JOHN PAUL WELCOMES THIRD ORDER REGULAR FRANCISCANS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed participants in the General Chapter of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi, and told them "following Christ according to the teachings and example of St. Francis is for you a singular privilege, for which you should be grateful to the Lord Who called you."

He added that "many centuries of apostolic and charitable witness have enriched your Order with merits and experience." But, he said, "religious life, permeated by the Gospel, does not stop at satisfaction for the past, but lives intensely the present and projects itself with enthusiasm towards the future."

The Holy Father, highlighting their "efficacious cooperation in evangelizing the contemporary world," asked the Franciscans to "continue your commitment to the missionary apostolate. ... With creative research, formulate works of mercy which renew your traditional attention to the poor and the weakest in society, because serving the needy is an act of evangelization, the seal of an evangelizing nature and a stimulus to permanent conversion.

"As did Francis of Assisi, preach peace and penance, promote justice, defend the rights of the human person, raise your voice against exploitation and violence, care for the many wounds which today make mankind wail."

John Paul II asked the Third Order Franciscans "to contribute with commitment to the promotion of culture both in service to your brothers seeking the truth and as an instrument of integral formation and an ascetic course."

"And lastly," the Pope said, "do not forget your well-known commitment to Christian unity and the ecumenical dialogue, as well as your openness to interreligious dialogue."

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DIRECTORS OF TOURISM PASTORAL MINISTRY MEET IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - The Second Meeting of National Directors of the Pastoral Ministry for Tourism In Europe begins today in the Vatican under the presidency of Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council of the Pastoral Ministry for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. The meeting concludes tomorrow. The previous meeting was in 1999.

The national directors present for this meeting are from Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary.

Each director will present a report on the activity undertaken in their country in the last two years, referring particularly to the points made in the final document of the 1999 meeting: 1. consolidating the presence of the pastoral ministry for tourism within the ordinary pastoral ministries of countries, dioceses and parishes; 2. proposing and realizing programs for this pastoral ministry for coming years; 3. promoting formation structures for this ministry; and 4. strengthening collaboration between European countries, especially among Eastern European countries.

Council Secretary, Archbishop Francesco Gioia, will illustrate the outlines of a document the council is preparing on the pastoral ministry for tourism.

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EVANGELIZATION: RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was John Paul II's annual Message for World Missionary Day, which will be celebrated next October 21, in which the Holy Father recalls that evangelization is "the responsibility of all the people of God."

"He who has truly encountered Christ," writes the Pope in the Message dated June 3, solemnity of Pentecost, "cannot keep Him for himself, he must announce Him. A new apostolic impetus is needed which is lived as a daily commitment of Christian communities and groups."

The Holy Father emphasizes that "in a special way, the call to mission acquires singular urgency, if we look at that portion of humanity which still does not know or recognize Christ. Yes, dear brothers and sisters, the mission 'ad gentes' is today more valid than ever."
After recalling the missionaries - priests, men and women religious and laity - "who have made the mission 'ad gentes' and 'ad vitam' the reason of their very existence," John Paul II affirms that their example "is a stimulus and support for all the faithful" adding: "Also today many men and women, with their dedication and their sacrifice, are for us an eloquent manifestation of the love of God."

"Mission demands prayer and concrete commitment. Many are the needs involved in the extensive diffusion of the Gospel. This year is the 75th anniversary of the institution of the Missionary Day by Pope Pius XI. ... Since then, the Missionary Day constitutes a special occasion for reminding all the People of God of the permanent validity of the missionary mandate."

The Pope concluded his Message by expressing the hope that this anniversary will be "a propitious occasion for reflecting on the necessity of a greater communal effort in promoting the missionary spirit and in procuring the essential material helps which the missionaries need."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, CICM, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, as special envoy for the centenary celebrations of the National Eucharistic Congress of St. Louis, U.S.A., which will take place in that city June 15-16.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Bishop Gebhard Furst of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany. - Four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Republic of the Congo, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Anatole Milandou of Brazzaville, apostolic administrator of Kinkala.
- Bishop Herve Itoua of Ouesso.
- Bishop Ernest Kombo of Owando.
- Bishop Jean-Claude Makaya Loembe of Pointe-Noire.

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