TELEGRAM FOR DEATH OF DEAN EMERITUS OF THE ROMAN ROTA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano sent a telegram in the Pope's name to the dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, Msgr. Raffaello Funghini, after learning the news of the death of the dean emeritus, Archbishop Ernesto Maria Fiore, at the age of 83.

Cardinal Sodano recalled "his zealous priestly life and long generous activity in the service of the Apostolic See as a man of the Church and an expert in law, who sought in the love of Christ the fulfillment of every law."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GREATNESS OF GOD IN CREATION AND HISTORY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II spoke on the Canticle of Isaiah (Is 45:15-26) in which the greatness of God in creation and history is shown.

The Pope noted that "The historical background from which this meditation springs is that of the surprising liberation which God obtains for His people, at the time of the Babylonian exile. ... The certainty of the providential action of God is the source of hope for the believer, who knows he can count upon the constant presence of He 'who formed the earth and made it, He (who) established it'."

"God," he affirmed, "is by definition the Only One. Nothing can compare to Him. Everything is subordinate to Him." In this regard the Pope recalled that the prophet Isaiah reproaches "all forms of idolatry, often concealed in the attitudes with which men and things are considered as absolute values and substitutes for God Himself, more than in the improper use of images."

The hymn, he continued, refers to history, "in which Israel was able to experience many times the beneficent and merciful power of God, His faithfulness and His providence."

"God proclaims: 'Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God and there is no other'. In this way it becomes clear that the predilection with which God has chosen Israel as His people is not an act of exclusion, but instead an act of love in which all of humanity is destined to benefit. Already in the Old Testament, that 'sacramental' conception of the history of salvation stands out, which sees in the special election of the sons of Abraham, and then of the disciples of Christ in the Church, not a privilege which 'closes' or 'excludes', but the sign and the instrument of a universal love."

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JOHN PAUL II TO MARK 55 YEARS AS A PRIEST TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Tomorrow, the solemnity of All Saints, Pope John Paul II will celebrate the 55th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood which took place on November 1, 1946 in the cathedral in Krakow, Poland.

In 1996, the Holy Father's golden jubilee was celebrated on November 1 with a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with 700 priests from the diocese of Rome. On November 10, over 1,500 priests from around the world who were also ordained in 1946 concelebrated Mass with the Pope, 116 cardinals and over 100 archbishops and bishops in St. Peter's Basilica.

To mark that 50th anniversary Pope John Paul wrote "Gift and Mystery," a book of memoirs and reflections on his priesthood. It was published November 15 of that year.

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for November is: "That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God."

His missionary intention is: "That, through the active participation of Christians, mass media may be instruments of missionary evangelization."

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY TO SPEAK IN U.S. IN COMING DAYS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, will speak in coming days in the United States. He will give an address on November 3 to the Catholic Leadership Institute at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania upon receiving an award from the Institute.

On November 4, feast of St. Charles Borromeo, he will give the homily at a Mass celebrating this feast day at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.

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NUNCIO ASKS INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR MIDDLE EAST SITUATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The afternoon of October 29 Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke before the Fourth Committee of the U.N. General Assembly on Item 87, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine.

"The events of 11 September," he stated, "seem to have cast a dark shadow upon the life of this city which in turn has a profound effect throughout the world. However this is but one tragedy which makes my Delegation heavy of heart. Although they were founded as temporary agencies, UNRWA and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine have labored to assist the Palestinian Refugees for over fifty years."

The archbishop observed that "Each year we come before this Committee with an intervention and I am sorry to say that each year our observations are the same. Violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories continues to take innocent lives. ... In particular, I note the incursions into the Christian towns of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala." He named some of the many Church institutions that have suffered shell damage, and added: "Numerous houses in these towns have sustained damage from artillery and as a result, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine has been making emergency grants to aid with repairs or for the relocation of the residents." The Mission is also creating projects "to put the unemployed to work, projects which will benefit the community at large are sponsored."

"It is the hope of my Delegation," affirmed Archbishop Martino, "that any solution found for the multifaceted problems of the region will include the question of the Holy City of Jerusalem. In light of the numerous incidents of violence and the rigors of imposed closures, the Holy See renews its consistent call for 'internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities'."

In concluding remarks, he appealed "for greater international solidarity and the political will to meet the challenge of the seemingly unending violence in the region. The arms manufacturers of the world have the region awash in weapons. These weapons help to fuel the fire of violence throughout the entire area. Further, my Delegation appeals to the international community to assist in bringing a just resolution to the differences between the peoples of the Holy Land who are all cousins in the Abrahamic faith."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Julio Cesar Vidal Ortiz of Montelibano, as bishop of Monteria (area 14,550, population 1,350,000, Catholics 1,200,000, priests 74, religious 219), Colombia.

- Fr. Bonifacio Antonio Reimann Panic, O.F.M., pastor and curator of the Convent of Saint Ann in Sucre, as apostolic vicar of Nuflo de Chavez, Bolivia. The bishop-elect was born in Kadlub Turowski, Poland, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1979.

- Fr. John Chrisostom Kwon Hyok-ju, of the clergy of the diocese of Andong, Korea, professor of Dogmatic Theology in the Major Interdiocesan Seminary of Taegu, as bishop of Andong (area 10,788, population 935,675, Catholics 43,437, priests 49, religious 157). The bishop-elect was born in Uisong-kun, in 1957, and ordained to the priesthood in 1983.

- Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau and the islands of Cape Verde, apostolic delegate in Mauritania, as apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua.

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HOLY SEE NOTE ON WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN QATAR

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was "A Note of the Holy See on the preparation for the Doha Ministerial Conference" of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 9 to 13.

"In the current situation," says the Note, "the policies of the WTO influence the possibilities of developing countries to guarantee their populations, especially the poor, a lasting economic and human progress. Diverse parties hope that this ministerial conference will place the dimension of development at the center of the reflections of the WTO and its members. In particular it is hoped that the ministerial conference will offer a new impetus for developing a multilateral system of trade which is more equitable and participatory.

"The Holy See, desirous of offering its own specific contribution to the debate underway concerning the project of the Final Declaration of the ministerial conference, has distributed a Note on the "Development Dimensions of the World Trade Organization."

"Having as its starting point the important ethical principle enunciated by His Holiness John Paul II in the Encyclical 'Centesimus Annus', in which he affirms that 'the economy is only one aspect and one dimension of complex human activity', (the Note) proposes several indications which urge that the policies of liberalization of international trade be better placed at the service of the dignity of the human person and the constitution of a true family among nations, founded on solidarity."

The Holy See note focusses on eight points: 1. Unsatisfactory progress for the poorest countries; 2. The development framework of the WTO; 3. Eliminating trade-distorting protections; 4. Developing countries should adopt consistent development policies; 5. Implementation and technical assistance; 6. Intellectual property; 7. Increased transparency, and 8. Towards a broader development agenda.

The Holy See Note was distributed to WTO authorities, to all Holy See missions accredited to the U.N. in Geneva and to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

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JOHN PAUL II TO BEATIFY EIGHT SERVANTS OF GOD SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II will beatify eight Servants of God on Sunday, November 4, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square.

The future blesseds are: Pavol Peter Gojdic (1888-1960), of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr; Metod Dominik Trcka (1886-1959), priest, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, martyr; Giovanni Antonio Farina (1803-1888), bishop, founder of the Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy Daughters of the Sacred Hearts; Bartolomeu Fernandes Dos Martires (1514-1590), of the Order of Preachers, bishop; Luigi Tezza (1841-1923), priest, of the Order of Clerics Regular Ministers of the Sick, founder of the Daughters of St. Camillus; Paolo Manna (1872-1952), priest, of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions; Gaetana Sterni (1827-1889), religious, foundress of the Sisters of the Divine Will; Maria Pilar Izquierdo Albero (1906-1945), virgin, foundress of the Missionary Work of Jesus and Mary.

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POPE RECEIVES PRESIDENT ARAFAT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration this morning:

"The Holy Father received today Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority, who came to report on the worrying situation in the Palestinian territories, with particular reference to the recent tragic events concerning the holy places of Christianity as well. The president made known, furthermore, the desire for peace of the Palestinian people, condemning also every form of terrorism.

