JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES BISHOPS OF BENIN ON "AD LIMINA" VISIT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2001 (VIS) - The bishops of Benin were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning at the end of their "ad limina" visit. The Pope, recalling his meetings with them during this past week, referred to these individual talks and to the prelates' "hopes and concerns at the start of this new millennium."

In his talk to them in French, the Holy Father reiterated several themes which appear in his Apostolic Letter "Novo millennio ineunte," namely, giving a new thrust to the new evangelization, focussing on the pastoral ministries for vocations, the family and lay people, especially catechists, the importance of a spirituality of communion, the permanent formation of priests and dialogue with other religions.

The principal task of bishops, priests, religious and the laity is the new evangelization, he said. Those who are well-prepared and re-affirmed in their faith will not only be able to bring Christ to others but will be able to challenge every novelty that passes for doctrine.

"Christians of your dioceses must also be men and women of communion and unity," the Pope added, urging the bishops to program "concrete initiatives to be faithful to God's plan and to answer the deep aspirations of the world."

Then, highlighting the fact that vocations are on the increase in Benin, he told the bishops that they have "a serious responsibility to discern the human, intellectual, moral and spiritual aptitudes of candidates and to recognize the authenticity of their vocation." He told them to "be demanding about the quality of the formation they receive" and to make sure that "the formators, professors and spiritual directors are well-prepared and exemplary in their priestly life."

Pope John Paul then turned to Benin's priests and men and women religious, thanking them for their service which, "often at the price of great self-denial, has allowed the Church to be born and grow in Benin." He especially underscored the contribution of women religious in their "service to the poorest and most forsaken of society, without any distinction as to origin."

"A mature and responsible laity, aware of their responsibilities in the Church and in society" is also needed for the new evangelization, said the Pope. They must be prepared to proclaim the Gospel in all milieux of life and "must act competently in the very complex worlds of politics, social life and the economy, according to the teachings of the Church's social doctrine, proposing to their fellow citizens a vision of man and society which conforms to basic human values. I especially invite them to work tirelessly to promote respect for the inviolable dignity of every human person."

He noted that the bishops, in their quinquennial reports, had emphasized "the serious problems relative to the family, its unity and its indissolubility" and encouraged them "to pursue a vigorous ministry for the family. ... It is especially fundamental for the future to educate young people to a just hierarchy of values" and "the Christian vision of marriage must be presented in all of its greatness."

Pope John Paul closed his talk to the bishops by remarking on the importance of inter-religious dialogue. He encouraged their "efforts to favor a better mutual knowledge as well as more genuine and fraternal relations among persons and communities, especially with Muslims."

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OPENNESS TO DIALOGUE AND COHERENCE TO RELIGIOUS TRADITION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received participants in a meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in collaboration with the Pontifical Lateran University, in memory of "the tireless commitment to inter-religious dialogue" of Bishop Pietro Rossano, on the tenth anniversary of his death.

"Serious and authentic inter-religious dialogue must rest upon solid foundations if it is to produce the desired fruits in due time. Being open to dialogue means being coherent to the core of one's own religious tradition. This is the lesson that emerges from Bishop Rossano's life."

John Paul II recalled that "in his spiritual experience and in his service to the Holy See (as secretary of the then Secretariat for Non-Christians), Bishop Rossano's openness to others was never separated from faithfulness to the teachings of Christ. This unconditional adherence to Christ did not prevent him from communicating with exponents of other religions."

"May Bishop Rossano's example," concluded the Pope, "encourage you to intensify your efforts towards dialogue, offering everyone a clear witness of the mystery of Christ, Lord and Savior of all."

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POPE THANKS STS. PETER AND PAUL ASSOCIATION FOR ITS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father received in audience 2,000 members of the Sts. Peter and Paul Association, which this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

"The service with which you have been entrusted," said John Paul II, "is closely linked to the mission of Peter's Successor. Today, I would like to reiterate my most sincere appreciation for your diligent work, both in the sacred liturgy and in your contact with pilgrims in the Patriarchal Basilica of St. Peter. May God reward you! May your activity, nourished by constant prayer, bring you to fulfil ever more your Christian vocation."

