ADVANCE WITH FAITH ALONG THE PATH OF DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2001 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m. today, the Holy Father presided at a Eucharistic celebration to mark the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Mass also marked the 34th World Day of Peace, the theme of which this year is: "Dialogue between cultures for a civilization of love and peace."

Speaking of the liturgy of today's solemnity, John Paul II said that, in presenting Mary "as she who offers the Child to the shepherds' gaze, the Evangelist Luke gives us an image of Mary that is at once simple and majestic. Mary is the woman of faith," a faith that brought her to "follow unfamiliar and unforeseeable paths while keeping all these things in her heart - in other words in the intimacy of her spirit - that she might respond with renewed enthusiasm to God and to His plan of love."

The Holy Father went on to refer to the World Day of Peace. "Today," he said, "in this evocative liturgical setting, I renew to all people of good will, the heartfelt invitation to faithfully and tenaciously travel down the priority path of dialogue. Only in this way will the specific richness that characterizes the history and the lives of men and of peoples not be lost; rather it will be able to contribute to building a new age of fraternal solidarity. May everyone strive to promote an authentic culture of solidarity and of justice." In the same way, he concluded, "great emphasis must be given to the urgent need to defend life, a fundamental good of humanity because 'it is not possible to invoke peace and despise life'."

At the end of Mass and before praying the angelus, the Pope said: "On this special day, we cannot but think of the Holy Land. ... This year, in my desire to be still closer to those people, I have sent Cardinal Roger Etchegaray as my representative to those sacred places, where he will preside at celebrations for the World Day of Peace. At the same time, he will consign my Message to the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, along with an invitation to continue on the path of dialogue in order to reach the longed-for peace, which is the essential foundation for fruitful coexistence between all the people of the world."

HML;WORLD PEACE DAY; MARY;...;ETCHEGARAY;VIS;20010102;Word: 400;

POPE: LET US ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE ATTRACTED BY GOD'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2000 (VIS) - At midnight, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his private study in order to greet and bless the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Many of those present had taken part in a prayer vigil which began at 10:30 p.m. and was presided by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome.

"In this moment," said the Pope, "we cross the threshold of the year 2001 and advance into the third Christian millennium. As the clock strikes midnight, marking this historical passage, we pause with our hearts full of gratitude to consider the various fortunes of the past century and millennium."

"Let us allow ourselves," said John Paul II "to be attracted by God's love, and the journey of life will know the joy that arises from serving Him faithfully every day. This is my cordial wish for all believers and for all men and women of good will."

"My thoughts," he concluded, "embrace the whole world. I trust that the new millennium may bring peace, justice, brotherhood and prosperity to all nations. In particular, my thoughts go out to the young, the hope for the future: May the light of Christ the Savior give meaning to their lives, guide them along the road of life and make them strong in the witness of truth and the service of good."

The Holy Father then imparted his apostolic blessing for the end of the year 2000 and the start of 2001.

JPII-GREETINGS;NEW YEAR;...;...;VIS;20010102;Word: 260;

WE MUST REDISCOVER THE VALUE OF THE FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, feast of the Holy Family, the Pope appeared at the window of his private study in order to pray the angelus with thousands of faithful who had gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"For we believers," said John Paul II prior to the Marian prayer, "the family, reflection of the Trinitarian communion, has as its model the family of Nazareth."

The Holy Father recalled the many families that find themselves in difficult situations: "Some are marked by extreme poverty; others are forced to seek in foreign countries that which, unfortunately, they cannot find in their own homeland; others suffer serious internal problems caused by the rapid cultural and social changes to which they are at times subject."

He continued: "And what can we say of the many attacks against the institution of the family? All this shows how urgent it is to rediscover the value of the family and help it in every way to be as God wished it: a living environment where every child who comes into the world is welcomed from conception with tenderness and gratitude."

John Paul II concluded by indicating that "as this year closes, we invoke the Lord's pardon for the shortcomings that have marked our individual and community lives. Only in this way can our thanksgiving for the many benefits received be true and sincere."

ANG;HOLY FAMILY;...;...;VIS;20010102;Word: 240;

60,000 PILGRIMS ATTEND LAST GENERAL AUDIENCE OF 2000

VATICAN CITY, DEC 30, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, the last general audience of the year 2000 was held in the presence of 60,000 pilgrims from various countries.

In addressing 30,000 representatives from voluntary organizations who work in the field of civil protection and who are celebrating their Jubilee today, the Pope recalled their rescue efforts in support of those who are struck by floods and earthquakes, and the humanitarian missions they carry out in different parts of the world.

