BERTOLI: PROFOUND LOVE FOR GOD AND SERVICE TO THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, John Paul II presided over the funeral for Cardinal Paolo Bertoli, who died last Thursday in Rome at the age of 93. Concelebrating with the Pope were members of the College of Cardinals.

In his homily, the Pope recalled the many ecclesial services that the Cardinal carried out in Eastern and Western Europe, as well as in Latin America, the Middle East and in the organisms of the Holy See. He was also prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and camerlengo (chamberlain) of Holy Roman Church.

"The long ecclesial ministry of Cardinal Bertoli was constantly sustained by the strength of God's love, which found its most genuine and immediate expression in the witness of charity and in concrete gestures of solidarity towards his brethren, especially the poorest and most suffering."

The Holy Father emphasized that "During his entire life Cardinal Paolo Bertoli was supported by this great ideal: an intense and profound love towards God, a generous and faithful service to the Church, courageous and supportive action on behalf of his brethren."

"To the Church and the Pope he offered a precious service in the different tasks entrusted to him, always seeking to respond - as he himself recalls in his will - 'with the spirit of faith and fidelity', and with 'that simplicity so dear to me'."

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POPE JOHN PAUL GREETS DELEGATION OF NEW YORK FIREMEN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning offered "a warm welcome to the delegation from the New York City Fire Department, so many of whose members lost their lives in the terrorist attack of September 11."

"May Almighty God," the Pope said, "grant the bereaved families consolation and peace, and may He give you and your fellow firefighters strength and courage to carry on your great service to your city. With the promise of my continued prayers I invoke upon you and your families God's abundant blessings."

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CHRISTIAN FORMATION IMPARTED BY FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND PARISHES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - The bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning upon the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit. In his talk to them in English the Pope underscored the importance of the family, the school and the parish in the "lifelong Christian formation" of the faithful.

He told the prelates that "lifelong Christian formation ... is the essential support of a solid Christian life, a formation that begins in Baptism, develops through grace at every stage of life's journey, and will end only when our eyes are fully opened in the beatific vision of heaven. ... It unfolds in the lives of most of the faithful (in) the family, the school and the parish. These are not just conventional arrangements which might at some point be judged outmoded; they are in fact enduringly valid institutions through which the grace of Christ is mediated to those involved."

"In your lands," said the Pope, "the family is under pressure. Divorce has become more common. ... Among couples of different religious allegiance, the problem is especially felt, since the shared bond of faith is lacking. Family life is also more difficult where the mass media present values contrary to the Gospel and become instruments of a vision of life reduced to the ephemeral and unsubstantial." He underlined the Church's "mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family."

John Paul II then noted that, "In the lifelong process of formation, Catholic schools are closely associated with parents in teaching children to know and love both God and man." He praised the work in the field of Catholic education in their particular Churches, but noted that "the presence of Religious in the schools is less assured now than it was, and dedicated lay teachers are assuming wider responsibility." He urged the bishops to pay special attention "to their training ... to ensure that they see their professional work as a genuine vocation ... and to ensure that what is most distinctive about Catholic schools is not compromised."

The Holy Father then turned to the role of the parish, saying that "Just as schools cannot be separated from the education that takes place within the family, so too they are intimately related to the formation offered in the parish. This is especially true where the faith cannot be taught in schools but must be taught in the parish." The Pope emphasized the importance of "special formal and informal training," not only for catechists but for priests as well.

And, he said, "What is true of priests is also true, a fortiori, of bishops. ... With the many pressures of your ministry, it is never easy to find the time for further study and reflection. Yet this is very necessary."

In conclusion, Pope John Paul stated: "The Catholic family, school and parish must, each in its own way, become more and more a school of faith and holiness, a sanctuary where God is worshipped and a service to a broken world."

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POPE MEETS VOLUNTEERS FOR HEALTH CARE, POOR AND MIGRANTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope received today in St. Peter's Basilica the volunteers of the diocese of Rome who work in the areas of health care, migrants, and service to the poor of the city. The meeting, which began with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of Rome, was promoted to coincide with the International Year of Volunteer Work.

"Thank you," John Paul II said, "for the generous witness which you offer in a society often dominated by the desire to have and to possess! As faithful disciples and imitators of Christ, you are urged to go against the current, accomplishing the Gospel choice to serve your brothers, not only because you are moved by the desire to achieve legitimate objectives of social justice, but also, and above all, because you are animated by the unstoppable force of divine charity."

