CONSTRUCT AN ECONOMY FOUNDED ON THE HIERARCHY OF VALUES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received executives from the Bank of Italy who are celebrating thirty years service with that institution.

Making reference to the bank's initiative to promote an internal congress for those who complete thirty years service, John Paul II affirmed that this occasion constitutes "a powerful call to the ideals of ethics, of dignity and of solidarity, (ideals) that cause work to be considered not simply as a source of sustenance, but also as a means capable of ennobling the individual.

"May this initiative," he continued, "contribute to making your awareness of this fact grow, in order that your daily commitment may become a generous and meaningful contribution to the construction of an economy founded on a just hierarchy of values, the first of which must be the dignity of the individual."

The Holy Father underlined the problem of the debt of the less economically developed countries, and said: "The authoritative voice of central banks may give the appropriate indications for identifying and pursuing just solutions; solutions that give hope to peoples in need of a solidarity that is sometimes necessary for their very survival."

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PAPAL MESSAGE FOR SOCIAL WEEKS OF FRANCE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from Pope John Paul to Msgr. Jean Boissonnat, president of the Social Weeks of France, on the occasion of their 74th session, currently underway in Paris on the theme "From One Century to Another, The Gospel, Christians and the Stakes in Society."

He praises the Social Weeks for reflecting on "complex problems as well as the political, economic and social realities which our society poses" and for rooting their reflections in the Church's social doctrine. He adds that the Church has always invited mankind "to create relationships of charity, fraternity, solidarity and justice" in all of these domains of human society.

"Politics," the Pope says, "is the broadest field for charity and solidarity." He stresses that "the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in the 'public life', that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good."

With regard to collaborating ever more closer to promote the common good and the "basic rights of the human person," affirms the Holy Father, "how can we not recall the primordial value of the couple and the family, which is the basic cell of society? When basic principles are not observed, when the positive law no longer makes reference to the natural law, it is clear that 'the life of society itself is gradually jeopardized, threatened and doomed to decay'. Legitimate authorities must assure a good functioning of State structures, transparency in public administration, impartiality in public service, the just and honest use of public funds, the refusal of illicit means to obtain or preserve power, by virtue of the worth of the person and objective moral demands."

Lauding those who have been involved in Social Weeks in the past, the Pope encourages participants today "to pursue the work undertaken by your predecessors and become actors in public life."

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TO FOLLOW CHRIST REQUIRES GENEROSITY AND COURAGE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a message to participants in the "Meeting of Youth, Approaching the Jubilee," which is presently being celebrated in San Remo, Italy, and whose theme is: "Youth of 2000, allow us to grow."

In his message, dated November 21, the Pope writes that the meeting, which is serving as preparation for the Jubilee, "well expresses a special characteristic of the youth of today, that is the openness to the great cultural diversity of today's world. In order to be able to carry out this exacting mission, you must above all be open to Christ. ... Be sure, He will not let you down."

"I imagine that, like all people of your age, you too are searching for the important and central aspect of existence. You are searching for something and someone upon whom you can rely totally."

"Nonetheless," John Paul II continues, "you know by experience that material well-being does not automatically produce happiness and serenity. Nor is the liberty guaranteed by law sufficient in order to feel interior liberty, in the depths of the heart. ... Human beings need Christ. Only in meeting Him do they discover the full truth about themselves. To follow Christ, as you well know, requires generosity and courage. Yet, it is in His footsteps that we achieve full realization and true liberty."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico, Mexico.
- Eight bishops from the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Antonio Jose Rafael of Braganca-Miranda.
- Bishop Armindo Lopes Coelho of Porto, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Joao Miranda Teixeira, Antonio Maria Bessa Taipa and Antonio Jose Cavaco Carrilho; and by Bishop Manuel da Silva Martins, emeritus of Setubal.
- Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva of Leiria-Fatima.
- Bishop Joaquim Goncalves of Vila Real.
- Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Bishop Walter Kasper, emeritus of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany, secretary of the same council.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., emeritus of Vercelli, Italy, and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION TO HOLD PLENARY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 1999 (VIS) - The International Theological Commission has announced in a communique that it will hold its annual plenary session in the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican from November 29 to December 4. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, president, will preside and Fr. Georges Cottier, O.P., theologian of the papal household, will guide the discussions.

The first theme of the plenary regards a matter touched on by Pope John Paul's 1994 Apostolic Letter, "Tertio Millennio Adveniente," and that is, the relationship between the Church and the failings of the past. A preliminary document entitled "The Church and the Failings of the Past: Remembrance for Reconciliation" has been prepared.

Participants will also study the theme of the diaconate, for which an 18-page "instrumentum laboris" has been prepared and will be discussed. The plenary will also dedicate time to the work of the sub-commissions studying the themes of revelation and creation.

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