ST. BRIDGET'S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, AN EMBLEM FOR ALL

VATICAN CITY, NOV 13, 1999 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, the Pope presided at the celebration of the first vespers of the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time, 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.

Present at this ecumenical celebration, which took place in memory of St. Bridget, co-patroness of Europe, were the Swedish monarchs King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

During his homily, John Paul II underlined that St. Bridget's "active love for the Church of Christ and the witness she gave to the Cross, constitute an emblem and inspiration for us all as we cross the threshold of a new millennium."

The Pope recalled that in the ecumenical celebration of 1991, held to mark the sixth centenary of the canonization of St. Bridget, he said: "For more than twenty-five years Catholics and Lutherans have been making every effort to find a common path. ... A common understanding (of the doctrine of justification) will help us, we are certain, to resolve the other controversies that, directly or indirectly, are connected with it."

"Today, thanks to the Lord, that 'common understanding' I hoped for eight years ago has become a promising reality. On October 31, in the city of Augsburg, the joint declaration was solemnly signed. ... This prize of ecumenical dialogue, a milestone on the road towards full and visible unity, is the result of intense research, meetings and prayer. Nonetheless, there still remains a long road ahead of us. ... We must continue to travel together."

At the end of the celebration, in the presence of the king and queen and the bishops of the Scandanvian countries, the Pope blessed a marble statue of St. Bridget which stands in the square of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City.

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THE CHURCH MUST EVANGELIZE THE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II addressed the first group of prelates from the German Episcopal Conference who have just completed their "ad limina" visit. The Pope's address concentrated on the Church, universal sacrament of salvation.

The Holy Father praised the German bishops for "all the good that the Church in Germany is doing through her presence and work in civil society, in political life, in the charitable field and through her financial generosity wherever the need exists. As one example among many others I would like to recall here the important service that the Church's consultors carry out in numerous fields, especially that in support of pregnant women who live in situations of conflict."

Later in his address he referred to the phenomenon of the mass media. On this subject he highlighted that "the information society represents a challenge to pastors. It is necessary to make great efforts, on the one hand to increase people's critical maturity, ... and, on the other, to promote a higher quality of news. The Church is also called to 'evangelize' the mass media. ... Great attention must be given to selecting the men and women charged with making the Church's voice heard in the committees and councils of radio and television."

"Your mission as pastors," he went on, "is carried out in an ever more laicized society, where religious values do not have great importance. ... The Church must question herself about her own role in a society in which reference to God becomes ever less frequent, because in many places there is no longer room for Him." The Pope went on to deplore "the numerous defections of faithful and the consequently diminished influence of the Church in the life of civil society."

John Paul II encouraged the prelates to "be open to dialogue, that is, to critical and reasonable confrontation, enduring the tensions that, at the present moment, cannot be resolved. The evangelical solution is not that of withdrawing from society. You must speak out on all occasions, in season and out of season. ... A lay society which is ever more silent about God needs your voice."

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POPE JOHN PAUL'S ANGELUS REFLECTIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 1999 (VIS) - Before praying the noon angelus, Pope John Paul reflected on the celebration today in Italy of Thanksgiving Day, upon his recently concluded trip to India and Georgia and on the many recent disasters in various parts of the world.

"Thanksgiving Day," he said, "invites us to give thanks to God for the fruits of the earth. At the end of one agricultural season and the start of another, we ask for the divine blessing on the countryside and the rural world so that the Lord will sustain those who dedicate themselves to working in the fields."

"In addition to these thanks to the Lord for the fruits of the earth," the Holy Father continued, "I would like to add my thanks for my recent pilgrimage in India and Georgia, which I will be speaking about during next Wednesday's general audience. This great spiritual experience constitutes a further stage on the path of the new evangelization, towards the Great Jubilee of the year 2000."

Lastly, John Paul II recalled the numerous disasters which have occurred in recent days and weeks, all of which have resulted in loss of life, including the collapse of a building in Foggia, Italy, the crash of a World Food Program plane in Kosovo, "with deserving volunteers aboard," another violent earthquake in Turkey and the disappearance of an Egyptair plane into the Atlantic.

"I ask you to pray for the many victims and I express my closeness and my solidarity to all those who are suffering as a result of these immense tragedies."

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"REDEMPTORIS MATER" CHAPEL INAUGURATED

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father inaugurated the recently restored "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, which is located inside the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. He also consecrated the altar on which he then celebrated Mass.

A mosaic image of the Virgin, "Redemptoris Mater," occupies the center of the wall behind the altar and "places before our eyes the mystery of the love of God, who made Himself man to give us, human beings, the capacity of becoming children of God. On the threshold of the Third Millennium, I would like to emphasize this message of salvation and joy that Christ, born of Mary, brought to humanity."
John Paul II underlined the fact that in the chapel's mosaics "the richness of oriental tradition is revived, reworked by one who also knows the Western tradition. Here, East and West, far from opposing one another, exchange gifts in the attempt to better express the limitless riches of Christ." Several million hand-cut mosaics form the designs on the chapel's four walls and ceiling. The work took three years to complete.

