THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: FIRST STEP TO FREEDOM AND ETERNAL LIFE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2001 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. today there was a meeting between Pope John Paul and young people on the sprawling Sykhiv esplanade in front of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church outside of Lviv. The encounter, with 500,000 youth present, took the form of a Liturgy of the Word and included a homily by the Pope, the singing of that part of the Akathistos hymn which focuses on Christ, the prayer of the faithful in diverse languages and dances by young people.

The youth had gathered in early afternoon on the esplanade for songs, dances and witnessing to their faith, and the celebration lasted into the evening, long after the Holy Father's departure at 8 p.m. Before the final papal blessing several Polish and Ukrainian youth were recognized for their work in favor of reconciliation between their communities. Lviv is about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the Polish border.

"Today," the Pope declared, "Christ asks you the same question that He asked the Apostles: 'Will you also go away?'. And you, young people of Ukraine, how do you reply? I am sure that with me you too will make your own the words of Peter: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life'."

"Yes, dear young people," he emphasized, "Christ has the 'words of eternal life'. His words last for ever and above all they open for us the gates of eternal life. When God speaks, His words give life, they call things into existence, they direct our journey, they restore disappointed and broken hearts and pour fresh hope into them."

The Holy Father then turned his focus to the Ten Commandments, saying they "have permanent value, because they are the fundamental law of humanity, written in the conscience of every person. They are the first step to freedom and eternal life. ... In today's world we see profound and rapid social changes and many moral points of reference have become shaky, throwing people into confusion and sometimes despair. The Decalogue is like a compass in a stormy sea which enables us to keep on course and reach land. This is why today I wish to present the commandments of the Decalogue to you anew, young people of Ukraine, in a symbolic way, so that they will be your 'compass', the solid point of reference for building your present and your future."

"'You shall love the Lord your God'. We must give God the first place in our lives. For this reason the first three commandments are concerned with our relationship with Him. ... The pressure is strong today to replace the true God with false gods and deceptive aims. Material things are today's idols. If they are sought and used as means and instruments of good, they are a help to us. However, they should never occupy the first place in man's heart, even less in the heart of young people, who are called to fly high, towards the most beautiful and most noble ideals!"

The Holy Father explained that "the other seven commandments refer to our relations with our neighbors. They show us the path which enables us to establish relationships with other human beings marked by respect and love, based on truth and justice. Those who put this divine law into practice often find themselves going against the current. Young people of Ukraine, Christ asks you to go against the current! He asks you to be defenders of His law and to put it into practice in proper behaviour in daily life."

"Your country is going through a difficult and complex transition from the totalitarian regime which oppressed it for so many years to a society at last free and democratic. Freedom however needs strong, responsible and mature consciences. Freedom is demanding, and in a sense is more costly than slavery!

"For this reason, as I embrace you like a father, I say to you: choose the narrow path that the Lord is showing you through His commandments. They are words of truth and life. The path that often seems wide and easy later shows itself to be deceptive and false. Do not go from the slavery of the communist regime to the slavery of consumerism, another form of materialism which, without explicitly rejecting God, actually does deny Him by excluding Him from life."

"Without God you will not be able to do anything good. With His help, however, you will be able to face all the challenges of the present moment. You will succeed in making demanding decisions, against the current, as for example the decision to stay confidently in your own country, without giving in to the illusions of an easy life abroad. You are needed here, young people."

Pope John Paul concluded: "Before leaving you, I wish to add a final word: love the Church! She is your family and the spiritual building of which you are called to be the living stones."

At a certain point of the encounter with young people, with the rain becoming more persistent, the Holy Father had to leave the stage for about 20 minutes to change his rain-soaked clothes. Upon his return, he spontaneously broke into song, singing a Polish tune about rain, and improvising afterwards that "rain makes children grow." Reacting to the enthusiastic response of the young people, he then sang another Polish melody about the sun.

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MEETING OF GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF SYNOD FOR AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2001 (VIS) - A communique made public today states that, in Rome on June 20 and 21, the council of the general secretariat of the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops held its sixth meeting under the presidency of Cardinal Jan P. Schotte C.I.C.M., secretary general.

During the meeting - in which two cardinals, seven archbishops, two bishops and four members of the general secretariat took part - there was an exchange of information on the responses from episcopal conferences and dicasteries of the Roman Curia regarding implementation of the 1999 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Ecclesia in America."

Some of those present spoke on initiatives in particular churches for the implementation of the exhortation; initiatives which, according to the communique, "have contributed to a consolidation of ecclesial convictions concerning both the American identity and guidelines for pastoral activity in the field of vocations, laity, youth, the mission, migration and in the face of such phenomena as globalization and sects."
The next meeting is due to take place on October 2 and 3, 2002.

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THE EFFICACY OF PRIESTS IN ECCLESIAL MOVEMENTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, for the Tenth International Theological-pastoral Meeting which is being promoted by the Focolare Movement and is taking place from June 26 to 29 on the theme "Ecclesial Movements for the New Evangelization."

