JOHN PAUL II INAUGURATES COMPLETELY RESTORED SISTINE CHAPEL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning inaugurated the Sistine Chapel, completely restored after 20 years of work on the renowned ceiling and Last Judgement by Michelangelo and the frescoes on the side walls, depicting scenes from the lives of Christ and Moses and painted by Perugino, Botticelli, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli and Signorelli.

He spoke to the invited guests of the "full splendor" of this chapel which "is very dear to the faithful of the world, not only for the masterpieces it houses but for the role it has in the life of the Church. Here, in fact - I recall with emotion - the election of the Successor of Peter takes place."

The Pope mentioned the completion, in 1994, of the restoration of the ceiling and the Last Judgment, "the works of Michelangelo which undoubtedly give the tone to this room and which in a certain sense consume it, such is their grandeur. They go right up to the ultimate horizon of Christian theology, pointing to the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the judgement, the mystery of creation and that of history, all of which converge on Christ, Savior and judge of the world."

John Paul II then spoke specifically of the final phase of restoration in the Sistine Chapel, that of the frescoes on the side walls which depict, six to a side, parallel scenes from the life of Moses and that of Christ. These walls were completed in 1482, and in fact, predate by 30 years the ceiling by Michelangelo, which was finished in 1512. He began the Last Judgement in the spring of 1536 and completed it on October 31, 1541. He termed the 12 scenes depicted "a sort of 'lectio divina' in which, even more than the single biblical episodes, what emerges is the unity of Scriptures, the Old and the New Testaments."

"What is evident," he added, "is that everything gravitates around Christ. ... These decorations are, therefore, a hymn to Christ. Everything leads to Him. Everything finds its fullness in Him."

The Holy Father observed that "the centrality of Christ is not overshadowed, but rather highlighted by the role He attributes to the apostles, and to Peter in particular." Perugino's painting, he said, underlines not only "the fullness of authority conferred on the first of the apostles," but "the touching expression of humility on Peter's face when he receives the sign of his ministry."

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PROMOTE MORAL VALUES AND SOLID ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received prelates from the Dominican Episcopal Conference, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

In his address the Pope made reference to the bishops' quinquennial reports in which they have underlined the need to "keep lay adults well formed in order that they be true witnesses to the Gospel, ... willing to intervene in the fields most suited to them such as the family, the workplace, the world of culture or of politics."

For this reason, he continued, what is required is "continuous and systematic formation (of lay adults) making them aware of their dignity as baptized Christians and the commitment that this brings with it, as well as giving them a solid knowledge of the Church's doctrine and Magisterium. In fact, you can only promote moral values through solid ethical principles. This is especially so in a society where a high percentage of the population lives in conditions of extreme poverty, where there is high unemployment, especially among youth, and where there is an increase in violence and corruption." These factors have repercussions "in phenomena such as adolescent single mothers or child labor and exploitation."

The Holy Father affirmed that in the face of the weakening of the family, there is a need for incisive catechesis "that gives deep roots to the Christian ideal of faithful and indissoluble conjugal communion, true path of sanctity and open to procreation." Furthermore, "it is also necessary to recall the need to respect women's inalienable dignity and, moreover, to recognize their vital role in the home as well as in the Church and in society. In fact, it is sad to note how 'women still meet forms of discrimination', especially when they are the frequent victims of sexual abuse and male dominance."
The Pope recalled the presence, in the Dominican Republic, of "particular ideologies or schools of thought that, in one way or another, deny God or advocate a distancing from Him (and) relativize moral values. ... Consequently, in her evangelizing work, the Church feels the pressing need, not just to defend the truth about man, his primacy over society and his openness to the transcendent, but also to speak and teach in such a way that 'the Gospel is proclaimed in the language and in the culture of its hearers.' At the same time, in this task, she must avoid the risk that excessive attachment to certain cultures and traditions ends up relativizing the Christian message or rendering it void of meaning."

At the close of his talk, John Paul II entreated the prelates to make the Jubilee, "this year of grace, become a strong impulse to spiritual renewal, both individual and communal."

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POPE JOHN PAUL BLESSES BABY JESUS STATUES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 1999 (VIS) - In what has become a traditional pre-Christmas event, Pope John Paul today blessed the statues of Baby Jesus, brought to St. Peter's Square by the children of Rome. The statues will then be placed in the nativity scenes set up in their homes.

The Pope said that "today's liturgy invites us to joy because 'the Lord is near'. His birth is very close, as is the Great Jubilee, which will be like spreading out through an entire year the feast of the mystery of the Incarnation, at a distance of 2,000 years of the coming of the Son of God in the humility of our human nature."

