WOMEN 2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Joan McGrath-Triulzi, member of the Holy See delegation, spoke yesterday afternoon before the Third Committee of the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly on the advancement of women and the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century."

She remarked that "Six years have passed since the Fourth World Conference on Women and one year since the Beijing +5. The Holy See would like to reiterate its support for what it called 'the living heart' of the Beijing Platform for Action: the recognition of the dignity of women, the importance of strategies for development, ending violence against women, access to employment, land and capital, and the provision of basic social services. These objectives bear a close correspondence to the social teaching of the Holy See" which, she added, "continues to be a major provider of basic social services to girls and women, especially in developing countries."

Then, addressing the "phenomenon of globalization," Mrs. McGrath-Triulzi said, "The question we must ask ourselves is, how can women attain the best position to reap the benefits of globalization and avoid its negative effects?"

"Several conditions must be in place to achieve this," she answered. "Recognition of the dignity of the human person, especially women and girls, must be the starting point for fostering authentic human development. ... Secondly, ... the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls must be protected so that they will benefit from globalization. Respect for the right to freely enter into marriage and raise a family, to seek employment and just wages and to be protected from abuse and exploitation is a prerequisite to women's contribution to economic development.

"Lastly, investment in basic social services is the bedrock for women's well-being and economic development. ... It is imperative then, that the education and health of girls and women be a priority in development programs."

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STATISTICS ON THE PAPACY OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Monday, October 22 marks the 23rd anniversary of the solemn inauguration of Pope John Paul II's pontificate. Statistics on his pontificate have been compiled by both Vatican Radio, which helps to organize the papal trips abroad, and by the Holy See Press Office.

John Paul II has made 95 foreign apostolic trips and 140 trips within Italy, travelling a total of 928 days and 1,205,312 kilometers (723,187 miles), over three times the distance to the moon. He has given 3,251 speeches during those 235 trips and has spent 11.21 percent of his pontificate outside of Rome.

As Bishop of Rome he has visited 297 of the diocese's 325 parishes.

The Holy Father has written 13 encyclicals, 12 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 41 apostolic letters and 25 Motu proprio. He has proclaimed 1,272 Blesseds in 129 beatification ceremonies, and 452 Saints in 42 canonization ceremonies.

John Paul II has held eight consistories for the creation of cardinals and has named a total of 201 cardinals. The current College of Cardinals is composed of 179 members (130 electors and 49 over the age of 80), 157 of whom have been created by Pope John Paul.

He has convened six plenary reunions of the College of Cardinals and there have been 15 synods during his pontificate: 6 ordinary general assemblies, 1 extraordinary general assembly, 7 special assemblies and 1 particular synod.

Pope John Paul has held over 1,330 audiences and meetings with political figures, including 38 official visits by heads of state, 641 other audiences with heads of state and 210 audiences and encounters with prime ministers.
He has presided over 1,009 weekly general audiences (including October 17) in 23 years in the presence of 16,155,200 pilgrims.

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TWENTY-FIRST GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, in the presence of the Holy Father and 228 synod fathers, the Twenty-First General Congregation was held during which there was the first vote on the post-synodal council and the presentation of a draft of the final message of the Synod. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Ivan Dias, archbishop of Bombay, India. A general discussion of the final message then took place during which 27 synod fathers spoke.

This afternoon there will be no general congregation. However the relator general, the special secretary and the language group moderators will compile the proposals made in the preceding days.

No general congregations are scheduled for tomorrow, although the compilation of proposals will continue.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Joseph Louis Andre Ouellette, emeritus of Mont-Laurier, Canada, on October 11, at the age of 88.
- Bishop Jose Prospero da Ascensao Puaty, emeritus of Lwena, Angola, on October 12, at the age of 73.
- Archbishop Hans Schwemmer, apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, on October 1, at the age of 56.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience His Beatitude Gregoire III Laham, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, Damascus-Syria, accompanied by his entourage.

He also received the following participants in the Synod of Bishops:
- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, England.
- Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., of Caceres, the Philippines.
- Archbishop Thomas Meram of Urmya of the Chaldeans, bishop of Salmas of the Chaldeans, Iran.
- Archbishop Telesphore Placidus Toppo of Ranchi, India.
- Archbishop George Pell of Sydney, Australia.
- Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe of Lusaka, Zambia.
- Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye of Blantyre, Malawi.
- Bishop Vincent Logan of Dunkeld, Scotland.
- Bishop Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., of Pathein, Myanmar.
- Bishop Wilton Daniel Gregory of Belleville, U.S.A.
- Bishop John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- Bishop Peter Fernando of Tuticorin, India.

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