GAIN STRENGTH FROM THE EUCHARIST FOR MISSIONARY ACTIVITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2002 (VIS) - At 7 p.m.today, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope presided at the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, on the square in front of St. John Lateran Basilica. The Holy Father gave the homily during the Mass.

"Today is a solemn feast," said John Paul II, "a feast in which we relive the first sacred supper. Through a public and solemn act, we glorify and adore the Bread and the Wine that were transformed into the true Body and true Blood of the Redeemer."

"The Eucharist," he continued, "is our memory alive! ... From the Eucharist, 'font and culmination of all evangelization', our Church in Rome must also acquire daily strength and motivation for missionary activity and for all forms of Christian testimony in the city of man."

"The Pope emphasized that the people of God "need the Eucharist and it is the Eucharist in fact which makes them a missionary Church. But is this possible without priests that renew the Eucharistic mystery?"

"For this reason," he concluded, "on this solemn day, I invite you to pray for the success of the Diocesan Ecclesial Congress that will begin next Monday in St. John Lateran Basilica and will dedicate special attention to the subject of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life."

After the mass, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic procession along Via Merulana to St. Mary Major Basilica. Along the way, thousands of faithful prayed and sang, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament. A canopied vehicle carried the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance before which the Pope knelt in prayer.

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CHARTER OF BASIC RIGHTS MUST INCLUDE CHRISTIAN VALUES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's Message to the participants in the Eighth National Assembly of the Ecclesial Movement of Cultural Commitment (MEIC) as it meets in Rome to reflect on the ten-year project of the Italian Church entitled "Communicating the Gospel in a Changing World."

The Pope noted that MEIC is part of Italian Catholic Action and is the "'missionary avant garde' for the world of culture and of professions." He also remarked on their proposal "to study more deeply and renew missionary awareness, that must always distinguish you. ... This renewed missionary conscience calls you, today more than ever, to be credible witnesses of Christian humanism."

"Without ever reducing faith to culture," underscored John Paul II, "the Church makes an effort to give cultural consistency to the life of faith, and to make it inspire everyone in private and public life, (as well as) the national and international realities. In this regard, you know with what great interest the Holy See is following the work of the European Convention. I was able personally to express my disappointment for the omission of any reference to Christian and religious values in the editing of the Charter of basic rights.

"I greatly hope," he added, "that MEIC will be able to work so that the religious component, which over the centuries has permeated the formation of European institutions, is not ignored. The Christian patrimony of civilization, which has contributed so greatly to the defense of the values of democracy, freedom, and solidarity among the peoples of Europe, must neither vanish nor be disregarded."

The Pope lauded MEIC for their "marked sensitivity for the Church's ecumenical commitment" and their dedication to interreligious dialogue. "Continue on this precious path of formation in the ecumenical sector and in awareness of religions."

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COMMUNION AMONG MISSIONARY INSTITUTES, BISHOPS, APOSTOLIC SEE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II received at midday today participants in a meeting organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples with the superiors of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life involved in the "ad gentes" mission.

The Pope emphasized that "throughout the centuries consecrated persons have always been in the forefront of missionary activity ad gentes. Many of them have left their homes, families and countries of origin. ... They have frequently faced difficulties and obstacles, rejection and sacrifices," and some have even suffered martyrdom.

"The mission," he continued, "is of course demanding and in light of problems, difficulties and misunderstandings, the decrease of 'ad vitam' missionary vocations, the temptation to discouragement and fatigue can sometimes manifest itself. This could spread among you due to the monotony of the daily routine or spiritual dryness. Resist these temptations, gaining the strength to overcome all obstacles from deep union with God."

The Holy Father underlined that the new evangelization "is necessary to continue cultivating a fruitful communion among the missionary institutes, bishops and individual Churches, maintaining constant dialogue animated by charity, as much on the diocesan level as on the national level, with the Unions of female and male superiors, respecting diverse charisms, duties and ministries."

"The spirit of communion which is born from the 'cum ecclesia' feeling is exercised in a significant way in the collaboration with the Apostolic See and the organizations in charge of missionary activity, in the first place the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples."

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PONTIFICAL ATHENAEUM OF ST. ANSELM CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message by the Pope to Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, O.S.B., grand chancellor of the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

In the message, dated May 27, John Paul II writes: "At a distance of 50 years, we give thanks to God for this institution, so providential for different Benedictine monasteries. It has developed a significant role in establishing a fruitful relationship between spiritual life and study, and has become a valid point of reference, as well as a privileged place of formation for today's monastic world."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Karl Auguste Offman, president of the Republic of Mauritius and an entourage.
- Four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Ignacio Antonio Velasco Garcia, archbishop of Caracas.
- Archbishop Tulio Manuel Chirivella Varela of Barquisimeto, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jose Luis Azuaje Ayala.
- Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, apostolic nuncio in Bolivia, with relatives.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Robert Daniel Conlon, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Cincinnati, as bishop of Steubenville (area 15,309, population 522,253, Catholics 40,541, priests 120, permanent deacons 7, religious 109), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1948 in Cincinnati and was ordained a priest in 1977. He succeeds Bishop Gilbert Ignatius Sheldon, whose resignation the Holy Father accepted upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Roger J. Foys of the clergy of the diocese of Steubenville, as bishop of Covington (area 8,696, population 401,127, Catholics 88,896, priests 96, permanent deacons 22, religious 426), U.S.A. Bishop-elect Foys was born in Chicago in 1945 and was ordained a priest in 1973.

