AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, accompanied by Francisco Gil Hellin and Msgr. Francesco Di Felice, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the same pontifical council.
- Participants in a meeting promoted by the "Donum Dei" missionary family.

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WIDESPREAD EXTREME POVERTY IS A SCANDAL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2000 (VIS) - In New York on January 26, Bishop Diarmuid Martin, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, spoke at a panel discussion of ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council of the United Nations) on the Contribution of the U.N. System to Combating Poverty.

Bishop Martin highlighted that "we cannot repeat often enough that the persistence of such widespread extreme poverty is a scandal."

In talking of the fight against poverty, the bishop affirmed that "every sector of modern society is called to assume its appropriate responsibility: humanitarian organizations and religious groups but also business and the private sector; governments and international organizations, but also civil society ... and those living in poverty themselves, whose voice can so easily be ignored."
Bishop Martin went on to refer to the phenomenon of corruption, saying: "International instruments to identify and punish corruption must be put in place."

In closing, he stated that armed conflict and military expenditure represented an area in which progress could still be made: "The statistics are bluntly clear. Conflict produces poverty, peace opens the path to prosperity. There can be no agenda for development which does not address an agenda for peace. The question of the proliferation of small arms must be placed more clearly on the international development agenda and not limited just to a minor disarmament slot."

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WITNESS OF CHARITY IS THE GREAT MODERN PROPHECY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2000 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received members of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity who are participating in their general chapter, the theme of which is: "Charismatic identity and prophetic witness of the Servants of Charity in the Church and in the world of the third Christian millennium."

"Witness of charity is the great prophecy of modern times," said John Paul II. During the Jubilee year "a refuge of charity must be set up and extended through the whole Church to welcome the multitudes of poor people present in modern society. This is the primary challenge that faces the religious family of Blessed Luigi Guanella," the founder of the congregation.

In order to respond to the requirements of the poor, there is need for "a prophetic announcement that extends its reach to the very structures of society which lie at the roots of so much injustice and oppression against the weaker classes. This represents a second and more difficult challenge for those who have chosen to follow Christ, the good Samaritan."

The Holy Father indicated that the participation of nuns and lay people in the general chapter, "is more than ever significant. It will help you to deepen unity and consolidate collaboration between Don Guanella's spiritual children, in order to strengthen their witness of charity for a juster and more fraternal world."

The Pope concluded by encouraging the followers of Don Guanella, "in the face of a world frequently marked by tensions and individualism, to be ever more a visible sign of dialogue and fraternal communion, as well as credible witnesses of reconciliation and peace."

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POPE JOHN PAUL INAUGURATES NEW VATICAN PARKING LOT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, in the presence of civil and ecclesiastical authorities, the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, and representatives of the company who built the new Vatican underground parking lot, Pope John Paul visited and inaugurated the site for tourist busses and cars which was built on Janiculum Hill for the Jubilee Year.

At 11:30 a.m. he arrived by car at level "0" and took an elevator to the fifth floor, where he addressed those present. He thanked the companies who undertook building the parking lot on property owned by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, whose prefect, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, also spoke to those assembled.

The Pope pointed out that the aim of the parking lot "is to facilitate the pilgrims' access to the Vatican, especially during this Jubilee year, but also to ease traffic circulation in a key point of the city. ... I therefore wish to express great pleasure for a work which offers notable urban advantages without damaging Janiculum Hill's well-known panorama, and I willingly join all of you in thanking the Lord for this."

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ANGELUS REFLECTIONS ON THE DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 2000 (VIS) - In reflections preceding today's angelus prayer, the Pope pointed out that "Wednesday, February 2, feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, we will celebrate the Jubilee for Consecrated Life, that is, of those persons who have consecrated their lives to Christ, committing themselves to it through vows of poverty, chastity and obedience."