The Holy Father referred to the deficiencies in Rome's social services and to the inadequacies of basic services in some areas, as well as "the marginalization in which beggars, nomads, drug addicts, and those with AIDS live, not to mention the disintegration of the family which punishes the weakest persons, and the forms of physical and psychological violence against women and children. How can we forget, furthermore, the problems related to immigration, and to the increase in the number of elderly who are alone, and of the sick and the needy. This worrying social scenario ... calls upon institutions, but in particular Christian communities."

"In order to carry out its prophetic role, the action of the volunteer must be faithful to several typical essential traits: the search above all for an authentic promotion of individuals and of the common good, which goes beyond purely necessary assistance, in the style of genuine volunteerism. ... This style proper to volunteers ... is jealously guarded also when it benefits from those forms of economic support provided by law for the carrying out of volunteer work."

At the end of the audience, the Pope greeted in German the members of the spiritual family "Das Werk" (The Work), which received pontifical approval in August as a "family of consecrated life", and he gave them a message.

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THE FAITH-LIFE RELATION: A GREAT CHALLENGE OF EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 11, 2001 (VIS) - At 9:30 this morning, the Holy Father visited the Roman parish of Santa Maria Mater Dei, where he celebrated the Eucharist. This is the 298th Roman parish that he has visited since the beginning of his pontificate and as bishop of Rome.

The Pope affirmed that this Sunday's liturgy invites us to reflect on the resurrection of the dead. He underscored that "We repeat with firmness our faith in the resurrection of the dead in the face of the critical positions of contemporary thought as well. This is one of the fundamental points of Christian teaching, which illuminates with consoling light our entire earthly existence."

John Paul II reminded the parishioners that many professionals, journalists, and university professors live in their neighborhood. "This," he said, "offers the opportunity to develop a useful pastoral experience, involving these experts and practitioners of language and communication in programs of reflection and deeper study on the fundamental themes of Christian teaching. The relation between faith and life is today one of the most exacting challenges for the new evangelization."

The Pope asked the faithful to follow in the footsteps of Blessed Luigi Orione, "indefatigable apostle of charity and fidelity to the Church," to whom a Center in this area is dedicated. "Follow, dear people, in his footsteps, imitating him in filial obedience to the Church, in the untiring search for the good of souls, in attention to the poor and the needy."

Addressing the youth, the Pope asked them to be "missionaries" to their peers, "without becoming discouraged in the face of difficulties and seeking forms of evangelization suitable to the world of young people. ... to realize a fruitful apostolate, be faithful to prayer and remain anchored to the solid rock which is Christ."

The Holy Father concluded inviting the youth to prepare for the next World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in Toronto, Canada, in July 2001.

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HOLY SEE ADDRESSES U.N. ON "DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, apostolic nuncio and Holy See permanent observer to the U.N. spoke before the Plenary Assembly yesterday on Item 25: "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations."

Recalling that the U.N. has declared 2001 the "International Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations," the archbishop said that "The impact of the brutal and unprecedented attacks of 11 September are forcing all of us to consider the urgency of the dialogue among civilizations and to intensify our hopes as this International Year draws to a close."

He highlighted the General Assembly resolution stating that "civilizations are not confined to individual nation-States, but rather encompass different cultures within the same civilization." And he added that "There is a close connection between the particular culture of a people and its identity as a nation. ... History shows that ... not even the powerful ideological systems of colonialism and totalitarianism were able, and neither will terrorism be able, to suppress the universal need for a particular and unique cultural life."

The archbishop observed that "A true dialogue between cultures requires a respect for differences. Much too often, ... ethnic and religious differences have been used as a justification for brutal conflict, genocide, and persecution. There have also been problems where one religious group has sought to expel members of another religion from a country, often with threats and actual violence. Authentic culture cannot be built upon the practice of religious persecution. ... Meaningful dialogue among civilizations cannot take place in the absence of religious freedom."

The nuncio said in conclusion: "No authentic dialogue can take place if it fails to respect life. There can be no peace or dialogue among civilizations when this fundamental right is not protected. ... Yet the world is still plagued by a number of attacks on life. When the human dignity of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society is not duly recognized, respected and protected, all civilizations suffer."

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HOLY SEE APPEAL TO STATES TO RATIFY NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 11, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato R. Martino, head of the Holy See delegation to the United Nations, spoke on November 11 at the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The archbishop reminded the assembly that, "Having signed the CTBT on September 24, 1996, the Holy See deposited the Instrument of Ratification on July 18, 2001. Reiterating the firm conviction that nuclear weapons are incompatible with the peace we seek for the Twenty-first Century, the Holy See added: 'The Holy See is convinced that, in the sphere of nuclear weapons, the banning of tests and the further development of these weapons, disarmament and non-proliferation are closely linked and must be achieved as quickly as possible under effective international controls'."

