GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD IS NEAR TO HIS PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2001 (VIS) - The theme of John Paul II's catechesis at this morning's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, was the Canticle of the Prophet Daniel: "Every creature praise the Lord."

The Pope explained that the canticle is sung by the three young Hebrews thrown into the fiery furnace for refusal to worship a statue of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. "From the furnace the three young men, miraculously preserved from the flames, sing a hymn of blessing to the Lord."

"The object of praise, of our Psalm, is above all the 'glorious and holy' name of God, the proclamation of which resounds in the temple, which is also 'gloriously holy'. The priests and the people, while contemplating God in faith ... notice the glance upon them which 'penetrates the depths' and this knowledge brings forth praise from their hearts: 'Blessed ... blessed'. God, who 'sittest upon cherubim' and has as His habitation the 'firmament of heaven', is nevertheless near to His people, who thus feel protected and safe."

John Paul II affirmed that "In singing this canticle the believing Christian is invited therefore to contemplate the world of the first creation, perceiving there the outline of the second, inaugurated with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus."

Greeting the pilgrims present, the Pope welcomed the participants of the Conference on International Bilateral Legal Relations between the Holy See and the States, promoted by the Slovak Foreign Ministry, the Slovak Embassy, and the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

After recalling that today is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and Queen of America, the Holy Father personally inaugurated the official website of the Basilica dedicated to her (www.virgenguadalupe.org.mx), saying, "this new form of communication makes visible on a greater scale her consoling protection, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. May the spreading of the Guadalupan Indian image stimulate fraternity among races, increase dialogue between cultures, and be the promoter of peace."

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