"His Holiness, in expressing his sorrow for the numerous victims of the endless spiral of violence, renewed his appeal for everyone to abandon arms and to renew negotiations. The Holy Father repeated the well-known position of the Holy See which favors dialogue, the fulfillment of international law, without forgetting the necessary duty of the international community to ensure the peoples of the region reciprocal respect and safety for all."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Carles Soler Perdigo, auxiliary of Barcelona, as bishop of Girona (area 4,705, population 592,689, Catholics 500,000, priests 301, religious 900), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Jaume Camprodon Rovira, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Daniel Mizonzo, of the clergy of the diocese of Nkayi (area 59,140, population 485,843, Catholics 257,083, priests 56, religious 28), Republic of the Congo, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Nzaou-Mouyondzi, in 1953, and ordained to the priesthood in 1981. He succeeds Bishop Bernard Nsayi, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Visakhapatnam, India, elevating the episcopal see of the same name to metropolitan church, assigning it as suffragan churches the dioceses of Eluru, Guntur, Nellore, Srikakulam and Vijayawada. He appointed Bishop Mariadas Kagithapu, M.S.F.S., of the same diocese, as first metropolitan archbishop of Visakhapatnam.

- Appointed Msgr. Louis Portella, of the clergy of Pointe-Noire, until now apostolic administrator "sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the diocese of Nkayi, as bishop of Kinkala (area 19,835, population 150,000, Catholics 90,000, priests 42, religious 23), Republic of the Congo. The bishop-elect was born in Pointe-Noire in 1942, and ordained to the priesthood in 1967.

- Appointed Fr. Andres Stanovnik, O.F.M.Cap., assistant superior of that Order, as bishop of Reconquista (area 35,000, population 209,000, Catholics 187,000, priests 42, permanent deacons 1, religious 88), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires in 1949, and ordained to the priesthood in 1978.

- Appointed Bishop Gerald Frederick Kicanas, auxiliary of Chicago, as coadjutor bishop of Tucson (area 108,738, population 1,451,477, Catholics 300,423, priests 204, permanent deacons 124, religious 352), U.S.A.

- Appointed Fr. Josep Angel Sainz Meneses, secretary general and chancellor of the archiepiscopal curia of Barcelona, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Barcelona (area 3,041, population 4,678,945, Catholics 4,303,467, priests 1,466, permanent deacons 50, religious 5,797), Spain. The bishop-elect was born in Sisante, in 1956, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984.

- Accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishops Francisco Garmendia, Anthony Francis Mestice, and William Jerome McCormack, of the archdiocese of New York, U.S.A., in accordance with the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Josu Iriondo, of the clergy of the archdiocese of New York, episcopal vicar for Hispanic Affairs and pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in the Bronx; Msgr. Dominick John Lagonegro, of the clergy of the archdiocese of New York, pastor of Saint Columba Parish in Hopewell Junction; and Msgr. Timothy Anthony McDonnell, of the clergy of the archdiocese of New York, pastor of Saint John and Saint Mary Parish in Chappaqua, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of New York (area 12,212, population 5,276,400, Catholics 2,407,393, priests 1,998, permanent deacons 277, religious 4,935), U.S.A. Bishop-elect Iriondo was born in Legazpi, Spain, in 1938, and ordained to the priesthood in 1962. Bishop-elect Lagonero was born in White Plains, in 1943, and ordained to the priesthood in 1969. Bishop-elect McDonnell was born in New York, in 1937, and ordained to the priesthood in 1963.
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JOHN PAUL II CLOSES THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 27, 2001 (VIS) - At 10:30 this morning, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father presided over the solemn concelebration of the Eucharist on the occasion of the conclusion of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which began September 30 on the theme: "The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World." Concelebrating with the Pope were 55 cardinals, 7 patriarchs, 70 archbishops, 106 bishops and 30 priests, including 5 auditors and 15 assistants.

In his homily, John Paul II affirmed that "At the dawn of the third millennium, the ideal figure of the bishop, which the Church continues to count upon, is that of the Shepherd who, configured to Christ in sanctity of life, spends himself generously for the Church entrusted to him, at the same time bearing in his heart solicitude for all the Churches spread throughout the earth."

"The bishop, the Good Shepherd," he said, "finds light and strength for his ministry in the Word of God, interpreted in the communion of the Church and proclaimed with 'opportune and importune' courageous faithfulness. Teacher of the faith, the Bishop promotes all that is good and positive in the flock entrusted to him, supporting and guiding the weak ones to the faith, intervening to unmask falsehoods and to fight against abuses."

The Pope said it was important that the bishop "be aware of the challenges that faith in Christ encounters today, because of a mentality based on human criteria that, at times, make the Law and the Plan of God relative. Above all, he must have the courage to proclaim and defend healthy doctrine, even when this entails sufferings. In fact, the bishop ... has the duty of protecting the faithful from any kind of temptation, showing, through the sincere return to the Gospel of Christ, the true solution to the complex problems that burden humanity. ... Only if the deep and convinced unity of the Shepherds among themselves and with the Successor of Peter is clearly perceptible, as is that of the bishops with their priests, can a credible answer be given to the challenges that come from today's social and cultural context."

"I would like to ask you," he added, "to bring my greetings to your faithful and, in a special way, to your priests. ... I also ask you to greet the bishops emeriti, conveying to them the expression of my recognition for the work done at the service of the faithful. (For this reason), I chose to have their representatives at this Synodal Assembly." He then asked that "each Episcopal Conference study how to attribute value to the bishops emeriti who are still in good health and rich in energy, entrusting them with some ecclesial service and, above all, the study of the problems for which they have experience and competence, calling upon those who are available to take part in one of the Episcopal Commissions, along with their younger brethren, so that they will always feel like living members of the Episcopal College."

He concluded by sending "particular greetings to the bishops of continental China, whose absence at the Synod has not prevented us from feeling their spiritual closeness in memory and in prayer."

After the Mass, the Pope invited the synod participants to lunch at the Santa Marta House, in the Vatican.

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THE FINAL MESSAGE FROM THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Final Message of the Tenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was published today in various languages. Following are excerpts from that text:

I. INTRODUCTION

"We, Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the entire world, have been invited by Pope John Paul II to evaluate our ministry in the Church in the light of the Second Vatican Council. ... The constant presence of the successor of Peter during our work has been a special source of encouragement. He has proclaimed the Good News to everyone and has tirelessly travelled the whole world as a pilgrim for peace. Together with him, we have listened to the Word of God and to one another. In this way, we have heard the voices of local churches and of different peoples, in a vivid experience of universal fraternity, which we would like to share through this Message. We missed the presence of some of our beloved brothers in the Lord who were not able to come to Rome. We listened with deep emotion to the testimonies of several bishops who had been sent into prison or exile during recent decades, for Jesus' sake. Others have died for their fidelity to the Gospel."

II. JESUS CHRIST OUR HOPE
"When we reviewed in turn the tragedies and wonders throughout the world today, we did so in the light of Christ's Paschal Mystery, his Passion, Death and Resurrection. ... While from a human point of view, the power of evil often seems to triumph, in the eyes of faith the loving mercy of God immeasurably prevails. ... The first refusal to obey God, which Sacred Scripture reveals as the root of sin, was the origin of the division between man and the Creator, between man and woman, between humanity and the earth, between man and his brother. ... But we should never forget that this account of sin is immediately followed by a promise of salvation. ... Today this Gospel is still preached throughout the whole world. Therefore we should not allow ourselves to be intimidated by those doctrines which deny the existence of the living God and which strive, in more or less cunning ways, to undermine, parody or deride Christian hope."

"The horror of terrorism
Our assembly, together with the Holy Father, has expressed its deepest sympathy for the victims of the outrages of September 11 and for their families. We are praying for them and all the other victims of terrorism in the world. We absolutely condemn terrorism, which nothing can justify.

"Violent situations
It is both urgent and necessary to keep also in mind what Pope John Paul II has spoken of as 'the structures of sin', if we want to point new ways forward for the world. According to reliable economic experts, 80 percent of the population of our planet survives on only 20 percent of its income and one billion two hundred million people 'live' on less than one dollar a day! A drastic moral change is required. Today the social teaching of the Church has a relevance which we cannot overemphasize. As bishops, we commit ourselves to making this teaching better known in our local churches."

"Some endemic evils, when they are too long ignored, can produce despair in entire populations. How can we keep silent when confronted by the enduring drama of hunger and extreme poverty, ... (by) the flood of refugees and immigrants, ... (by) the ravages of malaria, the spread of AIDS, illiteracy, the hopelessness of so many children and youth abandoned to life on the streets, the exploitation of women, pornography, intolerance, the scandalous perversion of religion for violent purposes, drug trafficking and the sale of arms. The list is not exhaustive!"

"Perhaps what most upsets us as pastors is the contempt for human life, from conception to death, as well as the breakdown of the family. The Church's 'No' to abortion and euthanasia is a 'Yes' to life, a 'Yes' to the fundamental goodness of creation, ... a 'Yes' to the family, the most basic community of hope which so pleases God that He calls it to become a 'domestic Church'.

