GOD'S SON GIVES REAL MEANING TO THE COURSE OF HISTORY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2000 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which was held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on the theme of the "the glory of the Trinity throughout history." He confirmed that "in the light of the trinitarian revelation, God's presence in history, while being fully realized in the New Testament, is anticipated and hinted at in the Old Testament."

John Paul II indicated that "God the Father is in no way indifferent to our fortunes. In fact, He sent us His only begotten Son, ... who entered time and space as the living and life-giving center that imparts real meaning to the course of history, delivering it from dispersion and banality."

"The Spirit of God," added the Pope, "not only reveals the meaning of history, but gives the strength (necessary) to collaborate in the divine project that is accomplished therein. In the light of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, history ceases to be a mere succession of events and becomes the path which leads us to the sublime goal where 'God will be all in all'."

The Holy Father concluded by stating that "the Jubilee, that evokes the 'year of mercy' announced by Isaiah and inaugurated by Christ, seeks to be the epiphany of this seed and this glory so that all - supported by God's presence and assistance - may have hope in a new world, more authentically Christian and human."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father erected the diocese of Catanduva (area 4,601, population 200,800, priests 30), Brazil, with territory taken from the dioceses of Rio Preto, Sao Carlos and Jaboticabal, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Church of Ribeirao Preto. He appointed Bishop Antonio Celso Queiroz, auxiliary of Sao Paulo, Brazil, as first bishop of the new diocese.

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PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES TO HOLD PLENARY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2000 (VIS) - The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, instituted by the Holy Father in 1994, will hold its Sixth Plenary Assembly in the Vatican from February 23 to 26. Members and invited guests will continue to discuss the theme of democracy, studied for the first time in the 1996 plenary, and will focus in particular on the relationship between democracy and values and on possible strategies for affirming values in a democracy.

A communique released today by the Academy recalls that its statutes outline its duty as that "of promoting the study and progress of social sciences, in particular economy, sociology, law and political sciences. The Academy, thanks to an opportune dialogue, offers the Church useful elements for laying out her social doctrine and reflecting on the application of this doctrine in contemporary society."

The 2000 plenary, states the communique, "will again consider (the question of) democracy in a global world, the interactions that take place among national democracies, ... the relationship of national democracies with transnational, international and supranational powers and institutions, and, finally, the relationship between democratic and antidemocratic elements in transnational, international, and supranational milieux."

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GREETINGS TO PENTECOSTAL BISHOPS, YOUTH AND THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2000 (VIS) - Following an English-language summary of his catechesis at today's general audience, Pope John Paul welcomed the members of the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops, telling them he was "confident that your visit to Rome will help to strengthen ecumenical relations between Catholics and Pentecostals."

The Pope also had special words of greeting for young people, the sick and newlyweds. "Thinking of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which we celebrate February 11, I would like to invite you young people to entrust yourselves ever more to the maternal protection of Mary that she might help you preserve hearts which are generous, willing and full of apostolic enthusiasm."

"May Our Lady of Lourdes," he continued, "whose intercession is sought by many people who are sick in body or spirit, turn her gaze of consolation and hope on you, dear sick people, and may she sustain you as your bear your daily cross in close union with the redeeming cross of Christ."

"May Mary accompany you, dear newlyweds, on your path so that your families will be communities of intense spiritual life and concrete Christian witness."

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2000 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Antoni Adamiuk, former auxiliary of Opole, Poland, on January 25, aged 86.
- Bishop Vasile Cristea A.A., former apostolic visitor for the Romanian faithful of Byzantine rite in Europe, on January 17, aged 93.
- Bishop Andre Fauchet, emeritus of Troyes, France, on January 8, aged 81.
- Archbishop Angelo Innocent Fernandes, emeritus of Delhi, India, on January 30, aged 86.
- Archbishop Giuseppe Ferraioli, apostolic nuncio, on January 31, aged 70.
- Archbishop Eugene Kabanga Songasonga, emeritus of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on January 27, aged 67. - Bishop Arthur Henry Krawczak, former auxiliary of Detroit, U.S.A., on January 13, aged 86.
- Bishop Thomas Kuba Thowa, emeritus of Mahagi-Nioka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on January 20, aged 83.
- Bishop Bernardo Jose Nolker C.SS.R., emeritus of Paranagua, Brazil, on January 18, aged 87.
- Archbishop Domingo Roa Perez, emeritus of Maracaibo, Venezuela, on January 1, aged 84.
- Bishop Mauro Rubio Repulles, emeritus of Salamanca, Spain, on January 28, aged 81.
- Bishop Robert Sastre of Lokossa, Benin, on January 16, aged 73.
- Bishop Jozsef Udvardy, emeritus of Szeged-Csanad, Hungary, on January 10, aged 88.
- Bishop Guillaume Van Den Elzen O.S.A., emeritus of Doruma-Dungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on January 23, aged 86.
- Bishop Pavao Zanic, emeritus of Mostar-Duvno, Bosnia- Herzegovina, on January 11, aged 81.

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