PAPAL PLEA: NEVER USE RELIGION AS REASON FOR CONFLICT

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II travelled this morning from Astana's apostolic nunciature to the Square of the Motherland, where at 10:30 a.m. he celebrated Mass with the ordinaries of Kazakhstan, guest bishops and priests working in the country, and the prelates in the papal entourage.

The monument which overlooks the square is a symbol of the Motherland and depicts a woman with a chalice at the foot of a large shaft of wheat. It bears the date of June 9, 1945, the end of the Second World War.

"In the name of the one God," the Pope said in his homily before more than 30,000 people, the majority of whom were Muslims, "I turn to the people of deep and ancient religious traditions, the people of Kazakhstan. I turn as well to those who belong to no religion and to those who are searching for truth."

"Humanity's homeland," he exclaimed, "is the Kingdom of heaven! How compelling it is for us to ponder this truth in this place, in the Square which bears the name of the Mother Land." He added that the tenth anniversary of independence in the country invites reflection on the link "between this earthly homeland, with its values and goals, and the heavenly homeland, into which the whole human family is called to enter beyond every injustice and conflict."

The Holy Father emphasized that "Christians are both inhabitants of this world and citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. They commit themselves wholeheartedly to the building of earthly society, but they remain focused upon the good things of eternity. ... Christianity does not lead to alienation from the tasks of this earth. If at times, in some quite particular situations, it gives this impression, that is because many Christians do not live as they should. But in truth, when it is lived as it should be, Christianity is a leaven in society."

"In this celebration," he continued, "we want to pray for Kazakhstan and its inhabitants, so that this vast nation, with all its ethnic, cultural and religious variety, will grow stronger in justice, solidarity and peace. May it progress thanks to the collaboration, in particular, between Christians and Muslims, committed day by day, side by side, in the effort to fulfill God's will."

"Yet prayer," the Pope affirmed, "must always be accompanied by appropriate works. Following Christ's example, the Church never separates evangelization from human promotion, and she urges the faithful in every circumstance to work for social renewal and progress." He concluded by recalling that "respect for each one's rights, even when that person has different personal beliefs, is the foundation of all truly human harmony."
After the Mass and before the recitation of the Angelus, John Paul II entrusted to Mary "all of you: Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers," and asked that she help them "to accomplish in your daily lives Christ's command: 'Love one another', which is the guiding theme of this pastoral visit of mine."

The Holy Father, speaking English, then made an appeal for peace in the world:

"From this city, from Kazakhstan, a country that is an example of harmony between men and women of different origins and beliefs, I wish to make an earnest call to everyone, Christians and the followers of other religions, to work together to build a world without violence, a world that loves life, and grows in justice and solidarity. We must not let what has happened lead to a deepening of divisions. Religion must never be used as a reason for conflict.

"From this place, I invite both Christians and Muslims to raise an intense prayer to the One, Almighty God whose children we all are, that the supreme good of peace may reign in the world. May people everywhere, strengthened by divine wisdom, work for a civilization of love, in which there is no room for hatred, discrimination or violence.

"With all my heart I beg God to keep the world in peace. Amen."

He then greeted the faithful present in Kazakh, Polish, and German, and addressed in a special way the pilgrims of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and other countries, who came to participate in the ceremony.

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POPE ARRIVES IN KAZAKHSTAN, STARTS 95TH FOREIGN TRIP

VATICAN CITY, SEP 22, 2001 (VIS) - Following a trip of six hours and a time zone change of five hours, Pope John Paul arrived in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, at 7:30 p.m. local time where he was greeted by civil and religious authorities.

For the first time, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, did not accompany the Holy Father on a trip. Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released a statement yesterday afternoon saying that "the Holy Father, desirious of constantly following events on the international scene as they develop, has asked Cardinal Sodano, to remain in Rome during his trip to Kazakhstan and Armenia. Cardinal Sodano can thus remain in touch with the leaders of differentcountries and keep them informed of the Pope's thoughts in the current situation."

In an address in Russian at the airport, the Pope highlighted how Kazakhstan is "a multi-ethnic state, heir to numerous centuries-old spiritual and cultural traditions, and now on the move to new social and economic objectives." He greeted civil and military officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Islamic leaders and faithful, as well as the faithful of the Orthodox Church, other Churches and ecclesial communities and Kazakhstan's small but "dedicated and enthusiastic" Catholic populace.

The Pope referred to the nation's ten years of independence, saying that "Kazakhstan wishes to grow in brotherhood, dialogue and understanding; these are the indispensable requisites for building bridges of solidarity and cooperation with other peoples, nations and cultures."

He then referred to Kazakhstan's "bold move in 1991 to close the nuclear facility of Semipalatinsk, subsequently announcing its unilateral rejection of nuclear arms and its adherence to the Pact totally banning atomic experimentation. This decision is based on the conviction that controversies must be resolved not by recourse to arms but by the peaceful means of negotiation and dialogue. I can only encourage this type of commitment, which well corresponds to the fundamental demands of solidarity and peace to which human beings aspire ever more knowingly."

