HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for December is: "That Christians may free themselves from the subtle forms of cultural conditioning which prevent them from recognizing the dignity and rights of others."

His missionary intention is: "That Christian humanism may illuminate, through Gospel values, the cultures of Asia."

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FIESOLE: 7TH CENTENARY OF BISHOP AND SAINT ANDREA CORSINI

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul has written a letter to Bishop Luciano Giovannetti of Fiesole, on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the November 30, 1301 birth of St. Andrea Corsini, bishop of Fiesole, and the beginning of a period of commemoration in this Italian diocese. The Pope noted that as of November 30, St. Andrea's remains will be in the Fiesole cathedral for several days. Bishop Corsini died in 1374 and was canonized in 1629.

St. Andrea was the provincial of the Carmelites in Tuscany, noted John Paul, when he was named bishop of Fiesole. He added that, in the Bull of October 13, 1349 naming him bishop, Clement VI underlined "his zeal for religion, his culture and purity of life and customs, his ability to govern souls, ... his circumspection in temporal affairs and his many other merits of great virtue."

The Pope observed that St. Andrea Corsini did not live in the comfortable bishop's palace, but rather lived simply, showing "singular zeal in preaching, in assiduousness in prayer, in austerity of life, in visiting parishes, in abolishing abuses and in defending the Church's freedom against abuses of power and undue interference, as well as welcoming with charity the humble and disinherited who knocked on his door."

He dedicated special care to his priests, the Holy Father pointed out, "asking them to live in a way that conformed to holiness and to the responsibilities given them." The bishop founded a confraternity, and "emanated precise norms about the harvesting and spiritual and cultural preparation of candidates to the priesthood." The Pope underscored that St. Andrea's "constant union with God, the dominant trait of his existence, did not impede him from dedicating himself diligently to administering ecclesiastical goods" and he was able to build and restore many ecclesiastical properties.

"Following the example of its former pastor," John Paul wrote, "may the Fiesole diocese continue to privilege the formation of the clergy and to take every care that the diocesan seminary be ever more suitable to the preparation of candidates to the priesthood."

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VITALITY OF VOLUNTEER WORK IS PROMISING SIGN OF HOPE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, John Paul II received the 6,000 participants of the International Symposium on "Catholic Volunteer Work in Health Care," promoted by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, and the 30 participants of the International Meeting on the Pastoral Care of Gypsies.

"In a society influenced by materialism and hedonism, the vitality of volunteer work constitutes a promising sign of hope. The work of volunteers highlights the value of solidarity, an irreplaceable contribution for responding to the profound expectations of the person and for resolving the grave and urgent problems of humanity."

John Paul II affirmed that in our modern society, although institutions exist to assist the needs of the poor and the suffering, "there is a strongly felt need for a 'soul supplement' which gives hope even to the bitter experience of suffering and uncertainty, fully respecting the dignity of every human being."

The Pope invited the volunteers, who work with volunteers of different religions and non-believers, to consider providential the opportunity "to put into effect interreligious and intercultural dialogue and collaboration. The defence and the promotion of life are not, in fact, anyone's monopoly; they constitute rather a task entrusted to all."

After recalling that the "World Day of the Fight Against AIDS" is celebrated today, the Holy Father encouraged those with this disease, saying, "Do not feel alone! The Pope is close to you with affection and supports you in your difficult journey. The Church supports the men of science, and encourages all of them to work untiringly to cure and to defeat this serious form of illness."

John Paul II concluded his discourse with a brief greeting to the participants in the International Study Meeting of National Directors and Experts in the Pastoral Care of Gypsies, promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.

The Holy Father affirmed that in devising the principles of pastoral care for gypsies, it is necessary "to give needed attention to spiritual and cultural values," and to offer assistance in the confrontation of problems. "I think, for example, of the difficulty of reciprocal comprehension with the surrounding milieu, of the lack of adequate structures of welcome, of education, and of integration in the territory."

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IT IS RIGHT THAT POLAND HAVE A PLACE IN EUROPEAN UNION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 3, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the Letters of Credence of the new ambassador of Poland to the Holy See, Hanna Suchocka, noting that despite the "complex political situation of the world," it seems that "Poland is finding the proper way in the development of the State."

Referring to the successes obtained "in the work of building a sovereign State, a State of law and a State of prosperity," the Holy Father affirmed that "here emphasis should be given to how much has been achieved in the area of political freedoms, of religious freedom, and in the democratization of the social life."

"The Church," the Pope continued, "fulfilling this mission, can and desires to continue the work of consolidation and of formation of the spiritual, cultural, and social heritage of a nation which for a thousand years has been tied to the values of Christianity. The signing of the concordat, in 1993, and its successive ratification, created for the Church this possibility for an active commitment to the good of the nation. Despite the opinion of skeptics, it can be seen that the concordat not only contributed to improving the cooperation of the Church and the organs of the State on behalf of the common good, broadening the freedom of persons and the society, but it also became an ecumenical instrument with regard to other Churches and confessional communities in Poland."

