PAPAL MESSAGE FOR THE 16TH WORLD YOUTH DAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's Message for the 16th World Youth Day, which will be celebrated throughout the world in all dioceses on April 8, Palm Sunday, was published today.

At the start of his annual message for youth day, the Pope writes: "I still have before my eyes and in my heart the evocative sight of the great 'Door' on the field at Tor Vergata (University) in Rome. The evening of last August 19, at the start of the vigil of the 15th World Youth Day, I crossed that threshold, hand in hand with five young people from five continents." He adds that "the authentic fruits of the Jubilee of Youth cannot be calculated in statistics, but only in works of love and justice, of daily fidelity, very precious even though not very visible."

The Pope invites young people to reflect on the theme he has chosen for the 16th World Youth Day: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesus, states the Pope, asks each of us "to do what He Himself did. He says: 'I have not come to be served, but to serve; thus, who wishes to be like Me must serve everyone. ... In other words, Jesus asks (us) to courageously choose His same way. ... The determination to be, as far as possible, obedient as He was to the Father and ready to accept to the very end the plan that He has for each one, depends on us."

"Jesus," he continues, "does not ask us to give up living, but rather to welcome something new and a fullness of life that only He can give. ... True life, in fact, is expressed in the gift of giving oneself, fruit of the grace of Christ. ... The choice, therefore, is between being and having, between a full life and an empty existence, between the truth and lying."

After underscoring that "the Cross which is welcomed becomes the sign of love and of a total giving," he writes: "Carrying it behind Christ means uniting ourselves to Him in offering the greatest proof of love."

"The 'path of life'," which is "the path of the Cross," is "the path of salvation in a society often fragmented, confused and contradictory; it is the life of happiness of following Christ to the end, in the frequently dramatic circumstances of daily life; it is the path which does not fear failures, difficulties, being marginalized or alone, because it fills man's heart with the presence of Jesus; it is the path of peace, self-dominion, deep happiness in one's heart."

The Pope underlines that "a widespread culture of the ephemeral" can make one believe that "to be happy one must remove the Cross." Furthermore, he says, "sexuality not linked to a sense of responsibility, easy success and easy career advancement are presented as ideals." He urges young people "to open well your eyes; this is not the path that leads to life, but rather one which ends up in death."

"With your youth," the message concludes, "mark the third millennium which is starting with the hope and enthusiasm typical of your age. If you allow God's grace to work in you, if you do not fail in the seriousness of your daily commitments, you will make this new century a better time for everyone."

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POPE THANKS ROMAN POLICE FOR WORK DURING JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received the administrators and staff of Rome's Police Headquarters, whom he thanked "for the generous work that you carry out daily and that was particularly intensified during the months of the Jubilee year."

"We must once again give thanks to God," the Holy Father said in his brief discourse, "for the order and tranquility with which everything was carried out," during the Jubilee. "At the same time, however, it is also right to recognize the valuable contribution of those who, like yourselves, have attentively watched over the millions of pilgrims visiting the Roman basilicas and especially here at the Vatican. I know that this has involved personal and family hardships for each of you, not only additional fatigue and many sacrifices. May God, who considers everything in His provident mercy, abundantly reward you."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Tarsizio Gervazio Ziyaye of Lilongwe as metropolitan archbishop of Blantyre (area 9,161, population 3,900,000, Catholics 744,965, priests 87, religious 233), Malawi. He succeeds Archbishop James Chiona, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same metropolitan archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Felix Eugenio Mkhori of Chikwawa as bishop of Lilongwe (area 24,025, population 4,000,000 Catholics 446,488, priests 93, religious 272), Malawi.

- Appointed Bishop Francesco Lambiasi of Anagni-Alatri as general ecclesiastical assistant of Italian Catholic Action.

- Raised Fr. Tomasz Peta, apostolic administrator of Astana, Kazakhstan, to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Inowroclaw, Poland, in 1951, and ordained to the priesthood in 1976.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Laszlo Huzsvar of Zrenjanin.
- Bishop Janos Penzes of Subotica.
- Bishop Ilija Janjic of Kotor.
- Bishop Marko Sopi, apostolic administrator of Prizren.

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ECUMENICAL CONSULTATIONS HELD ON INDULGENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - A communique published yesterday announced that, "for the first time since the Reformation, Catholics, Lutherans and Reformed held an ecumenical theological consultation on the theme of indulgences. The meeting involving the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches took place in Rome on February 9 and 10, upon the invitation of the pontifical council.

"The purpose was to clarify historical, theological and pastoral issues related to indulgences in order to come to a better understanding of each other. It did not aim at an agreement on indulgences - an issue on which there have been longstanding differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the churches of the reformation.

"The consultation took place in a positive atmosphere which lent itself to honest and constructive discussion. There were common prayers at the beginning of each day and at the end of the consultation."

Presentations on the Catholic understanding of indulgences included addresses on "Historical Aspects of the Indulgence" and "Towards Understanding Indulgences: 'Veterea et Nova'." Lutheran and Reformed responses included addresses on "The Jubilee Indulgence and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" and "A Reformed View of Indulgences."

Bishop Walter Kasper, secretary of the pontifical council, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation, and Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, secretary general of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, took turns chairing the meetings. Cardinal Edward Cassidy, president of the pontifical council, took part in several sessions of the consultations.

It is intended that the papers from this consultation will be published as a contribution to further discussion.

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