"Continue, dear friends," said the Holy Father, "to bear witness through your meritorious work to the primacy of being over having, so typical of the religious vision of man and of the world. Thus you will contribute to laying the foundations of the civilization of love. On all sides, snares and dangers threaten tranquility and peace, and leave man abandoned and alone. Be watchful sentinels and living icons of the good Samaritan!"

John Paul II greeted participants in a pilgrimage promoted by the Italian Federation of Obstetric Colleges. After highlighting that over the last few decades an anti-life mentality has become established in many people, he affirmed that the value of life "suffers, in not a few instances, a sort of eclipse. This also arises as a consequence of the legal endorsement given to practices that are objectively contrary to life".

"Present-day mentality," he continued, "is at times tempted to consider children as a right, at other times as a danger. Yet children are always a gift from God and it is directly from Him that they receive the right to live."

The Holy Father then briefly addressed pilgrims from different countries in French, English, German, Portuguese and Dutch.

Finally, addressing a group from Poland, the Pope said: "Today once more, with you, I want to thank God for this time of grace. I also hope that, for you and your families, the fruits of this year may endure in your hearts and enrich the new century and the new millennium."

AG;JUBILEE PILGRIMS;...;...;VIS;20010102;Word: 340;

THE GREAT JUBILEE CLOSES IN THE HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, in the church of St. Catherine which stands next to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000, celebrated a Mass that marked the closing of the Great Jubilee in the Holy Land.

The cardinal thanked the Committee for the Great Jubilee in the Holy Land for their work during this year's celebrations. "You would have wished," he said, "for a more peaceful Holy Land in which to welcome pilgrims, especially those from your own region. ... Yet such peace cannot be decreed, it does not only depend on a diplomatic process but derives from a conversion of spirits and hearts, it is based on respect for the dignity of all men, without discrimination and hindrance, and on free circulation in the social and professional spheres."

"Reconciliation and hope." he continued, "are two rays of light with which the Holy Year has not ceased to illuminate humanity and they must warm those who see everything quaking and sinking into the night of horror and shame."

After highlighting the fact that they had been "witnesses of atrocious scenes," that their nights had been "racked by nightmares" and, furthermore, that many of their houses had been destroyed, he said: "There is no true and stable reconciliation without measuring the depth of evil and the price of forgiveness."

Cardinal Etchegaray affirmed that hope is another word that, "like reconciliation, calls for courage. ... In the face of desperation with its thousands of faces and thousands of masks we must 'hope against all hope' like good children of Abraham. If there is one place where the state of hope must be decreed, that place is Bethlehem. Be the hope of those who have lost the taste for living together. ... God has more faith in man, than man does in himself."

...;CLOSURE JUBILEE;...;BETHLEHEM; ETCHEGARAY;VIS;20010102;Word: 330;

POPE PRAYS ANGELUS AND BLESSES PILGRIMS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope appeared at the window of his private study, just as he has over the last few days. After praying the angelus, he blessed the thousands of pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square and wished them a happy New Year.

ANG;...;...;...;VIS;20010102;Word: 60;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of Austin, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John E. McCarthy, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, coadjutor of the same diocese.

On Saturday, December 30 2000, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Bishop Tome Makhweliha S.C.J., of Pemba, Mozambique, as metropolitan archbishop of Nampula (area 51,000, population 2,000,000, Catholics 245,845, priests 43, religious 183), Mozambique. The archbishop-elect was born in Mpwaha, Mozambique, in 1945, ordained a priest in 1973 and consecrated a bishop in 1997. He succeeds Archbishop Manuel Vieira Pinto, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Francisco Chimoio O.F.M. Cap., master of novices of the Mozambique vice-province of Mozambique of the Friars Minor Capuchins, as bishop of Pemba (area 82,625, population 2,000,000, Catholics 371,578, priests 20, religious 43), Mozambique. The bishop-elect was born in Bura, Mozambique, in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the apostolic prefecture of Karafuto, Japan, presented by Bishop Peter Toshio Jinushi of Sapporo, Japan. He appointed Bishop Jerzy Mazur S.V.D., apostolic administrator of Eastern Siberia, as apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the same apostolic prefecture.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ban Me Thuot, Vietnam, presented by Bishop Joseph Trinh Chinh Truc, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Bishop Joseph Nguyen Tich Duc, coadjutor of the same diocese.

NER; RE; NA;...;...;...;VIS;20010102;Word: 270;