- Appointed Fr. Ignacio Ducasse Medina, rector of the Pontifical Major Seminary of the archdiocese of Santiago, Chile, as bishop of Valdivia (area 13,679, population 197,500, Catholics 180,000, priests 63, permanent deacons 1, religious 212), Chile. The bishop-elect was born in Santiago in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1984.

Yesterday it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Lewis Zeigler, administrator of the diocese of Gbarnga, as bishop of Gbarnga (area 34,100, population 880,000, Catholics 9,600, priests 5, religious 17), Liberia. The bishop-elect was born in Harrisbourg, Libera in 1944 and was ordained a priest in 1974.

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POPE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS APOSTOLIC TRIP TO AZERBAIJAN AND BULGARIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2002 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke about his recent apostolic trip to Azerbaijan and Bulgaria from May 22 to 26.

John Paul II said that in Azerbaijan he renewed his "appeal for peace, insisting that religions be decidedly opposed to any form of violence." Noting that "the Catholic community of Azerbaijan is one of the least numerous of any I have visited," he underlined that during the Mass celebrated in Baku he perceived that "the heart of the Church, one, holy, Catholic and apostolic, also beats in Azerbaijan."

"My visit to Sofia coincided with the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, evangelizers of the Slavic people," he continued. "This trip, the first for a bishop of Rome, was proposed to reinforce the ties of communion with the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, guided by Patriarch Maxim."

On the pilgrimage to the monastery of St. John of Rila, he affirmed, "I wanted to pay solemn homage to Eastern monasticism which illuminates the whole Church with its centuries-old witness."

"The culmination of my short but intense trip to Bulgaria was the Eucharistic celebration in the central square of Plovdiv, during which I proclaimed Blesseds three priests - Augustinians of the Assumption - Kamen Vitchev, Pavel Djidjov and Josaphat Chichkov, who were executed in prison in Sofia in 1952 along with Bishop Eugenio Bossilkov, beatified four years ago."

The Pope concluded by recalling that in the gathering with young people he proposed "Christ's message, always current: 'You are the salt of the earth....you are the light of the world.' Christ calls all to the heroism of sanctity." He urged that the Church all over the world, "thanks to the constant intercession of Mary, Queen of Saints and Martyrs, spread the sweet perfume of Christ's holiness in the variety of their traditions and in the unity of one faith and one love."

After greeting the pilgrims in different languages, the Holy Father recalled that tomorrow is the solemnity of Corpus Christi and he invited Romans and pilgrims to participate in the Mass which will be celebrated at 7 p.m. in the square of St. John Lateran Basilica and in the Eucharistic procession that will follow.

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DECLARATION ON POPE'S AUDIENCE WITH U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2002 (VIS) - Following the encounter at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon between the Holy Father and United States President George Walker Bush, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Holy See Press Office director, made the following statement:

"Yesterday afternoon, May 28, the Holy Father received the president of the United States, George W. Bush and his entourage.

"The Pope wanted to thank President Bush for the deference he showed in coming to meet him on a day that had already been filled with many commitments and before he returned to the U.S.A. The president recalled the cordial visit that he and his family had last July with the Pope at Castelgandolfo and also told the Holy Father of the results of the (NATO) meeting at Pratica di Mare, as well as reviewing several current problems.

"During the audience with the Pope, the Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran (secretary for Relations with States) held a meeting with the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

"In this meeting they spoke of the most urgent international problems, including the Middle East situation. In addition to the political aspects, they also took into consideration the humanitarian aspects of the dramatic situation being experienced by both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. They also focussed on the difficult situation of Christians in the Middle East.

"The pope again expressed his closeness to the American people, following the events of last September 11.

"Lastly, His Holiness wished to express, despite the difficulties of the moment, his faith in the spiritual resources of American Catholics who are committed to witnessing to the Gospel values in society."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Oscar Omar Aparicio Cespedes, rector of the major seminary of San Jeronimo, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of La Paz (area 10,975, population 1,160,683, Catholics 1,021,761, priests 149, permanent deacons 3, religious 425), Bolivia. The bishop-elect was born in La Paz in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1987.

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY TO SPEAK IN THE U.S. AND CANADA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, is travelling in the United States and Canada where he will be speaking to various groups in coming days.

Today in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. he will address the Catholic Press Association on "Ethics in Communications, Advertising and the Internet." Tomorrow in Minneapolis the archbishop will speak at a breakfast sponsored by the Catholic News Service and Catholic Press Association.

On May 31 and June 1, Archbishop Foley will address the Association of Catholic Communicators at the Aulneau Renewal Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On June 2 in Winnipeg, the council president is scheduled to speak to the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada on "Religion and Public Policy."

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MASS AND EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION ON CORPUS CHRISTI

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2002 (VIS) - On Thursday May 30, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope will preside at Holy Mass on the esplanade of the basilica of St. John Lateran. This will be followed by the Eucharistic procession which will travel along Via Merulana to the basilica of St. Mary Major. The Mass at St. John Lateran will be celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar of the diocese of Rome. The vice-gerent, auxiliary bishops and recently ordained priests from Rome will concelebrate.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2002 (VIS) - At 4 p.m. today, the Holy Father is scheduled to receive President George Walker Bush of the United States of America, and an entourage.

