POPE THANKS PREACHER OF CURIA'S SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 10, 2001 (VIS) - At the conclusion of the Roman Curia's spiritual exercises this morning in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel of the Vatican, John Paul II thanked the preacher of the retreat, Cardinal Francis Eugene George, archbishop of Chicago, U.S.A., in the name of all the participants.

The Pope said that "the personal and reflective style," of Cardinal George's preaching, "gave emphasis to the effectiveness of the evangelic Word. ... To a profound study of the biblical text you united stirring testimonies from your rich experience as missionary and as bishop, which assisted in applying the reflections to life. Through the great themes of conversion, freedom, and communion, you led us each day to contemplate Christ and deepen our faith in Him, this faith that is 'for all the peoples'."

"We remained attentive to the Lord, with the help of the Holy Spirit, in order to strengthen faith, fortify hope, and enliven charity. Trusting in the effectiveness of the word of Christ, the Church casts out Her nets into the vast ocean of this new millennium just begun."

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THE ROSARY, AN EFFICACIOUS SUPPORT DURING PERSECUTION

VATICAN CITY, MAR 11, 2001 (VIS) - Before praying the angelus with the estimated 30,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's for today's beatification of 233 Spanish martyrs, Pope John Paul reflected on the relationship of the new Blesseds with Mary. "She is," he said, "in particular, the Mother and Queen of Martyrs, present with them in the hour of their trial as she was at the Cross next to her Son."

"These new Blesseds confided in her, the faithful Virgin, during the dramatic moments of persecution," the Pope went on. "When they were prevented from freely expressing their faith or, later, in prison, in order to face the supreme moment, they found constant support in the holy rosary, recited alone or in small groups. How efficacious is this traditional Marian prayer in its simplicity and in its profoundness! The rosary is in every era a valid help for countless believers."

After reciting the angelus, the Holy Father, speaking Spanish, said he wished "to warmly greet all the pilgrims who have come to Rome to participate in this joyous occasion. Especially the cardinals, archbishops and bishops who accompanied them, as well as civil authorities."
"May the new Blesseds," the Pope concluded, "models of a coherent life, constancy in faith and a spirit of reconciliation, intercede in heaven for their fellow countrymen today, inspire them to keep alive the Christian energy which made fruitful their country's history and encourage their efforts to reach ever greater heights of harmony, solidarity and a spirit of Christian fraternity."

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JOHN PAUL II CALLS FOR END TO TERRORISM IN SPAIN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 11, 2001, (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope beatified Jose Aparicio Sanz, priest, and 232 companions, martyrs during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), at the same time making a strong appeal for an end to terrorism in Spain.

During the same ceremony two Uruguayan lay people were also beatified, the first Blesseds from this country. They are Dolores and Consuelo Aguiar-Mella Diaz, sisters, whose father was Spanish and mother was Uruguayan.

"I wish to entrust to the intercession of the new Blesseds," the Pope said in his homily, "an intention rooted profoundly in your hearts: the end to terrorism in Spain." At these words the 30,000 pilgrims present rose to their feet and applauded. He went on: "Terrorism, which springs from hatred, and in turn nourishes it, is radically unjust and increases situations of injustice, gravely offending God, dignity, and the rights of individuals. With terror, man always ends in defeat! No motive, no cause, no ideology can justify it. Only peace builds up peoples. Terror is the enemy of humanity."

John Paul II recalled that the new Blesseds, secular priests, religious, fathers and mothers of families, and lay youth, were killed "for being Christians, for their faith in Christ, for being active members of the Church. All of them, as we saw in the canonical processes for the declaration of martyrdom, sincerely forgave their aggressors before dying."

Referring to the martyrdom of the Blesseds, John Paul II spoke of the example of Maria Teresa Ferragud, "arrested at the age of 83, together with her four daughters who were contemplative religious. On October 25, 1936, the feast of Christ the King, she asked to accompany her daughters in martyrdom and to be killed last in order to be able to encourage them to die for the faith. Her faith greatly affected her killers, who exclaimed "'She is a true saint'."

"The new Blesseds, elevated today to the glory of the altars, were not involved in political or ideological battles," the Pope emphasized. "They did not intend to be involved in such battles. Many of you who are relatives and today participate with great joy in this beatification ceremony well know this. They died solely for religious reasons."

The Holy Father concluded, exclaiming: "May their blessed memory dispel forever from Spanish soil every form of violence, hatred, and resentment! May all, and especially youth, be able to experience the blessing of peace in freedom: peace always, peace with all and for all!".

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 10, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinals Thomas Stafford Williams, archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand; Ivan Dias, archbishop of Bombay, India; Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, Great Britain; and Edward Michael Egan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A., as members of the Council of Cardinals for the study of organizational and economic matters of the Holy See.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Francisco Alvarez Martinez, archbishop of Toledo, Spain.
- His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, on the occasion of his 'ad limina' visit, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Kamal Hanna Batish, Salim Sayegh, and Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo.
- Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, apostolic nuncio in Haiti.
- Eltigani Salih Fidail, ambassador of the Sudan, on a farewell visit.

On Saturday, March 10, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Francis Eugene George, archbishop of Chicago, U.S.A., who preached the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.
- Cardinal Edouard Gagnon, president of the Pontifical Commission for the International Eucharistic Congresses.
- Archbishop Marco Dino Brogi, O.F.M., apostolic nuncio in Sudan and apostolic delegate in Somalia.
- Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, permanent observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva and the World Trade Organization.
- Henrietta T. De Villa, ambassador of the Philippines, on a farewell visit.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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LIVING SANCTITY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MARTYRS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica the Holy Father received the pilgrims who yesterday attended the first beatification ceremony of the new millennium, for the 233 martyrs of the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

After recalling that the new martyrs come from 37 dioceses and represent 12 autonomous communities, the Pope affirmed that each of them offers a model of life "which is most eloquent when combined with the death they freely suffered as supreme proof of their fidelity to Christ and to His Church."

"Sanctity," the Holy Father emphasized, "is not solely a privilege reserved for a few. The footsteps of sanctity are many and run through the small concrete occurrences of every day, endeavoring to perform an act of love in every situation. ... May your personal journey, the journey of your families and communities, be, today more than ever, a journey of sanctity."

John Paul II recalled that the new Blesseds "teach us through their life and death that nothing can be preferred to the love expressed by God, which is manifested in Christ Jesus. ... We must be willing to follow the footsteps of the martyrs and live sanctity, as they did, fully in Him, for Him, and with Him."

"Their witness cannot and must not be forgotten. They manifest the vitality of your local Churches. May their example make each of you living and credible witnesses of the Good News for the new times. May our imitation of them produce abundant fruits of love and hope in today's society. This is my desire. Promote the culture of life. Build it with words but also with concrete actions." The Pope concluded: "Be always and everywhere living and credible witnesses of love, unity and peace."

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