ROME CONFERS HONORARY CITIZENSHIP ON CHIARA LUBICH

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter of congratulation from the Holy Father to Chiara Lubich, foundress and president of the Focolare movement, on the occasion of her 80th birthday today for which the local authorities in Rome have granted her honorary citizenship.

"After (God) called you through Baptism to become His beloved daughter," the Pope writes, "He wished to unite you more intimately to the poor, chaste and obedient Christ through complete consecration to His love. (He did so) in order that you, with an undivided heart, be a messenger of unity and mercy among so many brothers and sisters in all parts of the world."

John Paul II states that "in the footsteps of Christ, crucified and abandoned, you gave life to the Focolare movement to help the men and women of our time to experience the faithfulness of God. With them, you live the grace of fraternal communion that they might become joyous and credible proclaimers of the Gospel."

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POPE DEPLORES TERRORIST ATTACK IN MADRID

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2000 (VIS) - "While cordially greeting the Spanish-language pilgrims," said John Paul II in remarks following the angelus prayer today, "I wish to express my deep pain for the news of last Friday's terrorist attack in the capital of Spain, which cost the life of a servant of the State and ended 15 months which had given cause for hope."

"With all my energy I deplore this execrable act, which greatly endangers the efforts of those who seek just and peaceful solutions for coexistence. I ask the Lord to convert those who use or believe in terror to impose their ideas, and for harmony among all citizens of the dear Spanish people."

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ANGELUS: CHRISTIAN UNITY AND JUBILEE INITIATIVES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2000 (VIS) - Prior to praying the angelus today, Pope John Paul addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square from his study window and reflected on the opening of the last Jubilee Holy Door at St. Paul's-Outside-the Walls, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and a Jubilee initiative for those who are ill.

He said that he had desired the January 18 opening of the Holy Door at St. Paul's, accomplished with the representatives of numerous Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, "to coincide with the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with the intention of visibly demonstrating how the commitment to the re-formation of Christian unity is common to all and must animate the great prayer which in this period of the Jubilee year is raised to the Lord from every part of the earth."

"The gesture of opening together that door, the symbol of Christ, was an eloquent sign which encourages us to go forth on the path which remains to be fulfilled and for which we must, above all, pray."

"Almost a month has passed since the beginning of the Great Jubilee," said the Holy Father in concluding remarks, "and throughout the Church there has been great activity for spiritual and charitable initiatives. Among these I wish to point out that of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, which has promoted in Rome a series of prayer meetings of the sick, in the basilica of St. Mary Major. These will take place the last Tuesday of every month of the Jubilee Year."

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CARDINAL CLANCY IS SPECIAL ENVOY TO CONGRESS ON THE TRINITY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father, written in Latin and dated December 4, 1999, in which he names Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, archbishop of Sydney, Australia, as his special envoy to the Marian Congress on the Holy Trinity, which will take place January 27-29 in Manila, the Philippines.

Also made public were the names of the three members of the pontifical mission: Msgrs. Geronimo Reyes, judicial vicar of the archdiocese of Manila, and Francisco De Leon, rector of the San Carlos Major Seminary of Manila, and Francisco Alba, knight of St. Sylvester.

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JUBILEE PROGRAMS FOR JOURNALISTS AND PERFORMING ARTISTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop John P. Foley and Bishop Pierfranco Pastore, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, presented the program for World Communications Day, 2000.

On a historical note, Archbishop Foley recalled that during Vatican Council II, the world's bishops had proposed almost unanimously that World Communications Day be celebrated on the Sunday before Pentecost. The reason for this is, he said, "the emphasis that the biblical readings used in the Liturgy during that period place on the proclamation of the Gospel, the announcing of the good news of Jesus Christ."

Furthermore, he added, the message for this day, whose theme is "Proclaiming Christ in the Media at the Dawn of the New Millennium," is published on the feast of St. Francis of Sales, patron saint of journalists, "in accordance with the request of bishops and episcopal commissions for social communications throughout the world."

Bishop Pastore outlined the program for the Journalists' Jubilee (June 1-4) and for the Performing Artists' Jubilee (December 15-17), although he conceded that the calendar is not yet definitive.

On the afternoon of Thursday, June 1, Solemnity of the Ascension, there will be a moment of prayer in the Sistine Chapel. A conference on "Truth and Witness" is scheduled for Friday, June 2, as is a visit to the catacombs. On the afternoon of the same day, from the Holy See Press Office, a video conference will be transmitted on the theme, "Prospects for the Church in the Third Millennium" with links to the world's principal communications media.

