2001: OVER HALF A MILLION IN GENERAL AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2001 (VIS) - During 2001, over half a million people have participated in the 43 general audiences held on Wednesdays in St. Peter's Square and the Paul VI Hall, according to a communique made public by the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
Today's general audience was the last one of this year. In the span of his 23 year pontificate, John Paul II has met over 16 and a half million people in his Wednesday audiences.

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WE MUST MAKE THE MESSAGE OF PEACE RING OUT LOUDER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2001 (VIS) - Christmas was the theme of the Holy Father's catechesis during the general audience which was held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.

Invocations to the Savior during this period of Advent, said the Pope, express "believers' ardent desire to see their hopes of peace achieved. For this reason they implore the gift of the birth of the promised Savior. ... Invoking the coming of He who brings peace to the world involves submissively opening oneself to the liberating truth and renovating force of the Gospel."

After recalling last Friday's "special day of fasting and prayer" which was "a high point of Advent, and an occasion to give deep consideration to the causes of war and the reasons for peace," he said: "In the face of the tensions and violence which, unfortunately, even today darken various parts of the world - including the Holy Land which witnessed the mystery of the birth of Jesus - we Christians must proclaim ever louder the message of peace that arose from the stable in Bethlehem.

"We must become converts to peace, we must become converts to Christ, our peace, in the certainty that His disarming love in the manger triumphs over all dark threats and violence. With faith, we must continue to ask the Infant Jesus, born for us of the Virgin Mary, that the prodigious energy of His peace may drive out the hatred and thirst for revenge that dwell in the human soul. We must ask God that evil be defeated by goodness and love."

John Paul II concluded by requesting that the peace of Christ "renew all aspects of our daily lives; fill hearts that they may open to the action of His transforming grace; descend upon families that, gathered before the nativity scene or around the Christmas tree, they strengthen their communion in faith; reign in cities, in nations and in the international community, and spread to every corner of the world."

The Pope then extended greetings to various groups of pilgrims. To a group from Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, he said: "On your return to your country, carry my words of hope and encouragement for this Christmas and New Year. Through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin of Lujan, I ask the Lord that Argentinians may find, with generosity in these difficult moments, ways of reconciliation and mutual understanding in order to build, with God's help and the collaboration of one and all, a future of peace and prosperity."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Werner Franz Siebenbrock, S.V.D., of Nova Iguacu, as bishop of Governador Valadares (area 15,023, population 500,000, Catholics 415,000, priests 44, religious 45), Brazil.

- Fr. Elizeu de Morais Pimentel, rector and professor of the major seminary of the diocese of Jacarezinho, as coadjutor bishop of Paranavai (area 8,699, population 355,000, Catholics 302,000, priests 35, religious 75), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Quatigua, Brazil, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1982.

- Fr. Airton Jose dos Santos, pastor of the Cathedral of Santo Andre, Brazil, as auxiliary bishop of Santo Andre (area 720, population 2,800,000, Catholics 2,100,000, priests 118, permanent deacons 6, religious 238). The bishop-elect was born in Bom Repouso, Brazil, in 1956, and ordained to the priesthood in 1985.

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PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN ASSISI

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the programme for the Day of Prayer for Peace in the world which will be held in Assisi, Italy, on January 24, 2001. Below is a list of the most important events:

The Holy Father will depart by train from the Vatican City railway station at 8:30 a.m. on January 24 and is due to arrive at the railway station of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi two hours later. At 11:00 a.m. representatives of the various religions will meet in the Lower Square of St. Francis in Assisi. Following an introductory address by Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, there will be testimonials from delegates of the Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Churches originated by the Reformation, Hinduism, the traditional African religions, Buddhism, Hebraism and the Islamic world.

At 12:30 p.m., the representatives of the various religions will pray for peace at different locations within Assisi. John Paul II will preside at a prayer of Christians in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis.

At 3:30 p.m. in the Lower Square of St. Francis, following an introductory monition by Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the common commitment to peace will be read in English, Arabic and Italian. The Holy Father will light a lamp of the candelabrum - followed by the representatives of the other religions - and deliver a brief exhortation. Signs of peace will then be exchanged between John Paul II and the representatives of other religions.

After making a private visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, John Paul II will return to Vatican City by train where he is expected to arrive at 7:45 p.m.

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