III. THE BISHOP, SERVANT OF THE GOSPEL OF HOPE

"A Call to Holiness
The Second Vatican Council presented a universal call to holiness. ... One form of holiness which the world needs today is precisely the openness to all that is distinctive of a bishop, through his patience and boldness in giving 'reason for the hope' which is in him."

"Struggling against poverty in poverty of spirit
Just as we must struggle to free those oppressed by a poverty which is destructive, so there can be a kind of poverty which frees our energies for love and service. This is the Gospel poverty which we want to practice. ... The bishop is the father and the brother of the poor. When it is necessary, he should not hesitate to raise his voice for those who have no voice, so that their rights will be recognised and respected."

"Communion and collegiality
The term 'communion' (koinonia) belongs to the undivided Christian tradition of both East and West. ... 'Collegiality', which is at the service of communion, characterizes the college of the apostles and their successors the bishops, united among themselves and with the Pope, the successor of Peter."

"A spiritual struggle
Love for unity in no way implies indifference to currents hostile to that truth which shines so brightly on the face of Christ. This love induces the shepherd, as guardian and prophet, to warn his people against false teachings which threaten the purity of Christian hope."

"Weavers of Unity
"(The bishop) ... will not tire in sustaining the religious fervor of parishes and developing missionary dynamism within them, in collaboration with the parish priests. Movements, small communities, and agencies of formation and charity, which constitute the tapestry of Christian life will benefit from his vigilance and concern. As an expert weaver of unity, the bishop with his priests and deacons, will discern and sustain all these charisms in their marvelous diversity."

"Ministers of Mystery
"The irrevocable commitment of the Second Vatican Council to the full unity of Christians draws the bishop to engage with love in ecumenical dialogue. ... This Synod wishes to express the bishops' heartfelt thanks to all priests, their principal collaborators in the apostolic mission. ... Through mutual trust and a warm friendship with his priests, the bishop will enhance their esteem for their ministry, often misunderstood in a society tempted by the worship of possessions, pleasure and power."

"Consecrated life
We are also deeply grateful to all consecrated persons, devoted to contemplation and the apostolate. ... They often enable our apostolic ministry to reach people at the furthest reaches of our dioceses, where, without them, Christ would not be preached."

"Mission of the laity
Today more than ever, lay people are again playing their proper part in giving life to Christian communities, liturgical life, theological formation and charitable works. ... Through their commitment to family, social, cultural and political life, and through their presence at the heart of what Pope John Paul II has called 'the modern areopagus', particularly through their work in the media or in encouraging respect for God's creation, may they continue to bridge the gap between faith and culture."

"Theology and Inculturation
We wish to acknowledge 'the seeds of the Word' which God has implanted in different cultures, religions, works of art and in all the spiritual richness of different peoples throughout history. ... But in order to explain the purity of the original Christian faith in a new and accessible language ever faithful to tradition, we need the particular contribution of skilled theologians."

IV. CONCLUSION

"An Appeal to Political and Economic Leaders
Recognising our own limits and our role as bishops and making no pretence to any political power, we still dare to speak to our political and economic leaders: May the common good of all persons and peoples be your motive for action. It is not beyond your mandate to join together as broadly as possible to work for justice and peace. We ask you to remember those corners of the world which receive no media coverage and where our brothers and sisters are dying from famine and lack of medicine. The persistence of gross inequalities between nations is a threat to peace. As the Pope has explicitly asked you, we ask you again to lessen the burden of external debt on the developing countries, to defend all human rights, especially the right to religious freedom. Confidently and respectfully, we ask you to remember that all power finds its meaning in service alone.


"Call to Youth
And you, young people, you are 'sentinels of the morning'. It is Pope John Paul II who gave you this name. ... You have a keen sense of what honesty and sincerity require. You do not want to be caught up into divisive ethnic struggles nor poisoned by the gangrene of corruption. ... The Ten Commandments (are) written in your hearts ... (and the) Beatitudes give the Commandments a vitality and a radiant inspiration that can win hearts for the Truth that frees us."

"Appeal for Jerusalem
Finally, we turn to you, Jerusalem, City where God is revealed in history: We pray for your well-being! May all the children of Abraham meet once again in you with genuine respect for one another's rights. May you remain, for all the peoples of the earth, an everlasting symbol of hope and peace."

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TWENTY-FIFTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - At 5 p.m., in the presence of the Holy Father and 227 synod fathers, the Twenty-fifth General Congregation of the X Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held to vote on the Final List of Propositions. The president delegate on duty for the conclusive synod meeting was Cardinal Bernard Agre, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, communicated the names of the elected Members of the Post-Synodal Council and the names of the Members nominated by the Holy Father:

AFRICA

1. Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Vatican City).
2. Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, President of the Episcopal Conference (Nigeria).
3. Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, President of the "Symposium des Conferences Episcopales d'Afrique and de Madagascar" (S.C.E.A.M.).

AMERICA

1. Cardinal Francis Eugene George, O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago (United States of America).
2. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina).
3. Cardinal Claudio Hummes, O.F.M., archbishop of Sao Paulo (Brazil).

ASIA/OCEANIA

1. Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., of Cotabato, President of the Episcopal Conference (Philippines).
2. Archbishop Henry Sebastian D'Souza of Calcutta (India).
3. Archishop George Pell of Sydney (Australia).

EUROPE

1. Cardinal Godfried Danneels, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, President of the Episcopal Conference (Belgium).
2. Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa (Italy).
3. Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City).

NOMINATED BY THE POPE

1. Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians (Ukraine).
2. Archbishop Henryk Muszynski of Gniezno (Poland).
3. Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico City (Mexico).

At the end of the Congregation, president delegate Cardinal Ivan Dias, archbishop of Bombay, addressed the following words of gratitude to the Holy Father:

"We are indeed deeply touched by Your Holiness' punctual and attentive presence at all the plenary sessions, and by your kind invitation to be guests at your table in the Apostolic Palace. Since gratitude is the memory of the heart, we shall be ever grateful to Your Holiness for these signs of communion and benevolence, as well as the expressions of your Petrine charism to 'strengthen your brethren - confirm 'fratres tuos'.' ... We admire the way you sow the good seed of the Gospel untiringly in Rome and all over the world, and how you water it with your personal sacrifices and sufferings. We are confident that Your Holiness' Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation - in response to the many interventions, so rich in content, made during the Synod sessions - will help bishops to be truly shepherds after the heart of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. ... Among the fond memories that we are taking home with us is Your Holiness' lighting the lamp in the new Synod Chapel, on the first day of our working sessions, with the flame taken from the Shrine of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Armenia and given to you by His Beatitude Catholicos Karekin II. We assure you, Holy Father, that we shall carry this ecumenical flame in our hearts, and we shall pray with you that full Christian unity may be restored as soon as possible. ... I now invite the Synod participants to rise and to join with me in expressing our best wishes to the Holy Father: God bless our Pope, the great, the good! Laudetur Jesus Christus!"

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TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF MASSACRE IN CHURCH IN PAKISTAN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 28, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, in the name of Pope John Paul to Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, apostolic nuncio in Pakistan, for the victims of the massacre which took place this morning during Mass in the Christian church in Bahawalpur, Pakistan:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II has learned with the deepest sadness about the terrible violence in a Catholic church at Bahawalpur in the diocese of Multan when a group of armed men fired on Christians gathered there in prayer. Expressing his absolute condemnation of this further tragic act of intolerance His Holiness asks Your Excellency to convey his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims whom he commends to the Lord. He expresses his prayerful closeness to all affected by this evil act and as a pledge of comfort and strength he invokes upon the entire community the blessings of Almighty God."

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POPE ASKS HELP FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES, PEACE IN HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, OCT 28, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, as he does every Sunday at noon, appeared at the window of his study which overlooks St. Peter's Square and led the faithful gathered there in the Angelus prayer.

Before praying the Angelus, the Holy Father told the pilgrims that the tenth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which had met for a month to study the ministry of the bishop, solemnly concluded with Mass yesterday morning in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Pope said he "had participated personally in the synod, enjoying the climate of communion which marked it and listening with great interest to the reflections proposed. In fact, Vatican Council II had already dedicated great space to the theme of the bishop and to his ecclesial service. But such teachings needed to be more deeply studied and opportunely adapted to changing times and situations."

