THE HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER

VATICAN CITY, SEP 30, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for October is: "That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families."

His missionary intention is: "That a revived awareness of the universal coresponsibility of bishops may multiply initiatives of missionary cooperation among the local Churches."

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HOLY ROSARY IS THE MOST EFFICACIOUS OF PRAYERS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 30, 2000 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square today, the Holy Father received various groups of Italian pilgrims from the archdiocese of Perugia-Citta della Pieve and the dioceses of Sora-Aquino-Pontevorvo, Nola, Nocera Inferiore and Acerra, as well as American pilgrims from the archdioceses of Newark and Kansas City.

John Paul II called upon the pilgrims to "be faithful to Christ and faithful to man, strive to grow while rooted in listening to God's Word and in personal and community prayer."

To pilgrims from Nola, the Pope said that "your land, like other areas of the Campania region, has to face great social challenges, from the lack of jobs to environmental degradation. The Christian community is called to make its own specific contribution to solving these problems, directing its efforts towards the renewed announcement of the Gospel, the living experience of communion and the concrete witness of charity."

In greeting faithful from the archdioceses of Newark and Kansas City, U.S.A., and the members of an Italo-Australian pilgrimage, the Pope recalled that the month of October "is traditionally the month of the holy rosary, one of the best and most efficacious Christian prayers, especially when recited together in the family."

In closing, the Holy Father greeted Portuguese-speaking pilgrims, in particular the group "Immaculate Conception" from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He encouraged them to participate in the sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist and to visit the tombs of the Apostles during their Jubilee itinerary.

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JOHN PAUL II ASKS PEACE FOR THE BASQUE REGION AND SUDAN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2000 (VIS) - Today in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he canonized 123 Blesseds: Augustin Zhao Rong, priest (1815) and his 119 companions, martyrs in China (1648-1930); Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra, virgin and foundress of the Institute of the Servants of Jesus of Charity (1842-1912); Katharine Drexel, virgin and foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People (1858-1955) and Josephine Bakhita, virgin, of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity, Canossians (1869-1947).

In his homily, the Pope told the nearly 100,000 faithful present, who spent almost the entire ceremony under a pouring rain, that "with this solemn proclamation of sainthood, the Church intends only to recognize that those (87 Chinese) martyrs are an example of courage and coherence for all of us, and they give honor to the noble Chinese people." He also mentioned the 33 men and women missionaries who went to China with the desire to "serve (the Chinese people) by announcing Christ," adding that "this present celebration is not the moment to make judgements about those historical times."

Of St. Maria Josefa, the first Basque to be canonized, he said: "She gave herself without limits to the charitable service of the infirm in an atmosphere of spiritual contemplation." Speaking Basque, he went on to request that her example and intercession may "help the Basque people to leave aside violence forever, and enable Euskadi (the Basque region) to become a blessed land and a place of peace and brotherly coexistence, where the rights of all people may be respected and where never again will innocent blood be shed."

Mother Katharine Drexel, he continued, "was deeply distressed by the poverty and hopeless conditions endured by many Native Americans and Afro-Americans. ... With great courage and confidence in God's grace, she chose to give not just her fortune but her whole life totally to the Lord. ... Her apostolate helped to bring about a growing awareness of the need to combat all forms of racism through education and social services."

The Pope then referred to Josephine Bakhita, who was "abducted and sold into slavery at the tender age of seven." He said that "in today's world, countless women continue to be victimized, even in developed modern societies. In St. Josephine Bakhita we find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation."

The Holy Father concluded by launching an appeal for the Sudan which has been torn by a "cruel war" for the last 17 years. Entreating "those with responsibility," he said: "Open your hearts to the cries of millions of innocent victims and embrace the path of negotiation."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 30, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, archbishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A.
- Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Rosalio Jose Castillo Lara S.D.B., president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

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APPEAL FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE IN JERUSALEM

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received in audience pilgrims who yesterday had participated in the canonization ceremony of 123 Blesseds from Asia, Europe, America and Africa: Augustin Zhao Rong and 119 companions, martyrs; Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra; Katharine Drexel and Josephine Bakhita.

In his address, the Holy Father highlighted that, by canonizing the martyrs, the Church does not wish "to legitimize the behavior of certain governments of those times, that burdened the history of the Chinese people. Rather, she wishes to throw light on the heroic faithfulness of these worthy children of China." With reference to the missionary martyrs, he said: "There are always those who, with a partial and subjective historical view, see in their missionary activity only limits and errors. If such there have been - is man ever without defects? - we ask for pardon."

Speaking of St. Maria Josefa, he asked that her "eloquent testimony" may help everyone "to discover the beauty of a life totally consecrated to the Lord and the importance of a service that aims to wipe away the tears of those who suffer under the burden of illness."

