HOLY SEE OFFICIALS VISIT PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2000 (VIS) - The following English-language communique was released early this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"On Tuesday, November 14, 2000, an official visit undertaken by Msgrs. Celestino Migliore, under-secretary for the Holy See's Relations with States, and Luis Mariano Montenayor, official of the Secretariat of State, to the People's Republic of Korea was concluded.

"The Holy See delegation, in its fifth consecutive visit to Pyongyang, wished to reaffirm the constant and effective solidarity of the Holy Father for the population of North Korea and to continue the relations previously established with government authorities, particularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"An important moment of this visit was the prayer encounter with the Catholic Community of the capital city, for which the Sunday Mass was celebrated in the Church of Chan Chung. After the liturgy, a meeting was held with the leader of the 'Association of Catholics of North Korea'."

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GREAT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEARCH FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from Cardinal Angelo Sodano to Cardinal William Keeler, archbishop of Baltimore, U.S.A., who is taking part in the Interreligious Conference, currently underway in Washington. The four-day conference began November 11.

Writing on behalf of the Pope in the November 8 letter, the secretary of state asks Cardinal Keeler to convey the Holy Father's "warm greetings to the participants," especially Chiara Lubich and Imam W.D. Mohammed "who have inspired the efforts that have led to this meeting in mutual respect and friendship between Christians and Muslims."

"At a time of tension in the world," says the letter, "His Holiness has insisted that the great religious traditions of the world have a vital contribution to make to the search for peace, on the basis of the transcendent values found in them. Only true dialogue can open the way to a future worthy of the human family and only a falsification of religion can collude with violence. Dialogue presumes a desire for harmony, an acceptance of difference, a recognition of common humanity, a willingness to trust and a preparedness to listen."

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MASS FOR DECEASED CARDINALS AND BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father presided at a Eucharistic concelebration for the repose of the souls of the cardinals, archbishops and bishops who have died during the Jubilee year.

In his homily, the Pope particularly recalled the deceased Cardinals "Paolo Dezza, Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, Antony Padiyara, Bernardino Echeverria Ruiz, John Joseph O'Connor, Vincentas Sladkevicius, Paul Zoungrana, Augusto Vargas Alzamora, Vincenzo Fagiolo, Paul Gouyon, Egano Righi-Lambertini and Pietro Palazzini. Their memory, as well as that of all the late archbishops and bishops, comes to our mind. During their lives they announced the Gospel, built the Church, distributed the gifts of grace of the sacraments and did good."

John Paul II affirmed that man's "pilgrimage in the world is the time, that may be longer or shorter, given to us to know Christ and to grow in communion with Him. Those who believe in the incarnate Son of God will have eternal life; those who love Him must fear no difficulties; no obstacle can block those who are supported by Him. Christ is the fundamental aim of their lives."

"What a treasure faith is and how urgent is the task of announcing that faith to those who still do not have it! Man, thirsting for truth and love, must receive the word that explains, that assures that indicates the way. The word that heals. This word is the eternal Word who came from the bosom of the Father in order to bring life to us."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Jose Maria Rossi O.P., pastor of La Union in the diocese of Oran, Argentina, and episcopal vicar for pastoral care of aboriginal peoples, as coadjutor bishop of Concepcion (area 11,800, population 300,000, Catholics 285,000, priests 32, religious 33), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1970.

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JUBILEE OF ARMED FORCES AND POLICE THIS WEEKEND

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2000 (VIS) - The Jubilee of the Armed Forces and Police will take place this weekend, November 18 and 19, in Rome on the theme "With Christ, Defending Justice and Peace."

On Saturday morning, November 18, at 10 a.m. there will be penitential liturgies for Italian-speaking members of the military and police at the basilicas of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls and St. Mary of the Angels. Services in English will be held in two churches, including Santa Susanna's, the Church for English-speaking Catholics in Rome. Reconciliation rites will be held in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Polish and Hungarian in six other Rome churches.

At 3:30 p.m. there will be an international Way of the Cross celebrated in the Circus Maximus. At 8 p.m. a concert will be held in the Paul VI Hall in honor of those members of the military and police who work in peace missions.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 19, in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul will preside at a Eucharistic celebration for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces and Police. Following the recitation of the angelus at noon, military and police bands will perform in honor of the Holy Father. Eight bands, representing the same number of branches of the miliary and police in Italy will perform, as will bands from Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Spain, the United States and Switzerland.

The Jubilee celebrations will conclude at 6 p.m. when all the participants gather in Via della Conciliazione for the evening prayer at 7 in St. Peter's Square.

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