AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience Fr. Marcel D. Rooney O.S.B., abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation.

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JUBILEE GREETINGS TO PILGRIMS FROM SENEGAL, SWITZERLAND

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, the Holy Father welcomed pilgrims from Senegal and Switzerland, all of whom are in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2000.

Addressing the Senegalese in French, the Pope underlined the importance of the Eucharist in the lives of Christians, saying: "May the Eucharist always be at the center of your lives: love it, adore it, celebrate it with respect and with faith!"

"The celebration of the great Jubilee," he continued, "is also an urgent appeal to conversion of hearts and a renewed commitment so that a true culture of fraternity and solidarity will be developed. I invite you to pursue, in collaboration with your fellow citizens, your courageous efforts to eradicate the sources of violence, rancor, and injustice which contribute to keeping still too many men and women in a state of poverty and on the margins of society."

"Dear brothers and sisters," stated John Paul II, "allow me to turn now to the youth of your communities. Do not resign yourselves to a world where man is not respected in his dignity or where violence and injustice prevent him from blossoming fully! With all of your energy make an effort to make this world ever more human and fraternal!"

Speaking German, the Pope then briefly greeted the Music Society of Breil/Dardin from Switzerland, thanking them for their presence in Rome for the Holy Year, and for bringing their instruments with them. He said that "who knows how to play music opens the door to the heart." And he asked them to remember St. Augustine's words: "Who sings, prays twice."

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ANGELUS: MARY IN THE LIFE OF THE NEW BLESSEDS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 3, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, before praying the angelus today with the estimated 100,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the beatification of five Servants of God, greeted the pilgrims present in Italian, French and English, and then spoke of the role of Mary in the lives of the new Blesseds.

In Italian he saluted those present for the beatification of Popes Pius IX and John XXIII and Bishop Tommaso Reggio. He then welcomed "French-speaking people, especially the young, and all the pilgrims of the Marianist family, who came for the beatification of Fr. Chaminade," the founder of the Society of Mary. Lastly, the Pope extended "a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those who have come from Ireland for the beatification of Dom Columba Marmion."

"Marian devotion was very deep in the new Blesseds," the Holy Father then remarked. "Christians will be forever grateful to Pius IX, the Pope of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, for having proclaimed this stupendous truth of the faith, from which comes light and hope for the destiny of the world and of every person."

He added that "John XXIII, in his 'Journal of the Soul,' left a witness to a filial love for the holy Virgin, which can be summed up in the invocation 'My mother, my trust."

"Bishop Tommaso Reggio proposed Mary as a model for women of every age and condition," the Pope stated. "Fr. Chaminade, talking to his confreres, said: 'We are the missionaries of Mary, who told us: Do everything that He (Christ) tells you'." And he observed that Abbot Marmiom asked "how could we truly love and perfectly resemble Christ, without having a special devotion for she from whom He received His human nature."

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IN BEATIFYING, CHURCH DOES NOT ACCLAIM HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 3, 2000 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m. today, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he proclaimed as Blesseds, the Servants of God Pius IX (1792-1878), Pope; John XXIII (1881-1963), Pope; Tommaso Reggio (1818-1901), bishop and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha; Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850), priest and founder of the Society of Mary and Columba Marmion (1858-1923), abbot of the order of St. Benedict.

At the start of his homily, the Pope told the 100,000 faithful present that, in beatifying her children, "the Church does not celebrate particular historical achievements they may have accomplished, rather it identifies them as examples to be imitated and venerated for their virtues."

Pius IX, Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti, said the Holy Father, was, "in all circumstances, faithful to the commitments of his ministry, he always knew how to give absolute primacy to God and to spiritual values. ... He was much loved, but also hated and calumniated." Elected to the See of Peter in 1846, Pius IX convoked Vatican Council I. "In proclaiming the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1854) he reminded everyone that, through the storms of human existence, in the Virgin the light of Christ shines stronger than sin and death."

John XXIII, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected Pope in 1958, "impressed the world with his affability through which shone the goodness of his soul. ... It is well known that John XXIII profoundly venerated Pius IX and wished for his beatification." He convoked Vatican Council II, "with which he opened a new page in the history of the Church: Christians felt themselves called to announce the Gospel with renewed courage and greater attention to the 'signs' of the times."

The Pope then went on to speak of Tommaso Reggio, priest and journalist who later became bishop of Ventimiglia, Italy, then archbishop of Genoa. "Sensitive to the great suffering and poverty of his people, he took it upon himself to provide prompt assistance in all situations of need. ... His message may be summarized in two words: truth and charity."

