"THE FAITHFUL" AND "THE POOR" RESPOND TO GOD'S PATERNAL LOVE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2001 (VIS) - The theme of John Paul II's catechesis in today's general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square, and in which 13,000 faithful participated, was Psalm 149. He recalled that "the prayer which this Psalm inspires is the gratitude of a heart filled with jubilation."

The protagonists of the Psalm are "the pious, the faithful" and "the humble and the poor." The faithful, the Pope affirmed "found themselves involved in a battle for freedom; they fought to free their oppressed people and to give them the possibility to serve God."

"In the current perspective of our prayer," the Holy Father continued, "this war symbology becomes an image of our commitment as believers who, after having sung morning praise to God, set out on the streets of the world, in the midst of evil and injustice." The psalmist is trusting "because he knows he has the Lord near, who is the true King of history."

The Holy Father affirmed that "the poor, the humble" are "the oppressed, the wretched, those persecuted for justice, but also those who, faithful to the moral commitments of the Alliance with God, are marginalized by those who choose violence, wealth, and arrogance. In this light it can be understood that 'poor' is not only a social category but a spiritual choice."

The Pope concluded the catechesis emphasizing that "the song of Mary in the Gospel of Luke - the 'Magnificat' - is the echo of the best sentiments of the 'sons of Zion': joyful praise to God the Savior, gratitude for the great things done for her by the Almighty, battle against the forces of evil, solidarity with the poor, faithfulness to the God of the Alliance."

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BRIEFING FRIDAY ON THE PASTORAL VISIT TO UKRAINE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2001 (VIS) - Friday, May 25, at 11:30 a.m., a briefing will be held in the Holy See Press Office on the upcoming pastoral visit of the Holy Father to Ukraine (June 23-27). Taking part in the briefing will be Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, and Cardinal Marian Jaworski, archbishop of Lviv of the Latins.

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CARDINALS MEET IN LANGUAGE GROUPS, PREPARE FINAL REPORT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2001 (VIS) - The 155 cardinals attending the extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals met in language groups this morning. Each group will present a report in the afternoon session, scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m., during which Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez will present the Final Report. No briefing on last evening's session was held today.

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POPE MOURNS ASSASSINATED MISSIONARIES WITH SALESIAN BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2001 (VIS) - As the cardinals who came to Rome for the extraordinary consistory were meeting in language groups this morning, Pope John Paul held the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. After the catechesis in Italian, and summaries in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German, the Pope greeted the 13,000 faithful present in these and other languages.

He welcomed a delegation from Macedonia, which traditionally comes to Rome at this time each year for the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. Addressing pilgrims from the Czech Republic he noted that tomorrow is the celebration of the Lord's Ascension when "Christ returns to the glory that is His, but He returns with the human nature taken from Mary."

The Holy Father then had special words for "the Salesian archbishops and bishops, who have been called for the first time to reflect together on the charism of Don Bosco in the episcopal service." He noted that "the perennial reality of the educational program of Don Bosco, father and teacher of young people, has animated the pastoral charity of so many Salesian bishops."

The Pope also recalled "the dimension of martyrdom which has accompanied the missionary action of the sons of Don Bosco," including "your three Indian confreres sacrificed recently in Imphal, in northeast India. Once again I express my heartfelt participation in the congregation's pain for these sons who were barbarously killed, and I exhort all Salesians to persevere courageously in their witness to Christ and the Gospel."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Antonio Buoncristiani of Porto-Santa Rufina, Italy, as metropolitan archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino (area 2,265, population 170,800, Catholics 170,000, priests 167, permanent deacons 3, religious 366), Italy. He succeeds Archbishop Gaetano Bonicelli, whose resignation from the pastoral care of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino the Holy Father accepted in accordance with the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Antonio Sarto, S.D.B., from the pastoral care of Barra do Garcas (area 80,467, population 185,220, Catholics 150,700, priests 19, permanent deacons 1, religious 85), Brazil, in accordance with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Protogenes Jose Luft, S.C.

- Appointed Msgr. Juan Manuel Mancilla Sanchez, chancellor of the archdiocese of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as auxiliary bishop of Texcoco (area 2,000, population 3,114,000, Catholics 2,907,391, priests 140, permanent deacons 24, religious 315), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Santo Domingo, Mexico, in 1950, and ordained to the priesthood in 1974.

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