PROMULGATION OF DECREES BY CONGREGATION FOR CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, fifteen decrees were promulgated in the presence of the Holy Father, members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the postulators of the respective causes. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the congregation, read a speech detailing the lives of the future Blesseds and Saints who, he said, radically lived the call to holiness that every Christian receives with baptism.

The 15 decrees are for:

MARTYRDOM:

- Servants of God Juan Bautista and Jiacinto de los Angelos, fathers of families, killed for hatred of the faith in 1700 in San Francisco Cajonos, Mexico.
- Servant of God Niklas Gross, German, layman, father of family, killed for his faith (1898-1945).

HEROIC VIRTUES:

- Servant of God Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi, Italian, father of a family (1880-1951).
- Servant of God Maria Corsini, Italian, widow of Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi, mother of a family (1884-1965).

MIRACLES:

- Blessed Umile da Bisignano, ne Luca Antonio Pirozzo, Italian, professed layman of the Order of Friars Minor (1582-1637).
- Blessed Pedro di San Jose de Betancur, Spanish, layman of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis and founder of the Bethlehem Brothers and Sisters (1619-1667).
- Blessed Paolina del Cuore Agonizzante di Gesu, Italian, nee Amabile Visintainer, foundress of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (died 1942).
- Servant of God Bartolomeo dei Martiri, Portuguese, ne Bartolomeo Fernandes, of the Order of Friars Preachers, archbishop of Braga (1514-1590).
- Servant of God Giovanni Antonio Farina, Italian, bishop of Vicenza and founder of the Institute of the Sisters Teachers of St. Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Heart (1803-1888).
- Servant of God Tommaso Maria Fusco, Italian, priest of the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Samo, founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood (1831-1891).
- Servant of God Luigi Tezza, professed priest of the Order of Clerics Regular, Ministers of the Sick, and founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Camillus (1841-1923).
- Servant of God Maria del Transito di Gesu Sacramentato, Argentinean, nee Maria del Transito Cabanillas, foundress of the Congregation of Tertiary Sisters Franciscan Missionaries of Argentina (1821-1885). - Servant of God Maria Pilar Izquierdo Albero, Spanish, foundress of the Missionary Work of Jesus and Mary (1906-1945).
- Servant of God Liduina Meneguzzi, Italian, nee Elisa Angela, professed religious of the Institute of St. Francis de Sales (1901-1941).
- Servant of God Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi, Italian, father of a family (1880-1951) and Servant of God Maria Corsini, Italian, widow of Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi, mother of a family (1884-1965).

CCS;DECREES;...;SARAIVA;VIS;20010709;Word: 420;

ARMENIAN MECHITARISTS CELEBRATE THIRD CENTENARY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed 35 members of the Armenian Mechitarist Congregation on the occasion of the third centenary of their founding by Abbot Mechitar who, the Pope said "was surely celebrating in heaven for the recent unification of the two branches of your congregation."

"With the story of Mechitar of Sebaste the history of Armenian monastic spirituality reaches its summit. In a period of strong decadence, due to precise socio-political circumstances, Mechitar understood that holiness was the highest and most efficacious means of returning dignity, vigor and moral and civil commitment to his people. He was above all a seeker of God, ... and wished to be so within the precise context of Armenian monastic life."

The Holy Father recalled that "while he was still young, Mechitar undertook a pilgrimage which brought him to various monasteries of Armenia. ... During this pilgrimage he also met many Latin religious, drawing from the knowledge of their spirituality new points for reflection, without, however, harming full fidelity to the authentic Armenian tradition." He added that this contact between East and West led "Mechitar to settle, together with the monks he founded, in Venice, the natural bridge of a West leaning towards the East. Since then the island of St. Lazarus has become 'a little Armenia' and is still a place of pilgrimage."

John Paul II underscored that "the characteristic element of Mechitarist spirituality is the search for holiness, through an intense prayer life." And he noted that Mechitar "directed the monks to live a common life in the monastery, under the sign of obedience. The monasteries thus became centers of spiritual formation and profound cultural studies."

"Mechitar and his monks," the Pope went on, "must be recognized for having worked, and still working, for the full reestablishment of unity among the Church of the West and the Church of the East. For Mechitar, communion with Rome was an indispensable element of faith."

"Dear sons of Mechitar," stated the Holy Father, "it is up to you to gather this legacy and to revive it," getting to know your people, and how to answer their longings. He suggested "it might be opportune to make use of the collaboration of the lay faithful."

The Pope also pointed out that "your history and the intuitions of your founder place you in a privileged position in the ecumenical dialogue. ... Be up to the task of such an extraordinary vocation."

He dedicated closing remarks to the need to "recall that poverty is the indispensable mark of monastic life. May your riches be the Lord Whom you carry in your heart. ... May past events teach you not to confuse material prosperity with the depth of spiritual life: prosperity often causes idolatrous greed which mines the foundation of religious experience. This is a lesson which must not be forgotten."