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CARDINAL LAGHI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2002 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced in a communique today that on May 31, at 6 p.m. Cardinal Pio Laghi, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education of Seminaries and Institutes of Study, will take possession of the title of St. Peter in Chains, St. Peter in Chains Square, 4, in Rome.

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THREE PRIESTS EXECUTED BY COMMUNIST REGIME ARE BEATIFIED

VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2002 (VIS) - Today, the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Pope traveled by car to Plovdiv, 150 kilometers east of Sofia, Bulgaria, where he celebrated the Eucharist in the central square. He beatified three priests of the congregation of Augustinians of the Assumption: Kamen Vitchev, Pavel Djidjov and Josaphat Chichkov, who were executed by the Communist regime in 1952 along with Bishop Eugenio Bossilkov, whom he beatified in 1998.

Three bishops from Bulgaria concelebrated with the Pope as well as the cardinals and bishops in the papal entourage. Also present at the celebration was Bishop Arsenij, Orthodox metropolitan of Plovdiv, who spoke a few words before the Mass began.

At the beginning of his homily, John Paul II greeted the faithful of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church "who have joined us. Their presence ... gives us a foretaste in hope of the joy of full unity, when it will be granted us to celebrate together the Eucharistic Sacrifice."

Referring to the three Blesseds, the Holy Father recalled that the cause for which "they did not hesitate to give their lives was their faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Thinking about them, "I also feel in duty bound to honor the memory of the other confessors of the faith who were sons and daughters of the Orthodox Church and who suffered martyrdom under the same Communist regime. This tribute of fidelity to Christ brought together the two ecclesial communities in Bulgaria, even to the supreme witness."

"The courageous fidelity in the face of suffering and imprisonment shown by Fathers Josaphat, Kamen and Pavel was acknowledged by their former students - Catholics, Orthodox, Jews and Muslims - by their parishioners, the members of their religious communities, and their fellow prisoners. By their dynamism, their fidelity to the Gospel, their selfless service to the Nation, the new Blesseds stand out as models for Christians today, especially for Bulgaria's young people, who are looking to give meaning to their lives and who wish to follow Christ whether as laypersons, in religious life or in the priesthood."

The Pope concluded by urging that "the special commitment with which the new Blesseds encouraged candidates to the presbyterate be an incentive for everyone: I exhort the local Church in Bulgaria to consider seriously the possibility of re-establishing a seminary."

Following the Eucharistic celebration, and before praying the Angelus, John Paul II asked the Virgin to watch over the Christian people of Bulgaria "so that they may know be able to follow her Son Jesus with courage and commitment and bear witness to Him before the world by the integrity of their lives and works!" At the end, he greeted the faithful who had participated in the beatification in French, Romanian, Serbian, Croatian, Czech and Polish.

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JOHN PAUL II HONORS THOSE WHO ENDURED PERSECUTION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2002 (VIS) - Following his visit to St. Joseph's Latin rite cathedral in Sofia, Pope John Paul went to the Byzantine-Slav rite cathedral dedicated to the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Before entering the cathedral, whose capacity is 150 people, the Pope blessed a bell and several cornerstones destined for future churches. He also crowned an image of Our Lady of Malko Trynovo, patroness of Christian unity.

"I affectionately greet your Apostolic Exarch Christo Proykov," said the Pope, "and I fraternally embrace Exarch emeritus Metodi Stratiev, who endured persecution and prison together with the three Assumptionist priests whom I shall proclaim Blessed tomorrow in Plovdiv."

The Holy Father extended his greetings to all the priests and faithful of the exarchate and saluted with "special affection the Carmelite nuns and the Sisters of the Eucharist, remembering particularly those among them - alive here on earth or already in heaven - who during the period of communist domination experienced long confinement in the choir of the Church of St. Francis, keeping alive the ideals of their consecration and supporting through prayer and penance the fidelity of Christians to their Lord."

The Pope then remembered "with admiration and gratitude the figure and work of the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Giuseppe Roncalli, Blessed Pope John XXIII, who prayed in this cathedral and did so much for the life of the Byzantine-Slav rite Catholic Church in Bulgaria. May this relic of him, which I have brought as a gift from Rome, be kept and venerated in the soon-to-be built church which, in accordance with your desire, will be dedicated to his name."

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POPE BLESSES CORNERSTONES FOR NEW CATHEDRAL IN SOFIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2002 (VIS) - At 6:45 p.m. today Pope John Paul went to visit the Latin rite Catholic co-cathedral in Sofia, dedicated to St. Joseph, where he blessed a statue of Blessed Pope John XXIII as well as the cornerstones of what will be the new cathedral. There are 65,000 Latin rite Catholics in Bulgaria.

The original cathedral was built in 1878 for foreigners working on the last part of the tracks from Sofia to Istanbul for the famed Orient Express train. The church was destroyed by American bombs during World War II, on March 30, 1944. At the end of 1944 the church's theatre hall was consecrated, and has been used as a parish since then. In 1993 the parish, which consists of 4,500 families, was entrusted to the Friars Minor Capuchin. Work is scheduled to begin soon on the new cathedral.

"I greet you with affection in your co-cathedral dedicated to St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron of the Universal Church," the Pope told the faithful gathered in the chapel, which has a capacity of 200 people. "My thoughts turn in the first place to Bishop Gheorghi Jovcev, to the priests and men and women religious and from here I wish to extend my greetings to all of the Catholic faithful of the Latin rite in the different localities of Bulgaria, especially to the children, to those who are sick and the elderly."

