THE "SPIRIT OF ASSISI" IS A PROVIDENTIAL GIFT FOR TODAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, read a message from the Pope to mark the closure of the 13th international meeting of representatives from Churches and Christian communities and from the great world religions. Participants have been considering the theme: "Oceans of peace. A contrast of religions and cultures." The meeting has been promoted by the Community of St. Egidio in Lisbon, Portugal.

In his message, dated September 21, John Paul II made reference to the meeting for the invocation of peace, held in Assisi, Italy, in 1986. He told Cardinal Cassidy and the participants that "the 'spirit of Assisi' is a providential gift for our time."

"In the diversity of religious expressions, faithfully recognized as such, to stand together is also a visible demonstration of the human family's aspiration to unity. We must all advance towards this single goal."

The Pope highlighted that dialogue between religions "is no longer simply an aspiration, it has become a reality, even if the road before us remains long." He also gave thanks to God for the gift of "reciprocal opening" between the Catholic Church and Judaism and for the "significant fruits (that have) also blossomed on the path towards encounter with Islam, with oriental religions and with the great cultures of the modern world."

"At the start of the new millennium," concludes John Paul II, "we must not drag our feet, if anything we must move with ever greater speed along this hopeful path."

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THE EUCHARIST, A HUMBLE CELEBRATION OF DIVINE GLORY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - In today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 35,000 pilgrims, John Paul II began a series of catecheses on the Eucharist, "that great yet humble celebration of divine glory."

"It is great," he went on, "because it is the principal expression of Christ's presence among us 'always, to the close of the age.' It is humble, because it is delegated to the simple signs of everyday life, bread and wine, the ordinary food and drink of the land of Jesus and of many other regions."

"Today, in order to appreciate the greatness of the mystery of the Eucharist, we turn to consider the theme of divine glory and of God's action in the world, at times made manifest in the great events of salvation, at others concealed under humble signs that only the eye of faith can perceive."

The Pope affirmed that this divine glory, "particularly manifest in Israel, is present in the entire universe," but Christ expresses it more radically "through His humanity, taken on in the Incarnation."

"The earthly revelation of divine glory reaches its apex in the events of Easter. ... The Paschal mystery, expression of the 'perfect glorification of God,' is perpetuated in the Eucharistic sacrifice, commemoration of death and resurrection entrusted by Christ to the Church, His beloved bride."

The Holy Father highlighted that "today the most exalted celebration of divine glory is undoubtedly the liturgy. ... Christian Worship is the most vital expression of the encounter between divine glory and the glorification that arises from the lips and heart of man."

"As St. Paul reminds us," he concluded, "we must also glorify God in our bodies, in other words in our entire existence, because our bodies are the temple of the Spirit within us."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.

Yesterday, Tuesday September 26, he received in audience Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, apostolic nuncio in Poland.

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VATICAN INAUGURATES RECHARGE SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - A recharging system for electrical vehicles was inaugurated this morning at 11 in the Vatican's Piazzale del Petriano, which is adjacent to the Paul VI Hall. Among those present were Cardinal Edmund Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Joining the cardinal were Bishop Gianni Danzi, secretary of the commission, and representatives of ENEL and So.l.e, the Italian companies which furnished the system. The station will allow electric cars as well as vehicles for the handicapped to be recharged. Other such points will be installed in Vatican City in coming months.

The station inaugurated this morning has four plugs, two for cars, and two for motorcycles and bikes, thus guaranteeing simultaneous recharging of diverse types of transport.

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TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF FERRYBOAT SINKING IN AEGEAN

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the telegram sent in the Holy Father's name by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to the civil authorities of Greece through the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet, on the sinking of a Greek passenger ferry last evening off the Aegean island of Paros:

"Having learned of the tragic boat accident off the Greek coast, the Holy Father joins through prayer in the sorrow and pain of the families who have lost a dear one. He asks the all-merciful God to welcome the deceased into His eternal light and to bring comfort to all the injured. He invokes the Theotokos (Mother of God) to care for, in hope, the persons touched by this tragedy as well as those who assisted in rescue efforts with courage and with devotion to their brothers and sisters in distress. His Holiness asks the Lord to impart on everyone the abundance of His blessings."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France, as his special envoy at celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the diocese of Basse-Terre and Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, due to take place in that diocese on November 19.

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