AC;CENTENARY; MECHITARISTS;...;...;VIS;20010709;Word: 470;

AUDIENCES

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

- Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio in Italy.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20010709;Word: 50;

THE RICH MUST HEED THE CRY OF THE POOR

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, before the recitation of the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope asked "the richest and most technologically advanced nations ... to listen to the cry of the many poor peoples of the world: they ask, simply, that which is their sacrosanct right."

The Holy Father's words are framed in the context of the upcoming summit of heads of State and Government in Genoa, Italy, from July 20 to 22. He asked Christians for "a special prayer" for these leaders, exhorting them "to work together to build a world more united in justice and solidarity. Christians must prepare themselves for this task with a strong moral and spiritual education, with a deepened knowledge of the social doctrine of the Church and with a great love for Jesus Christ, Redeemer of every man and of all humanity."

John Paul II said his "thoughts today turn to the participants in the national meeting of various Catholic associations taking place today in Genoa, in view of the upcoming summit of heads of State and Government." He also said, "I unite myself to the bishops of the Liguria region, who, in the recent Letter sent to the faithful of their Churches, express the urgency to 'reawaken in everyone, beginning with those in charge of public administration, the thrust to a new 'morality' in the face of serious and at times dramatic economic-financial, health-care related, social, cultural, environmental, and political problems'.

"In reality," he continued, "faith cannot leave the Christian indifferent before similar questions of worldwide relevance. It spurs him to question, with an appropriate spirit, those in charge of politics and the economy, asking that the current process of globalization be strongly governed by the motives of the well-being of the citizens of the entire world, on the basis of the irrefutable demands of justice and solidarity."

After greeting the pilgrims present in various languages, John Paul II noted that tomorrow he will travel to the northern Italian region of Valle d'Aosta, "to spend some time in those beloved mountains. I will remember everyone in my prayers, especially those sick or alone. I hope that everyone can enjoy some well-deserved rest during the summer, even those who, for various reasons, do not leave their cities and countries."

ANG;SUMMIT GENOA; VACATION;...;...;VIS;20010709;Word: 390;

TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF SEVERE STORM IN STRASBOURG

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent in Pope John Paul's name by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, to Archbishop Joseph Dore of Strasbourg for the victims of the storm which struck that city last evening, uprooting a tree which crashed on the site of an indoor concert, causing deaths and many injured:

"Informed of the hurricane which struck the Pourtales Chateau Park, causing numerous victims, the Holy Father expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families in mourning and assures his deepest sympathy and his spiritual closeness to all those touched by this drama. He recommends the souls of the departed to the mercy of God, praying the Almighty to welcome them in His peace and light. Welcoming the work of the rescuers, he asks God to comfort the wounded, especially the children, as well as those persons who are so sorely tried."

TGR;STORM; VICTIMS;...;STRASBOURG; DORE;VIS;20010709;Word: 160;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 9, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Christopher Henry Toohey, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Sydney, Australia, director of the Office for Education of the adults of the same archdiocese, as bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes (area 414,398, population 121,816, Catholics 36,804, priests 25, religious 72), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Balmain, Australia, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1982.

On Saturday, July 7, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Pierre-Antoine Paulo, O.M.I., superior of the Missions of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the archdiocese of Cartagena, Colombia, as coadjutor bishop of Port-de-Paix (area 4,500, population 435,000, Catholics 280,000, priests 37, religious 88), Haiti. The bishop-elect was born in Camp Perrin, Haiti, in 1944. He professed his first vows in 1963, his perpetual vows in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1969.

NER; NEC;...;...;TOOHEY; PAULO;VIS;20010709;Word: 140;

CARDINAL SARAIVA IS ENVOY TO BRAZIL'S EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 9, 2001 (VIS) - The Pontifical Letter in which Pope John Paul names Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins as his special envoy to the celebrations of the 14th National Brazilian Eucharistic Congress was published today. The letter, written in Latin, was dated May 20, 2001. The congress will take place in Campanis, Brazil, from July 19 to 22.

Also published today were the names of the other members of the Pontifical Mission who will be joining the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Msgr. Jose Machado Couto, apostolic protonotary, a pastor in Helvetia, Campinas and a consultor of the Congregation for Catholic Education; Msgr. Stefano Migliorelli, official of the Secretariat of State; Msgr. Claudio Jovine, official of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and Fr. Alvaro Augusto Ambiel, pastor of the cathedral of Campinas.

DELSS;EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS;...;BRAZIL; SARAIVA;VIS;20010709;Word: 150;

POPE LEAVES FOR 12-DAY VACATION IN NORTHERN ITALY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 9, 2001 (VIS) - At 10 this morning Pope John Paul left by car for Rome's Ciampino Airport where his plane left at 10:30 for northern Italy's Valle d'Aosta region. He arrived at 11:40 at the Saint-Christophe Airport in Aosta and was accompanied to the villa in Les Combes which will be his home until early evening of July 20.

JPII-VACATION;DEPARTURE;...;...;VIS;20010709;Word: 70;