The Pope assured members of the association that "if your spirits are constantly illuminated by faith, you will come to a better understanding of yourselves and better help pilgrims and all those you meet to deepen the mystery of Christ and of His Church."

He concluded: "I call on you, then, to make your daily activities the suitable occasion for demonstrating a sincere love for Christ, a generous dedication to the Church and a special bond with Peter's Successor. Grow in faith in order to become ever more highly motivated in your service."

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TO CATHOLIC DOCTORS: BE PRO-LIFE, NOT MANIPULATORS OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - "You are reflecting on your future in the light of the fundamental right to medical training and practice according to conscience," the Holy Father told the 120 participants in the International Congress of Catholic Obstetricians and Gynecologists whom he received this morning. He told them that Catholic morality demanded that they defend life, not manipulate it.

He underscored that "Christian obstetricians, gynecologists and obstetric nurses are always called to be servants and guardians of life." Citing "Evangelium Vitae," he added: "But your profession has become still more important and your responsibility still greater 'in today's cultural and social context, in which science and the practice of medicine risk losing sight of their inherent ethical dimension, (and) health-care professionals can be strongly tempted at times to become manipulators of life, or even agents of death'."

"Until quite recently, medical ethics in general and Catholic morality were rarely in disagreement. Without problems of conscience, Catholic doctors could generally offer patients all that medical science afforded. But this has now changed profoundly. The availability of contraceptive and abortive drugs, new threats to life in the laws of some countries, some of the uses of prenatal diagnosis, the spread of in vitro fertilization techniques, the consequent production of embryos to deal with fertility, but also their destination to scientific research, the use of embryonic stem cells for the development of tissue for transplants to cure degenerative diseases and projects of full or partial cloning, already done with animals: all of these have changed the situation radically. Moreover, conception, pregnancy and childbirth ... are often perceived as a burden and even as an ailment to be cured, rather than being seen as a gift from God."

John Paul II underlined that "Catholic obstetricians and gynecologists ... are (today) exposed to a social ideology which asks them to be agents of a concept of 'reproductive health' based on new reproductive technologies. ... The conflict between social pressure and the demands of right conscience can lead to the dilemma either of abandoning the medical profession or of compromising one's convictions. Faced with that tension, we must remember that there is a middle path. ... It is the path of conscientious objection, which ought to be respected by all, especially legislators."

The Pope closed by remarking that "Catholic universities and hospitals are called to follow the directives of the Church's Magisterium in every aspect of obstetric and gynecological practice, including research involving embryos."

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CHILE: POPE EXPRESSES JOY AT ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the Letters of Credence of Maximo Pacheco Gomez, the new ambassador of the Republic of Chile.

In his address, the Pope indicated that, "in fulfilling her mission, the Church participates in promoting the integral good of people. ... She also wishes to illumine consciences in order that some of the dangers of modern society, such as ethical relativism, consumerism and other pseudo-cultural models, do not damage the treasure of Christian values upon which national identity rests."

The Holy Father recalled that, in recent pastoral guidance, Chilean bishops had called for "healing the wounds that diminish the strength of development in Chilean society; among these must be highlighted poverty and huge inequalities, difficulties faced by the family and the injured dignity of individuals, families, groups and institutions."

"The ambition for an ever more prosperous and developed Chile," said the Pope, "calls for efforts towards improving Chilean's quality of life and their lives themselves. I am pleased at the recent decision taken by the government and the legislative authorities - with the faithful collaboration of the Church - which abolished the death penalty and it is to be hoped that this move will continue to promote a most zealous and unyielding respect for the life of every human being, from conception to natural end."

After a closing reference to forthcoming celebrations for the bicentenary of national independence, John Paul II underlined that "the strengthening of democratic life must always be accompanied by the constant promotion of genuine values which are the guarantee of stability; because a democracy without values does not serve the cause of true progress, quite the contrary, it turns such progress against man himself."

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ANGELUS: A PAPAL PLEA TO ASSIST REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 17, 2001 (VIS) - Before reciting the Angelus today Pope John Paul reflected on last Thursday's feast of Corpus Christi, recalling the Mass and procession he presided in Rome that day, and noting that, "for pastoral reasons, this lovely and traditional feast is celebrated today in Italy and many countries."

