turku, Finland, and two Catholic bishops, Anders Arborelius O.C.D., of Stockholm, Sweden, and Czeslaw Kozon of Copenhagen, Denmark.

A communique from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff states: "This celebration intends to honor St. Bridget of Sweden, recently proclaimed co-patroness of Europe, and highlight her work for and commitment to 'the unity of the faith and the Church,' as recalled by Pope Boniface IX in his Bull of Canonization 'Ab origine mundi' on October 7, 1391.

"The celebration is inspired by the prayer of St. Bridget, which is common to Catholic and Lutheran faithful in Northern Europe: 'Lord, show me Your way and make me happy to follow it,' and seeks, on the eve of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, to be an important moment of communion on the path to the unity of all believers in Christ."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Simla and Chandigarh, India, presented by Bishop Gilbert Blaize Rego, upon having reached the age limit.

- Erected the diocese of Osorio (area 6,210, population 236,000, Catholics 189,000, priests 27, religious 63), Brazil, with territory taken from the diocese of Caxias do Sul and from the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, making it a suffragan of the latter. He appointed Bishop Thadeu Gomes Canellas, auxiliary of Porto Alegre, as bishop of the new diocese.

- Appointed Fr. Boniface Choi Ki-san, spiritual director of the major seminary of Inchon (area 1,282, population 3,553,613, Catholics 327,866, priests 159, religious 477), Korea, as coadjutor bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Kyeonki, Korea, in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1975.

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