THE FOUNDATION OF MARY'S HOLINESS WAS HER HUMILITY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 1, 2000 (VIS) - Today, Solemnity of All Saints, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.

John Paul II recalled that it was Pope Pius XII who, in this very same square, "defined the dogma of the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. We praise the Lord for having glorified His Mother, for associating her to His victory over sin and over death."

"The entire liturgy today," he continued, "speaks to us of holiness. However, to know what the path to holiness is, we must, together with the Apostles, climb the Mount of the Beatitudes." In exclaiming "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!" the Lord "proclaimed 'blessed' and, we could say, 'canonized' above all the poor in spirit, that is, those whose hearts are emptied of prejudices and conditionings, and who are therefore totally open to the divine will. Total and trusting adherence to God presupposes such a casting off and a coherent distancing of oneself."

"Blessed are the peacemakers!" added the Holy Father. "Peace, a synthesis of messianic gifts, is a demanding duty. In a world which presents tremendous antagonisms and barriers, we must promote fraternal coexistence, inspired by love and sharing, and overcome enmity and contrasts. Blessed are those who dedicate themselves to this noble enterprise!"

The Pope underscored how Mary, with the canticle of the Magnificat, "showed us what formed the basis of her holiness: profound humility," expressed in a special way in her "'fiat', thy will be done: Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done unto me according to Thy word."

"In you," he concluded, addressing Mary, "we see the goal of holiness to which God calls all members of the Church."

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TELEGRAM FOR AIR DISASTER IN TAIPEI

VATICAN CITY, NOV 2, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram of condolences for the victims of the plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan, sent by the Holy Father, through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, to Archbishop Joseph Ti-kang of Taipei:

"Saddened by news of the loss of life in the tragic air crash at Taipei, His Holiness Pope John Paul II sends to you and all concerned the assurance of his closeness in prayer. The Holy Father commends the victims to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and upon their grieving families as well as upon all those injured in this accident, he invokes the divine gifts of strength and comfort."

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MAN'S ULTIMATE END IS SANCTITY AND ETERNAL LIFE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 1, 2000 (VIS) - At the end of the prayers which take place each evening in St. Peter's Square throughout the Jubilee Year, the Pope appeared at his study window and greeted His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, who had led the prayer, and the participants in the First International Mariological Forum.

The Holy Father underlined that the patriarch of Jerusalem had invited all to pray this evening "for the dramatic situation of the population which is so dear to him." He went on to say that "the reflections of the participants in the Forum on the truth of the Assumption of Mary into heaven took place several days before the 50th anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Assumption. "Mary," he concluded, "the first of the redeemed, shines in front of us as a lamp which guides all of mankind, reminding us that the final end to which every person is called is holiness and eternal life."

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ANGELUS REFLECTIONS, VISIT TO THE VATICAN GROTTOES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 1, 2000 (VIS) - At the end of Mass in St. Peter's Square this morning, marking the solemnity of All Saints and the 50th anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Pope addressed the faithful in the square before praying the angelus with them. Today also marks the 54th anniversary of the priestly ordination of the Holy Father.

"Today's feast," he said, "reminds us that we are made for heaven, where Our Lady already is and where she awaits us. Christian life is walking here on earth with our hearts turned towards heaven, towards the house of the heavenly Father. Thus walked the saints and thus, in the first place, walked Mary, the Mother of the Lord. The Jubilee reminds us of this essential dimension of sanctity; the condition of pilgrims who seek every day the Kingdom of God, trusting in Divine Providence. This is authentic Christian hope, which has nothing to do with fatalism or with fleeing from history."

John Paul II then pointed out that "tomorrow, we celebrate the commemoration of all the faithful departed. We will spiritually visit the tombs of our dear ones, who preceded us marked by the sign of faith and who await the support of our prayers. I assure a place in my prayers for all those who, in the course of the year, lost their lives; I am especially thinking of the victims of human violence; may each one find in the bosom of God the hoped-for peace."

At 6 this evening the Holy Father went down into the Vatican Grottoes for a moment of prayer for the repose of the souls of the Popes who are buried there, and for all the faithful departed.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 3, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Paulos Tzadua, archbishop emeritus of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
- Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, apostolic nuncio in Kenya, permanent observer to the United Nations Organisms for the Environment and Human Settlements.
- Bishop Melchisedech Sikuli Paluku of Butembo-Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 3, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed 200 participants in the Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe, being held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing in Rome on November 4, 1950 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

"After the Second World War," said the Pope, "the Council adopted a new political vision and embodied a new juridical order, enshrining the principle that respect for human rights transcends national sovereignty and cannot be subordinated to political aims or compromised by national interests." He said the 1950 European Convention was "a truly historic document, ... seeking to proclaim and safeguard the fundamental rights of every citizen of the signatory States."

The Holy Father pointed out that, after the fall of communism, "the new democracies of Eastern Europe turned to the Council of Europe as the focus of unity for all the peoples of the continent, a unity which cannot be conceived without the religious and moral values where are the common heritage of all the European nations." He underscored the Holy See's involvement in the Council and its special interest in the European Court of Human Rights.

This is "a time of thanks for what has been achieved," John Paul II said, adding it is also "a time to recognize clearly the problems that must be addressed." Among these are "the tendency to separate human rights from their anthropological foundation, ... and the tendency to interpret rights solely from an individualistic perspective, with little consideration for the role of the family as 'the fundamental unit of society'. And there is the paradox that, on the one hand, the need to respect human rights is vigorously affirmed while, on the other, the most basic of them all - the right to life - is denied."

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