An ecumenical celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 3. The event, entitled "Feast of the Word" and presided by Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy, will take place in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls in the presence of other Christian denominations. The afternoon will be a time for confessions, these will take place in linguistic groups at, among others, the Spanish and American colleges. A concert will be held at 9 p.m. On Sunday, June 4, a Jubilee Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica. An audience with the Pope is scheduled for journalists who participate in the Jubilee.

Regarding the performing artists' Jubilee, Bishop Pastore indicated that three celebrations - Marian, Penitential and Eucharistic - will be held on December 15 in various Roman basilicas. On Saturday, December 16, martyrs will be commemorated at a place in Rome yet to be defined and the performers will have the chance to express the reasons that motivated them to accept the Holy Father's invitation to attend the Jubilee. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 17, a Jubilee Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. The same afternoon a show will be held, closing the three days of the Jubilee. It is likely that on one of those days, the Holy Father will receive the participants in audience.

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HOLY FATHER NAMES ENVOY TO CENTENNIAL IN GERMANY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's Letter, written in Latin and dated December 11, 1999, in which he names Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos as his special envoy to the celebrations of the 12th centenary of the building of the cathedral of Aachen, Germany.

Accompanying the cardinal to the January 29-30 celebrations will be Msgr. August Peters, canon of the cathedral and judicial vicar of the diocese of Aachen, and Fr. Caspar Seeger, honorary canon, dean, and pastor in Monschau.

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DECLARATION FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, with reference to an article concerning the health of the Holy Father that appeared yesterday in the English press, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration:

"This is not the first time that we read such 'prophecies' that later reveal themselves as unfounded. The article, which has no source and gives no precise information, is not to be taken into consideration."

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CHRIST IN THE MEDIA IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today in six languages was Pope John Paul's Message for the 34th World Communications Day, which falls on June 4, 2000. French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese were translated from the original English. Following are excerpts:

"The theme of the thirty-fourth World Communications Day, 'Proclaiming Christ in the Media at the Dawn of the New Millennium,' is an invitation to look ahead to the challenges we face, and also back to the dawn of Christianity itself, for the light and courage we need."

"The early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles contain a moving account of the proclamation of Christ by his first followers - a proclamation at once spontaneous, faith-filled, and persuasive, and carried out through the power of the Holy Spirit."

"It goes without saying that circumstances have changed enormously in two millennia. Yet the same need to proclaim Christ still exists. Our duty to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus and to his saving presence in our lives is as real and pressing as was the duty of the first disciples. We must tell the good news to all who are willing to listen."

"Direct, personal proclamation ... is essential; so are other traditional forms of spreading the word of God. But, alongside these, proclamation today must take place also in and through the media."

"The impact of the media in today's world can hardly be exaggerated. ... Through the media, people come into contact with other people and events, and form their opinions about the world they live in - indeed, form their understanding of the meaning of life. ... The proclamation of Christ must be part of this experience."

"Naturally, in proclaiming the Lord, the Church must make energetic and skilful use of her own means of communication. ... And Catholic communicators must be bold and creative in developing new media and methods of proclamation."

"Already the media contribute to spiritual enrichment in many ways - for example, the many special programs being carried to worldwide audiences through satellite telecasts during the year of the Great Jubilee. In other cases, however, they display the indifference, even hostility, to Christ and his message that exist in certain sectors of secular culture."

"Media presentations which call attention to authentic human needs, especially those of the weak, the vulnerable and the marginalized, can be an implicit proclamation of the Lord. But besides implicit proclamation, Christian communicators should also seek out ways to speak explicitly of Jesus crucified and risen."

"To do this well demands professional training and skill. ... (and) a personal relationship with (Christ) through prayer."

"To proclaim Christ is not only a duty but a privilege."

"To proclaim Christ in the media at the dawn of the new millennium is not only a necessary part of the Church's evangelizing mission; it is also a vital, inspiring and hope-filled enrichment of the media's message. May God abundantly bless all those who honor and proclaim His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the vast world of the means of social communication."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Miguel Angel Rodriguez, president of the Republic of Costa Rica, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins.
- Bishop Walter Kasper, emeritus of Rottenburg-Stuttgart and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Msgr. Francesco Eleuterio Fortino, under-secretary of the same council.

On Saturday, January 22, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Blasco Francisco Collaco, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.
- Archbishop Alfio Rapisarda, apostolic nuncio in Brazil.
- Bishop Jozef Zlatnansky, secretary of the Permanent Inter-dicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe.
- Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach S.J., superior general of the Company of Jesus.
- Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.

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