POPE PRESIDES AT FIRST BEATIFICATIONS IN UKRAINE HISTORY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the presence of between 300,000 and 400,000 faithful, John Paul II celebrated Mass in the hippodrome of Lviv and beatified Servants of God Archbishop Jozef Bilczewski of Lviv (1880-1923), and Fr. Zygmunt Gorazdowski (1845-1920), founder of the "Jozefitki" congregation of religious. The Mass was held according to the Latin rite.

In his homily the Pope recalled that "Archbishop Jozef Bilczewski invites us to be generous in living the love of God and neighbor. This was his supreme rule of life. ... A good and faithful servant of the Lord, motivated by deep spirituality and unceasing charity, he was loved and esteemed by all his fellow citizens, regardless of their religious convictions, rite or nationality."

"For me personally," said the Holy Father, "this beatification is a special cause for rejoicing. The Blessed Archbishop Bilczewski is part of the line of my own apostolic succession. He in fact consecrated Archbishop Boleslaw Twardowski, who in turn ordained Bishop Eugeniusz Baziak, from whose hands I received episcopal ordination. Today, therefore, I too am receiving a new patron. I thank God for this marvelous gift."

John Paul II affirmed that "in praising God for the indomitable fidelity to the Gospel of these His Servants, let us feel ourselves gently nudged to recognize the infidelities to the Gospel of not a few Christians of both Polish and Ukrainian origin living in these parts. It is time to leave behind the sorrowful past. The Christians of the two nations must walk together in the name of the one Christ. ... May the purification of historical memories lead everyone to work for the triumph of what unites over what divides, in order to build together a future of mutual respect, fraternal cooperation and true solidarity."

Speaking of Blessed Gorazdowski, the Pope highlighted his unstinting dedication "to the poor, despite his precarious health" and his "burning passion for the Gospel. ... His apostolic activity was bolstered by a commitment to charity which knew no pause. ... Because of his total fidelity to the poor, chaste and obedient Christ, he was acknowledged when he died as 'a true religious, even if he had no special vows', and he remains for everyone a privileged witness to God's mercy."

The Pope requested priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and students of theology to imitate the two new Blesseds. "In various ways," he said, "you offer a special service to the Gospel, and like them you must do everything possible so that, by means of your witness, people of every age, background, education and social status will experience the love of God in the depth of their hearts. This is your mission."

"May your prime commitment," he concluded, "be to love everyone and to be available to everyone, never flagging in your faithfulness to Christ and the Church. This is certainly a path strewn with difficulties and misunderstandings, which can sometimes lead even to persecution. ... Christ does not promise an easy life, but always gives the assurance of His help."

Following Mass, the Pope travelled to Lviv's major Latin seminary of St. Joseph where he had lunch with the Ukrainian Catholic bishops and with members of his entourage.

At 6 p.m. he is due to meet young people on the Sykhiv esplanade in front of the Church of the Nativity of Mary Mother of God in Lviv.

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MESSAGE FOR LATIN AMERICAN MEETING ON PRISON MINISTRIES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - Made public this morning was a Message from Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, to the participants in the Fourth Latin American Encounter for Prison Ministries. The Message was published in Spanish and Italian and is dated June 25. The meeting began yesterday in Panama and ends June 30.

Saying he was sorry he was unable to attend the meeting, Cardinal Nguyen begins the Message: "I fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will indicate to all those responsible for prison ministries the criteria and the most opportune paths for a new evangelization in the world of prisons: a world often immersed in pain, solitude and desperation; a world which urgently needs the liberating word of the Gospel and charitable gestures - therefore encouraging ones - by the Christian who is concerned for his brother in difficulty and does not act this way for simple philanthropy but through a deep conviction of faith."

"May the conclusions of your work," he adds, "taking as their departure point the Gospel and the Church's social doctrine, contribute to the defense and promotion of human rights in the prisons of your countries, as well as concrete efforts to prevent crime and help build a more just, peaceful and human society."

The cardinal goes to say that "the light of hope must remain lit in the hearts of prisoners; it is therefore vitally important to assure the friendly and concerned presence of the Church in prisons." He highlighted the large numbers of priests, deacons and religious present at the meeting who are involved in prison ministries and said it was "encouraging" to note the numbers of lay people also participating in such ministries.

