SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH REQUIRES AN ETHICAL BASE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father received participants in the Jubilee of Scientists, who had earlier taken part in a Mass presided by Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

The Pope, who spoke alternately in French, English, Spanish and Italian, recalled that "scientific research is based on the human spirit's capacity to discover that which is universal. This opening to knowledge is an introduction to the ultimate and fundamental meaning of the human being in the world."

"Faith, for its part, is able to integrate and assimilate every research, for all research, through a deeper understanding of created reality in all its specificity, gives man the possibility of discovering the Creator, source and goal of all things."

John Paul II emphasized that, "if in the past the separation between faith and reason represented a drama for man who experienced the risk of losing his interior unity under the threat of ever more fragmented knowledge, your mission today consists in continuing to carry out research in the conviction that 'for the intelligent man ... all things are harmonized and reconciled'."

Scientific research, he continued, "needs an ethical support as well as judicious openness to a culture that respects the needs of the individual." Addressing those who work in the field of research and development, he said: "In constant scrutiny of the mysteries of the world, leave your spirits open to the horizons that faith opens up before you. ... Thus, be above all passionate searchers of the invisible God who alone can satisfy the deep yearning of your lives, filling you with His grace."

The Pope concluded by underlining that the Jubilee of Scientists represents "an encouragement and a support for all those who sincerely search for the truth. It shows that it is possible to be both exacting researchers in all fields of knowledge and faithful disciples of the Gospel."

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FOUR NEW AMBASSADORS TO HOLY SEE WELCOMED BY JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul welcomed four new ambassadors to the Holy See this morning during a ceremony in the Consistory Hall in which they collectively presented their Letters of Credence. The ambassadors are Christine Heather Bogle of New Zealand, Ahmad Abdulkarim Al-Ebrahim from Kuwait, Henri Marie Joseph Lopes of the Republic of Congo and Harry Osei Blavo from Ghana.

In his address in French, the Pope underscored "the spiritual importance of the Jubilee Year for the Church, who wishes at the same time to make a pressing appeal to the international community, at the turn of a millennium, to aid the growth of each nation, each people, especially on the African continent, whose numerous populations are sorely tried by conflicts which touch in a very dramatic way civilians."

The Holy Father also touched on the question of the debt of the poorest countries, saying that much remains to be done in this regard "to help them take an active part in international life. Such a step is a hand extended to the nations which live below the threshold of poverty, to revive their hopes for a better future; this must be accompanied by profound reflection to reconsider the organization of the world economy."

The richest countries, the Pope went on, "must accompany the remission of debt by support in personnel and materiel," thus allowing the poorer countries to take charge of their own destiny and to become more autonomous. "Appropriate local infrastructures" will give these countries and peoples "the means to be the true protagonists of building society and fully participating partners in international relations."

Reiterating the Holy See's "attachment and commitment to the recognition of peoples and to an ever greater entente between nations," he stressed that "more than ever our contemporaries aspire to peace and fraternity." Especially sensitive to this, the Pope concluded, are the young people of today who "call on us to do all that we can to make these aspirations a reality."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Chachapoyas, Peru, presented by Bishop Jose Ignacio Alemany Grau C.SS.R., in conformity with Canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of canon Law.

- Accepted the proposal presented by the presidency of the Italian Episcopal Conference, and confirmed Archbishop Ennio Antonelli, emeritus of Perugia-Citta della Pieve, as secretary general of the same episcopal conference for the next five years.

- Erected the diocese of Gospic-Senj, Croatia, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Rijeka-Senj, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Bishop Mile Bogovic, auxiliary of Rijeka-Senj, as first bishop of the new diocese.

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AIR TRANSPORT MUST IMPROVE ITS SERVICE QUALITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See Permanent Observer to the World Tourism Organization, spoke at the 36th Meeting of the Regional Commission for Europe and at a seminar on "Tourism and Air Transport." The event is being held in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, between May 24 and 26.

With reference to air transport, Msgr. Monni expressed the hope that it improve the quality of its services in terms of "punctuality, openness and greater commercialization, so that this form of transport may also become accessible to less privileged classes. Furthermore, such commercialization must take place in a free market, ensuring that the skies are not dominated by the lobbies of the large airline companies. Indeed, it is these lobbies that must maintain moral values, guaranteeing safeguards and respect for travellers. It is vital that this respect range from technical maintenance of aircraft to the normal flight precautions, and so put ever greater limits on human error."

The aviation sector, affirmed Msgr. Monni, must give due attention to the religious factor, thus meeting the expectations of people who prepare themselves to face long-haul journeys. In this way, travellers' concern to be able to exercise their own religious liberty is confirmed."

"The continuous movement of masses of tourists and the Jubilee, which is currently underway, clearly underline the central role offered by religious services at airports, a true crossroads of modern pilgrimage, present in all religions."

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MESSAGE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Negaso Gidada, president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and to Issaias Afwerki, president of the State of Eritrea, whose countries are celebrating their independence day today.

John Paul II greets each of the presidents and their respective peoples on this occasion and says: "I am deeply saddened at the continuing hostilities which are bringing death and destruction to the people and the land of your region. Calling for renewed dialogue and negotiation to end the absurd conflict, I pray fervently that Almighty God will grant to the parties involved the strength and courage to embrace a just and lasting peace based on reconciliation and truth."

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