IT IS NECESSARY TO DEFEND AND SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the participants of the general assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, who chose as their theme for reflection: "The culture of life: foundations and dimensions."

The Pope affirmed that "the best way to overcome the dangerous culture of death consists precisely in giving solid foundations and prominent significance to a culture of life which vigorously opposes it. It is not sufficient, even if necessary and proper, to be limited to exposing and denouncing the lethal effects of the culture of death. It is necessary to continually regenerate the inner fabric of contemporary culture."

"The 'Gospel of life'," of which the Encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" speaks, the Holy Father continued, "is a concrete and personal reality, because it consists in announcing the very person of Jesus. ... It involves a fundamental truth that the community of believers, today more than ever, is called to defend and spread."

The Holy Father recalled that "the recovery of the dignity of the body as 'subject', and not simply material 'object', forms the logical consequence of the biblical concept of the person. It involves a unitarian concept of the human being, which many currents of thought, from medieval philosophy to our time, have taught."

The challenges facing humanity today, on one side "from the progress of science and technology, and on the other from the process of the secularization of society, require a passionate and profound effort of reflection on man and on his being in the world and in history. It is necessary to demonstrate a great capacity for dialogue, listening, and proposal, in view of the formation of the conscience. Only thus can life be given to a culture founded on hope and open to the integral progress of every individual in different countries, in a just and sound way. Without a culture that maintains the right to life and promotes the fundamental values of every person, there cannot be a healthy society nor the guarantee of peace and justice."

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EVANGELIZATION, THE TOP PRIORITY OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope this morning received the prelates of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference who have been in Rome this past week on their "ad limina" visit.

John Paul II reminded the bishops that their top priority is the proclamation of the Gospel. "In this sense," he said, "it is important that each bishop ingrain this same spirit of evangelization in his collaborators, most especially in priests."

"This will contribute in a decisive way to another very urgent priority in your dioceses, that is, the fostering of vocations, which demands a serious commitment on everyone's part."

The Holy Father said he knew the Panamanian prelates were concerned about making the Gospel message penetrate, given the differences among the regions, the "rapid social changes," the "widespread temptation to a life that is trivial, an egoistic consumerism, irresponsible sexuality, including easy recourse to violence."

"In the face of this," he continued, "and far from giving in to any temptation to despondency, you must be close to and have a word for young people, talking to them directly and without subterfuge, rescuing them from a superficial life or one without meaning, filling them with a determination for responsibility and defending them from the assault of a world filled with alluring deceptions."

John Paul II recalled that during his pastoral visit to Panama in 1983 he had the opportunity "to speak about the Christian meaning of the family." He urged the bishops to have a family pastoral ministry that balances "an adequate preparation for marriage and constant attention to family life with a call at the same time for public leaders to be responsible in all that which refers to educational programs and to the insertion of young people in society."

"In Panama, the Church and her pastors," he underlined, "have a great tradition of assisting the needy, defending ethnic minorities, of human promotion and championing education. I wish to urge you to pursue this path. ... In this sense, it is important to maintain a prophetic voice in the face of those situations of discrimination which seem to perpetuate themselves, even when they do not seem to cause social destabilization."

After underscoring that the Church attempts to promote the integral well-being of the person, he stated that she also makes efforts "to promote the true dignity of the person, which implies, on the one hand, respect for basic human rights and, on the other, a sense of responsibility, solidarity and cooperation in building a better world for everyone."

"This is a specific mission of the lay faithful," he concluded, "to which must be given privileged pastoral attention, so that they have a correct Christian formation and a great strength of soul in their social duties. In this way, they will know how to imbue the worlds of culture, science and politics with Gospel values."

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JOHN PAUL II AND YOUNG PEOPLE PRAY ROSARY TOGETHER

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - At 7 this evening in the Paul VI Hall, Pope John Paul welcomed 7,000 Roman university students with which he prayed the rosary. Youth from Canada, Spain, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Mexico were united by satellite link-up. At the end of the Marian prayer, the Pope addressed the gathering in Italian, English, Spanish, Ukrainian and Dutch.

He first greeted university students from Italy, urging them to "always follow the path of the Gospel and make your university communities 'laboratories of faith and culture'."

He then spoke in English to both students from Canada and the organizers of the 2002 World Youth Day which will be held in Toronto. He reminded them that they will receive the pilgrim Cross from Italian youth in Rome on Palm Sunday. In so doing, he said, "you will accept the heritage of the Great Jubilee. With creativity and enthusiasm, may you find ways to lead the young people of the world, and especially your fellow university students, to a renewed encounter with Jesus Christ, the one Redeemer of humanity." He also expressed "affectionate greetings to the elderly priests who are here with you."

In Spanish, the Holy Father welcomed students from Navarre University in Pamplona. Encouraging them in their studies, he said: "Study the theme of humanism, in its diverse facets, so that the intrinsic link between faith in Christ and the defense of the dignity of man become ever more apparent." He told young people from Mexico to "promote the new evangelization with the enthusiasm of young believers. ... Give witness ... to the fact that Christ is the source of hope for contemporary man."

Thanks to a television linkup, the Pope greeted "the young people gathered in St. George Cathedral in Leopoli, Ukraine, with their new cardinal, Marian Jaworski. ... In several months I will come to visit your country and we prayed for that this evening."

In another linkup with participants in a Marian vigil in Maastrict, Holland, the Pope asked the students there to "pursue your commitment of Christian witnessing in the university; this is an indispensable commitment in promoting a new Christian humanism in Europe."

