INTERNATIONAL GATHERING ON AIDS STARTS TODAY IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2000 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office for the presentation of the November 30-December 1 Intercontinental Meeting on AIDS which has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers in the Vatican's St. Martha's House.

Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, council president, presided at the press conference. Joining him were Bishop Jose L. Redrado Marchite, O.H. and Fr. Felice Ruffini, M.I., council secretary and under-secretary, as well as Dr. Guido Castelli Gattinara of Rome's Child Jesus Hospital and Dr. Fiorenza Deriu Bagnato, social researcher.

The archbishop pointed out that there are just over 36 million people in the world who have AIDS and that, since its appearance on the world scene 21.8 million people have already died. He also noted that whereas there are countries where one percent of the populace has AIDS, there are also nations where 20-36 percent have the virus, as in several states of sub-Saharan Africa.

He said that during the Vatican meeting on AIDS, reports would be presented on the work undertaken by the pontifical council since the congress held last December on the theme "The Catholic Church and the HIV/AIDS Challenge." He added that "the Holy Father John Paul II has, on many occasions, dealt with this problem and has given us enlightened orientations which show the nature of the illness, its prevention, the behavior of patients and those who assist them, as well as the role that civil authorities and scientists must play."

Archbishop Lozano Barragan concluded by stating that "there is no doubt that the most important thing is the prevention of the illness and, in the cases of those who contract it through sexual relations, the best prevention is chastity, both within and outside of marriage, even if that means going against the current in a 'pansexual' society such as contemporary society. In all cases, God's law is always current and always observable."

This morning, the first day of the international meeting, and just prior to the press conference, Archbishop Lozano Barragan, Bishop Redrado and Dr. Deriu Bagnato addressed the doctors, scientists and other specialists gathered at St. Martha's residence. Speeches continue this afternoon, highlighted by brief presentations from representatives of Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

Tomorrow, December 1, the day will be entirely dedicated to visiting a hospital and a prison where the AIDS problem is especially present. At the end of each visit, there will be a round table discussion and dialogue with the directors of each institution.

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