CONSTRUCT THE CIVILIZATION OF LOVE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 1999 (VIS) - "Commitment to building a 'civilization of love'," was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general audience which was held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.

The Pope recalled that over the past few decades, the loss of a sense of God has coincided with "the advance of a nihilistic culture" that relativizes fundamental values, such as those of the family and the respect for life. "Paradoxically, the State is required to recognize as 'rights' many modes of behavior that threaten human life." Furthermore, "the ever greater refusal of the diverse simply because of its diversity, tests our conscience as believers."

In the face of the "culture of death," he went on, "our responsibility as Christians is expressed in the commitment of the 'new evangelization', one of whose most important fruits is the civilization of love." The center of this concept "is the recognition of the value of the human person and, concretely, of all human beings. ... The Christian view of the human being as the image of God entails that individual rights, by their nature, be respected by society, which does not create but simply recognizes them."

John Paul II said that, in order for this doctrine to go beyond mere words, social life must "be animated by the breath of authentic religious experience."

The Pope concluded: "Christianity makes its contribution towards the construction of a society of human proportions, safeguarding its soul and proclaiming the requirements of God's law, in which all the organizations and legislation of society must be anchored. ... This contribution of the Church comes about, above all, through the witness offered by Christians, especially the laity in their everyday lives."

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TRADITIONAL PAPAL MASS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, TEACHERS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 1999 (VIS) - Last evening in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated Mass for the 20th consecutive year for Rome's university students and teachers, continuing a tradition he established at the start of his pontificate. Joining them were delegations from nine European universities twinned with nine Roman universities.

In his homily the Holy Father spoke of the imminence of the Jubilee Year and the opening of the Holy Doors in Rome and in dioceses around the world. Opening the door at St. Peter's, he said, "is a highly significant event: it represents the opening of a universal passage, as a meeting point towards which all men and peoples are invited to move, to enter in love, justice and peace in the Kingdom of God."

"The Jubilee theme chosen for the university world: 'The University for a New Humanism'," he said, "invites us to develop and increase the rich scientific patrimony of mankind according to a project which places man at the center. ... Serving mankind is the duty which, on the threshold of the third millennium, is entrusted in a special way to you of the university world." And he pointed to two important Holy Year meetings which will involve university teachers and students: World Youth Day and the World Meeting of University Professors.

Jubilees, stated John Paul II, are pilgrimages in faith towards God and they call for, above all else, conversion, "An essential prerequisite of faith, in fact, is conversion, ... an interior movement of oneself to God, which allows us to discover ourselves in a new and authentic way. The departure point is becoming aware of one's own poverty, of one's own need of salvation. What impedes or slows down conversion are pride, presumption, and trusting in oneself, which translate into arrogance, lies and iniquity."

Reiterating the universal aspect of the Jubilee, the Pope recalled that five continental synods had been held in recent years to prepare the Church to enter the year 2000. He said that the synods too were a kind of pilgrimage of peoples to God.
In closing, he urged the teachers and students to "love study, love knowledge which becomes broader and deeper with research, which becomes richer through engagement, showing the splendor of truth. Love life, respect it always, especially where it is fragile and defenseless."

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CZECH REPUBLIC DONATES TREE FOR ST. PETER'S SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 1999 (VIS) - At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday December 18, a ceremony will take place during which the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square will be illuminated. This year the tree has been donated by the Czech Republic.

Vaclav Havel, the president of the Czech Republic, will take part in the ceremony, as will Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop of Prague and various representatives from Vatican City State.

The 26-meter high fir tree comes from the Beskydy forest near Moravia. The Czechs have also donated 30 other smaller fir-trees to the Vatican, two of which will be placed in the Holy Father's own apartment, one in the Paul VI Hall and the rest in the offices of the Roman Curia. All the trees will be decorated with straw, dried flowers, sweets and bows created by people from the Ostrava-Opava region.

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PRESS OFFICE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND CHINA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 1999 (VIS) - Following reports that China and the Holy See would establish diplomatic relations in the coming year, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a declaration released this afternoon:

"With regard to news reports today on relations between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See, I must make it clear that what was reported contains nothing new with respect to the news which was disseminated last October, which I also had to clarify.

"Since then there have been no new developments except for the Holy Father's Message to the Catholics in China and in the diocese of Macao."

On October 25, 1999 Dr. Navarro-Valls had stated: "We take note of this news that arises from various sources. It is well known that the Holy See wishes to have good relations with all countries. Consequently, this includes China where a Catholic community exists. However, I cannot be any more specific on news that we have not received through bilateral channels."

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

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