He then turned his thoughts to "the month of October, during which our marian devotions have been expressed with particular intensity by reciting the rosary to beg the Lord for peace. At this moment, we entrust in a special way to Mary's maternal protection the populations of Afghanistan: may innocent lives be spared and may there be on the part of the international community timely and efficacious help for the many refugees who are exposed to hardships of every nature as inclement weather is about to arrive.
"Nor can we forget all those who continue to spread violence and death in the Holy Land, in particular in the holy places that are so dear to the Christian faith. May Mary, Queen of Peace, help everyone to lay down their arms and to undertake finally with resolve the path towards a just and lasting peace."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 29, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Stanley Roman, of the clergy of the diocese of Quilon, India, rector of St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary Carmelgiri, Alwaye, Verapoly, as bishop of Quilon (area 1,950, population 4,462,777, Catholics 277,869, priests 90, religious 609). The bishop-elect was born in Punalur in 1941, and ordained to the priesthood in 1966. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Gabriel Fernandez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

On Saturday, October 27, it was made public that the Holy Father elevated the apostolic administration of Moldova to the level of diocese, immediately subject to the Holy See, with the denomination of Chisinau and the same territorial configuration as the current apostolic administration. He appointed Bishop Antonio Cosa, apostolic administrator, as first bishop of Chisinau (area 33,700, population 4,378,000, Catholics 20,000, priests 17, permanent deacons 1, religious 37), Moldova.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 29, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, apostolic nuncio in Kenya; permanent observer to the United Nations Agencies for the Environment and for Human Settlement.
- Archbishop-Bishop Joan Marti Alanis of Urgell, Spain; with Coadjutor Joan Enric Vives Sicilia.
- Altan Guven, ambassador of Turkey, accompanied by his wife, on a farewell visit.
- Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, emeritus of Vercelli, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

On Saturday, October 27, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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HOLY FATHER WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR FROM JAPAN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 29, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today received the Letters of Credence of Mitsuhiro Nakamura, the new ambassador of Japan to the Holy See. He focussed his talk to the diplomat on the world situation, and highlighted the need for dialogue among civilizations in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the world.

The Pope pointed to the current world situation, especially "the events which have, these last weeks, threatened the great balances of the world and kept millions of people in a state of anguish." Recalling Japan's past and "the somber days of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" whose "photographic images ... still live on in the conscience of the entire international community," he highlighted "the profound and great attention to peace which marks Japanese society today."

He issued a heartfelt appeal "for a renewed and ever more intense commitment by all men of good will so that, through dialogue and collaboration, each people may have a land and each person might live in peace. Confidence among persons and peoples will cause terrorism to retreat forever, for it can in no way open the path to the recognition of a group of persons or an ideology, nor lead to a way of governing in a country or region."

John Paul II stressed that violence does not allow "the establishment of the bases of a society which is respectful of all its members; by the wounds it causes, it alienates all peaceful social life and reduces to nothing the most basic rights of persons and of peoples to peace and an integral development in solidarity."

He pointed out that "the religious, spiritual, cultural and human values which are the foundation of Japanese society and many other societies, values such as respect for creation and for life, a spirit of eagerness in work, a profound sense of solidarity, the capacity to being open to transcendence, are essential elements in building a civilization of love and peace."

Pope John Paul stated that "dialogue among civilizations is a necessary condition in establishing peace." Dialogue must be an "exchange among different peoples, cultures and religious and philosophical traditions," in respect for legitimate freedoms, "especially religious freedom so that religion will never be a pretext for acts contrary to the respect of every human being."

"The Catholic Church," he concluded, "participates actively in this dialogue ... in order to build a human community which is united and lives in solidarity." And he thanked the ambassador for "the great esteem and high reputation that the Catholic Church enjoys in Japan, especially in the realms of social assistance and education."

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POPE WELCOMES CATHOLIC PATRIARCHS PARTICIPATING IN SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II this morning welcomed the six Catholic patriarchs who are participating in the Synod of Bishops and told them that their "presence at this meeting ... expresses in an especially meaningful way the catholicity of the Church."

He received Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt; Ignace Pierre VIII Abdel-Ahad, patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Lebanon; Gregoire III Laham, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, Syria; Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon; Raphael I Bidawid, patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Iraq and Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, Lebanon.

"I happily welcome this occasion," said the Holy Father, "to express once again my spiritual closeness to your trials and to those of the populations entrusted to your pastoral care. Together let us pray so that the serious problems that you must face daily may find a ready and satisfying solution. At this time, my thoughts go to the land made holy by the presence and preaching of the Redeemer. The land in which He shed His blood for the salvation of the world and from which, when He arose from the dead, He sent His apostles to the world.

"I assure you," the Pope added, "that every day I follow with close attention the events involving the peoples of the Middle East and, in communion with the entire Church, I pray daily that we might see the dawn of a lasting and honorable peace for everyone. In this moment of intense fraternal communion, I ask you to extend to the clergy, consecrated persons and all the faithful an expression of my most cordial greetings."

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TWENTY-FOURTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Twenty-fourth General Congregation took place this morning, during which there was the second vote on the Post-Synodal Council of the General Secretariat and the presentation of the Final List of Propositions. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Bernard Agre.

At the end of the congregation, Cardinal Schotte announced that the Holy Father has decided to give a gift to all the participants in the synod. Those who are bishops will receive a pectoral cross and chain, inspired by the words "Duc in altum," taken from the Apostolic Letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte." Other participants will receive the official medal of the 23rd anniversary of John Paul II's pontificate in either silver or bronze.

The Twenty-fifth and final General Congregation, for the vote on the propositions and for the conclusion of the Synod work, will take place this afternoon.

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TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - At 5:05 p.m. today, in the presence of the Holy Father and 235 synod fathers, the Twenty-third General Congregation took place, for the presentation of and balloting on the Message of the Synod of Bishops to the People of God. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

At the beginning of this Congregation, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, C.I.C.M., communicated the results of the first balloting for the Post-Synodal Council. None of the Synod Fathers obtained the absolute majority required in the first balloting. The ballots for the second vote (which will be determined through relative majority) will be distributed at the beginning of the Twenty-fourth General Congregation, tomorrow morning, October 26.

The president and the vice-president of the Commission for the preparation of the Message, Archbishop Estanislao Esteban Karlic of Parana, Argentina, and Bishop Olivier de Berranger of Saint-Denis, France, read the second draft of the Message of the Synod: The former read the first part in Italian and the latter read the second part in French. The Message has been prepared in five languages.

The voting on the Message then took place, followed by the interventions of 27 Synod Fathers who suggested several stylistic modifications to the text.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Peter Smith of East Anglia as metropolitan archbishop of Cardiff (area 3,064, population 1,596,200, Catholics 83,900, priests 130, permanent deacons 1, religious 200), Wales. The archbishop-elect was born in London in 1943, ordained a priest in 1972 and a bishop in 1995. He succeeds Archbishop John Aloysius Ward, O.F.M.Cap., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted in conformity with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Ad Abi Karam, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Moutaileb, archieparchy of Antelias, Lebanon, and president of the Catholic Council for Catechesis in the Middle East, as bishop of the eparchy of Saint Maron of Sydney of the Maronites (Catholics 150,000, priests 24, permanent deacons 1, religious 35), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Kornet Chehwan, Lebanon, in 1937, and ordained to the priesthood in 1962. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Hitti, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy was accepted by the Holy Father in conformity with canon 210, para. 2, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico.
- His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Palestine.
- Archbishop Ambrose B. De Paoli, apostolic nuncio in Japan.
- Bishop Thomas Vose Daily of Brooklyn, U.S.A.; with Dr. Carl Albert Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, accompanied by his wife; and Dr. Virgil C. Dechant.
- His Beatitude Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt; His Beatitude Ignace Pierre VIII Abdel-Ahad, patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Lebanon; His Beatitude Gregoire III Laham, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, Syria; His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon; His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid, patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Iraq; His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, Lebanon.

