SICKNESS IS NOT AN UNBEARABLE BURDEN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received forty-five Sisters Servants of Mary, Ministers of the Sick, who this year celebrate the 175th anniversary of the birth of their foundress, St. Maria Soledad Torres Acosta, the 150th anniversary of the foundation of their Institute, and the 125 years since their pontifical approval.

The Pope said to the religious: "The uniqueness of your primary mission, the free care of the sick in their homes, takes on new connotations in our day, in a society where the daily reality of sickness and death tends to be concealed. With your service, you demonstrate that sickness is not an unbearable burden for man, and that it does not deprive the patient of his dignity. On the contrary, it can be transformed into an experience of enrichment for the sick person and his entire family."

"Also consider," the Holy Father added, "the challenge of a humanity in which many of our brethren, who, in addition to sound assistance in the delicate moments of their life, need above all respect, closeness, and solidarity."

John Paul II exhorted the Sisters Servants of Mary to live the celebrations of this year "at the dawn of a new millennium, as a providential occasion to revitalize your personal commitment and your work, in Africa, in America, and in Europe."

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PERU: UNITE EFFORTS TO CREATE A CLIMATE OF TRUST

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received the new ambassador of Peru to the Holy See, Alberto Montagne Vidal, for the presentation of his Letters of Credence.

In his discourse, the Holy Father made reference to the "political and institutional crisis experienced by the country in recent months, ... which has created serious problems in the nation." He went on to affirm that "it is necessary to unite efforts and gather all people of good will, so that the honest collaboration of all parties creates a climate of trust, justice, loyalty, reciprocal respect, peace, and freedom. In this way the people will be able to overcome this crisis and recover the moral values of a just, reasonable, solid, and honest society, promoting a state of law in which the citizens feel equally responsible, and participate in building up the country and bringing about the common good."

John Paul II emphasized that it is necessary to work "to better the economic situation, overcoming the state of poverty created by heavy internal and external debt." As he had done on other occasions, he expressed his hopes for "a remission, or at least a significant reduction, of the debt by the creditor countries."

At the conclusion of his speech the Holy Father recalled the peace process which is underway with Ecuador, saying: "It is indispensable to resist every temptation to turn back. It is necessary to go forward in a spirit of coexistence between countries united by numerous common values, and in conformity with the peaceful tradition of the region."

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POPE RECEIVES BISHOPS OF YUGOSLAVIA ON "AD LIMINA" VISIT

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - The prelates of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were welcomed this morning by the Holy Father as they concluded their quinquennial "ad limina" visit. Following an address by Archbishop Franc Perko of Belgrade, the Pope spoke to the bishops, highlighting their major concerns as pastors and thanking them for "the great zeal and availability with which you try to adequately respond to the pastoral needs of the current moment."

He exhorted the prelates "to continue courageously ... in fulfilling your duties," regardless of "the efforts and sacrifices. I hope with all my heart that the new political climate which has been created in the last months will open new perspectives and offer new opportunities for the regular functioning of the activity of the Catholic communities in the country."

"We are living in an historic moment, especially rich in lights and shadows," said the Pope. "The diversity of situations of your single diocesan communities does not allow, unfortunately, for projecting common pastoral activities in every sector. However, this doesn't prevent you from exchanging experiences and helping one another. ... Seek to coordinate your efforts. This will allow you to give a further thrust to the new evangelization."

John Paul II then highlighted what is needed in order for "the proclamation of the Gospel to have a greater impact": the witness of a life which is coherent and faithful to Christ, seeking and adapting pastoral methods to answer the challenges of today's world, the centrality of the Word of God and the Sacraments, care in the formation of candidates to the priesthood and consecrated life and attention to the ongoing formation of the clergy. He also emphasized the importance of using "traditional pastoral means," joining them to modern ones such as "the instruments of social communication."

