FEMININE HOLINESS IS INDISPENSABLE TO LIFE OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 22, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Message to the 600 delegates who participated in the March 17-21 general assembly of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations in Rome on the theme "The Prophetic Mission of Women." The Message to the Union, which was founded in 1910, was written in English and was dated March 7.

The Pope told the delegates that their assembly is an "opportunity to thank God for all that being a woman signifies in the divine plan, and to ask His help in overcoming the many obstacles which still hinder full recognition of the dignity and mission of women in society and within the ecclesial community."

He observed that "the journey travelled in the course of the past century has been remarkable. In many countries today women enjoy freedom of movement, of decision and of self-expression, a freedom which they have achieved with clear mindedness and courage. They express their characteristic 'genius' in many spheres. In today's world there exists a growing awareness of the need to affirm women's dignity. This is no abstract principle for it involves a concerted effort at every level to oppose vigorously 'all practices that offend woman's freedom or femininity ... so-called 'sexual tourism', trafficking in young girls, mass sterilization and, in general, every form of violence'."

The Holy Father spoke of impediments still faced by women in a prevailing culture "which spreads and imposes models of life that are contrary to women's deeper nature." And he underscored "the serious aberrations" which arise from "individual selfishness" and from "a mentality which stresses each individual's rights to such an extent that respect for the rights of others is weakened." He urged the women "to provide increasing material and moral support to women in difficulty, victims of poverty and violence."

"Feminine holiness, to which each of you is called, is indispensable to the life of the Church. ... The world and the Church need your specific commitment" and your ability to transmit "the genuine sense of the faith and apply it to all life's circumstances. ... The Church's presence and action in the new millennium passes by way of woman's capacity to receive and keep God's word."

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