DEFEND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE AND TOLERANCE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope today received the bishops of Pakistan as they ended their "ad limina" visit, and told them that such visits are "a significant and enriching moment for the Successor of Peter" who can "spend time in prayer and fraternal reflection regarding (the bishops') joys and hopes, their griefs and sorrows."

Bishops, he said, must be concerned not only about their own dioceses but also "about the Church at the national and universal levels." He suggested that the bishops in Pakistan "strengthen cooperation at the level of your episcopal conference," and said that "in particular a permanent secretariat and a more stable arrangement for the conference's meeting would perhaps be helpful."

The Holy Father thanked the priests of Pakistan for their ministry, noting that "the Christian community is a small flock living in the midst of a large Muslim majority." He said: "I know the often difficult circumstances of their ministry. ... I rejoice that the number of vocations continues to rise in Pakistan."

"The laity too," the Pope continued, "should be encouraged to play a fuller and more visible part in the Church's mission." He expressed his gratitude to the religious and lay catechists for their dedication and "encouraged them to make full use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church."

"We should not overlook the fact," affirmed John Paul II, "that faith is transmitted in the first place in the home. For this reason the family, ... the domestic Church, ... must be one of the priorities of your pastoral planning," as must be "the pastoral care of young people." He told the bishops to "encourage and support young people, to ensure that they are mature enough, humanly and spiritually to assume an active role in the Church and in society."

"Catholic schools," he noted, "are widely recognized in Pakistan for the high quality of their teaching and for the human values they inculcate. Since students of all religious traditions attend these schools, their part in promoting a climate of dialogue and tolerance cannot be underestimated and constitutes a serious challenge for the Catholic community."

Turning to the subject of interreligious dialogue, the Pope called it "an essential feature of (the bishops') pastoral mission. ... Dialogue does not imply abandonment of one's own principles, nor should it lead to a false irenicism. Rather, in fidelity to our own religious traditions and convictions, we must be open to understanding those of the followers of other religions in a spirit of humility and frankness."

"Pakistani culture recognizes and defends the place of God in public life. This fact should make it possible for the followers of various religions to work together in order to defend the inestimable dignity of every man and woman from conception to natural death and to build a society in which the inalienable rights of all are respected and protected, especially the right to life." Yet, the Pope noted, "it is unfortunately still the case that many of your people are enduring hardships for their fidelity to Christ. They are sometimes regarded with suspicion and feel that they are not treated as full citizens of their own country, especially in the face of laws which do not sufficiently respect the religious freedom of minorities."

In concluding comments, the Holy Father lauded the courage of the Pakistani bishops in defending religious freedom and he encouraged their "efforts to ensure that a spirit of mutual tolerance and respect prevails."

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PROMOTE A CULTURE OPEN TO ALL SOCIAL CLASSES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the new ambassador of Mexico, Fernando Estrada Samano, on the occasion of the presentation of his Letters of Credence.

In his discourse, the Pope recalled that Mexico lives "a process of political maturation, which, through profound changes in numerous aspects of the social life, aspires to overcome the structural causes of poverty and marginalization, through a model of integral development founded on social justice. To do this, it is necessary to promote a culture which favors democratic and participatory institutions, founded upon the recognition of human rights and the cultural and spiritual values of the Mexican people."

He noted that globalization has helped some, but has also caused "new forms of impoverishment, marginalization, and even the exclusion of large social groups, in particular peasants and indigenous peoples. For this reason it is necessary that the political and cultural institutions truly place themselves at the service of man, without distinctions of race or social class."

John Paul II affirmed that relations between Church and State in Mexico "are characterized by greater respect and reciprocal cordiality. ... Thus, through a constructive dialogue it is possible to promote the fundamental values of the order and development of the society. In this sense it is time that the integral historical truth of Mexico, from its origins, be analyzed with greater clarity, overcoming prejudices and rejection, conflicts and reductionism."

The Pope emphasized the concern of the Church in Mexico and of Mexicans for the establishment of "a more just order for the indigenous peoples. ... Some, with the goal of protecting the indigenous peoples, have insisted on ideologies based upon a distorted reading of history. Others, on the contrary, have extolled values brought from outside as being the only valid and authentic ones. In the face of this panorama, it is necessary to bring about a purification of memory and assess the mestizos identity - starting with the two cultures which have mingled - which has an enormous future potential if reconciled with itself."

The Holy Father concluded by noting that "it is necessary to promote, without further delay, the value of the dignity of the indigenous peoples. ... With greater self-awareness, it will be possible to strengthen the understanding that all are brothers within the great Mexican family."