"May the example of St. Katharine Drexel," he continued, "be a beacon of light and hope inspiring all of us to make an ever greater gift of our time, talent and treasure for the benefit of those most in need."

Turning to St. Josephine Bakhita, John Paul II recalled that in her homeland, the Sudan, "war and violence continue to sow destruction and despair: may the Lord's healing hand touch the hearts of those responsible for this suffering and open the way to reconciliation, forgiveness and peace."
In concluding, the Pope said: "I would like to tell you of a burden that is presently weighing on my spirits. For some days, the Holy City of Jerusalem has been the scene of violent clashes that have caused numerous dead and wounded, among them a number of children. I remain spiritually close to the families of those who have lost their lives and address a heartfelt appeal to all those responsible that arms may be silenced, provocations avoided and the way of dialogue taken up once more. The Holy Land must be the land of peace and fraternity. God wills it!"

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POPE ASSURES CATHOLIC FAITHFUL IN CHINA OF HIS PRAYERS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2000 (VIS) - Just prior to praying the angelus with the pilgrims who had gathered in St. Peter's Square for Mass and the canonization of 123 Blesseds, including 87 of Chinese origin and 33 missionaries to China, Pope John Paul greeted all those present in several languages.

Speaking English, he "greeted with affection all the faithful gathered here to honor the Chinese martyrs, especially those of you of Chinese origin, who are seeing for the first time the canonization of martyrs belonging to your own people.

"Likewise, my thoughts reach out to all the Catholic faithful in China. I know that you are spiritually united with us, and I am certain that you understand that this is a special moment of grace for the whole Church and for the entire Catholic community in China. I wish to assure you once more that I pray for you every day, May the holy martyrs comfort and sustain you as, like them, you bravely and generously bear witness both to your fidelity to Jesus Christ and to your genuine love of your people."

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ANGELUS: POPE JOHN PAUL II UPHOLDS "DOMINUS IESUS"

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2000 (VIS) - Following today's Mass and canonization ceremony, and before reciting the angelus with the nearly 100,000 faithful gathered in a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square, John Paul II reaffirmed the recently published Declaration "Dominus Iesus."

"At the summit of the Jubilee Year," he began, "with the Declaration 'Dominus Iesus' - Jesus is the Lord - approved by me in a special form, I desired to invite all Christians to renew their fidelity to Christ in the joy of faith, witnessing unanimously that He is, even today and tomorrow, 'the Way, the Truth and the Life'. Our confession of Christ as the Only Son, through Whom we ourselves see the face of the Father, is not arrogance which disdains other religions, rather it is a joyous recognition that Christ showed Himself to us without any merit on our part. And He, at the same time, has committed us to continue to give what we have received and to communicate to others what we were given, so that the gift of Truth and the Love which is God might belong to all men.

"With the Apostle Peter," he went on, "we confess that 'in no other name is there salvation'. The Declaration 'Dominus Iesus', in the wake of Vatican Council II, shows that this does not mean that salvation is denied to non-Christians, but that its ultimate source is Christ in Whom God and man are united. God gives light to everyone in a way that is appropriate to their interior situation and their environment, giving them salvific grace through ways known to Him. The document clarifies the basic Christian elements, which do not hinder dialogue, but point out its foundations, because a dialogue without foundations would be destined to degenerate into empty verbosity.

"The same is true for the ecumenical question. If the document, with Vatican II, declares that 'the one Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church', this does not mean to express little consideration for other Churches and ecclesial communities. This conviction is accompanied by the awareness that this is not human merit, but a sign of God's fidelity, which is stronger than human weaknesses and sins, confessed by us in a solemn manner before God and men at the start of Lent. The Catholic Church suffers - as the document says - for the fact that true particular Churches and ecclesial communities with precious elements of salvation are separated from her.

"The document thus expresses once again the same ecumenical passion which is at the core of my Encyclical 'Ut Unum Sint'. It is my hope that this Declaration which means so much to me, after so many wrong interpretations, can finally assume its function of clarifying and, at the same time, of openness. May Mary, to whom the Lord on the Cross entrusted us as our Mother, help us to grow together in faith in Christ, the Redeemer of all men, in the hope of salvation, offered by Christ to everyone, and in love, which is the sign of the children of God."

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MEETING IN THE VATICAN ON SITUATION IN BASQUE REGION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"On Saturday September 30, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for relations with States, met the Spanish minister of the interior, Jaime Mayor Oreja, and the Basque Lendakari (president of the autonomous government), Juan Jose Ibarretxe. The two men had come to the Vatican for the canonization of Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra on October 1.

"The discussions provided an opportunity for a wide-ranging exchange of opinions on the local situation. In addition to expressing a vigorous condemnation for the terrorism of ETA and for any other form of violence, they also considered the present and future prospects of a peaceful solution, as well as to the contribution that the Catholic Church can continue to offer in this regard."

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