POPE WELCOMES WORLD CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITIES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2000 (VIS) - Leaders of the World Christian Life Communities were welcomed to the Vatican this morning by Pope John Paul II who recalled the apostolate's "long and rich tradition of the Marian Congregations, which trace their origins back to the 16th century, to the initiative of Ignatius of Loyola and his companions."

He also remarked that the Marian Congregations, united in a world Federation, changed their name in 1971 to World Federation of Christian Life Communities and again, "in 1990, with the Apostolic See's approval of the revised General Principles and Norms, you became the 'World Christian Life Community'." They are now present in 58 countries.

The Pope, speaking English, pointed out that they "draw inspiration and strength from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius" for their task of building the Kingdom of God. "As members of the laity, you are called to be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ in all spheres of life: in your families, in your professional lives, in the worlds of politics and culture, in the local Church communities to which each of you belongs."

The Holy Father exhorted them to "renew your trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Mother. She is the most eloquent example of obedience to the Lord and acceptance of His will."

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ANGELUS REFLECTIONS ON JUBILEES OF DEACONS, ROMAN CURIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, in reflections preceding today's noon angelus prayer with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square below his study window, spoke of the just-concluded Jubilee of Permanent Deacons, addressing special words to those who were ordained deacons this morning in St. Peter's Basilica. He also spoke of the upcoming Jubilee for the Roman Curia.

The Pope told the deacons, who came from various parts of the world with their families to celebrate the Jubilee dedicated to them, that they "assume a singular 'diaconia', which is expressed above all in service to the Gospel." At your consecration, he added, "the ordaining bishop said these words: 'Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you will become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, live what you teach'." He urged them to "live your mission joyfully and faithfully."

He then referred to Tuesday's celebration of the Jubilee of the Roman Curia. "All who are in service to the Holy See - cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, religious and lay people - will pass together through the Holy Door, the symbol of mercy and a call to a renewal of life.

"A very close bond links the family of the Curia to the Successor of Peter, who benefits from its service in exercising the ministry entrusted to him by Christ to the advantage of the entire ecclesial community. And therefore it is important that he be able to count not only on the talents and efficiency of his collaborators, but on their communion in love, which is so deep as to make the Curia, as Pope Paul VI loved to say, "a permanent cenacle', totally consecrated to the good of the Church."

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TO PERMANENT DEACONS: "BE ACTIVE APOSTLES"

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received participants in the Jubilee for Permanent Deacons, and told them that "as ministers of God's people" they are called "to action through liturgical work, educational and catechistic activity and the service of charity, in communion with bishops and the clergy."

"Dear deacons," said the Holy Father, "be active apostles of the new evangelization. Bring everyone to Christ! Thanks also to your commitment, may His Kingdom spread in your families, in your workplaces, in parishes, in dioceses and the in the whole world! ... Do not allow yourselves to be halted by anything, continue with faith in Christ, following the example of Lawrence the deacon whose venerable and distinguished relics you requested be present on this occasion."

John Paul II assured the deacons that, if they were fully faithful to Christ, they would "also be faithful to the various ministries entrusted to you by the Church. How valuable your service to the Word and the catechesis truly is! And what can we say of you as deacons of the Eucharist? A role that puts you in direct contact with the sacrificial altar during the liturgy."

"Through the sacramental bond that links you to bishops and clergy, you fully live the ecclesial 'communio.' ... All the features of your unique spirituality clearly arise from your identity as deacons, this spirituality is essentially one of service."

The Pope indicated that "the Jubilee represents a suitable time to restore the original and authentic appearance of this identity and this spirituality, thus internally renewing and mobilizing all apostolic energies." He concluded by highlighting that "faith must be transmitted and communicated. It is also your task to introduce young generations to the only and unchangeable Gospel of salvation, in order that the future may be rich with hope for everyone."

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JUBILEE OF THE ROMAN CURIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2000 (VIS) - The Jubilee of the Roman Curia starts this evening in St. Peter's Basilica with a penitential celebration led by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the papal household. The focal point of this Jubilee celebration is tomorrow morning, when a procession, starting at 10 at the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, will bring participants through the Holy Door and into the basilica where Pope John Paul will preside at Mass, starting at 11 a.m.

Three preparatory events led up to this Jubilee. On Friday, February 4, each dicastery of the Roman Curia celebrated in its own way, reflecting on the theme "Spirituality in the Service to the See of Peter." On Tuesday, February 8, members of the Curia met in the Paul VI Hall to pray the rosary and listen to a meditation on "Conversion and Renewal," given by Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, archbishop of Bologna, Italy. During the afternoon of February 15, groups of curial offices met together for prayer, meditation and Eucharistic adoration.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Francesco Guido Ravinale of the clergy of the diocese of Biella, Italy, rector and pastor of the shrine of Oropa, as bishop of Asti (area 1,451, population 152,153, Catholics 148,763, priests 165, permanent deacons 7, religious 330), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Biella in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1967.

- Msgr. John J. Kaising of the clergy of the archdiocese of Cincinnati, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of St. Dominic, as auxiliary to the military ordinary of the U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Cincinnati in 1936 and ordained a priest in 1962.

- Wilfrido V. Villacorta, professor of political science at the De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Arpad Goncz, president of the Republic of Hungary, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- Archbishop John Bukovsky S.V.D., apostolic nuncio.
- Fr. Giovanni Battistelli O.F.M., custodian of the Holy Land.

On Saturday, February 19, he received in separate audiences:

- Carlos Roberto Flores Facusse, president of the Republic of Honduras, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- Cardinal Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi, archbishop of Tokyo, Japan.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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ACADEMY WORKSHOP ON "SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION"

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2000 (VIS) - Today and tomorrow in the Vatican's Casina Pio IV, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences is hosting a workshop on the theme "Social Dimensions of Globalization." This precedes the academy's sixth plenary session which will be held From February 23 to 26 in the Vatican on the theme of democracy.

Among the topics which will be discussed at the workshop by members and guests of the academy: "The Meaning of Globalization"; "The Evolving Nature of Development in the Light of Globalization"; "Human Development and Globalization: Challenges and Indicators"; "Social and Cultural Dimensions of Globalization" and "The Social Doctrine of the Church and Globalization."

The president of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, which was founded by Pope John Paul II in 1994, is Professor Edmond Malinvaud of the Research Center on Economy and Statistics - Malakoff, near Paris, France.

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