LANGUAGE GREETINGS AND AN APPEAL TO HELP REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - Following today's catechesis in Italian, and summaries in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese, the Pope greeted a number of special groups present at the Wednesday general audience, including pilgrims from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and Albania.

Speaking French, he also had a special welcome for "the European representatives of the monastic inter-religious dialogue who, on the occasion of the great Jubilee, wished to hold your annual meeting in Rome, first going to Subiaco, a place made holy by the memory of St. Benedict. You have come as pilgrims, recalling that all of monastic life is a pilgrimage, a constant search for God. Pilgrims of the infinite, you invite all men to affirm their interior life in order to make it God's home. Along your path, you meet others who seek the Absolute, which allows you to have a respectful and profound dialogue with them."

Using their language, the Holy Father greeted "the group of Albanians who a short time ago received Baptism. My wish is that your Jubilee pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles will confirm you in the faith and in Christian life."

The Pope then recalled that "on June 16, diverse governmental organizations which work for refugees will celebrate the International Day of the Refugee, whereas on June 20, the annual Day of the African Refugee, promoted by the Organization for African Unity, will take place.

"In the spirit of the recent Jubilee of Migrants, I wish to thank all who dedicate themselves to those millions of forced migrants who are refugees and asylum seekers. To those nations which must yet adopt adequate laws to care for these people, I send a heartfelt appeal in this Jubilee year asking that this be taken care of with solicitude."

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THE TRINITY MAKES THE CHURCH ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - "The glory of the Trinity in the life of the Church" was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general audience which was held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 30,000 people.

The Pope indicated that the glory of the Trinity makes the Church "one, holy, catholic and apostolic. ... The Church is above all one" and "the highest exemplar and source of the mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit."

"The Church," he recalled, "is also holy. ... The concept of 'holy' has its origins in the consecration that God accomplished in choosing His people and offering them grace."

The Holy Father affirmed that "the Church is catholic, sent to announce Christ to the whole world in the hope that all the leaders of nations gather together with the people of the God of Abraham. As Vatican Council II confirms, 'the Church on earth is by its very nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit'."

"Finally, the Church is apostolic. According to Christ's mandate, the Apostles must go and instruct all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe what He commanded."

John Paul II highlighted that "the Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic is God's people, body of Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit. These three biblical images clearly indicate the trinitarian dimension of the Church."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Irineu Silvio Wilges O.F.M., pastor of the parish of St. Anthony in the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, Brazil, as bishop of Cachoeira do Sul (area 11,119, population 210,000, Catholics 177,000, priests 30, permanent deacons 5, religious 77), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Pinheiral, Brazil in 1936 and ordained a priest in 1962.

It was made public today that on June 7, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Lwena, Angola, presented by Bishop Jose Prospero da Ascensao Puaty, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Gabriel Mbilingi C.S.Sp.

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PRESS OFFICE STATEMENT ON CLEMENCY FOR ALI AGCA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the declaration made yesterday afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls regarding the clemency granted to Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981 and who has spent the last 19 years in Italian prisons:

"The Holy See has learned with satisfaction the news of the pardon granted to Ali Agca by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Republic of Italy.

"As is well known, John Paul II forgave his attacker immediately.

"Some time ago, the Pope informed the Italian authorities that he was in favor of an act of clemency whenever the Italian legal system felt it was appropriate. This desire was recently renewed.

"That the granting of pardon comes during the Jubilee celebration makes the Holy Father's personal satisfaction even greater."

Ali Agca was extradited to his native Turkey where he arrived by plane early this morning. He was brought to a prison in Istanbul and is expected to serve time for the murder of a Turkish journalist.

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TOMORROW THE POPE WILL OFFER LUNCH TO 200 POOR PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - Below is the full text of a communique from the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000 regarding an initiative by the Pope, who tomorrow will offer luncheon in the Vatican to 200 poor people:

"Two hundred guests, invited to the table of the 'Pope's charity,' will share in a luncheon offered by the Holy Father to the poor. The event will take place on Thursday June 15 in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall. The guests will be men and women of all ages - Christians but also from other religions, among them a number of Muslims - Italians and foreigners from five continents, chosen by the Community of St. Egidio, by Rome Caritas and by the 'Dona di Maria' House. Each person was sent a personalized invitation.

"With this initiative, the Pope once again brings charity to the fore as a 'sign' of the Great Jubilee and reaffirms 'the Church's preferential option for the poor and the marginalized' as indicated in fundamental Jubilee documents, the Apostolic Letter 'Tertio millennio adveniente' and the Bull of Indiction 'Incarnationis mysterium.' The choice of the day is also symbolic, the Thursday of the Lord's Supper, between Pentecost and the International Eucharistic Congress. Tables for 13 people will be prepared where ten poor people will sit with a cardinal or a bishop and two volunteers to help them. In order to represent the priestly ministry as service, lunch will be served by seminarians from the Seminary of Rome, while a group of Legionaries of Christ will provide accompaniment with music and songs.

"The poor people will live a true Jubilee day. On the morning of June 15, they will cross the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica and pause in prayer over the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, they will then proceed to the Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father will join them at lunch time. At the conclusion, there will be an exchange of gifts between the guests and the Pope. As a memento, the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000 will give the guests, among other things, a reproduction of the Jubilee logo. About 20 high-ranking prelates will participate in the luncheon.
"The menu is typical of an average Italian family: ravioli with ricotta cheese, roast veal and roast potatoes, small mozzarella cheeses from Aversa with fresh salad, a dessert and fruit salad with ice cream as well as wine, non-alcoholic drinks, sparkling wine and coffee."

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