ARCHBISHOP CORDES HOLDS BRIEFING ON TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2000 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," held a briefing today in the Holy See Press Office on his March 8-13 trip to Mozambique to visit the populace which has been struck by devastating floods in recent weeks.

He recalled that the Holy Father has, on several recent occasions, called the public's attention to this drama, including an appeal for international solidarity during his February trip to Egypt, and another during a Sunday angelus. The Pope, said the archbishop, "asked for help for the population of this country, which is one of the poorest of the poor African continent."

The president of Cor Unum remarked that it was missionaries and members of Caritas International who first assisted the flood victims, well before the government stepped in with aid. He stated that there are about 20 religious institutes in the country.

Observing that about 2 million people were affected by the flood, mainly on the vast plains of the savannah, he said that "it seems that all survivors were rescued. This was not easy to do because Mozambique is about twice the size of Italy and the population is widely scattered."

He said the delegation visited two refugee camps where the people seemed "listless, without reacting, in a state of shock." One nun told him that "these days caused more traumas than did many years of civil war." He pointed out the great need for medicines, food, water, and lines of communication and said that "the heroic commitment" of the missionaries who are helping these people "deserves all of our support."

Archbishop Cordes listed many examples of tragic stories and as many examples of generosity, including a Spanish benefactor who loaned a helicopter for rescue efforts: it had a capacity for 7 people, but one day 45 people travelled in it on one flight, "placing their trust in the Lord," said the archbishop.

Calling his trip "a positive experience," he said he was well received as the Pope's delegate "because the Pope is considered as a father of the people, not only of Christians; he is ... one who places himself above feelings of fear and inferiority. ... Catholicism is called by the people of Mozambique 'the religion of the Pope' and the churches are called 'the churches of the Pope'."

OP;MOZAMBIQUE;...;CORDES;VIS;20000314;Word: 380;

JUBILEES OF ARTISANS, OF WORKERS AND OF AGRICULTURE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2000 (VIS) - Jubilee celebrations will be held in coming months for various categories of workers, including artisans, laborers, businessmen, managers and those in the world of agriculture.
On Sunday, March 19, Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 35,000 artisans from different countries will celebrate their Jubilee in Rome. This will be preceded by a prayer vigil at 9 p.m. on March 18 in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

At 10 a.m. on March 19 in St. Peter's Square, the Pope will celebrate Mass. On that day in the Vatican, it is traditional for the Holy Father to receive workers from various trades and, sometimes, to visit them at their places of work. This year, during the offertory, a group of artisans will present the Pope with some typical products of their labors: ceramics, hand-made objects, lamps, a book of Gregorian chants produced by an artisan workshop and a brick as a symbol of construction.

Monday May 1, feast of St. Joseph the Worker, marks another great Jubilee event in Rome as it will bring together thousands of laborers, businessmen, managers, members of cooperatives and financial and business agents. That morning John Paul II is due to celebrate Mass in an open area at Rome's Tor Vergata University and in the afternoon the traditional concert of the feast of workers will be held. The theme of the day is to be the remission of debt of poor countries.

On Sunday November 12, in yet another celebration for workers, the agricultural world will meet in Rome to celebrate its Jubilee together with the Pope. On this day of thanksgiving for the gifts of creation, John Paul II will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square for all those who work in agriculture.

...;WORKERS' JUBILEES;...;...;VIS;20000314;Word: 300;