MARY LIVED WITH HER EYES FIXED ON HER SON

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - "Mary's place on the journey to the Father" was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during the general audience, held today in the Paul VI Hall.

The Holy Father stated that Mary may be found "on the path that leads from the Father to humanity, as the mother who donates the Savior Son to everyone. At the same time, she is on the journey that men must follow to reach the Father through Christ in the Spirit."

"Mary's maternal mediation," he continued, "is 'mediation in Christ'." It is "the greatest fruit of Christ's mediation, and is essentially oriented to rendering our meeting with Him more intimate and profound."

The Holy Father highlighted that, "in reality, Mary does not wish to draw attention to herself. She lived on earth with her eyes fixed on Jesus and on the heavenly Father. Her greatest desire is to lead everyone's eyes to look in the same direction. She wishes to prompt us to look with faith and hope to the Savior sent to us by the Father."

The Virgin, he added, "was a model of (one who looks) in faith and hope," especially in her Son's Passion. In this way, Mary "encourages the Church and believers to always carry out the Father's will, which was made manifest in Christ."

The Holy Father commented on Mary's words to the servants at the wedding feast of Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." This is "an exhortation to enter the new historical period with the determination to carry out all that Christ said in the Gospel in the name of the Father and that He now intimates to us through the Spirit that lives within us."

The Pope concluded: "If we do as Christ says, the new millennium may take on a new aspect, more evangelical and authentically Christian, and thus respond to Mary's greatest aspiration."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Jose Foralosso S.D.B., of Guiratinga, Brazil, as bishop of Maraba (area 81,832, population 537,000, Catholics 513,000, priests 19, permanent deacons 1, religious 61), Brazil.

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, accompanied by Bishop Jose Luis Redrado Marchite O.H. and Fr. Felice Ruffini M.I., respectively secretary and under-secretary of the same council.

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DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BAHRAIN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - It was made public today that the Holy See and the State of Bahrain have mutually decided to establish diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature by the Holy See and of embassy on the part of the State of Bahrain. The agreement comes about in accordance with the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations of April 18, 1961.

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JOHN PAUL II TO VISIT HOLY LAND FROM MARCH 20 TO 26

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today, Pope John Paul II is to make a Jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The visit, which will include Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Autonomous Territory, is due to take place from March 20 to 26. The text of the communique is as follows:

"In Jordan, the Holy Father will visit the Monastery of Mount Nebo and will celebrate the Holy Mass in the Amman Stadium.

"Then, His Holiness will preside over the celebration of the Eucharist in Bethlehem, the Cenacle (Jerusalem), the Mount of Beatitudes in Galilee, the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem), accompanied by the Members of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. He will hold an ecumenical meeting with the Heads of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land.

"The Pope will go to the Western Wall and El Aqsa Mosque to greet the religious authorities of Judaism and Islam.

"His Holiness will hold meetings with the King of Jordan, with the President of the State of Israel, with the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and with the Israeli Prime Minister."

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