The Pope emphasized that "in this same spirit the Church desires to be present also in the process of the preparation of Poland for full entrance into the European Union. It is right to aspire that Poland have its rightful place in the political and economic milieux of the structures of a united Europe. It is necessary, however, that it is present as a State which has its own spiritual and cultural face, its own inalienable historic tradition tied to Christianity since the dawn of history. Poland cannot deprive itself of this tradition, of this national identity."

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ANGELUS: JOHN PAUL II CALLS FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2001 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus this morning, John Paul II reminded the pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square that "with this first Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year."

The Pope affirmed that Advent is synonymous with hope, "a hope which urges vigilance, the characteristic virtue of this singular liturgical time. Vigilance in prayer, animated by loving expectation; vigilance in the dynamism of concrete charity, aware that the Kingdom of God is present where men learn to live as brothers."

"In today's liturgy resounds the celebrated and marvelous oracle of the prophet Isaiah, pronounced in a moment of crisis in the history of Israel. 'It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountains of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it. ... And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more'."

The Holy Father noted that "these words contain a promise of peace which is more then ever current for humanity and, in particular, for the Holy Land, from which even today comes sad and worrying news. May the words of the prophet Isaiah inspire the mind and heart of believers and men of good will, in order that the day of fasting, December 14, and the meeting of the representatives of the religions of the world in Assisi, on January 24, help to create a climate of reduced tension and of solidarity in the world."

After the Angelus the Pope recalled that today is the Day of the Disabled, promoted by the UN. "Recalling the great Jubilee encounter a year ago, I address a special greeting to all the people who live with a handicap and I assure them of my spiritual closeness. I also express my appreciation for every initiative which promotes a full and authentic social integration."

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ACCOUNTS SET TO RECEIVE DONATIONS FOR WAR, TERRORISM VICTIMS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2001 (VIS) - On November 18, during the Angelus, Pope John Paul proclaimed December 14 as a day of fasting, prayer and charity throughout the world to implore peace: "What people deprive themselves of in fasting can be given to the poor, especially those who suffer in this moment the consequences of terrorism and war."

The Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in a communique published today, announced that "The Pope wishes to reach out in a symbolic embrace to every person in need, and therefore asks all believers to undertake a concrete gesture of charity to bring them hope and daily bread." As a result, the Holy See has opened an extraordinary account, to be administered by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, care of the Banca di Roma and another account care of Italian post offices.

The communique adds that "Donations received will be given by the Holy Father on Christmas Day to those who, as victims of terrorism and war, having overcome the greatest emergency, risk being forgotten."

Those wishing to donate care of the Banca di Roma can do so through C/C Number 101010 "PRO DIGIUNO 14 DICEMBRE" ABI 3002 CAB 5008. The account number at Italian post offices is C/C N.603035.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 3, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Archbishop Leonard A. Faulkner, from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Adelaide, Australia, in accordance with the age limit. He is succeeded by Archbishop Philip E. Wilson, coadjutor of the same archdiocese.

On Saturday, December 1, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop John Satterthwaite from the pastoral care of the diocese of Lismore, Australia, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Bishop Geoffrey Hilton Jarrett, coadjutor of the same diocese.

- Appointed as members of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars; and Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians.

- Appointed as consultors of the Pontifical Council for the Family Dr. Kevin Andrews, Australia; Dr. Jean-Marie Caidor, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Family, Haiti; and Kathryn Hauwa Hoomkwap, president of the Christian Health Association, Nigeria.

- Appointed Dr. Prof. Wolfgang Bernhardt as international auditor for the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 3, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, apostolic nuncio in Ecuador.
- Five prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, with Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Camilleri.
- Bishop Tomas Andres Mauro Muldoon of Juticalpa.
- Bishop Virgilio Lopez Irias of Trujillo. - Bishop Angel Garachana Perez of San Pedro Sula.

On Saturday, December 1, he received in separate audiences:

- Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez, vice-president of the Republic of Guatemala, accompanied by his entourage.
- Three prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Geraldo Scarpone Caporale of Comayagua.
- Bishop Raul Corriveau of Choluteca.
- Bishop Luis Alfonso Santos Villeda of Santa Rosa de Copan.
- Participants in the International Symposium promoted by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry.
- Participants in the International Meeting on Pastoral Care to Gypsies, promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, with Archbishop Robert Sarah, emeritus of Conakry, secretary; Archbishop-Bishop Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith, emeritus of Ratnapura, adjunct secretary; and Fr. Massimo Cenci, P.I.M.E., under-secretary.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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