POPE ASKS FOR BAN ON ALL FORMS OF FORCED HUMAN MOBILITY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 29, 2001 (VIS) - At noon today Pope John Paul appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo to greet the faithful gathered below and to recite the Angelus prayer with them.

In reflections he made before reciting the Marian prayer, the Pope noted that "yesterday, July 28, the United Nations celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees. This is an important agreement which is still the foundation on which the international protection of refugees is based, having been ratified by about 140 countries, including the Holy See."

He added that "for the nations involved in the Second World War, the past 50 years have been substantially years of peace. But there has been no lack of conflicts in the world for which the number of refugees and forced migrations has unfortunately been on the increase. On the other hand, numerous and serious cases of default in applying the Geneva Convention have been registered. One sign of hope, however, comes from the commitment with which the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is working to verify the efficacy of the Convention and its correspondence to current realities. I hope that, thanks to such an important effort for a higher level of protection and solidarity, the basic right to asylum is never lacking those who need it."

The Holy Father urged "that every form of forced human mobility be banned so that persons, families and social groups can safeguard their own roots and identities."

John Paul II and the faithful then recited the Angelus, following which he greeted the pilgrims briefly in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Polish.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Bernardo Enrique Witte, O.M.I., from the pastoral care of the diocese of Concepcion (area 11,800, population 300,000, Catholics 270,000, priests 29, permanent deacons 5, religious 37), Argentina, in accordance with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jose Maria Rossi, O.P.

- Appointed Bishop Jaume Traserra Cunillera, auxiliary of Barcelona, as bishop of Solsona (area 3,536, population 119,234, Catholics 102,300, priests 134, religious 258), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Deig Clotet, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Benoit Comlan Messan Alowonou, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Lome, professor and adjunct spiritual director at the Major Inter-diocesan John Paul II Seminary in Lome, as bishop of Kpalime (area 6,447, population 671,305, Catholics 248,150, priests 50, religious 98), Togo. The bishop-elect was born in Tsevie, Togo, in 1949, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984.

- Appointed Msgr. Ivan Jurkovic, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio in Belarus, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Kocevje, Slovenia, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1977.

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CONCERT FOR POPE OFFERED BY "PRO MUNDO UNO" ACADEMY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 29, 2001 (VIS) - At 8:00 p.m., in the inner courtyard of the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo, the "Academia Musicae Pro Mundo Uno" offered a concert for the Pope which was performed by the German Symphonic Orchestra "Philarmonie der Nationen," conducted by Maestro Justus Frantz.

At the end of the concert, John Paul II thanked the president of the Academy, Maestro Frantz, and the young musicians of the orchestra.

"The melodies of Tchaikovsky, performed with consummate skill, speak to us of a 'symphonic' Europe, in which different traditions can meaningfully meet and harmonize. Art also can be a precious channel for motivating knowledge, understanding, and shared cooperation between peoples."

The Holy Father told the performers that, "with concerts and other initiatives, you seek to contribute to the cause of peace and unity among men and nations. I hope that you remain faithful to your ideal, above all when responsibilities become more demanding and your commitment is put to the test. May you always be craftsmen of friendship and fraternity. May you always be 'pro mundo uno'!"
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