JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES TEN NEW AMBASSADORS TO THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father collectively received Letters of Credence from ten new ambassadors to the Holy See one of whom, the Swiss ambassador, is on special mission. At the close of his address, the Pope gave each of the diplomats a letter written in their own language and dealing with matters specific to their particular countries.

The new ambassadors are Toufiq Ali of Bangladesh, Barkat Gourad Hamadou of Djibouti, Antti Hynnien of Finland, Zemede Tekle Woldetatios of Eritrea, Amiran Kavadze of Georgia, Seymour Rehaulele Kikine of Lesotho, Christine Nyinawumwami Umutoni of Rwanda, Mohunlall Goburdhun of Mauritius, Moussa Coulibaly of Mali and Hansrudolf Hoffman of Switzerland.

"Today more than ever," said John Paul II, speaking French in his address to the ambassadors, "our contemporaries are touched by the fear that arises from both the unstable situation of our world and uncertainty over the future. The impression is that many people are unable to peacefully plan their future, especially the young who are disconcerted by the dramatic events they see unfolding in the world of adults."

The Pope said that leaders of nations and their representatives must "commit themselves to an ever greater degree and ever more intensely to the path of international dialogue and cooperation so as to eradicate the sources of conflict and tensions between different groups and nations. No specific matter - which must always be resolved by negotiated solutions - can bypass the respect due to individuals and peoples."

"Your mission as ambassadors," he went on, "consists in serving both the noble cause of your countries and the noble cause of peace. ... We must constantly recall that the injustices experienced by our contemporaries (such as poverty and the lack of education for the young) lie at the origin of a large number of the focal points of violence in the world. Justice, peace, the fight against misery and against the lack of spiritual, moral and intellectual formation of the young are essential aspects of the compromise to which I call the leaders of nations, the diplomatic services and all men and women of good will."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Hanna Zora, archbishop of Ahwaz of the Chaldeans, Iran, on the occasion of his "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Jacques Berthelet of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Canada, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, with Archbishop Brendan Michael O'Brien of Saint John's, Newfoundland, vice-president, and Msgr. Peter Schonenbach, secretary general.
- Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, with Bishop Bruno Bertagna, secretary, and Msgr. Mario Marchesi, under-secretary.

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GUIDELINES FOR THE DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2001 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff issued a communique today entitled "Liturgical-pastoral guidelines for fasting and prayer for peace" in preparation for the inter-religious meeting which is to be held in Assisi, Italy, on January 24, 2002.

The communique states that "following the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States, the Holy Father has repeatedly expressed his condemnation of those terrorist acts and his concern over the consequences of the military action taking place in Afghanistan." Two months on, "the situation is serious, tension is high and many consciences are troubled." For this reason, on November 18, John Paul II called for December 14 to be a "day of fasting" and invited "leaders of the world's religions to come to Assisi on January 24, 2002, to pray that opposing positions be overcome and that an authentic peace be promoted."

The communique analyzes the "essence of Christian fasting," recalling biblical precedents, the fasting of Jesus and the tradition of the Fathers of the Church; it also highlights that fasting is "inseparable from prayer and justice, it is oriented above all to the conversion of hearts without which ... it would have no meaning." The text goes on to furnish pastoral guidelines so that bishops may "explain the meaning (of the Holy Father's invitation to a day of fasting), ... evaluate whether it should be extended to members of other Christian confessions and ... followers of other religions, ... and prompt ... a serious examination of conscience on the Christian commitment to peace." It also falls to bishops to "establish a simple and effective method by which what is given up in the fast may be given to the poor, especially those who suffer ... the consequences of terrorism and war."

The final part of the communique is dedicated to the significance of pilgrimage and prayer. If the former is "a sign of the tiring journey that each disciple of Christ is called to undertake in order to reach conversion," the latter is "a fundamental moment that fills the 'vacuum' created within us by the purifying fast and the silent pilgrimage with listening to God." The pastoral guidelines invite bishops to "explain - with the collaboration of diocesan organizations - the value ... of pilgrimage with a view to the immediate preparations for the multi-religious meeting of January 24, 2001 in Assisi and to organize a vigil on January 23 as a spiritual preparation for that meeting.

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150TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF ROGATIONIST FOUNDER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in audience 900 religious of the Rogationist Congregations, the Daughters of Divine Zeal and the Rogationist Missionaries, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of their founder, Blessed Annibale Maria Di Francia.

"While I celebrate with you for the journey completed, I encourage you," the Pope said, "to make your witness still more faithful, and your apostolic dedication still more generous."

"How can you ensure that the vigorous tree, planted by your Blessed Founder continues to bloom and produce abundant fruit?" the Pope asked the religious. The answer, he noted, "is old and ever contemporary, it is holiness. ... Yes, holiness is possible even in our own difficult times. Indeed, it is the priority which, at the end of the Great Jubilee, I indicated in the Apostolic Letter 'Novo millennio ineunte'. ... In this light, the consecrated life, today more than ever, takes on a significant and decisive role: you must be holy, if you do not wish to fall short of your raison d'etre."

"Do not be afraid that time dedicated to prayer may in some way restrain your apostolic dynamism and worthy service to your brethren, which constitute your daily labor. Quite the opposite, to love and place prayer at the center of every project of life and apostolate is the authentic school of sanctity."

John Paul II concluded his discourse exhorting the religious to be "profoundly Eucharistic souls, who adore, love, and rejoice in the Eucharist. At the birth of your Congregations, Blessed Di Francia placed the Eucharistic mystery at the center of everything. From Eucharistic adoration you will obtain not only the gift of new vocations, but also the grace of increased enthusiasm and joy in your priesthood, your consecration and your Christian militancy."

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