MIDDLE EAST: DIALOGUE, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed the prelates of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions, in Rome on their "ad limina" visit, and spoke to them of the joys and difficulties of being a Christian in the Middle East. He appealed for dialogue and respect for human rights, in order to achieve a lasting and just peace, and called for an end to the embargo against Iraq and for assistance to refugees leaving Sudan for Egypt.

The Pope began by recalling his pilgrimages during the Jubilee Year to Mount Sinai and to the Holy Land, including "Jerusalem, the holy city where Christ died and rose again for the salvation of mankind." He said he was looking forward to his pilgrimage to Syria to follow in the footsteps of St. Paul.

The Holy Father spoke of the many joys of being a Christian in the land where Christ was born, lived and died, but also acknowledged the many problems associated with living one's faith in a region where Christians are in the minority. "The Christian lives his personal and ecclesial identity through his intimate relation with Christ, which helps him to live out every situation and which enlightens one's choices."

Witnessing to Christ, said the Pope, calls for communion within the Church and "pastoral collaboration among the diverse Catholic communities. ... Making the Church the home and school of communion: this is the great challenge which the start of the third millennium presents to us."

John Paul II highlighted the role of the bishops, the priests, "your first collaborators," the religious and the laity in building and strengthening Christian communities in the region. He thanked everyone for their generous commitment to serving all peoples in all milieux of life, especially in the educational and social spheres, and for their "contribution to the human and spiritual promotion of people."

He stressed the need for dialogue among Christians, as well as with those of other religions. He added that "division among Christians is a lack of fidelity to the Lord's will and obscures their identity as disciples of Christ."

Pope John Paul noted that Christians are fleeing the Holy Land to find economic and physical security elsewhere and appealed to them "to remain confident in themselves and to stay firmly attached to the land which was also that of their ancestors. ... The permanence of Christians in Jerusalem and close to the holy places of Christianity is especially important for the Church cannot forget her roots. ... Do not resign yourselves to the thoughts of an inevitable departure!"

The Holy Father dedicated closing remarks to the violence in the Holy Land, the Iraq embargo and the situation in the Sudan.

He expressed his "closeness and affection" to all victims of violence and added: "The entire Church suffers with you, and hopes to soon rejoice with you at realizing a desire one cannot renounce: peace! ... The events taking place in the Holy Land, which I am following attentively, are worrisome and sorely test the hope of peace. I sincerely hope that negotiations will be undertaken again, placing at their center respect for the dignity of every man who, in his own land, has the right to live in peace and security. That will only be realized in respect for international law and a rejection of violence, which only exacerbates hatred."

John Paul II ended by underscoring other "dramatic situations" in the region. "In Iraq, the embargo continues to cause victims, too many innocent people are paying the consequences of an evil war which continues to affect the weakest and most defenseless. The flow of refugees from Sudan to Egypt continues strongly. It is urgent to find solutions in order to decently welcome displaced persons and to permit them to integrate well, and to procure spiritual assistance for the many Christians in their midst. My thoughts also turn to the Catholic community in Somalia which, in the past, has been victim of much violence, in the hopes that a normal ecclesial situation may be reestablished in this country."

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MARCH 19: FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH AND FATHER'S DAY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2001 (VIS) - At today's angelus, the Holy Father reminded the faithful present in St. Peter's Square that tomorrow, March 19, is the feast of St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary and patron of the universal Church. "In the heart of Lent," he said, "the liturgy gives us this great saint as an example to follow and a protector to invoke."

"St. Joseph is for us, in the first place, a model of faith. As did Abraham, he always lived a behavior of total abandonment to divine providence." The Pope went on to say that "we are also called to imitate him in the humble exercise of the virtue of obedience, a virtue which shines in him through his style of silence and hard-working obscurity. How precious is the 'school' of Nazareth for contemporary man, trapped by a culture which too often exalts appearance and success, autonomy and a false concept of individual freedom. How much need there is, on the contrary, to recover the values of simplicity and obedience, of respect and a loving search for the will of God."

After praying the angelus with the pilgrims in the square below his study window, John Paul II had special greetings for all fathers who tomorrow, the feast of St. Joseph, celebrate Father's Day in Italy.

He added that he was "happy to encourage the 'Adopt a Father' campaign promoted by the Liaison Committee of Catholics for a Civilization of Love. This is a new form of sponsorship which, directly through missionaries, allows people to assure a dignified job to the heads of families in the poorest countries. I give my heartfelt blessing to this initiative which helps families to remain united and which contributes to creating a world that is more fraternal and marked by solidarity."