"One of the most popular expressions of the much-awaited joy of Christ is the preparation of the nativity scene within a family. In Christian homes," said the Pope before blessing the statues, "a special place is chosen to place the statues, leaving space between Mary and Joseph, for the Child Jesus. ... May Christmas, which is now imminent and is the start of the Great Jubilee, motivate you and all believers in every part of the world to prepare a worthy home to receive Jesus."

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JOHN PAUL II MAKES LAST PARISH VISIT BEFORE THE JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Pope made his last pastoral visit to a parish community in Rome before the start of the Holy Year, visiting the parish of Sts. Urban and Lawrence at Prima Porta.

Making reference in his homily to John the Baptist's call to prepare the way for the Lord, the Holy Father said: "With a light heart, let us hasten towards the Great Jubilee, towards the year of grace in which the whole Church will ring out with a great hymn of praise to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

John Paul II went on to recall that many elderly people live in the neighborhood. "They frequently welcome their married children into their homes, children who have difficulty in finding homes elsewhere. In this way, a broad and rich family community comes into being, one in which grandparents, children and grandchildren live together. I hope that this communal existence may, as well as offering reciprocal material support, also favor the transmission of those human and Christian values that constitute the precious heritage of the beloved Italian nation."

"In this third Sunday of Advent," he went on, "the whole diocese of Rome is celebrating the day for new churches. ... Let us pray to the Lord that, through the support of everyone, those areas of Rome presently without an adequate parish center may, as soon as possible, have a new place of worship. Let us also pray that each parish will be always, but especially during the coming Jubilee year, a community capable of bearing witness to the Gospel, attentive to people's problems, open and hospitable."

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT TJUDMAN OF CROATIA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent by Pope John Paul II to the president of the parliament of Croatia, Vlatko Pavletic, upon the death of the president of the republic, Franjo Tudjman:

"Having learned of the death of His Excellency Franjo Tudjman, president of the Republic of Croatia, I join in the pain felt by the authorities and the entire people. I ask the Lord to give him eternal peace and happiness. and to bring to those close to him the comfort which they need in this moment of trial. In recalling our meetings I salute the memory of this statesman who led Croatia on the path of independence, I hope that the country, at the point of having a new legislature, will continue to build its future while maintaining its stability in promoting peace, justice, unity and dialogue in the heart of the national community and in the region. I ask for an abundance of divine grace upon the family of the deceased, on the country's leaders and on all the inhabitants of Croatia."

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CHILD JESUS HOSPITAL CELEBRATES 130 YEARS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 1999 (VIS) - The personnel of Bambino Gesu (Child Jesus) Hospital was welcomed by the Pope this morning who recalled that the hospital, "one of the most prestigious European institutions" of pediatric medicine, is celebrating the 130th anniversary of its founding. He also recalled that the hospital was given to the Holy See 75 years ago by a Roman noble family.

"In modern society," he said, "attention for the world of the child is growing, as is the consolidation of the dutiful respect for his inalienable right to life, family, health and to religious and civil education, and the rigorous defense of his innocence. Notwithstanding this, all too often children undergo very serious affronts and violence, especially in the world's poorest regions and in those countries struck by war and hunger, They are threatened by egoism and by the race to material well-being, which so often absorbs parents, taking them away from the duty of a educative presence, which consists of a caring closeness to their children and listening to the problems linked with their growth and insertion into society."

John Paul II pointed out that "the Church continues to proclaim far and wide the centrality of the child, an object of particular love by Jesus. ... The Child Jesus Hospital plays a role in this context, undertaking precious work in favor of children who are ill."

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HOLY FATHER ASKS THAT DEATH PENALTY BE ABOLISHED

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 1999 (VIS) - Today, after praying the angelus with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul appealed for the abolition of the death penalty.

"This evening, at the Colosseum," he said, "there will be a demonstration which is part of a worldwide campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty. The Great Jubilee is a privileged occasion to promote around the world ever more mature forms of respect for the life and dignity of each person. I therefore renew my appeal to all leaders to reach an international consensus to abolish the death penalty, given that (according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church) 'the cases of absolute necessity for executing malefactors are by now so rare, if not practically non-existent'."

During the Holy Year, the Colosseum will be lit up during the day with special gold lights each time that a condemned person is spared the death penalty.