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FREQUENT CONFESSION TO RECEIVE CHRIST WITH A PURE HEART

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in the Roman parish of St. Edith Stein, incorporated in the diocese on October 11, 1998, "the day in which I had the joy," the Pope said, "to proclaim as a saint the daughter of Israel and Carmelite martyr Edith Stein, whom you invoke as your special patroness."

After thanking the faithful for their best wishes for his 81st birthday on May 18, the Holy Father said: "I trust that you wish to continue praying for me, in order that I may carry out the ministry that has been entrusted to me in total adherence to the designs of Divine providence."

The Pope particularly addressed the children who received their First Holy Communion during the Mass and invited them, as well as all the children receiving First Communion this year, to "seek frequently the sacrament of Confession, so that the encounter with Jesus present in the Eucharist occurs with a heart which is pure and open to the action of grace."

Speaking then of St. Edith Stein, John Paul II said that "there is also much to learn from this great contemporary saint about the life of a community such as yours, which desires to be faithful to its missionary vocation." In this light, the Pope recalled the pastoral initiative "of the monthly letter to Christians, which is delivered to all the families, to help them prepare themselves with adequate catechesis for the principal liturgical celebrations of the year."

"Together with you, I also entrust to the Lord the People's Mission which you have planned for the upcoming month of October. It will be a mission directed especially to youth. ... I sincerely hope that, through the mission and thanks to everyone's prayers, the young can encounter Christ in their life, allow Him to speak to their hearts and decide to follow Him."

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EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WITH THE CARDINALS, TITULAR POSSESSIONS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2001 (VIS) - On Thursday, May 24, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, John Paul II will celebrate Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 10:30 a.m. with the members of the College of Cardinals, on the occasion of the conclusion of the extraordinary consistory.

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff also announced that Cardinal Ignacio Antonio Velasco Garcia, S.D.B., metropolitan archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, will take possession of the title of St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Piazza Salvatore Galgano, Rome, on May 24, at 6 p.m.

On the same day, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop of Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany, will take possession of the title of St. Leo I, Via Prenestina 104, Rome, at 7 p.m.

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HOLY FATHER WELCOMES MEMBERS OF SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2001 (VIS) - On the occasion of their general assembly and the election of their new superior general, members of the Society of African Missions were welcomed this morning by Pope John Paul who encouraged them "to draw abundantly upon the rich spiritual legacy of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 as you renew your commitment to mission and evangelization."

He said that "a new millennium has begun in the light of Christ but, as I wrote in my apostolic letter at the close of the Jubilee, 'not everyone can see this light'." He added that, "in a world where there are many lights that distract from and are even contrary to the pure light of Christ, you must always strive to be more like Christ .... so that you may faithfully reflect His light."

The Holy Father encouraged the Society to "continue to promote and nurture missionary vocations" and "to involve the laity in your missionary work" as this "is another essential element in the 'plantatio Ecclesiae' in mission lands."

"In imitation of Our Lord and Master," said John Paul II in closing, "renew your commitment to working with the poor, especially refugees who so urgently need a sign of God's love. Accept the challenge of interreligious dialogue, a path to which the Church must dedicate greater attention in this new millennium. Defend human life at every stage of its existence, from conception to natural death."

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THE EXTRAORDINARY CONSISTORIES CALLED BY JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2001 (VIS) - The extraordinary consistory which starts this morning in the Synod Hall is the sixth such consistory called by Pope John Paul. The 155 cardinals present are reflecting on the theme "Prospects of the Church for the Third Millennium, in the light of 'Novo millennio ineunte'."

The first extraordinary consistory took place from November 5 to 9, 1979 in the presence of 120 cardinals. With the Holy Father they studied the reorganization of the Roman Curia, the relationship between the Church and culture and the financial situation of the Holy See.

The cardinals met again from November 23 to 26, 1982 to study three questions: a better organization and more satisfactory functioning of the Roman Curia, the nearly-concluded revision of the Code of Canon Law and Vatican finances. There were 97 cardinals present. At the end of the consistory the Pope announced that he was calling the Extraordinary Holy Year of the Redemption.

Three years later, from November 21 to 23, 1985 the reform of the Roman Curia was again on the agenda of this third extraordinary consistory in the presence of 122 cardinals. The fruit of this assembly was the document "Pastor Bonus," which was published in 1988.

In April of 1991, John Paul II and 120 cardinals met to discuss "The Church in the face of current threats against life" and "The announcement of Christ, One Savior and the Challenge of Sects."