"Today in your country, which is one of the world's largest in area," John Paul II added, "citizens belonging to over a hundred nationalities and ethnic groups live side by side, each guaranteed the same rights and freedoms by your Constitution. This spirit of openness and cooperation is part of your tradition, for Kazakhstan has always been a land where different traditions and cultures come together."

The Pope urged Kazakhs to "see to it that your commitment to your country is always based on the safeguarding of freedom, the inalienable right and profound aspiration of every person. In particular, recognize the right to religious freedom, which enables people to express their most deeply held beliefs."

After the welcoming ceremony, Pope John Paul visited Astana's monument to the victims of the totalitarian regime, where he placed a wreath of flowers and prayed. Dinner at the apostolic nunciature followed this visit.

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POPE ENTRUSTS KAZAKHSTAN TO MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2001 (VIS) - At 9:30 a.m. local time, the Pope left the apostolic nunciature for the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, consecrated two years ago, where he celebrated Mass in the Latin rite, in honor of Mary, Queen of Peace, patroness of Kazakhstan. Concelebrating with the Holy Father were the ordinaries of the country, the priests who work there, and the cardinals and bishops of the papal entourage.

In his homily, John Paul II expressed his appreciation to the priests, men and women religious, and seminarians of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan for the "generosity and fidelity with which you carry out your labors. ... "My thoughts turn at this time to your communities, once scattered and sorely tried. In heart and in spirit I relive the unspeakable trials of all those who suffered not only physical exile and imprisonment, but public ridicule and violence because they chose not to renounce the faith. ... In this Eucharist, I remember them all with gratitude and affection. From their sufferings in union with the Cross of Christ the new life of your Christian community has blossomed."

The Holy Father told the priests that "the spirit of communion and of genuine cooperation which you must foster between yourselves and the lay faithful will be the secret to the success of this exalting and demanding mission." He also spoke of the necessity "to ensure the theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation of those whom the Lord calls to His service."

"Before being heralds of the Gospel, we need to be credible witnesses," he said. He emphasized the need for "every disciple of Christ to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Indeed, this need is all the more urgent because of the spiritual devastation left behind by militant atheism, as well as the dangers present in today's hedonism and consumerism. To the power of witness, dear Brothers and Sisters, add the gentleness of dialogue. ... The Church has no wish to impose her own faith on others. It is clear, however, that this does not exempt the Lord's disciples from communicating to others the great gift which they have received: life in Christ."

The Pope concluded by exhorting the priests, religious, and seminarians to face the difficulties in their apostolic work and to think "of the good things the Lord is accomplishing by using your hands, your words and your hearts. He has put you here as a gift for your neighbor. May you ever be worthy of this mission."

At the conclusion of the Mass, John Paul II entrusted Kazakhstan to the protection of Mary, Queen of Peace.

Following this, the Pope travelled to the bishop's house, in front of the cathedral, for lunch with the bishops and the members of the papal entourage.

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TO YOUTH: BE PEACEMAKERS, BE BUILDERS OF A BETTER WORLD

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father arrived at Eurasia University in Astana at 6:30 p.m. today and, following a tour of the campus, held a meeting with young people in the university's Great Hall. About 8,500 students from numerous countries are enrolled in the university.

The Pope pointed out that the university's "very name, Eurasia, indicates the particular mission which it has in common with your great nation which is a point of contact between Europe and Asia: a mission of linking two continents, their respective cultures and traditions and the different ethnic groups who have mingled here through the centuries."

"Peace be with you," he told the young men and women. "May peace fill your hearts! Know that you are all called to be builders of a better world. Be peacemakers, because a society solidly based on peace is a society with a future."

He told them he knows that youth "are interested in the basic questions ... Who am I? What is the meaning of my life? Where am I going? My answer, dear young people, is simple but hugely significant: You are a thought of God, you are a heart-beat of God. ... You matter to God in your completely unique individuality."

"Here you sit, side by side, in a spirit of friendship," John Paul II remarked, "not because you have forgotten the evil there has been in your history, but because you are rightly more interested in the good that you can build together. ... Your country has experienced the deadly violence of ideology. Do not let yourselves fall prey now to the no less destructive violence of 'emptiness'." He asked the youth to "realize that you are not your own masters; open yourselves to the One Who created you out of love."

The Pope said that people today "at times delude themselves that they are all-powerful because they have made great scientific progress and managed in some way to control the complex world of technology. But every individual has a heart: intelligence may drive machines but it is the heart that beats with life!"

In closing remarks, the Holy Father said that "in people's minds there is the growing conviction that we cannot go on living divided as we are. Unfortunately nowadays, when communications are becoming easier by the day, differences are often apparent in still more dramatic form."