"I am pleased," John Paul II went on, "to learn that work on the new cathedral will soon begin not far from here, on the very site where there stood the ancient church destroyed by war. My prayer is that the variety of stones needed for building will be images of the 'living stones' that each of you is called to be, by virtue of your Baptism, 'built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ'."

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POPE IMPROVISES SPEECH, BREAKS INTO SONG WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2002 (VIS) - In the late afternoon, following lunch with Bulgaria's bishops and the members of his entourage, Pope John Paul went to Plovdiv's cathedral, which has a capacity of 500 people, for a meeting with young people. At the end of the encounter, his last official engagement before returning to Rome, the Pope improvised a speech and broke into song in Polish, in answer to the youths who had sung a hymn to the Black Madonna of Czestochowa in the Pontiff's native language.

In off-the-cuff remarks, the Holy Father said he did not know if he would be able to come again to Bulgaria, but said "I am truly happy to have come to Bulgaria and to have met the young people at the end of my sojourn, ... I am happy because young people look forward, they look to the future." He said he hoped the future would belong to all Bulgarians, especially young people. "I embrace you all," he concluded, "and I bless you with affection."

In his prepared speech to the youth, interrupted countless times by applause, cheers and songs, John Paul II noted that youth was a time, "not just of transition," but when people "seek the answers to the fundamental questions" of life.

He said he had two messages for them: "Come and See" and "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world."

"Come and see," he said, refers to Jesus' message to His disciples when they asked where He lived. "Draw near to Jesus," said the Pope, "and strive to 'see' what He has to offer you. ... He is a demanding friend who sets high goals, ... but I ask you: is it better to resign yourself to a life without ideals, to a society marked by inequality, oppression and selfishness, or rather to seek with a generous heart what is true, good and just?"

He urged the youth to "knock down the barriers of superficiality and fear! ... Do not yield to the deceits and easy illusions of the world, which very often turn into tragic delusions. ... With a sense of duty and sacrifice, therefore, take the path of conversion, inner growth, of professional commitment, of voluntary work, of dialogue, of respect for all, never surrendering in the face of difficulties or failures."

The Holy Father then referred to the theme of the upcoming World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada. He remarked that "Christ alone can be fully called salt of the earth and light of the world, for only He can give flavor, strength and durability to our life which, without Him, would be insipid, feeble and ephemeral. He alone can give us light warmth and joy. But it is He Who wants you to share His mission."

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TELEGRAMS FOR TRAIN AND PLANE CRASHES IN MOZAMBIQUE AND TAIWAN

VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2002 (VIS) - Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, today sent two telegrams of condolences in the Pope's name for two accidents, one a train accident close to Maputo, Mozambique, the other a plane accident in the north of the Island of Penghu, Taiwan.

In the telegram addressed to Cardinal Alexandre Jose Maria dos Santos, archbishop of Maputo, John Paul II "entrusts the numerous victims to God, Father All-Merciful, asking that He welcome them into His peace." In the telegram addressed to the charge d'affaires "ad interim" in Taipei, Msgr. James Patrick Green, the Pope "commends the victims to the loving mercy of almighty God, and upon their grieving families and all those affected by this terrible disaster he invokes the divine blessings of strength and comfort."

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JOHN PAUL II BIDS FAREWELL TO BULGARIA WITH JOY AND EMOTION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2002 - After a gathering with young people, the Holy Father went to the airport in the popemobile for a farewell ceremony which was celebrated inside due to rain.

The Pope expressed his "joy and emotion" upon visiting Bulgaria, especially "during the very days on which the memory of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius is celebrated." He then thanked Bulgaria's president and government authorities, as well as Patriarch Maxim and the representatives and faithful of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria for having contributed to making his visit "pleasant and purposeful."

"Not so long ago, both Catholics and Orthodox underwent harsh persecution for their fidelity to the Gospel," he said. "May so many sacrifices make the witness of Christians in this country bear much fruit and, with the grace of God, may they hasten the day when we shall be able to rejoice in the rediscovered fullness of unity among us!"

John Paul II greeted the faithful of Islam and the Jewish community and urged that the worship of one God inspire in all "intentions of peace, understanding and mutual respect, and a commitment to build a society founded on justice and solidarity." He also greeted with "particular affection ... my Brother Bishops and the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church."

The Pope concluded by quoting Blessed John XXIII in a Christmas homily preached in 1934, just before he left the office of apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria. In that homily, he recalled the Irish tradition of placing a lit candle outside the window on Christmas Eve so that Mary and Joseph know that inside that house a family was waiting for them: "If anyone from Bulgaria should ever pass by my house, at night, amid life's difficulties, he will always find the candle burning in my window. Let him knock, let him knock! He will not be asked whether he is Catholic or Orthodox: he is a Bulgarian brother and that is enough. Let him come in: two brotherly arms and a friend's warm heart will welcome him to the feast."

The papal plane departed at 7 p.m. local time (6 p.m. Rome time) and arrived at Ciampino Airport in Rome after a two-hour flight. The Pope proceeded by helicopter to the Vatican.

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RETURN TO CHRISTIAN ROOTS TO FIGHT EROSION OF FUNDAMENTAL VALUES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - At 4:30 this afternoon in the apostolic nunciature, Pope John Paul met with representatives of the estimated 5,000 Jewish people living in Bulgaria, Following this meeting he went to Sofia's Convention Center for an encounter with men and women of the worlds of culture, science and art.