He also received the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:
- Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general, Synod of Bishops, Vatican City.
- Giuseppe Camilleri, member of the Society of Christian Doctrine, Malta.
- Fr. Jesus Castellano Cervera, O.C.D., Spain, professor of Dogmatic Theology, vice-president, Pontifical Theological Faculty, Pontifical Teresianum Institute of Spirituality, Rome.
- Fr. Ricard Antonio Ferrara, dean of the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Argentina, Argentina.
- Dr. Enrique Galarza Alarcon, consultant, Episcopal Conference of Ecuador.
- Msgr. Renzo Gerardi, ordinary professor, Faculty of Special Moral Theology, Pontifical Urban University, Italy.
- Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, Pontifical Gregorian University, Italy.
- Fr. Philip Goyret, Argentina, professor of Ecclesiology, University of the Holy Cross, Rome.
- Fr. Jesus Maria Lecea Sainz, S.P., president, Union of European Conferences of Major Superiors, U.C.E.S.M., president, Spanish Conference of Superiors and Major Superiors, Conf.E.R., Spain.
- Fr. Jorge Ortiz Gonzalez, M.Sp.S, superior general, Missionaries of the Holy Spirit; president, Conference of Religious Institutes of Mexico, C.I.R.M., Mexico.
- Fr. Candido Pozo, S.J., professor of Dogmatic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Granada, Spain.
- Fr. Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria, F.S.C., Costa Rica, superior general, Brothers of the Christian Schools; president, Union of Superior Generals, U.S.G., Rome.
- Fr. Jose Ramon Villar, professor of Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, University of Navarra, Spain.
- Dr. Nazario Vivero, Venezuela, assessor, Episcopal Conference of Venezuela; member, Pontifical Council for the Laity, Vatican.

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POPE URGES NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN HOLY SEE, CHINA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul has asked pardon for errors committed by missionaries and others in China in the colonial periods of that nation's history, and has urged the "normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See," saying this "would undoubtedly have positive repercussions for humanity's progress."

The Pope's thoughts were expressed in a Message to the participants in the October 24-25 international meeting in Rome on "Matteo Ricci: For a Dialogue between China and the West." The meeting was organized by the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University and by the Italian-Chinese Institute to mark the fourth centenary of the arrival of Jesuit missionary and scientist Matteo Ricci, S.J., in Beijing.

In the Message, released late yesterday afternoon in Italian, English and Chinese, the Pope highlighted Fr. Ricci's 28 years in China, first arriving there in 1582. Only on January 24, 1601, "after 21 long years of avid and intense study of the language, history and culture of China," did he reach Beijing where he lived the rest of his life, dying on May 11, 1610 at the age of 57.

The Holy Father notes then when Fr. Ricci arrived at the imperial court "He introduced himself as a celibate religious who sought no privilege at court, asking only to be able to place at the service of His Majesty his own person and the expertise in the sciences which he had acquired in the 'great West' from which he had come."

He remarks that "Historically and culturally (Fr. Ricci) was a pioneer, a precious connecting link between West and East, between European Renaissance culture and Chinese culture, and between the ancient and magnificent Chinese civilization and the world of Europe."

Calling Matteo Ricci's work "enduringly relevant," the Pope states that "Father Ricci based his entire scientific and apostolic methodology upon two pillars, to which he remained faithful until his death, despite many difficulties and misunderstandings, both internal and external: first, Chinese neophytes, in embracing Christianity, did not in any way have to renounce loyalty to their country; second, the Christian revelation of the mystery of God in no way destroyed but in fact enriched and complemented everything beautiful and good, just and holy, in what had been produced and handed down by the ancient Chinese tradition."

"The Chinese people, especially in more recent times, have set themselves important objectives in the field of social progress. ... The Church has very much at heart the values and objectives which are of primary importance also to modern China: solidarity, peace, social justice, the wise management of the phenomenon of globalization, and the civil progress of all peoples."
The Pope continues: "As Father Ricci wrote precisely in Beijing, ... so too today the Catholic Church seeks no privilege from China and its leaders, but solely the resumption of dialogue in order to build a relationship based upon mutual respect and deeper understanding."

"Let it be known to China: the Catholic Church has a keen desire to offer, once more, her humble and selfless service for the good of Chinese Catholics and of all the people of the country."

"However," John Paul II affirmed, "History reminds us of the unfortunate fact that the work of members of the Church in China was not always without error. ... Moreover, their action was often conditioned by difficult situations connected with complex historical events and conflicting political interests. ... In certain periods of modern history, a kind of 'protection' on the part of European political powers not infrequently resulted in limitations on the Church's very freedom of action and had negative repercussions for the Church in China."

"I feel deep sadness for these errors and limits of the past, and I regret that in many people these failings may have given the impression of a lack of respect and esteem for the Chinese people on the part of the Catholic Church, making them feel that the Church was motivated by feelings of hostility towards China. For all of this I ask the forgiveness and understanding of those who may have felt hurt in some way by such actions on the part of Christians."

"The Church must not be afraid of historical truth and she is ready ' with deeply-felt pain ' to admit the responsibility of her children."

The Holy Father writes that Fr. Ricci "defined a friend as 'the other half of myself, indeed another 'I''. And it is with this renewed and deeply-felt friendship towards all the Chinese people that I express the hope that concrete forms of communication and cooperation between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China may soon be established."

"Historically, in ways that are certainly different but not in opposition to one another, China and the Catholic Church are two of the most ancient 'institutions' in existence and operating on the world scene: both, though in different domains ' one in the political and social, the other in the religious and spiritual ' encompass more than a billion sons and daughters. It is no secret that the Holy See, in the name of the whole Catholic Church and, I believe, for the benefit of the whole human family, hopes for the opening of some form of dialogue with the Authorities of the People's Republic of China."

Pope John Paul II concludes: "The present moment of profound disquiet in the international community calls for a fervent commitment on the part of everyone to creating and developing ties of understanding, friendship and solidarity among peoples. In this context, the normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See would undoubtedly have positive repercussions for humanity's progress."

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ADMISSION TO EUCHARIST BETWEEN CHALDEAN, ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF EAST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today were the "Guidelines for Admission to the Eucharist Between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East," prepared by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in agreement with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

The document responds to the "great distress of many Chaldean and Assyrian faithful, in their motherland and in the diaspora, which impedes many of them (from leading) a normal sacramental life according to their own tradition, and in the ecumenical context of the bilateral dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, the request has been made to provide for admission to the Eucharist between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East."

"When necessity requires," the guidelines state, "Assyrian faithful are permitted to participate and to receive Holy Communion in a Chaldean celebration of the Holy Eucharist; in the same way, Chaldean faithful for whom it is physically and morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, are permitted to participate and to receive Holy Communion in an Assyrian celebration of the Holy Eucharist."

"In both cases, Assyrian and Chaldean ministers celebrate the Holy Eucharist according to the liturgical prescriptions of their own tradition."

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES SENT TO PAKISTAN BY POPE JOHN PAUL

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will travel to Pakistan from October 25 to 30 at the wish of the Holy Father. "With this visit," a communique states, "John Paul II desires to confirm his closeness to all of the people suffering due to the war, in a special way to the refugees massing in ever greater numbers at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Archbishop Cordes will meet with the president of the Republic of Pakistan, speak with those in charge of Catholic humanitarian organizations and local Caritas groups, preside over a Eucharistic celebration in the cathedral of Rawalpindi, and visit the refugee camps in Peshawar in order to personally convey the consolation of the Holy Father.

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JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES KING OF NORWAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration today: "The Holy Father received this morning in audience His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, with Queen Sonja and their entourage. During the cordial meeting the Pope recalled his trip to Norway in June of 1989.

"Following this visit, His Majesty King Harald visited Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.

"In the course of the meetings the life of the Church in Norway was discussed. There was also an exchange of views on the grave situation existing since the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the situation in the Middle East."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen, up to now apostolic nuncio in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, as apostolic nuncio in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, accompanied by Queen Sonja, and their entourage.
- Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany, and a Jubilee pilgrimage group of the "Kolping Family" International Work.

He also received the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general, Synod of Bishops, Vatican City.
- Fr. Antonio Bravo, general director, Institute of Prado, France.
- Sr. Antonia Colombo, superior general, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Italy.
- Fr. Andrea D'Auria, F.S.C.B., professor of Canon Law, Pontifical Urban University, Rome, Italy.
- Fr. Arnaud Devillers, F.S.S.P., superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, U.S.A.
- Fr. Francois Dupre La Tour, O.S.B., professor of Theology, Abbey of Saint Joseph, France.
- Martial Assande Eba, president, parish council of Saint Jean de Cocody, diocese of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- Msgr. Gerhard Muller, professor of Dogmatic Theology, faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Munich, Germany.
- Maria Christina Noronha De Sa', director, Youth Pastoral Care, archdiocese of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Barbara Pandolfi, superior general, Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ, Italy.
- Anne-Marie Pelletier, professor, University Paris X and "Institute Catholique de Paris", France.
- Sr. Enrica Rosanna, F.M.A., professor of Sociology of Religion, Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium", Rome, Italy.
- Msgr. Dimitrios Salachas, Greece, professor of Eastern Canon Law, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.
- Robert Sikias, Lebanon, president emeritus, Council of the Laity, Vatican City.

