LETTERS OF CREDENCE OF NEW AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo the new ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See, Bernard Davenport, presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father who in his discourse recalled that "the Christian foundations of Europe owe much to the vision and labors of great Irish saints."

"In later, more troubled times," the Pope continued, "Irish men and women suffered discrimination, persecution and even martyrdom for their tenacious fidelity to the faith of their ancestors. This heritage has deeply marked the character and culture of the Irish people, who have a special sensitivity to the sufferings of other peoples, and have been outstanding in generosity and solidarity towards them"

"Recent years," the Pope noted, "have brought rapid social and economic change, leading to many positive developments, but also to new and sometimes destabilizing demands on individuals and society." He then emphasized the need "to discern those trends and changes which encourage genuine progress while safeguarding the values on which your nation is built."

"The choices made in the economic and social domain," he continued, "reveal a given culture's overall understanding of life. ... There is need for considerable educational and cultural effort to ensure that people, apart from developing new and advanced technological skills and expertise, are also trained to make responsible use of their new-found power of choice in order to distinguish between the valuable and the ephemeral."

The Pope went on to note the essential role which the family plays in "helping its members to grow to full human maturity, and therefore to play a responsible role in society. ... Today, however," he added, "the family is increasingly under severe pressure from a complicated interplay of forces which tend to subordinate the transcendent value of life to other immediate interests or even to personal convenience."

Commenting on the ambassador's discourse which noted the increasingly important role of Ireland in the international community, John Paul II affirmed: "The Holy See ... is deeply concerned about ... the worrying resurgence of aggressive forms of nationalism and racism (which) are serious threats to human dignity and undermine social coexistence, peace and harmony. ... A culture of mutual openness and acceptance needs to be fostered; this calls for suitable educational initiatives and the legal protection of the fundamental rights of all. Ireland's tradition of warm hospitality cannot fail precisely when the world stands in need of attitudes of fairness, justice and solidarity with those in need."

The Pope concluded his discourse by recalling his trip to Ireland in 1979 and his petition that "those involved in violence in Northern Ireland would renounce the use of arms and embrace the path of dialogue and peace." He went on to note that "much progress has been made in recent times in this regard and we must hope that a new spirit of enlightened commitment to the common good will indeed take hold at every level. Present difficulties are a reminder that peace is a fragile reality calling for continued goodwill and the implementation of the practical measures required for a just and harmonious society."

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES TO TAKE PART IN MEETING IN U.S.A

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will take part in the annual Catholic Charities meeting on September 10 in Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A., and will give a talk entitled "What defines Christian charity?"

A communique made public today explains that Catholic Charities is a charitable organization of the bishops of the United States devoted to the care of the needy within the country. In 1999, for example, it assisted 9.5 million people, at a cost of $2.3 billion. The organization has 50,488 full-time workers and approximately 200,000 volunteers.
"It is significant," the communique states, "that the Church in the United States, which also works outside of the country through Catholic Relief Services, has noted an increase of poverty as well as commitment within the country. In 1999, 3,500,000 people were fed, which is a 32 percent increase from the previous year."

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SAFEGUARD THE PATRIMONY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S MESSAGE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in Castelgandolfo, John Paul II received the participants of the General Chapter of St. Augustine, held in recent days.

The Pope asked the Augustinians to help many people to "discover the transcendent meaning of life with modern forms of pastoral service. ... Render this important missionary service to the Church, drawing from suggestions and proposals for a renewed apostolic action from the inexhaustible treasure of your great Teacher."

"With wisdom," the Holy Father continued, "provide for a revision of the Constitution and for juridical and organizational reforms of the Order which allow a more clear transmission of the Augustinian charism. Nevertheless, the most important task is to safeguard, unaltered and alive, the patrimony of the message of the teaching and the life of St. Augustine, which can serve humanity hungry for truth, faithfulness and love in every age."

The Holy Father exhorted the religious to "be 'teachers of the interior life', at the service of the men of the third millennium who are seeking Christ. He is not reached through a superficial path, but by the way of the interior life."

After recalling the words of his predecessor Pope Paul VI, who affirmed that "the genius of the Augustinian Order ... is the development of the intellectual apostolate," John Paul II said: "If an adequate intellectual and pastoral formation is needed to accomplish this task, it is above all indispensable to strive for sanctity, to be, that is, in love with God and His eternal design of salvation."

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AUDIENCES

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

- Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, apostolic nuncio in Chile.
- Archbishop Orlando Antonini, apostolic nuncio in Zambia and Malawi.
- Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, apostolic nuncio in Ukraine.

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