"I address you with respect and admiration," said the Pope in opening remarks, "conscious of the delicate and important contribution that you make to the noble enterprise of building a society which encourages 'mutual understanding and readiness to cooperate through the generous exchange of cultural and spiritual resources."

He observed that "today Bulgaria celebrates the feast of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, intrepid heralds of the Gospel of Christ and founders of the literary language and culture of the Slav peoples." And he noted that in 1980 he proclaimed them co-patrons of Europe, with St. Benedict of Norcia. He underlined how these saintly brothers, "with their brilliant creation of a new alphabet, achieved special merit. ... They translated the Sacred Books into the local language" and can rightly be considered "the fathers of Slav culture. Culture is the expression, incarnate in history, of a people's identity; it forges the soul of a nation."

"The guiding inspiration of the massive work carried out by Cyril and Methodius," stated John Paul II, "was the Christian faith. Culture and faith are not only not incompatible, but are related to each other as fruit is to the tree. ... Historical experience shows that the proclamation of the Christian faith has not stifled, but rather integrated and exalted the authentic human and cultural values proper to the genius of the countries where it has been preached."

"Looking back," he went on, "we must recognize that, together with a Europe of culture, ... together with a Europe of labor, ... there is unfortunately a Europe of dictatorship and wars, a Europe of blood, tears and acts of horrific cruelty. Perhaps it is also because of these bitter experiences of the past that today's Europe seems prone to a growing temptation to skepticism and indifference in the face of the gradual erosion of fundamental moral reference points of personal and social life.

"We need to respond. In these troubling times there is an urgent need to reaffirm that Europe, if it is to discover its own deepest identity, must necessarily return to its Christian roots."
Pope John Paul, concluded his talk with praise for the project of Bulgaria's Catholic bishops to translate the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Bulgarian. He said he would like to "present symbolically the Catechism to those among you who, although not Catholic, share with us the one Baptism, so that they may known what the Catholic Church believes and preaches."

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MESSAGE TO PARTICIPANTS IN CONGRESS OF FOCOLARE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope to the participants in a congress organized by the Focolare movement, founded by Chiara Lubich, in which young people from all over the world take part, the Pontiff writes, "with a great ideal: the ideal of unity."

In the message, dated May 18, John Paul II affirms: "Christ calls you to be apostles of His peace. Construct peace in all the situations in which you find yourself daily: in the family, in school, among friends, in sports, in free time. Always be willing to listen to dialogue, to understand."

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PILGRIMAGE TO THE MONASTERY OF ST. JOHN OF RILA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2002 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass in private this morning in the apostolic nunciature, the Pope went by helicopter to the Monastery of St. John of Rila, located 120 kilometers south of Sofia, Bulgaria.

The monastery of St. John of Rila (Ivan Rilski) is situated in a valley of mountainous terrain in Rila, whose heights reach 2,000 meters. In 931, Ivan founded a monastic community. After the Ottoman conquest in 1395, the monastery was sacked several times and the monks abandoned it temporarily. Toward the middle of the 15th century, the community was resurrected and asked for the reinstitution of the relics of the founder saint which are preserved today in this monastery.

This holy place where eight monks currently live is the spiritual heart of Bulgaria. From the beginning of 19th century, it has been the principal center of national culture and resistance against Ottoman occupation and contains the richest library in the country. The five-story tower, 25 meters high and constructed in 1335, is the oldest building in the monastery. The church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin, was constructed in 1835.

After venerating the icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. John of Rila, the Pope was greeted by the abbot of the monastery, Bishop Joan.

John Paul II greeted the hegumen, or superior, Bishop Joan, who had attended the sessions of Second Council II with him as an observer, and recalled that during his visit to Bulgaria he had manifested the desire to go on a pilgrimage to the monastery at Rila to venerate the relics of the monk St. John.

"Dear Brothers and Sisters," said John Paul II, "Eastern monasticism, together with that of the West, constitutes a great gift for the whole Church." The Pope then referred to the times during his pontificate when he had emphasized "the precious contribution that you make to the ecclesial community through the example of your lives."

"Monastic life, in virtue of the uninterrupted tradition of holiness on which it is based, preserves with love and fidelity certain elements of Christian life that are important also for modern men and women: monks and nuns are the Gospel memory for Christians and the world."

"Christian life is above all 'apotaghe', the 'renunciation' of sin, of worldliness, of idols. ... In monasticism, this renunciation becomes radical: it is the renunciation of home, family, and profession, ... of earthly goods in the unending quest for those that are eternal, ... of selfish love. ... 'Spiritual combat' is another element of monastic life which needs to be taught anew and proposed once more to all Christians today. It is a secret and interior art ... in which monks engage every day against the temptations."

"The monastery," he added, "is the place where the 'new commandment' is daily fulfilled, it is the house and school of communion. ... What a powerful Christian witness is given by a monastic community when it lives in authentic charity!"

John Paul II concluded his visit to the monastery of Rila by emphasizing the "Church's debt of gratitude to all the ascetics who have kept in mind the 'one thing necessary', man's ultimate destiny."

The Pope went on to visit the Hall of Icons in the cloister of the monastery. Later he met with the prime minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, son of King Boris III, whose tomb is found in the monastery. At midday, local time, the Holy Father returned by helicopter to Sofia. After having lunch at the nunciature, he is scheduled to participate in a meeting with the Grand Mufti and with representatives of the Muslim community and the evangelical churches.