The fifth extraordinary consistory was held June 13 and 14, 1994 to discuss the preparations for the Jubilee Year 2000. There were 114 cardinals present.

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POPE ASKS PRAYERS FOR CONSISTORY OF COLLEGE OF CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2001 (VIS) - After returning from the Roman parish of St. Edith Stein, where he celebrated Mass, Pope John Paul appeared at the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered there.

In reflections he made before praying, the Pope noted that tomorrow is the start of the extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals, which will conclude with a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Ascension Thursday. "In coming days," he said, we will consider together the prospects in the life of the Church and her mission in the world. Our basic reference point will be the Apostolic Letter 'Novo millennio ineunte' in which, in the light of the Jubilee experience, I indicated the priorities for the entire People of God: contemplating the face of Christ; starting out again from Him on a renewed path of sanctity; being witnesses to His love."
"In every moment, but especially in decisive ones," affirmed the Holy Father, "the Church listens to the Spirit. This was true in the Cenacle, as it was in the first 'council' which opened the doors to pagans, and so it will be in this consistory. At the side of the Successor of Peter and the cardinals, his closest collaborators in leading the universal Church, the prayerful support of the People of God must not be lacking. I thus ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to accompany us with your prayers."

After reciting the Regina Coeli, Pope John Paul greeted "the participants in the meeting on the theme 'Giving a Voice to Albanian Catholics in Italy,' promoted by the Migrants Foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference." He asked that "this first national meeting give a valid thrust to pastoral ministry for Albanian Catholics so that they might be well inserted into the ecclesial community."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon.
- Cardinal Jaime L. Sin, archbishop of Manila, the Philippines.

On Saturday, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Bulaitis, apostolic nuncio in Albania.
- Two prelates of the Pakistan Episcopal Conference, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop-elect Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore.
- Bishop Andrew Francis of Multan.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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PRESS OFFICE BRIEFING ON MORNING SESSION OF CONSISTORY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, early this afternoon briefed journalists on the individual speeches given by 16 cardinals in the morning session of the extraordinary consistory. He said that he would highlight the themes which emerged the most frequently today rather than summarize the individual speeches.

According to Navarro-Valls, the most repeated themes were: 1. Unity within the Church: unity with the Pope and the role of the Pope; 2. Mass Media and Evangelization, especially the new evangelization; 3. Globalization; 4 Holiness; 5. The need to reinforce the Christian identity in all cultures though catechesis; 6. The dialogue between faith and culture; 7. The Family; 8. Missionary Nature of the Church.

The press office director stressed that nearly all, if not all of the 16 speeches this morning emphasized the concept of holiness. The cardinals said there must be "a globalization of holiness." Holiness, and the search to attain it, they said, must be part of a Christian's everyday life: It must be an ordinary, not an extraordinary, fact of life. "We need," they said, "a true, audacious pastoral ministry of holiness."

The speeches which touched upon the media and evangelization focussed on the new evangelization, making the point that it is not just a question of the Church using the media but of her participating in the culture of the media. "The dialectic with the media is the new areopagus," said one cardinal. To assist in the new evangelization, the media must help in making the person of Jesus Christ better known. Another cardinal, referring to the Catechetical Directory which the Holy See sends to dioceses periodically as a tool for catechesis, suggested that a similar directory be prepared for the new evangelization.

On the subject of globalization, there was major consensus on the importance of this issue "and its internal dialectic" in the world today. The cardinals said that, intrinsically, globalization is neither good nor bad but they insisted that it must include the concept of social solidarity.

At one point, said Navarro-Valls, Cardinal Francisco Alvarez Martinez, archbishop of Toledo, pointed out that, whereas in the past labor had been a major thrust of the Church's social doctrine (employer/employee relationship, just wages and working conditions), today that major issue, "the major challenge," is the family.

Concluding his summary of the dominant themes which emerged this morning, the director noted Cardinal Jozef Tomko's statement concerning the missionary nature of the Church. He quoted the former prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples as saying: "We do not need a maintenance Church today. We need missionary mobilization."

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CONSISTORY REFLECTS UNITY, UNIVERSALITY OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2001 (VIS) - The extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals commenced at 9 this morning with brief remarks by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, dean of the college, the recitation of the Third Hour, a greeting from Pope John Paul and two reports on the Jubilee Year 2000 by Cardinals Roger Etchegaray and Crescenzio Sepe. Following a break, the 155 cardinals met again from 11 to 12:30, during which there were 16 individual speeches.

