AUDIENCE WITH THE PONTIFICAL SPANISH COLLEGE IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, the Pope received the rector, staff and associates of the Pontifical Spanish College of St. Joseph in Rome.

In his address, the Holy Father highlighted that "broader academic formation and a more universal experience of the Church" are "extremely important aspects for priests today, who are called to proclaim the Gospel in environments that are ever more multi-faceted, variable and, at the same time, interrelated."

"By your academic education and the experience of these years passed in Rome, you will be able to bring new force to the efforts of so many of your countrymen and women in order that, in Spanish society, the spirit of the world does not prevail over the Word of God."

John Paul II assured them that, in this task, they would be helped by "the ever pertinent example of St. John of Avila," patron of Spanish diocesan clergy. "He condensed his ideas into one simple counsel: 'pray, meditate, study.' Indeed, meditation and an intense spiritual life make it possible to transmit with conviction the mystery of Christ, which fills the existence of priests and which is so sorely needed by a generation that frequently suffers from a life vacuum and a lack of meaning. In turn, study favors a correct understanding of doctrine and, consequently, fosters the ability to teach that doctrine correctly in all concrete situations."

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POPE GREETS BISHOPS OF BYZANTINE-UKRAINIAN RITE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed 22 bishops of the Catholic Church of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite, including Cardinal Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky, archbishop major of Lviv of the Ukrainians. He told the bishops that he hoped "to soon be among you, on Ukrainian soil," adding that he awaited his coming trip "as a true spiritual gift."

The Pope observed that "the millennium of the baptism of your people, celebrated in 1988, was the start of a new era, involving for you important changes of a social and moral nature which aimed at recognizing the right to religious freedom for Catholics of oriental rite and for their Church which has been united with the See of Peter for 400 years.

"In this way," he continued, "the community of the People of God, which in 1946 was outlawed, came out of the catacombs. Your Church ... knew sufferings and the cross, when the cruel atheist regime decreed its suppression. But now we must look to the future: The grace of God drives us to use well our time for it is the time of salvation."

"We have come out of the painful experience of the catacombs," stated the Holy Father. "We must overcome this first phase of reorganization and work to create a pastoral project for your Church. ... This will take into account the primary exigency of catechesis and theological formation in line with your oriental ecclesial tradition. I know that educational institutions of high quality are already working to this end."

The Pope told them not to forget the "active role of a spiritually and culturally well-formed laity" in this pastoral project, as well as the role to be played by religious and, in a special way, by those in the monastic life.

In concluding remarks, John Paul II told the bishops: "You are called to live an impetus of growth and generosity which is also at the service of our Orthodox brothers and sisters with a view to recomposing full unity as Jesus wishes it; you will seek, together with their pastors, new ways to give common witness, avoiding the sterile counter-positions, well aware that the Father calls us all to charity in order that the world may believe."

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JUBILEE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2000

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the calendar of Jubilee events for the month of December 2000:

- Saturday 2: Vigil of the 1st Sunday of Advent. First Vespers in St. Peter's Basilica.

- Sunday 3: First Sunday of Advent and Jubilee of the Handicapped. Mass in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

- Friday 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope pays homage to Mary Immaculate in Piazza di Spagna. Akathistos hymn in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

- Sunday 10: Second Sunday of Advent. Jubilee of Catechists and Religion Teachers. Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

- Saturday 16: Celebration in the Mozarabic rite in the Basilica of St. Peter's.

- Sunday 17: Third Sunday of Advent. Mass in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. Jubilee of the world of entertainment.

- Sunday 24: Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

- Monday 25: Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. Mass during the Day in St. Peter's Basilica. "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

- Sunday 31: Vespers, and prayer vigil in St. Peter's Basilica for the passage to a new millennium.

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for December is: "That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life."

His missionary intention is: "That children may be respected in their dignity, and that all child abuse may stop."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:

- Hanna Nasser, mayor of Bethlehem.
- Cardinal Virgilio Noe, archpriest of the Vatican patriarchal basilica, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City and president of the Fabric of St. Peter's.

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SEMINAR ON THE REDUCTION OF DEBT AND POVERTY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has organized a seminar to be held from December 3 to 6 on the theme: "From debt relief to poverty reduction." The aim of the gathering is to examine the results of the various efforts inspired by the Pope's appeals to reduce considerably the international debt.

According to a communique released by the council "the response to this appeal ... was concretized in the promotion of many popular initiatives as well as by significant commitments of governments and international institutions." The seminar will focus on "the ways in which debt relief initiatives may lead to concrete measures in the fight against poverty."

The meeting, which will be inaugurated by Archbishop Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will be attended by bishops and experts from more than 20 heavily-indebted countries and by representatives of Catholic organizations involved in the field of development.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Philip E. Wilson of Wollongong, Australia, as coadjutor archbishop of Adelaide (area 103,600, population 1,254,751, Catholics 266,927, priests 175, permanent deacons 3, priests 529), Australia. The archbishop-elect was born in Cessnock, Australia, in 1950, ordained a priest in 1975 and consecrated a bishop in 1996.

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