TOURISM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MUST BE SUPPORTED

VATICAN CITY, SEP 8, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in Rimini, Italy, Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization, spoke on the theme: "Problems faced by the WTO: tourism with a human face." His speech was part of an international convention on tourism taking place in Rimini from September 5 to 8.

In his address, Msgr. Monni recalled that the WTO last year approved a global code of tourism ethics. This code is a valuable aid in "increasing awareness of problems that arise within the complex world of tourism. An awareness that must develop in the relationship between the tourist industry and authorities in the local host communities, as well as between the users of the services and tourist operators."

He highlighted that "there is an ever growing need to establish universally-shared rules of behavior that may contribute to blocking phenomena - such as the sexual exploitation of children - already widespread throughout the world. For some time there has been talk of the 'globalization of sex tourism'." According to the U.N., "10 million children are victims of sexual violence." This phenomenon is spreading through almost the whole of Southeast Asia.

The permanent observer to the WTO indicated that the code of ethics "represents, in some way, the response and at the same time the consequence of this vital ethical reflection on values intrinsically connected to the individual."

In conclusion, Msgr. Monni made reference to the importance of "supporting sustainable tourism that is accessible to all and that may also represent a means of economic expansion for developing countries within the present international economic context; a context that is complex, from a social and political as well as from a religious point of view."

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TO BENEDICTINES: YOU GIVE VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, SEP 8, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received 275 Benedictine abbots and abbesses, who are presently holding a congress in Rome.

After recalling that Western monasticism "has formed generations of men and women called to leave the world in order to dedicate themselves entirely to God," the Pope said: "With the force of this mission, the Benedictine Order has never ceased to contribute to the Church's apostolic activity. ... The witnesses of this are the young people and adults, the Christians and non-Christians, the believers and non-believers who find a point of reference in you and in your monasteries."

In some places, the Pope went on, "the witness of some members of the Benedictine order has been crowned by martyrdom. Nonetheless, you continue to remain in those lands, without fear of dangers or difficulties. In your significant ecumenical activity and your patient inter-religious dialogue, you give valuable service to the Gospel. You bear witness that God is enough."

During the congress, said the Holy Father, "as leaders of the order, you aim to consider the role of abbot of the community," as well as "the monastery's 'mission' in the modern world."

In the face of the loss of "a sense of life and death, I would like to recall the primacy of interior life - well aware that it is of this that you are the masters. More than ever, man today, in order not to lose himself, needs to rediscover God and to rediscover himself in God. This is only possible when the heart listens to the Lord in silence and prolonged contemplation."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 8, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, Rwanda.
- Guy Westerouen van Meeteren, ambassador of the Netherlands, accompanied by his wife, on a farewell visit.

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