Cardinal Gantin greeted the Holy Father on the part of all 183 members of the College of Cardinals, including those who, for good reason, could not be present at the consistory. He thanked the Pope for having "faith" in the cardinals as they meet to reflect on the "concrete and operative ways" in which the Church can respond to the grace of the Jubilee Year 2000. "We are filled with joy at being close to you in the service that Your Holiness offers to the Church and the world with farsightedness and a dedication which is generous and borne with suffering. We are also happy to be together again for the fraternal moments which the consistory offers us."

Pope John Paul, in his remarks, noted that "the composition of this venerable assembly, which brings together cardinals from every corner of the earth and belonging to the most varied cultures, demonstrates well the unity, universality and missionary nature of the Church."

He said that "the meeting which starts this morning is as important as ever and is ideally linked to the Great Jubilee, whose echoes are still alive in all of us. .. I pray to the Spirit, who allowed us to live extraordinary ecclesial experiences, to continue to lead us and help us see the challenges emerging in the current passage of a millennium."

The Holy Father recalled that in "Novo millennio ineunte," he had "underscored the need to highlight well the 'concrete traits of a program' for the evangelizing action of the Church at the dawn of the third millennium. It is a matter of focussing on priority missionary objectives and the most suitable work methods, as well as seeking the means necessary."

"In these days," he concluded, "we will be listening to reflections and testimonials; we will fraternally face pastoral problems and challenges; we will seek together the most suitable methods for being, still today, credible signs of God's love for man."

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray presented a brief report on the celebrations of the Jubilee of the Year 2000.

"Throughout the entire city, the 'Orbis'," he said, "the particular Churches, even the most distant, gave evidence of great vitality by participating in a lively way in the Jubilee dance before the Lord."

Referring to the numerous ecumenical initiatives of the Jubilee, Cardinal Etchegaray affirmed that "one of the most evocative was the opening by six hands: Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican, of the door of St. Paul's Outside the Walls! But how can it not be regretted that the Jubilee was not even able to arrange the dream that the Pope has cherished since 'Tertio millennio adveniente' (1994): a Pan-Christian encounter. Oh! simply an encounter in the most natural place, in the land of Christ."

Cardinal Etchegaray emphasized the social aspect "of a Jubilee which has revived its own Biblical roots, what the Bull of Indiction calls 'the challenge of charity'." John Paul II "goes still further, asking the Church, 'the witness of Christian poverty', to go from being a Church for the poor to an entirely poor Church. Here perhaps we touch upon the most provocative question, the most provocative, the most urgent for the evangelization of the new millennium. Only a poor Church can become a missionary Church and only a missionary Church can necessitate a poor Church."

Following this, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, presented his report concerning the results of the Jubilee.

The Jubilee, Cardinal Sepe said, "is the extraordinary result of a long and 'ordinary' process of ecclesial renewal, begun with Vatican Council II and continued with the 'new evangelization' of John Paul II."

"The true protagonist of the Jubilee of 2000 was the people of God, who, with their witness of prayer, sacrifice, and piety, revealed the face of sanctity which shines in the Church. We have seen this people respond with readiness and generosity to the call of the Pope."

Cardinal Sepe emphasized that "remaining in us today as one of the most important signs of the Holy Year is the strong return and, in some way, the great rediscovery of the Sacrament of Confession considered by many, and for years, to be in crisis."

Referring to the Jubilee pilgrimages, the cardinal noted that "the numbers well surpassed the most optimistic provisions. ... It is enough to think that from the Eastern European countries, that celebrated their first Jubilee, approximately a million pilgrims came: 185 percent more than last year."

"Yet the most significant fact," Cardinal Sepe continued, "was the orderliness, devotion, silence, and concentration of the pilgrims, who gave a serious, profound, and motivated image of their Jubilee participation."

Cardinal Sepe concluded his discourse affirming that: "All of the strong and abundant motivations, prompted by the Jubilee, need to be considered with hindsight, closely examined, and, above all, put into effect by a pastoral plan which can be applied in the context of individual ecclesial realities."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Auxiliary Bishop Cyprien Mbuka, C.I.C.M., of Boma (area 11,350, population 1,434,981, Catholics 1,134,381, priests 159, religious 268), Republic of the Congo, as bishop of the same diocese, relieving Bishop Joachim Mbadu Kikhela Kupika from the pastoral care of Boma and transferring him to the titular see of Belesasa.

On Saturday, May 19, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, as apostolic nuncio in the Czech Republic.

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