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VATICAN RADIO AND THE DEBATE OVER RADIATION EMISSIONS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2001 (VIS) - Vatican Radio program director, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., in a communique released yesterday afternoon, responded to statements made by Italian Environment Minister Willer Bordon who had threatened to cut off electricity to the Santa Maria de Galeria center where Vatican Radio has its antennae because of the allegedly high electromagnetic pollution they are causing.

Minister Bordon's statement was another step in the debate that has been taking place recently between Italian authorities and Vatican Radio for the radiation allegedly emitted from the Santa Maria de Galeria center where a huge network of antennae transmits Vatican Radio programs to the entire world.

Yesterday, Minister Bordon said: "If in 15 days the broadcaster is not in conformity with the emission limits I will order the company giving power to (the radio station) to cut off the supply."

Yesterday afternoon Fr. Lombardi replied in a note: "The management of Vatican Radio is astonished at the statement and behavior of Minister Bordon, given that a bilateral commission between Italy and the Holy See exists and has been working for months with the precise purpose of facing together the problems relative to the Santa Maria in Galeria center. There is even a representative of the Ministry for Environment on this commission.

"Vatican Radio," he concluded, "has said that it is most open to collaboration, and we are convinced that this is the appropriate, correct and reasonable path along which we must proceed. An initiative such as Minister Bordon's does not help to create a climate of serenity which would contribute to seeking the most opportune solutions."

Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in an explanatory note today, added that "the Holy See takes to heart the health and serenity of all those who live in the vicinity of Vatican Radio's transmission center. As far as the electromagnetic fields go, Vatican Radio has always been oriented by the guidelines of the ICNIRP, that is, the authoritative International Commission for the Protection of Non-Ionized Radiation and did so long before Italy established norms in this regard. The indications of this commission were received with a unanimous vote by the Council of the European Union, with the sole exception of Italy, which, in 1998, established much more restrictive norms. The problem of emissions of the transmitting center arose following the Italian norms, which are different from the international standards to which the radio station has up to now followed."

"In the light of the international recommendations," Navarro-Valls said, "it must be stated that the accusations made against Vatican Radio of exercising an activity which is harmful to (a person's) health, have no basis in scientifically proven evidence."

He concluded: "Therefore, it is surprising that, while the Holy See has shown itself to be amenable to reaching an understanding, above all by starting on a joint measuring of the intensity of the electromagnetic fields produced by Vatican Radio activity at Santa Maria di Galeria, a member of the Italian government makes unacceptable declarations ... contrary to the spirit of negotiations."

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IT IS TIME TO LAUNCH AUDACIOUS APOSTOLIC GOALS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received 400 lay members and priests of Opus Dei who are participating in several days of reflection on the Apostolic Letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte" and on the perspectives outlined in it for the future of evangelization.

The Holy Father pointed out that this encounter was promoted by the prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarria, with the aim of "strengthening the service given by the prelature to the particular Churches where its faithful are present."

"Lay people, as Christians," said the Pope, "are committed to undertaking a missionary apostolate. ... They must therefore be stimulated to effectively place their own knowledge at the service of the 'new frontiers' which present themselves as new challenges for the saving presence of the Church in the world. ... Their apostolic zeal, fraternal friendship and solidarity in charity will enable them to know how to undertake daily social relations so as to cultivate in others that thirst for truth which is the first condition for a saving encounter with Christ."

John Paul II underlined that priests, for their part, "exercise a primary, irreplaceable function: that of helping souls, one by one, through the sacraments, preaching, spiritual guidance, and in opening themselves to the gift of grace. A spirituality of communion will make the best use of the roles of each member of the Church."

"I exhort you not to forget in all of your work the central focus of the Jubilee experience: the encounter with Christ. ... The thirst for spirituality which has been awakened in our society can only be placated by Christ."

The Holy Father concluding by affirming that "it is time to put aside every fear and to propel oneself towards audacious apostolic goals: Christ's invitation stimulates us to cast ourselves out into the deep, to cultivate ambitious dreams of personal holiness and apostolic fruitfulness. The apostolate is always the overflowing of interior life."

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POPE WELCOMES MEMBERS OF EXPEDITION TO NORTH POLE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 20, 2001 (VIS) - Fifty members of an expedition to the North Pole were welcomed by Pope John Paul this morning who, following his greetings and best wishes to them, blessed a Cross that they will plant at the pole.