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HOLY SEE RATIFIES PROTOCOLS ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday at a press conference following the ratification of Two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

He noted that "According to the most recent UNICEF report, an estimated one million children, mainly girls, are forced into the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade every year. The Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography explicitly prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and calls for legal protection against the sexual exploitation of children, the transfer of their organs, and forced labor."

Archbishop Martino then underscored that "There are presently an estimated 300,000 children under the age of 18 acting as soldiers in armed conflict situations throughout the world. We also know that in the last ten years two million children have been killed, six million have been hurt, ten million have been traumatized, and a million children have been left orphaned because of armed conflict. The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict expands the protection of children from recruitment for participation in armed conflict to the age of 18, and reinforces the prohibition of the recruitment of children under the age by armed forces distinct from the State."

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HOLY SEE ON PROMOTING, PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday before the Third Committee of the 56th session of the U.N. General Assembly on Item 115, "The Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children."

He began by noting that "Unfortunately, too many of the world's children are affected by war and conflict every day of their lives. They all bear the physical and psychological scars which might be the result of direct involvement as combatants and child soldiers or through abduction, abuse, separation from family, malnutrition, and lost educational opportunities. The same might be said for those children who are victims of exploitation or abuse. For these children unimaginable horrors are an everyday occurrence. These also suffer physical and psychological trauma which leaves scars that may never be healed."

Archbishop Martino affirmed that "the Convention on the Rights of the Child continues to guide governments in their actions regarding the well-being of children through the recognition of their dignity and the acknowledgment that 'the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including legal protection, before as well as after birth'."

He announced that, on the morning of October 24, "on behalf of the Holy See, I will deposit the instruments of ratification of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child ... The Holy See does this ... because (it) has always recognized the fundamental importance of protecting the human rights of children and promoting their well being. This is most evident through the thousands of schools, hospitals and care centres under the auspices of the Catholic Church, as well as in the work of the Church among children who are refugees and displaced, those living in poverty or who are separated from parents or their family." Another of the ways this recognition is carried-out is certainly realized in protecting children from the atrocities of armed conflict and exploitation."

The Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography explicitly prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and calls for legal protection against the sexual exploitation of children, the transfer of their organs, and forced labor.

The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict expands the protection of children from recruitment for participation in armed conflict to the age of 18, and reinforces the prohibition of the recruitment of children under (that) age by armed forces distinct from the State.

"There are many challenges in the world," Archbishop Martino concluded. "Each and every action that the United Nations system can take helps to chip away at the problems that continue to hamper the realization of the rights and assurance of the well-being of children."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: PSALM 50, SIN AND PERSONAL CONVERSION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2001 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II spoke on "Psalm 50 - Have Mercy on me, O God," in which the believer expresses his desire to do penance and his hope in the mercy of God.

"Psalm 50 outlines two aspects," the Pope said. "There is first of all the dark region of sin, in which man lives from the first moment of his life." Though not speaking explicitly of original sin, it states that there is "a profound dimension of inborn moral weakness in man."

The Holy Father affirmed that "if man, however, confesses his sin, the salvific justice of God is ready to radically purify him. In this way one passes into the second spiritual region of the Psalm, the luminous region of grace. ... The Lord does not only act negatively, eliminating sin, but rather recreates sinful humanity through His enlivening Spirit: he gives man a new and pure 'heart', that is, a renewed conscience, and opens to him the possibility of a pure faith and devotion pleasing to God."

This Biblical supplication "reveals to us certain fundamental elements of a spirituality which must reverberate in the daily life of the faithful. Above all," he concluded, "there is a lively sense of sin" and "an equally lively sense of the possibility of conversion: the sinner, sincerely pentitent, presents himself in all of his misery and nakedness before God, beseeching Him not to drive him from His presence."

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PREPARATION OF COLLECTIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSITIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, while John Paul II held the general audience in St. Peter's Square, the synod fathers met in the twelve language groups to continue preparing the collective amendments to the propositions.

No General Congregation will be held this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The synod fathers will meet again in the Synod Hall tomorrow afternoon for the presentation and approval of the Final Message of the Synod of Bishops.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Luiz Antonio Guedes, auxiliary of Campinas, as bishop of Bauru (area 5,879, population 433,000, Catholics 384,000, priests 59, religious 118), Brazil.

- Bishop Augusto Alves da Rocha of Picos, as bishop of Oeiras-Floriano (area 58,697, population 340,000, Catholics 315,000, priests 19, religious 49), Brazil.

- Msgr. Julito B. Cortes, of the clergy of the diocese of Dumaguete, vicar general of the same diocese, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Cebu (area 5,088, population 3,222,841, Catholics 2,787,956, priests 501, religious 1,344), the Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in Paranaque, the Philippines, in 1956, and ordained to the priesthood in 1980.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop of Milan, Italy.
- Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars, India.
- Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., of Cotabato, the Philippines. - Archbishop Norbert Wendelin Mtega of Songea, Tanzania.
- Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales of Lipa, the Philippines.
- Archbishop Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki of Nairobi, Kenya.
- Archbishop Philip E. Wilson, coadjutor of Adelaide, Australia.
- Bishop Joseph Anthony Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A.
- Bishop John Njue of Embu, Kenya.
- Bishop Joseph Shipandeni Shikongo, O.M.I., apostolic vicar of Rundu, Namibia.
- Bishop Anthony Kwami Adanuty of Keta-Akatsi, Ghana.
- Bishop Denis Wiehe, C.S.Sp., coadjutor of Port Victoria, Seychelles.
- Bishop Franklyn Nubuasah, S.V.D., apostolic vicar of Francistown, Botswana.

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CARDINAL EGAN, SYNOD GENERAL RELATOR, TO RETURN TO U.S.

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - It was announced this morning by Cardinal Jan Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, that "the General Relator of the Tenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Edward Michael Egan, archbishop of New York, after having presided last October 11th in his cathedral at a commemoration of the victims of the September 11 terrorist massacre, finds himself in the upsetting situation of having to leave the Synodal Assembly to return to his faithful, where his presence is required by necessity."

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ARCHBISHOP MARTINO ADDRESSES U.N. ON CULTURE OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, addressed the plenary of the General Assembly on the Culture of Peace, at U.N. headquarters in New York.

He called the Culture of Peace an "appropriate" topic for the General Assembly to address, noting that "The imperfect peace in which our world has dwelt has suddenly been shattered by violent and senseless attacks against innocent human beings." However, he said, real peace is possible, through conversion of minds and hearts and, as Pope John Paul has said throughout his pontificate, through dialogue.

"Peace begins within hearts," the archbishop affirmed. "It is not simply the absence of war, nor is it sought only to avoid widespread conflict but rather it helps to direct our reasoning and thus our actions toward the good of all. It becomes a philosophy of action that makes us all responsible for the common good and obliges us to dedicate all our efforts to its cause. ... A 'culture of peace' might be seen as 'that pattern of human behavior which must be cultivated and transmitted to future generations'."

The nuncio noted that "Situations of conflict exist in today's world where a just solution may have been refused over time, by both parties involved. This has fostered feelings of frustration, hatred and temptations to vengeance to which all must remain attentive. Those who honour God must be in the first rank of those who fight against all forms of terrorism."

"Acts of revenge will not cure such hatred," emphasized Archbishop Martino. "Reprisals, which strike indiscriminately at the innocent, continue the spiral of violence and are illusionary solutions that prevent the moral isolation of the terrorists. We must rather remove the most obvious elements that spawn the conditions for hatred and violence and which are contrary to any movement toward peace. ... (Elements such as) poverty, ... situations of marginalization, ... the denial of human dignity, the lack of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, ... intolerable refugee situations, ... and physical or psychological oppression are breeding grounds only waiting to be exploited by terrorists."

He stressed that "Building a culture of peace is not preposterous, nor a utopian dream. It is, rather, an attainable reality. ... Pope John Paul has always used the idea of this search for peace as a major theme," always expressing his "conviction that dialogue - true dialogue - is an essential condition for true peace."

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TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN PAUL II FOUNDATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received this morning in the Paul VI Hall 500 members of the John Paul II Foundation, mostly from Poland, and also other countries, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Foundation's institution.

"When I instituted the Foundation twenty years ago," the Pope recalled, "I desired that a vast cultural, scientific, social, and pastoral activity be undertaken. I wished a milieux to be formed which would support and deepen the tie between the Apostolic See and the Polish nation, and which would oversee the spreading in the world of the patrimony of the Christian culture and of the teaching of the Church."

