MESSAGE FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's message for World Tourism Day which is to be held on September 27. This year the World Tourism Organization has chosen the theme: "Technology and Nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the 21st century."

In his message, dated July 29, the Pope makes reference to the importance that technology and nature hold for tourism. He writes: "Using the modern opportunities that technology offers, it is possible to make new contacts, family and community visits, and exchange-visits between persons, especially the young, of various cities and nations."

John Paul II indicates that tourism is "first of all a space for encounter. ... The space in which this encounter takes place is above all the celebration of the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Indeed, in these sacraments, all of life finds its meaning and orientation in the light that emanates from faith. In this sense, holidays and travel can represent suitable moments to make up for human and spiritual shortcomings.

"It is my heartfelt wish," the Pope adds, "that tourism may always be an occasion for fruitful encounters: an encounter with God," with ourselves and with others. "Moreover, tourism is an occasion for solidarity. With its appeal for interior conversion and for reconciliation with our fellows, the Jubilee invites believers and men and women of good faith to institute a social order based on mercy, justice and peace."

The Holy Father concludes by asking that World Tourism Day 2000 may help those who work in the tourism sector to "become aware of the challenges and the possibilities offered by such a vast movement of people. I express my appreciation to all those who work in this sector for the contribution they make to the evaluation of free time and to the development of friendly relations between individuals and peoples."

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JUBILEE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the calendar of Jubilee events scheduled for August 2000:

- Saturday 5: Vigil of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Prayer vigil in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in answer to the appeal by Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

- Sunday 6: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Second Vespers of the Feast in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

- Monday 14: Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Incense rite of the Coptic liturgy in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

- Tuesday 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Opening of the 15th World Youth Day.

- Saturday 19 : Prayer vigil at Tor Vergata for World Youth Day.

- Sunday 20: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Papal Mass at the conclusion of the 15th World Youth Day. The Jubilee of Youth.

- Sunday 27: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Station Mass of the Jubilee.

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ARCHBISHOP TAURAN RECEIVES SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, Fr. Ciro Benedettini C.P., vice director of the Holy See Press Office, made the following declaration:
"Today, August 1 2000, Madeleine Albright, United States Secretary of State, was at her own request received in audience by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"Mrs Albright wished to inform the Holy See on the recent summit meeting at Camp David and on the general situation of the peace process in the Middle East.

"For his part, Archbishop Tauran reiterated the Holy See's well-known position on the conditions for a just and lasting peace in that part of the world: priority to dialogue, respect for international decisions - especially UN resolutions - and the need for an internationally guaranteed special statute for the Holy Sites of the three monotheistic religions."

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for August is: "That all young Christians may unite in testifying that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God come to dwell among us."

His missionary intention is: "That the Churches of Oceania may work with true missionary spirit for the propagation of the Kingdom of God."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Sebastianappan Singaroyan of the clergy of Salem (area 8,368, population 4,670,844, Catholics 80,500, priests 166, religious 450), India, and professor at the Good Shepherd Seminary, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Mel Kathadikuppam, India, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1978.

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