"I know well," said the Holy Father, "the dramatic circumstances in which your populations have found themselves in the past. You have brought me up-to-date about the difficult situations which continue today, in particular concerning the persistence of political and social tensions which risk flaring up into new confrontations. Encourage your faithful not to give in to the temptation of resorting to violence."

In concluding remarks, the Pope encouraged the bishops "to commit yourselves, notwithstanding the difficulties, with all your energy to the ecumenical dialogue, so that the course continues towards full unity of the disciples of Christ. ... This path to unity occurs through cordial pardon and sincere reconciliation."

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DECLARATION FROM PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, declared this morning that "Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano met today with Francesco Rutelli, former mayor of Rome. In coming days, he will receive other political figures, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Lateran Pacts, in order to illustrate the expectations of the Holy See on questions concerning collaboration between Church and State at the present moment."

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SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 21-22 CONSISTORY, COURTESY VISITS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - On Wednesday, February 21, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. Pope John Paul II will hold a Public Ordinary Consistory for the creation of 44 new cardinals, according to a note from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

That same afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Paul VI Hall and various rooms of the Apostolic Palace, the new cardinals will receive all those who wish to pay them a courtesy call. A list of these locations follows:

PAUL VI HALL:

ATRIUM: Cardinals Mario Francesco Pompedda, Severino Poletto, Roberto Tucci, S.J., Desmond Connel, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Edward Michael Egan and Avery Dulles, S.J.

AUDIENCE HALL: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Jose de Cruz Policarpo, Sergio Sebastiani, Zenon Grocholewski, Jose Saraiva Martins, C.M.F., Crescenzio Sepe, Marian Jaworski and Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U.

APOSTOLIC PALACE:

SALA REGIA: Cardinals Stephanos II Ghattas, C.M., and Ignace Moussa I Daoud.

HALL OF BLESSINGS: Cardinals Janis Pujats, Audrys Juozas Backis, Walter Kasper, Johannes Joachim Degenhardt, Karl Lehmann and Leo Scheffczyk.

SALA DUCALE: Cardinals Ivan Dias and Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R.

SALA PARAMENTI 1: Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M.

SALA PARAMENTI 2: Cardinal Bernard Agre.

SALA PONTEFICI: Cardinal Jean Honore.

SALA DEI SANTI: Cardinal Louis-Marie Bille.

SALA DELLE ARTI LIBERALI: Cardinal Francisco Alvarez Martinez.

SALA DEL CREDO: Cardinal Jose Gonzalez Zumarraga.

SALA SISTINO: Cardinals Pedro Rubiano Saenz, Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, Julio Terrazas Sandoval, C.SS.R., Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Ignacio Antonio Velasco Garcia, S.D.B., Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.

VESTIBULE OF THE SALONE SISTINO: Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia.

GALLERIA LAPIDARIA: Cardinals Claudio Hummes and Geraldo Majella Agnelo.

SALONE DELL'APSA: Cardinal Agostino Cacciavillan.

On Thursday, February 22, feast of the Chair of Peter, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father will preside at a concelebrated Mass with the new cardinals, during which he will give them the cardinal's ring.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Alfred Clifton Hughes of Baton Rouge as coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans (area 10,895, population 1,332,771, Catholics 468,798, priests 421, permanent deacons 183, religious 1,189), U.S.A.. The archbishop-elect was born in Boston, U.S.A., in 1932, ordained to the priesthood in 1957, and elevated to the dignity of bishop in 1981.

- Appointed Bishop Jorge Ivan Castano Rubio of Quibdo as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Medellin (area 708, population 2,952,956, Catholics 2,512,065, priests 896, religious 3,560), Colombia. The archbishop-elect was born in Montebello, Colombia in 1935, ordained to the priesthood in 1961, and elevated to the dignity of bishop in 1983.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- His Beatitude Ignace Moussa I Daoud, patriarch emeritus of Antioch of the Syrians, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Cardinal Eugenio de Araujo Sales, archbishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., emeritus of Vercelli, Italy, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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