"Today," he underscored, "the Holy See adds its voice to those who appeal to the states whose ratification is necessary for the entry into force of the treaty. ... The continued success of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) requires the entry into force of the CTBT. If the world is to stop the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, then the flow of development of such weapons must be extinguished at the source."

Archbishop Martino concluded: "It is the solemn duty of all states to work actively for peace. In the wake of the damnable acts that claimed so many innocent lives just two months ago today here in New York, in Washington, D.C. and in the farmland of Pennsylvania, and the continuing violence that plagues the peace and harmony of countless numbers of people in so many places throughout the world, let us use the occasion of this Conference to renew our common desire for an enduring peace, justice and security for all peoples."

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FORMS OF EFFICACIOUS SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF MIGRATION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope received today in the Clementine Hall sixty members of the Council of the International Catholic Migration Commission, on the occasion of their assembly.

After recalling that this year they celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Holy Father said that "In the time since your foundation, patterns of human migration have changed, but the phenomenon is no less dramatic, and your work grows more urgent as the problem of refugees grows ever more acute. Indeed, now is the time for still more generous and effective forms of service in the field of human migration, helping to ensure that people already marginalized will not be further penalized because they are not a part of the process of economic globalization.

"Today," he continued, "I wish to invite you to an ever deeper awareness of your mission: to see Christ in every brother and sister in need, to proclaim and defend the dignity of every migrant, every displaced person and every refugee. In this way, assistance given will not be considered alms from the goodness of our heart, but an act of justice due to them."

John Paul II urged them, "as a Catholic International Organization united with the Holy See in the great task of promoting solidarity, never to grow weary in the search for new modes of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, which are needed now more than ever."

At the end of the meeting, the Pope briefly greeted a group of representatives and members of the "Migrantes" Foundation, which works in the name of the Italian Episcopal Conference and is also celebrating 50 years of life. "The Foundation," he said, "is now committed to supporting the Italian ecclesial structures in the human and spiritual care of the immigrants who come to Italy."

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POPE APPEALS FOR URGENT AID TO PEOPLES OF AFGHANISTAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 11, 2001 (VIS) - Upon returning to the Vatican from his visit to a Roman parish this morning, Pope John Paul appeared at his study window, overlooking St. Peter's Square, to pray the Angelus with the pilgrims gathered in the square.

In reflections made before reciting the noon prayer, the Pope noted that "today Italy is celebrating the traditional day of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and of human labor." He said that "this year, the Italian bishops were inspired for the day's theme by the very words of the 'Our Father': 'Give us this day our daily bread'. In teaching this prayer to the Apostles, Christ invited them to trust in the bounty of God the Father Who enjoys giving every creature, and especially man, what is needed to live."

"As we give thanks to God for what the fields produced this year," the Holy Father observed, "we must not forget our brothers and sisters who, in various parts of the world, are deprived of essential goods such as food, water, a home, and health assistance. In a special way, during this moment of great international anxiety, I am thinking of the dear populations of Afghanistan for whom it is urgent that necessary aid arrive. This is a world emergency, which cannot allow us to forget that in other parts of the world conditions of serious shortages and compelling necessities persist."

The Pope concluded his Angelus appeal: "In the face of these situations, it is not enough to limit ourselves to extraordinary initiatives. The commitment for justice calls for an authentic change of lifestyle, above all in well-off societies, as well as a more equal governing of resources, in both rich and poor countries. The current weighty imbalances, in fact, feed conflicts and threaten in an irreversible way the earth, the air, and the water that God entrusted to mankind's care."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Four prelates of the Bishops' Conference of Thailand, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop George Yod Phimphisan of Udon Thani.
- Bishop Michael Bunluen Mansap of Ubon Ratchathani.
- Bishop Joachim Phayao Manisap of Nakhon Ratchasima.
- Bishop John Bosco Manat Chuabsamai of Ratchaburi.
- Bishop Charles Maung Bo of Pathein, Myanmar, on the occasion of his "ad limina" visit.
- Archbishop Javier Lozano Barraga, archbishop-bishop emeritus of Zacatecas, Bishop Jose Luis Redrado Marchite and Fr. Felice Ruffini, M.I., respectively president, secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

On Saturday, November 10, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Archbishop Lawrence Khai Saen-Phon-On of Thare and Nonseng, Thailand, on the occasion of his "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit of Chanthaburi, Thailand, on the occasion of his "ad limina" visit.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Friday afternoon, November 9, he received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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