"It is necessary," Cardinal Nguyen concludes, "to ceaselessly pursue this apostolate so that the presence of the Good Samaritan, who comes to heal our wounds, is more tangible and efficacious, above all for those who for diverse reasons have been deprived of physical freedom."

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ECCLESIAL MOVEMENTS FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - More than 1,300 priests, deacons, seminarians and ministers of other Churches and ecclesial communities are gathering at the Mariapolis Center in Castelgandolfo for the 10th International Theological-pastoral Meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement on the theme "Ecclesial Movements for the New Evangelization."

The meeting began this morning at 9:30 and ends on June 28 with a concelebrated Mass at 12 noon presided over by Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. Participants are from 44 countries and represent, in addition to Catholics, the Orthodox, Anglicans and Evangelical Lutherans.

Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, opened the meeting with a talk on "The New Evangelization, with Special Reference to the Experience of the Focolare Movement." Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, presided at a concelebrated Mass to end the morning session. Tomorrow morning, Cardinal James Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity will read a Message from the Holy Father and then speak on "The Contribution of Ecclesial Movements to Evangelization in a Secularized World."

Founders of various ecclesial movements are expected to be present. In addition to the Focolare, the movements represented include Schoenstatt, Communion and Liberation, the Sant'Egidio Community, the Neocatechumenal Way and Renewal in the Spirit.

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POPE WRITES KOFI ANNAN FOR U.N. SPECIAL MEETING ON AIDS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - Published today was Pope John Paul's Message to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the June 25-27 Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly to examine, in its diverse aspects, the problem of HIV/AIDS. The focus of the Pope's Message, in French and dated June 21, is that, in the face of the AIDS epidemic, the international community cannot elude its moral responsibilities.

"The AIDS epidemic undoubtedly represents one of the greatest catastrophes of our time, in particular for Africa," writes the Pope. "I welcome the efforts currently underway on national, regional and international levels to face up to this challenge. ... Your announcement of the creation of a World AIDS and Health Fund is a motive of hope for everyone."

"The fearsome spread of AIDS is inscribed in a social world marked by a serious crisis of values. In this domain, as in others, the internationnal community cannot ignore its moral responsibility; on the contrary, in the fight against this epidemic, it must be inspired by a constructive vision of the dignity of man and must invest in youth, helping them to grow towards a responsible emotional maturity."

The Holy Father points out the Catholic Church's commitment to "the sacredness of life" and underscores "the efforts she makes, in both prevention and assistance, for the people touched (by this illness)."

He goes on to say: "I have taken two problems especially to heart, and I am sure they will be treated with serious attention in the debates of this Special Session.

The first, the Pope writes, is that "the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child is an extremely sad question. In developing countries, especially in Africa, those who are born with this infection are very numerous. ... Add to this somber picture the distress of those whose parents died of AIDS and who are now orphans."

"The second problem," John Paul II states, "is the access of AIDS patients to medical care and, in the measure possible, to anti-viral therapies. We know that the prices of these medications are excessive, sometimes even exorbitant, with regard to the possibilities of citizens of the poorest countries. This question includes diverse economic and juridical aspects, among which are certain interpretations of intellectual property rights."

The Holy Father emphasizes "the right of each individual to health." He beseeches "the rich countries to respond to the needs of AIDS patients in the poor countries with all means at their disposal, so that these men and women tested in body and soul may have access to the medicines which they need."

Pope John Paul II concludes with words of gratitude for "the scholars and researchers of the entire world in their efforts to find therapies for this terrible illness."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop William Francis Murphy, auxiliary of Boston, U.S.A., as bishop of Rockville Centre (area 3,164, population 3.008,203, Catholics 1,404,361, priests 525, permanent deacons 219, religious 1,604), U.S.A.

- Msgr. Victor Benito Galeone, pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Baltimore, U.S.A., as bishop of Saint Augustine (area 28,575, population 1,582,666, Catholics 134,846, priests 119, permanent deacons 25, religious 137), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Philadelphia, U.S.A., in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1960.

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