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MESSAGE FOR THE 33RD WORLD DAY OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 1999 (VIS) - "Peace on Earth to those whom God Loves!" is the title of Pope John Paul II's message for the 33rd World Day of Peace. The document, dated December 8 and published today, is written in Italian, Spanish, French, English, Polish and Portuguese, is 22 pages long and is divided into ten sections. Given below are some excerpts:

"Looking to a year so filled with meaning, I once more offer everyone my good wishes for peace. ... The problems which make the path to peace difficult and often discouraging are many and complex, but peace is a need deeply rooted in the heart of every man and woman. The will to seek peace must not therefore be allowed to weaken. This seeking must be based on the awareness that humanity, however much marred by sin, hatred and violence, is called by God to be a single family. This divine plan needs to be recognized and carried out through the search for harmonious relationships between individuals and peoples, in a culture where openness to the Transcendent, the promotion of the human person and respect for the world of nature are shared by all. This is the message of Christmas, this is the message of the Jubilee, this is my hope at the beginning of a new Millennium.

"WAR IS A DEFEAT FOR HUMANITY. In the century we are leaving behind, humanity has been sorely tried by an endless and horrifying sequence of wars, conflicts, genocides and 'ethnic cleansings' which have caused unspeakable suffering: millions and millions of victims, families and countries destroyed, an ocean of refugees, misery, hunger, disease, underdevelopment and the loss of immense resources. At the root of so much suffering there lies a logic of supremacy fuelled by the desire to dominate and exploit others, by ideologies of power or totalitarian utopias, by crazed nationalisms or ancient tribal hatreds. ... The twentieth century bequeaths to us above all else a warning: wars are often the cause of further wars. ... Wars generally do not resolve the problems for which they are fought and therefore, in addition to causing horrendous damage, they prove ultimately futile. War is a defeat for humanity."

"Against the backdrop of war in the twentieth century, humanity's honor has been preserved by those who have spoken and worked on behalf of peace."

"CALLED TO BE ONE FAMILY. ... Will the new century be one of peace and a renewed sense of brotherhood between individuals and peoples? ... There will be peace only to the extent that humanity as a whole rediscovers its fundamental calling to be one family, a family in which the dignity and rights of individuals ' whatever their status, race or religion ' are accepted as prior and superior to any kind of difference or distinction."

"CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. This principle has an immensely important consequence: an offense against human rights is an offense against the conscience of humanity as such, an offense against humanity itself. ... Crimes against humanity cannot be considered an internal affair of a nation. Here an important step forward was taken with the establishment of an International Criminal Court to try such crimes. ... All too many and horrifying are the macabre scenarios in which innocent children, women, and unarmed older people have become intentional targets in the bloody conflicts of our time; too many, in fact, for us not to feel that the moment has come to change direction, decisively and with a great sense of responsibility.

"THE RIGHT TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. ... In the face of such tragic and complex situations and contrary to all alleged 'reasons' of war, there is a need to affirm the preeminent value of humanitarian law and the consequent duty to guarantee the right to humanitarian aid to suffering civilians and refugees. ... Negotiation between parties, with appropriate attempts at mediation and pacification by international and regional bodies, is of the greatest importance. Negotiation is necessary in order to prevent such conflicts and to end them once they have broken out."

"'HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION'. Clearly, when a civilian population risks being overcome by the attacks of an unjust aggressor and political efforts and non-violent defense prove to be of no avail, it is legitimate and even obligatory to take concrete measures to disarm the aggressor. ... What is needed without delay is a renewal of international law and international institutions, a renewal whose starting-point and basic organizing principle should be the primacy of the good of humanity and of the human person over every other consideration."

"PEACE IN SOLIDARITY. No one should be deceived into thinking that the simple absence of war, as desirable as it is, is equivalent to lasting peace. ... Failure awaits every plan which would separate two indivisible and interdependent rights: the right to peace and the right to an integral development born of solidarity."

"THE URGENT NEED TO RETHINK THE ECONOMY. ... Perhaps the time has come for a new and deeper reflection on the nature of the economy and its purposes. What seems to be urgently needed is a reconsideration of the concept of 'prosperity' itself, to prevent it from being enclosed in a narrow utilitarian perspective which leaves very little space for values such as solidarity and altruism. ... An economy which takes no account of the ethical dimension and does not seek to serve the good of the person ' of every person and the whole person ' cannot really call itself an 'economy', understood in the sense of a rational and constructive use of material wealth.

"WHICH MODELS OF DEVELOPMENT? The fact that humanity ... is still tragically split in two by poverty - at the beginning of the twenty-first century, more than a billion four hundred million people are living in a situation of dire poverty ' means that there is urgent need to reconsider the models which inspire development policies. ... These processes call for rethinking international cooperation in terms of a new culture of solidarity. ... In particular it is necessary to find definitive solutions to the long-standing problem of the international debt of poor countries, while at the same time making available the financial resources necessary for the fight against hunger, malnutrition, disease, illiteracy and the destruction of the environment.