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POPE PRAISES "HEROIC FIDELITY" TO CHRIST DURING COMMUNISM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - Following a three-hour flight on Azerbaijani Airlines, Pope John Paul arrived in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, shortly after 6 p.m., local time and was driven to St. Alexander Nevsky Square, one of the city's principal squares, for the official welcome ceremony. The ceremony took place in the presence of Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov, Orthodox Patriarch Maxim, the country's Catholic bishops, the diplomatic corps and other civil and religious authorities.

The Orthodox cathedral of the same name, St. Alexander Nevsky, the patriarchal palace, the old Orthodox Church of St. Sophia, the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, parliament, city hall and other public buildings are all located on this square.

The Holy Father, in opening remarks to those gathered in the square, thanked "Almighty God for allowing me to fulfill a desire that I have long held in my heart," of visiting Bulgaria. He recalled that annually he receives in the Vatican a delegation from Bulgaria on the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the brothers who evangelized this part of the world. "Today it is the bishop of Rome who comes to you," he stated.

Referring to Blessed Pope John XXIII who was apostolic delegate in Bulgaria for ten years, the Pope said that, "in memory of him, I greet everyone with affection and I say to all that I have never ceased to love the Bulgarian people."

The Holy Father then greeted civil and religious authorities, his fellow Catholic bishops and Christians of other ecclesial communities, the Jewish community and the followers of Islam led by the Grand Mufti. He had special words for His Holiness Patriarch Maxim and all Orthodox faithful in Bulgaria. "I fervently hope that my visit will serve to increase our knowledge of each other so that, with God's help and on the day and in the way that pleases Him, we shall finally live 'united in the same mind and judgment'."

Recalling the centuries of "abundant fruits of Christian witness," John Paul II remarked that, "even during the long cold winter of the totalitarian system, which brought suffering to your country and to many other European nations, fidelity to the Gospel did not disappear, and numberless children of this people remained heroically faithful to Christ, in not a few cases to the point of sacrificing their lives. ... May their sacrifice not be in vain, and may it serve as an example and make fruitful your ecumenical commitment with a view to full unity."

"Wounds need to be healed and the future needs to be planned with optimism," declared the Holy Father. "At the same time there is need to move forward with wisdom, ... promoting the values on which the greatness of the Nation is founded: moral and intellectual honesty, the defense of the family, care of the needy, respect for human life from conception until natural death. I express my hope that the efforts to achieve social renewal, which Bulgaria is courageously undertaking, will be wisely and generously supported by the European Union."

In closing, John Paul II pointed out that "Christianity is part of the roots of this country's history and culture" and added that "the Catholic Church, with the daily commitment of her children and the ready availability of her structures, intends to contribute to maintaining and developing the heritage of spiritual and cultural values of which the country is so proud."
At the end of the ceremony, at 7:30 p.m., a floral wreath was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Pope's name. The papal car then circled St. Alexander Nevsky Square and proceeded to the apostolic nunciature, where Blessed John XXIII was nuncio from 1924 to 1934.

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ECUMENISM TO MARK PAPAL VISIT TO BULGARIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - On May 11 in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II welcomed Bulgaria's foreign minister, Solomon Passy, Metropolitan Kalinik and a delegation from this Balkan nation on the occasion of the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. In his speech, the Pope spoke of his imminent trip to Bulgaria, saying that "while my visit to your country will have a pastoral purpose, that of confirming my Catholic brothers and sisters in their faith, it is also my fervent desire to strengthen the bonds of Christian communion between the Catholic Church and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church."

Bulgaria, a nation of almost 8 million people, is bordered by Romania, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia and has 354 kilometers (212 miles) of coastline on the Black Sea. Sofia, the capital, has 1.1 million inhabitants. Bulgarian, Armenian, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian and Turkish are the principal languages of the three main ethnic groups: Bulgarians (87 percent), Turks (9.4) and Gypsies (3.7). Orthodox are 86 percent of the population, Muslims 13 and Catholics, of both Latin and Byzantine rite, are 1 per cent.

There are 80,000 Catholics in Bulgaria in 3 ecclesiastical circumscriptions and 54 parishes, under the pastoral care of 5 bishops, 51 priests and 88 religious. There are 68 catechists and 214 pastoral ministry workers. Archbishop Antonio Mennini is the apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.

There are two Latin rite dioceses: Nicopoli, and Sofia and Plovdiv. Nicopoli, whose bishop is Msgr. Perko Jordanov Christov, O.F.M.Conv., has 30,000 Catholics. There are 7 seminarians and in 2001 there were 108 baptisms. The bishop of the diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv, which has 35,000 Catholics in 16 parishes, is Msgr.Gheorghi Ivanov Jovcev. There are 4 seminarians. In the year 2000 there were 276 baptisms.

There are 15,000 Catholics in the 20 parishes of the apostolic exarchate for Bulgarians of the Byzantine-Slavic rite. The apostolic exarch is Bishop Christo Proykov. There are 3 seminarians and last year there were 60 baptisms.

The Orthodox in Bulgaria number 8 million: there are 2,000 ecclesiastics and over 120 monasteries. His Holiness, Patriarch Maxim Marin Naidenov Minkov, was elected in 1971 as the head of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria.