In his Message, dated June 21, John Paul II recalls that in many ecclesial movements, alongside the laity, "numerous priests (participate), attracted by the charismatic, educational, community and missionary drive that accompanies the new ecclesial realities."

"The positive efficacy of priests is shown when they find in the movements the 'light and heat' that help them to mature in a fervent Christian life and, in particular, in an authentic 'sensus Ecclesiae'."

"'Touched' and 'attracted' by the same charism," continues the Holy Father, "priests and laity share a fascinating experience of fraternity among 'christifideles' who mutually edify one another without ever losing their identities."

The Pope stresses that "it would be a grave loss if we were to move towards a 'clericalization' of movements. In the same way, it would be harmful if the witness and ministry of priests were in some way overshadowed by and progressively assimilated into the lay state."

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28 UKRAINIAN MARTYRS BEATIFIED BEFORE 1 MILLION FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2001 (VIS) - Early this morning, John Paul II celebrated a private Mass in the archbishop's Palace of St. George and then travelled to Lviv's hippodrome where he presided over the divine liturgy in the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite. During the ceremony, at which an estimated 1 million faithful were present, he beatified Servants of God Mykola Carneckyj and 24 companions, martyrs (bishops, diocesan priests, religious and a lay person, killed between 1935 and 1973); Teodor Romza, bishop and martyr (1911 - 1947); Omeljan Kovc, priest and martyr (1884 - 1944) and Josaphata Hordashevska, co-founder of the Congregation of the servants of Mary Immaculate (1869 - 1919).

In his homily, the Pope recalled that most of the new blesseds, "sons and daughters of this glorious Church of Lviv of the Ukrainians, ... were killed in hatred of the Christian faith." Among them were bishops, priests, monks, nuns and lay people. "They were tested in many ways by the followers of the infamous Nazi and Communist ideologies."

"These brothers and sisters of ours," he went on, "are the representatives that are known out of a multitude of anonymous heroes ' men and women, husbands and wives, priests and consecrated men and women, young people and old ' who in the course of the twentieth century, the 'century of martyrdom', underwent persecution, violence and death rather than renounce their faith."

"How can we fail to recall the far-sighted and solid pastoral activity of the Servant of God, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi, whose cause of beatification is proceeding and whom we hope to see one day in the glory of the saints? We must refer to his heroic apostolic activity if we are to understand the humanly inexplicable fruitfulness of the Greek-Catholic Church of Ukraine during the dark years of persecution."

The Holy Father dwelt upon the fact that, along with these blesseds, "Christians of other confessions were also persecuted and killed on account of Christ. Their joint martyrdom is a pressing call for reconciliation and unity. This is the ecumenism of the martyrs and witnesses to faith, which indicates the path of unity to the Christians of the twenty-first century. May their sacrifice be a practical lesson of life for all." He added that it is necessary to "ask forgiveness of one another and forgive one another for the wounds inflicted and received, and unreservedly trust the renewing action of the Holy Spirit."

After encouraging priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and students of theology to follow the example of "these heroic witnesses to the Gospel," he requested those in charge to "give careful attention to the training of future priests and of those called to the consecrated life. ... On the one hand the value of celibacy for the kingdom of heaven ought to be emphasized, on the other the importance of the Sacrament of Matrimony with its connected responsibilities ought to be made clear."

John Paul II concluded by exhorting "all the Church's sons and daughters to seek with constant commitment an ever more genuine and profound knowledge of Christ. May the clergy be always eager to give serious evangelical and ecclesial formation to the laity."

Following Mass, the Pope travelled to the archiepiscopal Palace of St. George in Lviv where he had lunch with the Ukrainian Catholic bishops and members of his entourage.

At 5:45 p.m., the Holy Father is scheduled to travel to Lviv's international airport for the farewell ceremony. The papal flight is due to take off at 7 p.m. local time and to arrive in Rome after a three hour flight.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, Brazil, presented by Auxiliary Bishop Antonio do Carmo Cheuiche O.C.D., in accordance with Canons 411 and 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon law.

- Appointed Fr. Francisco Clavel Gil, canon of the cathedral in Mexico (area 1,479, population 10,910,245, Catholics 9,271,527, priests 1,670, permanent deacons 74, religious 8,291), Mexico, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Tlacotepec, Mexico, in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1959.

- Appointed Fr. Rogelio Esquivel Medina, episcopal vicar and pastor in Mexico, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Periban de Ramos, Mexico, in 1940 and ordained a priest in 1970.

- Appointed Fr. Jonas Guerrero Corona of the clergy of the diocese of Autlan, Mexico, and master of ceremonies at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in El Chante, Mexico, in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1974.

- Appointed Fr. Gustavo Rodriguez Vega, rector of the seminary of the archdiocese of Monterrey (area 17,886, population 4,650,000, Catholics 4,324,500, priests 437, permanent deacons 7, religious 964), Mexico, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Monterrey in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1980.

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