The Pope concluded: "I particularly thank the cardinals who, with this gift, have wished to recall the fiftieth anniversary of my ordination as a priest. It causes me great joy that this anniversary should be associated with the 'Redemptoris Mater,' under whose protection I have lived all these years of my service to the Church and to whose intercession I entrust the time that the Lord still wishes to concede me."

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UPCOMING CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON "ECONOMY AND HEALTH"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Ministry to Health Care Workers, today in the Holy See Press Office, presented the 14th international conference to be sponsored by the council. It will take place in the Vatican from November 18 to 20.

The archbishop noted that "the theme, 'Economy and Health', is very important, indeed, it is a burning issue. .... In fact, since the start of the 1980s the governments of western nations have been deeply involved in controlling health costs, ... seeking to increase the incidence of health and medicine in the strategies of the free market."

He pointed out that in many places in the world today health and medicine are viewed as merchandise and the patient is viewed as a client or customer. The "buying and selling" of health care on the free market, the archbishop added, emphasizes the physical well-being of the patient vis-a-vis profit - to the detriment of his or her psychic and spiritual well-being.

Archbishop Lozano asked: "What is the Church's position on this theme? What could the Word of God tell us about this complex world of health? The answers to these and other questions will constitute the subject matter of our 14th international conference, where some of the world's greatest experts will discuss the topic."

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DECLARATION ON VISIT OF ALGERIA'S PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the declaration made today at midday by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, following the Pope's audience with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of the Republic of Algeria.

"After his meeting with the Pope, President Bouteflika was received by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"Among the various themes addressed in the discussions, which provided an opportunity for an exchange of opinions on problems regarding North Africa and the Middle East, particular attention was given to the situation in Algeria and hope was expressed for the efforts towards pacification being put into effect by the Algerian authorities.

"Naturally, there was also explicit reference to the situation of the Church in Algeria, in the desire that she may, with greater security, continue her worthy activities of service to all."

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POPE WELCOMES, ENCOURAGES FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY SISTERS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - Today, in welcoming the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity, the Pope said that their theme, "'Moved in God,' reflects your commitment to build upon the rich spiritual heritage of your foundress, Mother Magdalen Daemen, which has inspired the witness of religious consecration and the missionary commitment of generations of sisters in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Indonesia, Brazil and the United States."

"I encourage you, as true daughters of St. Francis," John Paul II told the sisters, who are in Rome for their General Chapter, "to promote in every aspect of your congregation's life a commitment to conversion, penance, intense prayer and contemplation as the basis for your presence and mission in the world. By being 'moved in God', may you be channels of His peace in a world often tragically beset by conflict, division and injustice."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of Algeria, accompanied by an entourage.
- Thirteen prelates from the German Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, archbishop of Munich and Freising, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Engelbert Siebler, Bernhard Hasslberger and Franz Dietl.
- Archbishop Oskar Saier of Freiburg im Breisgau, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Paul Friedrich Wehrle.
- Archbishop Karl Braun of Bamberg, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Werner Radspieler.
- Bishop Manfred Muller of Regensburg, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Vinzenz Guggenberger and Wilhelm Schraml.
- Bishop Paul-Werner Scheele of Wurzburg accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Helmut Bauer.

On Saturday, November 13, he received in separate audiences:

- Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, accompanied by an entourage.
- Six prelates from the German Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Franz Kamphaus of Limburg, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Gerhard Pieschl.
- Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Hans-Georg Koitz and Nikolaus Schwerdtfeger.
- Rudolf Muller of Gorlitz.
- Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, apostolic nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg.
- Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto, apostolic nuncio in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Francois Blondel, vicar general of Limoges, France, as bishop of Viviers (area 5,556, population 284,800, Catholics 257,000, priests 224, permanent deacons 7, religious 922), France. The bishop-elect was born in Limoges in 1940 and ordained a priest in 1965.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Ljubljana, Slovenia, presented by Auxiliary Bishop Jozef Kvas, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Archbishop Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, as prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. He succeeds Cardinal Pio Laghi, whose resignation from the same post the Holy Father accepted in conformity with canon 354 of the Code of Canon Law.

On Saturday, November 13, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Bishop Giovanni Battista Pichierri of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano, as bishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie (area 701, population 281,869, Catholics 269,369, priests 149, permanent deacons 6, religious 409), Italy. He succeeds Bishop Carmelo Cassati M.S.C., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Agostino Vallini, auxiliary of the diocese of Napoli, as bishop of Albano (area 661, population 375,000, Catholics 368,000, priests 218, permanent deacons 23, religious 1,148), Italy. He replaces Bishop Dante Bernini whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Gabriel Mbilingi C.S.Sp., counsellor general of the Holy Ghost Fathers, as coadjutor bishop of Lwena (area 199,786, population 300,000, Catholics 50,000, priests 6, religious 7), Angola. The bishop-elect was born in Bandua, Angloa, in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1984.

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