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POPE DISAVOWS BULGARIAN CONNECTION IN ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - A joint statement was issued today by the director of the Holy See Press Office and the Press Office of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. Following are excerpts:

"The President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Parvanov greeted His Holiness Pope John II and expressed his deep respect and recognition to the Holy Father for his contribution and active role aimed at strengthening peace in the world, at the building of a more just society and the promotion of a dialogue and understanding between religions and peoples. President Parvanov pointed out to the esteem of the Bulgarian people for the Holy Father, which excludes Bulgaria's involvement in the assassination attempt on his life.

[At this point, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, stated: 'I would like to add that the Pope has told the President that he had never believed in the so-called 'Bulgarian connection' which blamed a people whom he fondly likes and admires.']"
"Both sides confirmed the importance of respecting the principles of religious freedom and the freedom of conscience as the basic principles of democracy. A common desire to further develop bilateral relations in the social, charitable, scientific and cultural fields was expressed. Both sides also declared their readiness to start the preparation of an agreement between Bulgaria and the Holy See in that connection.

"Both sides condemned racism, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance and called for active measures against terrorism, organized crime, illegal drug-trafficking and the traffic of people, child pornography and the exploitation of child labor. Globalization should go hand in hand with solidarity in order to prevent the growing gap between the rich and the poor countries."

"Both sides exchanged views on questions pertaining to peace, security and cooperation in Europe."

"The Holy Father voiced his support for the efforts of the Republic of Bulgaria to become a full member of the European Union in order to provide its contribution with its history and culture, which to a great degree have been forged by Christianity."

"Both sides expressed satisfaction with peace and stabilization in South-East Europe and particularly in the Western Balkans."

"The Balkans are part of Europe. Both sides agreed that it is necessary to do everything in their power for the faster integration of the region into the European Union, for its economic and social revival.

"Both sides voiced their deep anxiety over the ongoing violence in the Middle East. They emphasized that violence is to come to an end, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are to be resumed in the nearest future through the joint efforts of the two sides as well, backed by the international community, in order to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the conflict. A common belief was expressed to the effect that peace talks are the only chance to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the principle 'land for peace' and on U.N. Security Council resolutions, by guaranteeing the right of all countries in the region to live in peace and security within the internationally-recognized borders."

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DIVISION DAMAGES PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Pope celebrated Mass this morning in private in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature and later went to the presidential palace to make a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov. From there, he continued on to the patriarchal cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, the biggest Orthodox church in the Balkan peninsula, which was completed in 1912 and dedicated to Nevsky, prince of Novgorod, Russia in honor of the Russian liberators after five centuries of Ottoman domination.

At the end of the visit to the cathedral, the Holy Father went to the Monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius, where a floral wreath was laid, and then to the patriarchal palace where he was received by His Holiness the Orthodox Patriarch of Bulgaria, Maxim, and the fifteen members of the Holy Synod.

After a brief address by Patriarch Maxim, the Pope began his speech, in Bulgarian, by recalling that May 24 - the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius - was a very significant day for him because, from the beginning of his pontificate, Bulgarian delegations have come to the Vatican on that date. Their visits, he said, "were pleasant opportunities to meet not only the noble Bulgarian nation but also the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria ... in the person of the Bishops who represented you. Today the Lord enables us to meet personally and to exchange 'the kiss of peace'."

"I come among you," he affirmed, "with a sense of esteem for the mission which the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria is undertaking, and I wish to express my respect and appreciation for your commitment to the good of the people of this land."

After praising the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's perseverance in proclaiming the Gospel for centuries, despite historical events that were "complex and at times hostile," John Paul II underlined that his visit, the first of a bishop of Rome to this country, was a reason for joy because "it is a sign of a gradual growth in ecclesial communion. Yet this cannot distract us from sincerely recognizing that Christ our Lord founded a single Church, while we today appear to the world divided, as if Christ Himself were divided." The Pope emphasized that this division was a scandal for the world and damaged "the preaching of the Gospel."

"One thing, however, consoles us," affirmed the Holy Father, "the estrangement between Catholics and Orthodox has never extinguished in them the desire to restore full ecclesial communion. ... Today we can give thanks to God that the bonds between us have been much strengthened." He recalled that Vatican Council II underlined that "the Orthodox Churches 'possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the Priesthood and the Eucharist,'" recognizing also that "far from being an obstacle to the Church's unity, ... the diversity of customs and observances only adds to her beauty."

The Pope cited as an example of unity Saints Cyril and Methodius, whose "witness is relevant even to those who, in the field of politics, are working to bring about European unification. ... The whole of Europe, both West and East, expects Catholics and Orthodox to work together for the defense of peace and justice, human rights and the culture of life." John Paul II affirmed that the example of Cyril and Methodius was "emblematic for the unity of Christians in the one Church of Christ," and recalled that when the patriarch of Constantinople sent them to preach the true faith to enslaved peoples in their own language "in the face of obstacles placed on that path by the neighboring Western dioceses which claimed that it was their responsibility to bring the Cross of Christ to the Slav countries, they came to the Pope in order to have their mission confirmed."

At the end of his speech, the Pope offered the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Rome, "with a view to increasing our knowledge of each other, our mutual charity and our fraternal cooperation," the liturgical use of the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasius at the Trevi Fountain. The Pope also gave the Bulgarian Orthodox Church a relic of St. Dasius, a soldier from Silistra, martyred in the fourth century in Rome, whose remains are preserved in the Italian archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo.