John Paul II recalled that every year the Council of the Foundation presents to him "a detailed report of its activities. I know therefore that, thanks to the initiatives of the Foundation's thirty-six Groups of Friends of the Foundation in fourteen countries, and thanks to the generosity of thousands of people of good will throughout the world, a fund was instituted, which guarantees the functioning of four important institutions: the Polish House in Rome, the Center of Documentation of the Pontificate, the Institute of Christian Culture and the House of the John Paul II Foundation in Lublin. ... The Polish House and the Center of Documentation form the material and spiritual basis for the activity of the Institute of Christian Culture in Rome."

"The initiative, for which perhaps we must rejoice the most, is the scholarship fund for the youth of central and eastern Europe and other countries of the former Soviet Union."

The Holy Father concluded his discourse, saying, "My thanks goes to those who during these twenty years have in some way supported the activity of the Foundation and to those who guide such activity with wisdom and dedication."

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SYNOD OF BISHOPS TO CONCLUDE SATURDAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - On Saturday, October 27, at 10:30 a.m., the Holy Father will preside in the Vatican Basilica over a Eucharistic concelebration with the synod fathers on the occasion of the conclusion of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Jozef Tomko as president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, Ukraine.
- Archbishop Justo Mullor Garcia, apostolic nuncio and president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Vatican City State.
- Fr. Giacomo Bini, O.F.M., minister general of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Italy.
- Fr. Merino Aquilino Bocos, C.M.F., superior general of the Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Spain.
- Fr. Virginio Domingo Bressanelli, S.C.I., superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Argentina.
- Abbot Francois Eid, O.M.M., superior general of the Mariamite Maronite Order, Lebanon.
- Fr. David A. Fleming, S.M., superior general of the Society of Mary, U.S.A.
- Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, the Netherlands.
- Fr. Camilo Maccise, O.C.D., superior general of the Discalced Carmelites, Mexico.
- Fr. Antonio Pernia, S.V.D., superior general of the Society of the Divine Word, the Philippines.
- Abbot Thierry Portevin, O.S.B.Subl., president of the Congregation of the Benedictines of Subiaco, France.
- Fr. Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R., superior general of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, U.S.A.

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TWENTY-SECOND GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, at the start of the 22nd General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops, the president delegate on duty, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in the name of the 229 synod fathers present, congratulated the Pope on the 23rd anniversary today of the solemn inauguration of his Petrine ministry. Following this, in the first half of the morning session, the unified list of propositions was read.

At 11 a.m. the synod fathers met in language groups to prepare the collective amendments to the propositions.

This afternoon, tomorrow and Wednesday morning, the language groups will continue to work and discuss the individual amendments. Each group will give its approval for the collective amendments, voted by absolute majority, which will then be brought by the moderators to the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops on Wednesday, October 24.

The collective amendments will be studied by the moderators of the language groups under the guidance of the relator general and the adjunct relator general, assisted by the special secretary and experts. The results will be presented in the form of a final list of propositions in the 24th General Congregation, to take place Friday morning, October 26.

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FIRST BEATIFICATION IN HISTORY OF A MARRIED COUPLE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope beatified the first married couple in the history of the Church, Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi (1880-1951) and Maria Corsini (1884-1065), Italians. Present at the ceremony were three of the beatified couple's four children: two sons, Msgr. Tarcisio and Fr. Paolino, who concelebrated with the Pope, and a daughter Enrichetta. Their second daughter, who became a nun, has passed away.

Due to the rain, the Mass was moved from St. Peter's Square to inside the basilica, and half of the 40,000 pilgrims seated in the square were invited to take their chairs and to enter the basilica. The remaining pilgrims followed the Mass by means of large screens in the square.

In his homily, John Paul II noted that the new Blesseds "assumed with full responsibility the duty of collaborating with God in procreation, dedicating themselves generously to their children in educating, guiding, and directing them to the discovery of His design of love."

Luigi and Maria, he continued, "lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. Among the joys and worries of a normal family, they lived an existence extraordinarily rich in spirituality. At the center, the daily Eucharist, to which was added filial devotion to the Virgin Mary, invoked with the recitation of the Rosary every evening, and reference to wise spiritual advisers. In this way they knew how to accompany their children in vocational discernment."

Addressing the married couples present, many with their children, who took part in the previous day's National Encounter of the Family with the Pope, promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Holy Father said: "As with every journey towards sanctification, yours as well, dear married people, is not easy. Every day you face difficulties and trials in being faithful to your vocation, in cultivating conjugal and family harmony, in accomplishing the mission of parents and participating in the social life. May you know how to seek in the word of God the answer to the many questions which daily life puts to you."

John Paul II particularly recalled those who live "the drama of separation," those who are sick and those who suffer the premature death of a spouse or child, and affirmed that "even in these situations a great testimony of faithfulness in love can be given."

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THE FAMILY: PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2001 (VIS) - This evening in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II participated in the National Encounter of the Family, organized by the Italian Episcopal Conference on the theme, "To believe in the family is to build the future." The Pope's arrival was preceded by songs and the testimonies of several families.

The encounter, celebrated a year after the Jubilee of Families, took place in the presence of the statue of Our Lady of Loreto, proclaimed Queen of the Family by the Pope, and brought to the Vatican for the occasion.

The Holy Father emphasized before the 50,000 faithful present that the family "is the principle source of hope for the future of humanity. ... If we lose the conviction that the family founded upon marriage cannot be equated with other forms of affective union, then the very social structure and its juridical foundation is threatened. The harmonious development and progress of a people depend in large part on their ability to invest in the family, ensuring at the legislative, social, and cultural levels the full and effective realization of its functions and duties."

"A particular responsibility lies on the shoulders of politicians and those in government whose duty it is to apply the constitution and welcome the most authentic requests of the population composed in large part of families who have based their union on the bond of matrimony. Rightly, therefore, legislative interventions are awaited, centered upon the dignity of the human person and the correct application of the principle of subsidiarity between the State and the family."

The Pope underlined that "it is important and urgent, in particular, to fully bring about a scholastic and educational system which is centered in the family and in its freedom of choice. This is not a matter, as some erroneously affirm, of taking from the public school to give to the private school, but rather of overcoming a substantial injustice which penalizes all families, hindering an effective freedom of initiative and choice."

"Particular attention," he concluded, "must then be reserved for the legitimate concerns of the many families who report a growing degradation in the means of communication, which, transmitting violence, banality, and pornography, are ever less attentive to the presence of minors and their rights. Families cannot be abandoned by institutions and social forces in the effort to ensure for their children milieux which are healthy, positive, and rich in human and religious values."

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EVANGELIZE WITH STUDY AND RESEARCH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, presided yesterday evening in St. Peter's Basilica over the Eucharistic concelebration for the inauguration of the academic year of the ecclesiastical universities. The Pope gave the homily and imparted the final blessing.

In his homily, the Holy Father affirmed that theological knowledge must be "fully inserted in the vital context of ecclesial communion. ... Theology is called," he said, "to offer the contribution of research and in-depth examination of revealed truth, in order that the Gospel of salvation become more rightly understood and more easily communicated to all men."

"Analogously," he continued, "teachers of the other ecclesiastical disciplines will be supported by a strong passion for the truth and by a coherent desire of service to the evangelizing mission of the Church."

John Paul II invited the professors and students to be conscious "of carrying out your work with the Church, in the Church and for the Church. This requires a continual engagement with the 'sensus fidei' of the People of God and a profound harmony with the Magisterium of the Church."
"It is my heartfelt hope that the experience of studying in Rome helps everyone to deepen the sense of belonging to the Church and the experience of her 'Catholicity'."

The Pope concluded emphasizing that "the study of theology and the ecclesiastical disciplines is directed towards evangelization. May you know how, therefore, to follow a rigorous method, facing the fatigue of research with courage and generosity, to then experience in first person the fruitful meeting between faith and reason."

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HOLY SEE ADDRESSES UNESCO CONFERENCE IN PARIS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a speech given on October 19 by Msgr. Lorenzo Frana, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, during the 31st session of UNESCO's General Conference in Paris. The conference began October 15 and ends November 3.

Msgr. Frana recalled that he has been the Holy See permanent observer to UNESCO for 26 years during which time, he said, he has met many people "who have shown me the richness of the human soul when it spends itself in the service of others. He said he also has "observed and followed the continuity and evolution" of UNESCO.

He stated that "UNESCO offers itself as the 'conscience of the world', 'the crossroads of ideas', the 'meeting of cultures', a high place for dialogue'. It has been called 'the areopagus of the world' by Pope John Paul II." The head of the Holy See delegation added that UNESCO can also have a role as a "catalyst, through a deeper study of the ethical reflection on precise subjects: life, education for all, poverty and the humanization of cities, the economy, new technologies and, above all, of globalization."