"Today more than in the past there is an urgent need to foster a consciousness of universal moral values in order to face the problems of the present. ... A way must be found to discuss the problems posed by the future of humanity in a comprehensible and common language. The basis of such a dialogue is the universal moral law written upon the human heart."

"WORKING GENEROUSLY FOR PEACE. ... Peace is a building constantly under construction. The building up of peace involves:
' Parents who are examples and witnesses of peace in their families, and who educate their children for peace.
' Teachers who are able to pass on genuine values. ...
' Working men and women, who are committed to extending their age-old struggle for the dignity of work. ...
' Political leaders who put at the heart of their own political activity and of that of their countries a firm and unwavering determination to promote peace and justice. ...
' Those in international organizations who ... work in the front line. ...
' Members of Non-Governmental Organizations. ...
' Believers who, convinced that authentic faith is never a source of war or violence, spread convictions of peace and love through ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

"I am thinking particularly of you, dear young people ... In your schools and universities, in the work-place, in leisure and sports, in all that you do, let yourselves be guided by this constant thought: peace within you and peace around you, peace always, peace with everyone, peace for everyone. To the young people who, unfortunately, have known the tragic experience of war and who harbour sentiments of hatred and resentment I address this plea: make every effort to rediscover the path of reconciliation and forgiveness."

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AUDIENCE WITH THE NEW PATRIARCH OF CILICIA OF THE ARMENIANS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics, who has just been elected and who has received ecclesiastical communion from the Pope.

In his address to the patriarch and the members of the synod, the Pope expressed his hope to Nerses Bedros that he may follow the example of his patron, Saint Nerses, in being "a tireless promoter of communion, above all within (your own) Church, then within the marvelous harmony of Catholicism and, finally, in the longed-for path towards full communion with the beloved brethren of the Armenian Apostolic Church."

"Your ministry," he went on, addressing His Beatitude, "requires vibrant spiritual strength. Awaiting you is the exhilarating task of reorganizing the Armenian Catholic Church, the starting point of which is confirming and consolidating that Church in faith."

John Paul II affirmed: "Priests will be the principle object of your care. They request your help in finding the root and meaning of their ministry truly and solidly in Christ, and not in social position or personal prestige."

The Pope also entrusted monks and men and women religious to the patriarch's pastoral care; "May the heritage of whole generations not be lost. Apart from the Pope, the entire Armenian people request this from you, for them the service of culture is also a guarantee of survival."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Isaias Afwerki, president of Eritrea.
- His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Msgr. Lorenzo Leuzzi, director of the office for the pastoral care of universities of the diocese of Rome; Msgr. Sergio Lanza, president of the "Redemptor Hominis" Pastoral Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University; Fr. Natale Loda, chaplain of Rome's Tor Vergata University; Fr. Pedro Olea Alvarez C.S.I., chaplain of Rome's La Terza University and Fr. Massimo Palombella S.D.B., director of the inter-university choir of the diocese of Rome.
On Saturday, December 11, he received Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Friday, December 10, he received Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy and Bishop Walter Kasper, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Giuseppe de Andrea, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciatures in Kuwait and Yemen and at the apostolic delegation in the Arabian Peninsula.

On Saturday, December 11, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Bishop Braulio Rafael Leon Villegas of La Paz en la Baja California Sur, Mexico, as bishop of Ciudad Guzman (area 8,000, population 485,000, Catholics 470,000, priests 120, religious 239), Mexico. He succeeds Bishop Serafin Vasquez Elizalde whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Vincenzo Pelvi, pro-vicar general of Naples (area 274, population 1,600,000, Catholics 1,550,000, priests 994, permanent deacons 167, religious 3,630), Italy, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Naples in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1973.

- Appointed Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, as president of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia.

- Appointed Msgr. Raffaello Funghini, judge of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, as dean of the same tribunal.

- Appointed Fr. Ireneusz Jozef Pekalski, rector of the major archdiocesan seminary of Lodz, as auxiliary of Lodz (area 5,200, population 1,550,000, Catholics 1,470,000, priests 671, religious 1,054), Poland. The bishop-elect was born in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland, in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1974.

- Appointed Msgr. Stanislaw Gebicki, chancellor of Wloclawek (area 10,143, population 882,236, Catholics 865,137, priests 621, religious 732), Poland, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Zadusznink, Poland, in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1969.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Tarnow, Poland, presented by Auxiliary Bishop Jozef Gucwa, upon having reached the age limit.

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