Fr. Chaminade's love for Christ, the Holy Father continued, "brought him to tirelessly pursue his work by founding spiritual families, during a period of great agitation in France's religious history. ... His concern for human, moral and religious education constitutes, for the whole Church, a call to give renewed attention to youth."
The Pope concluded by speaking of Dom Columba Marmion. "In his writings, he taught a path of sanctity that was simple and, consequently, demanding for all the faithful. ... Throughout his life Blessed Columba was an outstanding spiritual director, having particular care for the interior life of priests and religious."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 2, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, as special papal envoy to the closing celebrations of the synod of the dioceses of Belarus, due to take place in Minsk, Belarus, on September 29 to 30.

- As members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura: Bishops Francesco Coccopalmerio, auxiliary of Milan, Italy; Thomas George Doran of Rockford, U.S.A. and Javier Echevarria Rodriguez, prelate of Opus Dei.
- As 'referendari' (relators) of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura: Msgr. Brian Ferme and Frs. Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru; Angelo Giuseppe Urru O.P.; Nicholaus Schoch O.F.M.; Gianfranco Ghirlanda S.J. and Domingo Javier Andres Gutierrez C.M.F.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 2000 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop John Neil Cullinane, former auxiliary of Melbourne, Australia, on Aug 13, at the age of 79.
- Bishop Cesario D'Amato O.S.B., former abbot of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, on August 23, at the age of 96.
- Bishop Antoon Demets C.SS.R., former coadjutor of Roseau, Dominica, West Indies, on August 3, at the age of 95.
- Bishop John Joseph Graham, former auxiliary of Philadelphia, U.S.A., on August 4, at the age of 86.
- Bishop Joseph Lloyd Hogan, emeritus of Rochester, U.S.A., on August 27, at the age of 84.
- Bishop Michael Joseph Kaniecki S.J., of Fairbanks, U.S.A., on August 6, at the age of 65.
- Bishop Jose Agustin Marozzi, emeritus of Resistencia, Argentina, on August 4, at the age of 92.
- Archbishop Marcos Gregorio McGrath C.S.C., emeritus of Panama, Panama, on August 4, at the age of 76.
- Archbishop-bishop Antonio de Castro Xavier Monteiro, emeritus of Lamego, Portugal, on August 13, at the age of 80.
- Bishop Cristiano Portela de Araujo Pena, emeritus of Divinopolis, Brazil, on August 2, at the age of 86.
- Bishop Egidio Sampieri O.F.M., apostolic vicar of Alexandria, Egypt, on August 26, at the age of 72.
- Archbishop Armando Trindade of Lahore, Pakistan, on July 31, at the age of 72.

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PAPAL LETTER TO PERU'S EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Letter to the participants in Peru's National Eucharistic Congress, held in Lima from August 30 to September 3. The Letter, dated August 8 and written in Spanish, was read at yesterday's closing ceremonies by Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston and the Pope's special envoy.

The Holy Father said that "sincerely approaching the Eucharist will be the most solid pillar for a renewed stimulus to faith in this country and a vigorous rebirth of hope, during moments in which there are difficulties which can weaken its vitality."

"The Christian community joins around the Eucharist," he continued, "to sacramentally renew the sacrifice of Christ and thus to fill with dynamism, with the efficacy of grace, all members of His mystical body."

In celebrating the Eucharist," said the Letter, "the Christian community unites liturgy and charity, the commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ and the commitment to imitate His limitless love. ... In the sacramental Jesus we receive ... the vigor to bring the Gospel to every corner of the earth and the tenacity that is necessary to build, day by day, notwithstanding difficulties, the civilization of love."

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AUDIENCE WITH PILGRIMS IN ROME FOR BEATIFICATIONS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope received pilgrims who had participated in yesterday's beatifications.

Beginning his address by speaking of Pope Pius IX, John Paul II said: "The spirit of poverty, faith in God and abandoning himself to Providence, together with a marked sense of humor, helped him to overcome even the most difficult moments."

"Pope John XXIII," he continued, "united Christian virtue with a profound knowledge of humanity in its lights and shadows. ... He remained undisturbed in the face of tribulation, and knew how to look on the vicissitudes of life with optimism."

Speaking of Bishop Tommaso Reggio, founder of the Congregation of the Sister of St. Martha, the Pope highlighted his "profound communion with God" and the ideal of sanctity he proposed "to all categories of faithful: lay people, priests and consecrated persons, especially to sisters."

"The personality and activity of the new Blessed Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade," priest and founder of the Society of Mary, "who always sought to do God's work, calls all faithful to serious catechistic formation in order to develop and consolidate religious life and enter more profoundly into the meeting with Christ."

The Holy Father concluded expressing the hope that Blessed Columba Marmion, Benedictine abbot, "may help us all to live the Christian life ever more intensely and to have an ever deeper understanding of our membership in the Church, the mystical Body of Christ."

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