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square below his study window, he added that Corpus Christ is "a feast of joy for the marvelous gift of bread to which Christ linked His promise of eternal life: Bread which is really His flesh, that is, His humanity, through which God sanctifies hearts, persons, communities, nations and the entire world."

"A distinctive mark of the new mankind redeemed by Christ is the fullness of fraternal love, In reality the Eucharist is par excellence the Sacrament of love, understood as a giving of self. Without the spiritual nourishment which comes from the Body and Blood of Christ, human love remains always corrupted by egoism. Communion with the Bread of heaven, on the other hand, converts hearts and fills them with the capacity to love as Jesus loved us."

Following the Angelus prayer, the Pope pointed out that "next Wednesday is the World Day of the Refugee. This underlines the dutiful solidarity with millions of persons who live in difficult conditions as refugees. This social evil has, unfortunately, in recent years been on the increase: as a consequence the need for international protection augments, but also on the increase is the number of countries who tend to limit it. While I hope that the causes of forced migration will be removed, I ask that efforts be renewed so that refugees never lack just understanding and necessary assistance."

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VISIT OF HOLY SEE DELEGATION TO VIETNAM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a declaration released this morning, said that "a Holy See delegation made up of Msgrs. Celestino Migliore, under-secretary for Relations with States and Barnaba Nguyen Van Phuong, bureau chief at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, returned to Rome yesterday following a six-day visit to Vietnam."

The delegation met both religious and governmental authorities. With the latter, said Navarro-Valls, "the appointment of bishops was discussed; some of these will be made public shortly, while for others, a response from the Vietnamese side is expected in the near future."

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL WINNING

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - Given below is the text of the telegram sent by the Holy Father to the administrator of the archdiocese of Glasgow, Scotland, for the death yesterday of Cardinal Thomas Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, at the age of 76:

"Saddened to learn of the sudden death of Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, I extend heartfelt condolences and the assurance of my spiritual closeness to the clergy, religious and laity of the archdiocese and to the Catholic community in Scotland. In recalling Cardinal Winning's generous and committed service as priest and bishop, I join in giving thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed upon the Church through his ministry. During those long years, this zealous pastor encouraged the communities he served in faith and Christian living, and was particularly outstanding in defence of life and commitment to the poor. I am confident that his example will inspire all the members of the Church in Scotland to grow in their love of Christ and to increase their resolve to serve their brothers and sisters in a spirit of Christian charity. Entrusting all who are mourning the late cardinal to the protection of Mary, mother of the Redeemer, I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of comfort and strength in Our Lord Jesus Christ."

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CARDINAL CE TO MARK 16TH CENTENARY OF ST. VIGILIUS' DEATH

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was John Paul II's Pontifical Letter to Cardinal Marco Ce, patriarch of Venice and the Pope's special envoy to the June 26 celebration in Trent, Italy, of the 16th centenary of the death of St. Vigilius, bishop and patron of the archdiocese of Trent. The Letter, written in Latin, is dated May 20.

Also named today were the two priests from the archdiocese of Trent who will accompany the cardinal: Msgr. Valentino Felicetti, pastor and bishop's delegate from Rovereto, and Fr. Remo Vanzetta, pastor and bishop's delegate for Pergine.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Isaac Thottunkal, protosincello (vicar general) of the eparchy of Bathery, India, as auxiliary of the archieparchy of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars (area 8,684, population 8,350,000, Catholics 305,000, priests 227, religious 819), India, also giving him the office of apostolic visitator to Syro-Malankarese faithful in North America and Europe. The bishop-elect was born in Mukkoor, India, in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1986.

On Saturday, June 16, it was made public that he:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of Villavicencio, Colombia, presented by Bishop Alfonso Cabezas Aristizabal C.M., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Miguel Angel Alba Diaz, auxiliary of Antequera, Oaxaca, Mexico, as bishop of La Paz en la Baja California Sur (area 73,677, population 395,500, Catholics 375,500, priests 60, religious 220), Mexico.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio in the Czech Republic.
- Jacques Bihozagara, ambassador of Rwanda, on a farewell visit.
- Cardinal Luigi Poggi.

On Saturday, June 16, he received in audience Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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