JOHN PAUL II ASKS PEACE FOR THE BASQUE REGION AND SUDAN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2000 (VIS) - Today in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he canonized 123 Blesseds: Augustin Zhao Rong, priest (1815) and his 119 companions, martyrs in China (1648-1930); Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra, virgin and foundress of the Institute of the Servants of Jesus of Charity (1842-1912); Katharine Drexel, virgin and foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People (1858-1955) and Josephine Bakhita, virgin, of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity, Canossians (1869-1947).

In his homily, the Pope told the nearly 100,000 faithful present, who spent almost the entire ceremony under a pouring rain, that "with this solemn proclamation of sainthood, the Church intends only to recognize that those (87 Chinese) martyrs are an example of courage and coherence for all of us, and they give honor to the noble Chinese people." He also mentioned the 33 men and women missionaries who went to China with the desire to "serve (the Chinese people) by announcing Christ," adding that "this present celebration is not the moment to make judgements about those historical times."

Of St. Maria Josefa, the first Basque to be canonized, he said: "She gave herself without limits to the charitable service of the infirm in an atmosphere of spiritual contemplation." Speaking Basque, he went on to request that her example and intercession may "help the Basque people to leave aside violence forever, and enable Euskadi (the Basque region) to become a blessed land and a place of peace and brotherly coexistence, where the rights of all people may be respected and where never again will innocent blood be shed."

Mother Katharine Drexel, he continued, "was deeply distressed by the poverty and hopeless conditions endured by many Native Americans and Afro-Americans. ... With great courage and confidence in God's grace, she chose to give not just her fortune but her whole life totally to the Lord. ... Her apostolate helped to bring about a growing awareness of the need to combat all forms of racism through education and social services."

The Pope then referred to Josephine Bakhita, who was "abducted and sold into slavery at the tender age of seven." He said that "in today's world, countless women continue to be victimized, even in developed modern societies. In St. Josephine Bakhita we find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation."

The Holy Father concluded by launching an appeal for the Sudan which has been torn by a "cruel war" for the last 17 years. Entreating "those with responsibility," he said: "Open your hearts to the cries of millions of innocent victims and embrace the path of negotiation."

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