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ARCHBISHOP TAURAN LEAVES FOR TEHERAN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - A declaration today by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, stated that "early this afternoon, Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, left for Teheran, Iran, accompanied by Msgr. Giovanni d'Aniello, nunciature counselor in the Secretariat of State."

"His Excellency is responding to an invitation issued to him by the government authorities and by the local episcopal conference.

"He will have meetings with the highest State authorities and will also give a talk at the Italian Diplomatic Institute.

"Numerous encounters are also planned with the Catholic community, in particular Mass tomorrow, March 4, in Teheran's Joan of Arc Church."

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COMMUNIQUE EXPRESSES "HORROR" AT HOLY LAND CONFLICT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique on the situation in the Middle East issued by the Joint Committee of the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue during their annual meeting which took place at al-Azhar, Cairo, on February 24, 2001, equivalent to 1 Dhu al-Hijja 1421.

Cardinal Francis Arinze and Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, signed the English-language communique for the Holy See.

The Joint Committee, reviewing the situation resulting from the conflict in the Holy Land, "expressed its horror at the increased loss of life, the bodily harm, the damage to property, ... especially in the unjustly occupied territories." It also "expresses its solidarity with and compassion for all the victims and their families, ... and the hope that peace based on justice and international legitimacy may prevail, thus bringing an end to those sufferings."

The Committee, continued the statement, "appeals to religious leaders to continue to contribute actively to help promote a climate conducive to peace." Both sides "support the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue of the Holy Places in Nazareth" and they "reaffirm the special character of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, and therefore condemn any breaches of the principle of religious freedom, particularly the blocking of access to the Holy Places, violence and profanation, or acts which would endanger the Holy Sites."

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ANGELUS: TRAVEL THE LENTEN JOURNEY WITH JOY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2001 (VIS) - After returning from his pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Andrew the Apostle, John Paul II addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the angelus.

Commenting upon the words of the Gospel for today, the first Sunday of Lent, when Jesus says: "'He who loves his life loses it'," the Holy Father affirmed that "these words do not express disdain for life, but, on the contrary, an authentic love for it. It is a love which does not desire this fundamental good only for itself and in this moment, but for everyone and always, in sharp contrast with the mentality of the 'world'. In reality, it is in following Christ upon the 'narrow path' that one finds life; he who chooses the 'wide' and comfortable path instead, exchanges life for passing satisfactions, disdaining his own dignity and that of others.

"We therefore travel through the demanding Lenten journey with joy, seeking to translate inner renewal into concrete, personal, church-related, and social choices."

At the conclusion of the Angelus the Holy Father asked the Virgin Mary to accompany him and the Roman Curia which begin their spiritual exercises this evening. "We count also, dear Brothers and Sisters," the Pontiff concluded, "upon your remembrance to the Lord, in order that these days of intense listening to the Spirit of God, of silence and of constant prayer, may bring about the hoped for fruits of spiritual renewal."

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ROMAN PARISH VISIT: IN THE CHURCH NO ONE IS A FOREIGNER

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2001 (VIS) - Today, the first Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father presided over the Eucharistic celebration in the Roman parish of St. Andrew the Apostle, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of its foundation this year.

At the beginning of his homily, the Pope commented on today's Gospel, which relates Jesus' battle against the temptations in the desert: "Jesus," the Pontiff recalled, "is now put to the test in His faithfulness to God. Contrarily, however, to Adam and Eve in the terrestrial paradise, and differently from the people of Israel in the desert, He resists temptation and triumphs over evil."

After pointing out that in the parish community "the number of people coming from Eastern European countries and the so-called 'Third World' has increased," the Holy Father stated: "In the Church no one is a foreigner: for this reason it is important to create opportunities for dialogue and to encourage mutual understanding. It is above all necessary that everyone feels involved in a pastoral care attentive to the real needs of the people.

"Know, then, how to be a community open to all, persevering in listening to the word of God, in the celebration of the sacraments of salvation and sharing the many initiatives of pastoral care and solidarity." The Holy Father, furthermore, went on to say: "Every Christian must feel involved in the vast work of evangelization. If you will know how to be missionaries in your area, the Lord will not let you lack vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life. In a special way, generous missionary vocations 'ad gentes' will arise among you, as is your desire."

The Pope, at the end of his homily, addressed the families and urged them to allow the Spirit "to make you places of peace, of listening and of dialogue, of sharing and of respect for everyone. Within families faithful to the Gospel, youth can draw the courage and faith to look to the future with a sense of mature co-responsibility."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 2001, (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, as special envoy to the closing celebrations of the first national Eucharistic Congress of the Ivory Coast, to take place in Abidjan, on April 29.

On Saturday, March 3, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Cardinal Edward Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and appointed Cardinal Walter Kasper, secretary of the same dicastery, as president.

- Appointed Fr. Marc Ouellet, of the Canadian Province of the Company of Priests of the Holy Surplice, and professor at the John Paul II Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Lamotte, Canada, in 1944, and ordained to the priesthood in 1968.

- Appointed Msgr. Giampaolo Crepaldi, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, as secretary of the same dicastery, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Pettorazza, Italy in 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971.

- Accepted the resignation as auxiliary in the archdiocese of Guayaquil, Ecuador, of Bishop Olindo Natale Spagnolo Martellozzo, M.C.C.I., in conformity with the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Anchorage, U.S.A., of Archbishop Francis Thomas Hurley, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I.

- Appointed Msgr. Djura Dzudzar, bureau chief of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, as auxiliary of the eparch of Mukacheve (area 12,800, population 1,288,000, Catholics 320,000, priests 155, religious 17) in Transcarpathia, Ukraine, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Diurdzhovo, Yugoslavia, in 1954, and ordained to the priesthood in 1980.

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