NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS BOTH NEED A GUIDING STAR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 6, 2002 (VIS) - Today, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, during the course of a Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican Basilica, John Paul II conferred episcopal ordination upon ten presbyters from Italy, the Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Portugal.

In his homily, the Holy Father recalled that today's liturgy speaks of the light of Christ: "Today the Messiah, who in Bethlehem showed Himself to the humble local shepherds, continues to reveal Himself as the light of peoples in all times and places."

He went on to exclaim: "How evocative is the symbol of the star that appears throughout the iconography of the Nativity and the Epiphany! Today it still evokes profound feelings even though, like so many other sacred symbols, it at times risks being trivialized by the commercial use to which it is put. Nonetheless, restored to its original context, the star we contemplate in the nativity scene also speaks to the minds and hearts of men and women of the third millennium. It speaks to secularized men and women ... who long for the absolute. ... Who does not feel the need of a 'star' to guide them on their earthly journey? This need is felt by both individuals and nations."

The Pope then addressed the new bishops. Some of them, he said, "will exercise 'the stewardship of God's grace' as Pontifical representatives in other States: you, Msgr. Giuseppe Pinto, in Senegal and Mauritania; you, Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti, in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; you, Msgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana, in Papua New Guinea and you, Msgr. Giovanni d'Aniello, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Others will be pastors of particular churches: you, Msgr. Daniel Mizonzo, will guide the diocese of Nkayi in the Republic of the Congo; you, Msgr. Louis Portella, that of Kinkala in the same country. To you, Msgr. Marcel Utembi Tapa, I have entrusted the diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to you, Msgr. Franco Agostinelli, that of Grosseto in Italy. You, Msgr. Amandio Jose Tomas, will assist the archbishop of Evora in Portugal as auxiliary and, finally, you Msgr. Vittorio Lanzani, as delegate of the Fabric of St. Peter's, will continue to serve the Church here in the Vatican, in this Patriarchal Basilica so dear to your heart."

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