HOLY FATHER RECEIVES NEW AMBASSADOR FROM AUSTRIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 13, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed Austria's new ambassador to the Holy See, Walter Greinert, who presented his Letters of Credence. The Pope spoke at length to the new ambassador in his native German, a translation of which was provided by Vatican Radio.

In opening remarks, the Pope recalled the new role conferred on Austria by the fall of the Berlin Wall, making this central European country an "areopagus, that is, a place of peaceful encounter between East and West."

He also recalled Europe's Christian roots and the spread of the Christian faith, saying that "after 2000 years of life, Christianity today must be not only the caretaker of the past but must form a future of hope for man. In this sense, Europe is at a fork in the road: it can build a garden in blossom or a quagmire of death." He added that "Austria and the Holy See intend to pursue deepening their traditional collaboration to bring this garden into bloom."

The Holy Father then spoke of "favoring a culture of life" and promoting the dignity of the human person, highlighting that "man has a right to life in every phase of his existence, from conception to natural death, and in every condition: in health or in sickness, with impediments, rich or poor. Legalizing the interruption of maternity in the first three months of pregnancy in Austria as in many other European countries, remains a serious wound in my heart, as does the discussion of euthanasia: who wishes to take from man, at the end of his earthly existence, the right to life, definitively, takes his very life itself."

John Paul II also expressed concern for some of the work performed in scientific and biological fields, especially when it becomes a question of not merely "observing" but of "manipulating" and "cloning" human life. Culture, he said, must "be returned to those principles of a true humanism."

The Pope repeated again that the family must be considered the basic unit of society, and asked that families be protected and their development favored "as a privileged place for the 'humanization' of the person and of society itself in the face of the many attempts to relativize the family, even in legal spheres." He asked State authorities "to respect" the family and "reserve special protection for it." He applauded all measures which "favor social policies for families and which envision support for children and the elderly, especially the latter so that they can remain within the family sphere and thus strengthen ties between generations."

In closing remarks, the Holy Father asked that special attention be given to migrants, to refugees, to the handicapped and to all suffering people "who need sincere and fraternal help." In particular he urged a greater solidarity between rich countries and poorer ones.

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