The Pope recalled that this expedition takes place 100 years after one led by Prince Luigi Amedeo di Savoia Aosta in which "a young mountain climbing priest, Achille Ratti, the future Pius XI, was to have taken part but who was unable to go because of unexpected circumstances that arose just before the departure."

He told the members of this expedition that they are about "to offer a witness to the ever-present longing in man to know the unexplored pages of the marvelous book of creation" and to share in the marvel of the psalmist who exclaimed: 'O Lord, our God, how great is your name on all the earth'."

"God willing," observed John Paul II, "you will reach the North Pole on Easter Sunday where you will be able to celebrate Mass." This was a dream of Pius XI's, he added, "as was the dream to plant a Cross on this extreme frontier of the earth."

"By planting the cross and celebrating Mass at the 'confines of the earth'," he concluded, "you intend to recall that mankind finds its authentic dimension only when it is capable of fixing its gaze on Christ and totally entrusting itself to Him."

Msgr. Liberio Andreatta of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi will be the first priest ever to reach the North Pole and to celebrate a Mass there. The two-meter high Cross which the expedition will bring depicts Christ crucified. Underneath is John Paul II with his hands extended to mankind, inviting them to welcome Christ.

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BISHOPS ARE "FATHERS" AND "GUARDIANS," LIKE ST. JOSEPH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 19, 2001 (VIS) - At 9:30 a.m. today, solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, John Paul II conferred episcopal ordination in St. Peter's Basilica on nine priests from various nations.

The new bishops are: Archbishops Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio in Iraq and Jordan; Henryk Jozef Nowacki, apostolic nuncio in Slovakia; Timothy Paul Andrew Broglio, apostolic nuncio in the Dominican Republic and apostolic delegate in Puerto Rico, and Domenico Sorrentino, archbishop-prelate of Pompeii, Italy, and pontifical delegate of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary; Bishops Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; Tomasz Peta, apostolic administrator in Astana, Kazakhstan and Djura Dzudzar, auxiliary of the eparchy of Mukacheve in Transcarpathia, Ukraine.

In his homily the Pope underlined that we contemplate St. Joseph today as "the saint under whose efficacious patronage Divine Providence wished to place the persons and the ministry of all those called to be, within the Christian people, 'fathers' and 'guardians'."

The Holy Father remarked that "the pastors of the Church are 'fathers' and 'guardians', called to act as wise and faithful 'servants'. They are entrusted with the daily care of the Christian people who, thanks to their guidance, can go forward securely on the path of Christian perfection."

"Imitate the example of this great saint," he urged the new bishops, "as well as of his spouse, Mary. If at times you meet difficulties and obstacles, don't hesitate to accept suffering with Christ for the advantage of His Mystical Body, because with Him you can rejoice in an all beautiful Church, without stain or blemishes, holy and immaculate. The Lord, who will not fail to send you His grace, today consecrates you and send you forth as apostles of the world."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 20, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in separate audiences the new bishops whom he ordained yesterday, along with their family members:

- Archbishop Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio in Iraq and Jordan.
- Archbishop Henryk Jozef Nowacki, apostolic nuncio in Slovakia.
- Archbishop Timothy Paul Andrew Broglio, apostolic nuncio in the Dominican Republic and apostolic delegate in Puerto Rico.
- Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, archbishop-prelate of Pompeii, Italy, and pontifical delegate of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary.
- Bishop Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. - Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
- Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
- Bishop Tomasz Peta, apostolic administrator in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- Bishop Djura Dzudzar, auxiliary of the eparchy of Mukacheve in Transcarpathia, Ukraine.

On Saturday, March 17, the Pope received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Dominik Hrusovsky, apostolic nuncio in Belarus.
- Olli Mennander, ambassador of Finland, with his wife on a farewell visit.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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STATEMENT ON ABUSES UNDERGONE BY WOMEN RELIGIOUS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 20, 2001 (VIS) - The following statement was released early this afternoon by Holy See Press office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, relative to news about the cases of sexual abuse undergone by women religious on the part of priests or missionaries:

"The problem is known and is restricted to a limited geographic area.

"The Holy See is treating this matter in collaboration with the bishops, the Union of Superiors General (USG) and the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). We are working on both sides of the question of the formation of persons and the solutions to single cases.

"Several negative situations should never allow us to forget the fidelity, often heroic, of the overwhelming majority of men and women religious and priests."

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