Greeting those who have come to Rome for this Jubilee, as well as those who will celebrate in their respective dioceses, the Holy Father recalled the highlights of this event: today is dedicated to thanksgiving for the consecrated life, tomorrow afternoon the Paul VI Hall will host a "festive encounter" of consecrated persons, February 1 there will be Eucharistic adoration at St. Mary Major and on Wednesday, February 2, the Pope will preside at a Mass in St. Peter's Square.

He invited the faithful "to spiritually join their brothers and sisters who express the different forms of consecrated life, because their vocation is a gift to the entire Church. ... By their very presence, consecrated persons are a sign of Christ and His way of life and, while they invite us to place nothing in front of God and His Kingdom, they are an example for everyone of generosity in prayer and dedication to one's neighbor."
After praying the angelus with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II remarked that "today is the World Day of Lepers, persons for whom the Church, following Christ's example, has always dedicated special attention. I embrace all our brothers and sisters who suffer Hansen's disease and renew my wish that, in this Jubilee year, they will feel the healing strength of solidarity."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Luciano Frigerio, head accountant of the administrative body of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as bureau chief in the same congregation.

On Saturday, January 29, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Fr. Arturo de Jesus Correa Toro, of the clergy of the diocese of Jerico, Colombia, and pastor of the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, as bishop of Ipiales (area 11,000, population 360,000, Catholics 342,000, priests 61, religious 136), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in Ituango, Colombia, in 1941 and ordained a priest in 1967.

- Erected the apostolic vicariate of Puerto Gaitan (area 47,000, population 42,000, priests 9, religious 10), Colombia, with territory taken from the apostolic prefecture of Vichada. He appointed Fr. Jose Alberto Rozo Gutierrez S.M.M., pro-prefect of Vichada, as bishop of the new apostolic vicariate. The bishop-elect was born in Caqueza, Colombia, in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1962.

- Erected the apostolic vicariate of Puerto Carreno (area 57,000, population 33,000, priests 7, religious 7), Colombia, with territory taken from the apostolic prefecture of Vichada. He appointed Fr. Alvaro Efren Rincon Rojas C.SS.R., vicar delegate and chancellor of the apostolic vicariate of Sibundoy, Colombia, as bishop of the new apostolic vicariate. The bishop-elect was born in Calvario, Colombia, in 1933 and ordained a priest in 1962.

- Appointed Archbishop Giorgio Zur, president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, as Holy See representative to the Russian Federation.

- Appointed Frs. Guillermo Rodrigo Teodoro Ortiz Mondragon, Jose Luis Fletes Santana and Felipe Tejada Garcia M.Sp.S., respectively rector of the major conciliar seminary and episcopal vicars of Mexico (area 1,479, population 21,816,000, Catholics 19,678,000, priests 1,690, permanent deacons 51, religious 6,906), Mexico, as auxiliary bishops of the same archdiocese. Bishop-elect Ortiz Mondragon was born in Toluca, Mexico, in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1976. Bishop-elect Fletes Santana was born at Rancho Viejo de los Fletes, Mexico, in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1975. Bishop-elect Tejada Garcia was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1966.

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AACHEN CATHEDRAL COMMEMORATES 1200 YEARS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Holy Father to Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff of Aachen, Germany, for the occasion of the 1200th anniversary of that city's cathedral, constructed by the emperor Charlemagne in the year 800.

In the message, dated January 25, the Pope writes that in building the cathedral, Charlemagne "was already aware of the need for strong links with Peter's Successor."

John Paul II recalls that the cathedral houses four relics of cloth that Jerusalem donated to the emperor and that "palpably and with profound reverence, recall significant events in the history of salvation." The most precious relic is the "cloth that bound Jesus' side."

Another of the relics kept in the cathedral, said the Pope, "recalls the attire that clothed the Mother of God on Holy Night. Just as Mary carried the Son in her womb, so the Church, His image, carries Christ in the attire of the pilgrim over the centuries."
The Holy Father concludes by expressing his hope that the 12th centenary of Aachen cathedral "may remind all Christians that they are living stones in the house of God."

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