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CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CENTRAL ASIA IS FULL OF HOPE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2001 (VIS) - At 2:00 p.m. at Astana's apostolic nunciature, the Pope met with the eight bishops and apostolic administrators of Central Asia - four from Kazakhstan, and four from the republics of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - and with the cardinals and bishops of his entourage.

In his discourse, John Paul II affirmed that though "the Catholic Church in Central Asia is only a little plant, she is full of hope. ... The long years of Communist dictatorship, during which so many of the faithful were deported to the gulags set up in these lands, caused much suffering and bereavement. How many priests, religious and laity paid for their faithfulness to Christ with unimaginable suffering, and even the sacrifice of their lives!"

"The priority pastoral aims of your apostolic mission" he said, "should be the spreading, with all your energies, of the Gospel proclamation and the continuing consolidation of the Church's organization. The recent establishment of the Apostolic Administrations and the Missions 'sui iuris', by means of which the Church has gained a visible and solid structure, heralds the beginning of a promising time of evangelization." The Holy Father thanked "the priests and men and women religious who have left their native countries to offer themselves for the missionary task in these lands."

After inviting the pastors to be united among themselves, collaborating effectively, he said, "Although you are geographically far away, you are in the heart of the Pope who appreciates your untiring apostolate."

"The long winter of communist domination" has led, he affirmed, to "a scarcity of ideals which makes people particularly vulnerable to the myths of consumerism and hedonism imported from the West. These are social and spiritual challenges which call for a courageous missionary impulse."

John Paul II exhorted the prelates to "pay close attention to the formation of candidates to the priesthood and religious life," and expressed his "great pleasure at the completion of the seminary in Karaganda. ... As the seminary of all of Central Asia, it is a sign of effective cooperation between your Churches."

"Give special attention," he continued, "to the training and apostolate of the laity. ... and ecclesial Movements and new Communities. Their presence, spirit of initiative and specific charisms are a source of wealth to be valued."

The Holy Father concluded by encouraging the promotion of ecumenical dialogue with the members of the Orthodox Church, saying, "May your mutual relations be characterized by warmth and respect. ... Respect and dialogue should also be fostered in relation to the Muslim community, with those who belong to other religions and with those who profess themselves to be non-believers."

After the meeting, the Pope travelled to the presidential palace for a courtesy visit to the president of the republic, Nursultan Abishevich Nazabayev.

Though no speeches were scheduled, both the president and the Pope made off-the-cuff remarks in the presence of their entourages.

John Paul II, speaking Italian, thanked Divine Providence "for having allowed me to come here and be here. In recent days some people said such a trip would not have been possible because of the tragic events which happened in the United States. But, as you can see, it was possible, thanks to God!"

Saying that it was the first time he found himself "in this part of the world, in Central Asia," he mentioned Fr. Bukowinski, "well known here," who was deported from Poland to the Soviet Union and died in Kazakhstan. He said that this priest "was my first source of information about Kazakhstan."

The Holy Father expressed joy that his visit coincided with the nation's 10th anniversary of independence and said he hoped "this sovereignty would be lasting, fruitful and ever fuller."

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"HATRED, FANATICISM AND TERRORISM PROFANE THE NAME OF GOD"

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2001 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. today, local time, the Pope met representatives of the world of culture, art and science in Astana's Palace of Congresses.

In his address in Russian, the Holy Father highlighted once again that "Kazakhstan is heir to a history in which complex and often sorrowful events have given rise to diverse traditions, so that today it stands as a unique example of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. ... Kazakhstan is a vast country which down the centuries has given rise to a vibrant culture, rich in creative developments, thanks also to the influence of Russian intellectuals confined here by the totalitarian regime." He told the dignitaries they "are called to acquaint the world with Kazakhstan's rich cultural tradition: this is a demanding undertaking, and yet an attractive one."

"The human heart," noted the Pope, "asks questions which will not go away; when these questions are ignored, man becomes not freer but weaker, often ending up at the mercy of his own instincts, to say nothing of the aggression of others." He said that often the questions man asks are "religious by their very nature, in the sense that they appeal to those supreme values which have God as their ultimate foundation. Religion, for its part, cannot fail to grapple with these existential questions; otherwise it loses contact with life."

"Consequently - even in the context of a soundly secular State, which is obliged in any event to guarantee to each citizen, without distinction of sex, race and nationality, the fundamental right to freedom of conscience - there is a need to acknowledge and defend the right of believers to bear public witness to their faith. Authentic religious practice cannot be reduced to the private sphere or narrowly restricted to the edges of society."

"In this context," John Paul II concluded, "and precisely here in this land of encounters and dialogue, and before this distinguished audience, I wish to reaffirm the Catholic Church's respect for Islam, for authentic Islam: the Islam that prays, that is concerned for those in need. Recalling the errors of the past, including the most recent past, all believers ought to unite their efforts to ensure that God is never made the hostage of human ambitions. Hatred, fanaticism and terrorism profane the name of God and disfigure the true image of man."

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