He noted that "ethics occupy a large part of the preparatory documents of this General Conference. We know that ethics is in essence a question: 'What must one do to do good?', keeping one's view fixed on man, the dignity of every human being and the relation between truth and freedom, so as to give a convincing response to the basic questions of 'What is the meaning of human freedom?' and 'What are its creating power and its breadth?'"

In closing, Msgr. Frana spoke of the fight against terrorism, urging civil society, and UNESCO, "to do everything so that the future will be one of a dialogue of cultures" and above all "to build peace on earth."

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HOLY FATHER DECRIES VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2001 (VIS) - In reflections made before praying the Angelus with the faithful who came for the beatification this morning of a married couple from Rome, Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi, Pope John Paul decried the violence in the Holy Land and expressed his closeness to the victims.

He first recalled that "today we celebrate World Mission Day, instituted 75 years ago by Pope Pius XI" to remind us that the "mission entrusted by Christ to His Church (is) to announce the Gospel to all nations. This mandate has a special urgency today, at the start of the third millennium, if we look at that immense part of mankind that does not yet know or recognize Christ. Thus, the mission 'ad gentes', to all peoples, is more valid than ever."

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, John Paul II said: "At the present time there is no lack of threatening situations which fill all of mankind with anxiety. It is with deep sadness that I receive painful and worrisome news from Bethlehem, as well as from the cities of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. War and death have even arrived at the square of the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lord. In the name of God I repeat once again: violence is for everyone a path of death and destruction which dishonors the holiness of God and the dignity of man.

"I express to the families who are victims of violence my closeness in their pain, in prayer and in hope. They have the gift of living in the Holy Land, land which is holy for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It must be everyone's commitment to make this finally a land of peace and fraternity."

Last evening's meeting with families, and today's Mass and Angelus took place in the presence of the statue of Our Lady of Loreto. This is the first time since 1922 that the statue has left the shrine in Loreto, Italy.

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JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES GREEK-ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul II this morning welcomed His Beatitude Ignace IV Hazim, Greek-Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and, in his talk to the patriarch, called him one of the "avant garde artisans in the efforts at rapprochement between the East and West."

The Pope spoke of his trip to Syria in May of this year, recalling the ecumenical celebration of the Word at Our Lady of the Dormition Cathedral in Damascus. He also recalled Patriarch Hazim's visit to Rome in May of 1983 "so that we could advance resolutely together on the path of unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God."

"We suffer," said the Holy Father, "for our pace is sometimes slowed down. It happens that the love, sweet and peaceful, compassionate and merciful, which animates us is tarnished en route by the habit of confrontation, by the powerlessness to find a common expression, by forgetting Christ's prayer: 'I ... pray also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one'."

The Pope told patriarch Hazim, "From the start you have supported the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches in their ensemble. Today we implore the Lord to give us the grace and strength to go beyond the marking of time of dialogue, due to fruitless hesitating, for the Lord has already shown us the way, ... for He has vanquished the world!"

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, of the clergy of the diocese of Imus, the Philippines, rector and professor of theology in the diocesan seminary, pastor of the cathedral, and member of the International Theological Commission, as bishop of Imus (area 1,287, population 2,104,501, Catholics 1,851,960, priests 191, religious 623). The bishop-elect was born in Manila in 1957, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He succeeds Bishop Manuel C. Sobrevinas, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Conferred episcopal dignity to Fr. Edwin Angot de la Pena, prelate of the territorial prelature of Marawi, the Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in San Juan in 1954, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981.

- Appointed Fr. Juan Florindo Agurto Munoz, O.S.M., pro-vicar general of the apostolic vicariate of Aysen, Chile, as coadjutor of San Carlos de Ancud (area 24,483, population 151,520, Catholics 118,100, priests 22, permanent deacons 5, religious 45), Chile. The bishop-elect was born in Santiago de Chile in 1959, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience Archbishop Pierre Mouallem of Akka of the Greek-Melkites, Israel.
He also received the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico.
- Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Saenz, archbishop of Bogota, Colombia.
- Archbishop Elias Yanes Alvarez of Zaragoza, Spain.
- Archbishop Eduardo Vicente Miras of Rosario, Argentina.
- Archbishop Jose Mario Ruiz Navas of Portoviejo, Ecuador.
- Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M., of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico.
- Bishop Jeronimo Tomas Abreu Herrera of Mao-Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.
- Bishop Mario de Gasperin Gasperin of Queretaro, Mexico.
- Bishop Fabio Suescun Mutis, military ordinary, Colombia.
- Bishop Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F., of Ebebiyin, Equatorial Guinea.
- Bishop Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca of Talca, Chile.
- Bishop Ignacio Gogorza Izaguirre, S.C.I., of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.

On Saturday, October 19, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- His Royal Highness El Hassan bin Talal, prince of Jordan, accompanied by his entourage.
- Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in the Philippines.
- Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, Uganda.

He also received the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinsangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Archbishop Georges Edmond Robert Gilson of Sens, France.
- Archbishop Vital Komenan Yao of Bouake, Ivory Coast.
- Bishop Paulin Pomodimo of Bossangoa, Central African Republic.
- Bishop Timothee Modibo-Nzockena of Franceville, Gabon.
- Bishop Alphonse Georger of Oran, Algeria.
- Bishop Norbert Brunner of Sion, Switzerland.
- Bishop Jean Ntagwarara of Bubanza, Burundi.
- Bishop Louis Pelatre, A.A., apostolic vicar of Istanbul, Turkey.
- Bishop Jacques Sarr of Thies, Senegal.
- Bishop Olivier de Berranger of Saint-Denis, France.
- Bishop Vincent Mensah, emeritus of Porto Novo, Benin.

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WOMEN 2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Joan McGrath-Triulzi, member of the Holy See delegation, spoke yesterday afternoon before the Third Committee of the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly on the advancement of women and the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century."

She remarked that "Six years have passed since the Fourth World Conference on Women and one year since the Beijing +5. The Holy See would like to reiterate its support for what it called 'the living heart' of the Beijing Platform for Action: the recognition of the dignity of women, the importance of strategies for development, ending violence against women, access to employment, land and capital, and the provision of basic social services. These objectives bear a close correspondence to the social teaching of the Holy See" which, she added, "continues to be a major provider of basic social services to girls and women, especially in developing countries."

Then, addressing the "phenomenon of globalization," Mrs. McGrath-Triulzi said, "The question we must ask ourselves is, how can women attain the best position to reap the benefits of globalization and avoid its negative effects?"

"Several conditions must be in place to achieve this," she answered. "Recognition of the dignity of the human person, especially women and girls, must be the starting point for fostering authentic human development. ... Secondly, ... the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls must be protected so that they will benefit from globalization. Respect for the right to freely enter into marriage and raise a family, to seek employment and just wages and to be protected from abuse and exploitation is a prerequisite to women's contribution to economic development.

"Lastly, investment in basic social services is the bedrock for women's well-being and economic development. ... It is imperative then, that the education and health of girls and women be a priority in development programs."

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STATISTICS ON THE PAPACY OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Monday, October 22 marks the 23rd anniversary of the solemn inauguration of Pope John Paul II's pontificate. Statistics on his pontificate have been compiled by both Vatican Radio, which helps to organize the papal trips abroad, and by the Holy See Press Office.

John Paul II has made 95 foreign apostolic trips and 140 trips within Italy, travelling a total of 928 days and 1,205,312 kilometers (723,187 miles), over three times the distance to the moon. He has given 3,251 speeches during those 235 trips and has spent 11.21 percent of his pontificate outside of Rome.

As Bishop of Rome he has visited 297 of the diocese's 325 parishes.

The Holy Father has written 13 encyclicals, 12 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 41 apostolic letters and 25 Motu proprio. He has proclaimed 1,272 Blesseds in 129 beatification ceremonies, and 452 Saints in 42 canonization ceremonies.

John Paul II has held eight consistories for the creation of cardinals and has named a total of 201 cardinals. The current College of Cardinals is composed of 179 members (130 electors and 49 over the age of 80), 157 of whom have been created by Pope John Paul.

He has convened six plenary reunions of the College of Cardinals and there have been 15 synods during his pontificate: 6 ordinary general assemblies, 1 extraordinary general assembly, 7 special assemblies and 1 particular synod.

Pope John Paul has held over 1,330 audiences and meetings with political figures, including 38 official visits by heads of state, 641 other audiences with heads of state and 210 audiences and encounters with prime ministers.
He has presided over 1,009 weekly general audiences (including October 17) in 23 years in the presence of 16,155,200 pilgrims.

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