When the meeting was over, the Pope went to the apostolic nunciature to have lunch with the Catholic bishops of the country.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Thomas Matthew Burns, S.M., vicar general of the Military Ordinariate for Great Britain, as military ordinary for the same country. The bishop-elect was born in 1944 in Belfast, Ireland and was ordained a priest in 1971. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of military ordinary for Great Britain, presented by Bishop Francis Joseph Walmsley, upon having reached the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Milwaukee, U.S.A., presented by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., upon having reached the age limit.

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THIRD CENTENARY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Fr. Pierre Schouver, superior general of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, on the occasion of the celebration, next year, of the third centennial of the order, founded on May 27, 1703 by 24-year old deacon Claude-Francois Poullart des Piaces. In 1848, Fr. Francois Libermann became the second founder, uniting this congregation to that of the Sacred Heart of Mary which he founded in 1841.

In the message, dated May 20, the Holy Father gives thanks to God for the work done by the congregation during these three centuries, "notably in the evangelization of Africa, the Antilles and South America." And he invites them "to remain faithful to the dual heritage of your founders: care of the poor ... and missionary service."

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TELEGRAM UPON THE DEATH OF CARDINAL TODEA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II sent a telegram from Azerbaijan to Archbishop Lucian Murecan of Fagaras y Alba Iulia, Romania, upon the death, yesterday afternoon, of Cardinal Alexandru Todea, emeritus of the same diocese, at 89 years of age. The cardinal was born in Teleac, Romania in June 1912, and was ordained a priest in 1939, bishop in 1950 and made a cardinal in 1991. He spent 16 years in jail and 27 years under house arrest during the period of the communist regime. The last time that he was with the Pope was during his pastoral visit to Romania in May of 1999.

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PAPAL MASS IN BAKU: CHURCH HONORS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II celebrated Mass this morning in the Sports Palace of Baku, Azerbaijan, which was filled to its capacity of 1,500 people. The 120 Catholic faithful were joined by other Catholics who work in the country and by a group of Orthodox Christians and various refugees of Nagorno-Karabaj who live in camps in the Azerbaijani capital.

"The universal Church pays tribute," the Pope said in his homily, "to all those who succeeded in remaining faithful to their Baptismal commitments, ... in particular those who experienced the tragedy of Marxist persecution. ... I wish to repeat once again, honor also to you, the holy Orthodox Church; you opened your doors to the Catholic faithful, who were without fold or shepherd. May the Lord reward your generosity."

"The Pope today," he continued "is here to share in your joy at freedom restored, and to support you on the journey which has as its final goal the promised land of Heaven. ... Sustained by this certainty, you know that this is a time of joy, a time of hope. A sign of this is the foundation stone of the future parish church, which I shall bless at the end of Mass. The Pope brings you the greetings and the esteem of the entire Catholic Church."

"O Church present in Azerbaijan, today I would like to leave you as your task what we asked for in the opening prayer of today's Eucharist. Know that you are 'a people gathered from all the nations of the earth in the unity of the one spirit.' Your community, Brothers and Sisters, is a symbolic expression of that universality," formed by people of many places and "by those who are on their way to other lands."

The Holy Father urged Catholics to be faithful to their mission "to preserve the faith and bear witness to it with a life which is truly prophetic, so that the world may believe. ... You share the joys and hopes of the people who live close to you and with you. ... Be cautious, but have the courage to make things new. ... Not the novelty that only brings uncertainty and insecurity, no! Rather, the newness that will restore to all, especially the young, a desire to live and work for world of greater justice and solidarity."
"Look at them, these young people! They run the risk of succumbing to the illusion of aimless idleness, of easy but dishonest gain. But they are also able to commit themselves to an ideal and risk the heroism of sacrifice in order to bring about the victory of justice and promote the establishment of freedom and peace. ... We have to reveal to them the radiant perspective of faith, of the friendship of Christ. There is no enthusiasm for good that Christ does not understand, for He Himself is eternally young!"

After the Eucharistic celebration, John Paul II went to the parish house to participate in a gathering with the Sheik of the Muslims of the Caucasus, the Orthodox Eparch and the president of the Jewish community. This was followed by lunch with the Salesian community and members of the papal entourage. In the afternoon, he is scheduled to go to the international airport at Baku and, after saying goodbye to the civil and religious authorities of the country, will leave for Sofia, Bulgaria at 5 p.m., arriving after a three-hour flight.

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NO WARS IN THE NAME OF GOD! NO PROFANATION IN HIS NAME!

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2002 (VIS) - At 6 p.m., local time, in the Presidential Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan, Pope John Paul met with representatives of the religious of the country and with men and women representing politics, culture and the arts.

Noting that the "three great religions (are) present in this country, Jewish, Christian and Muslim," the Pope said: "Despite the differences between us, together we feel called to foster ties of mutual esteem and benevolence. I am aware of all that is being done by religious leaders in Azerbaijan to favor tolerance and mutual understanding. I am looking forward to the meeting tomorrow with the representatives of the three monotheistic religions, so that together we can affirm our conviction that religion must not serve to increase rivalry and hatred, but to promote peace and love.

"From this country, which has held and still holds tolerance as a primary value of all wholesome life in society, we wish to proclaim to the world: enough of wars in the name of God! No more profanation in His holy name! I have come to Azerbaijan as an ambassador of peace. As long as I have breath within me, I shall cry out: Peace, in the name of the God!"

"Praise to you, followers of Islam in Azerbaijan, for being open to hospitality, a cherished value of your religion and your people, and for having accepted the believers of other religions as brothers and sisters.

"Praise to you, Jewish people, who with courage and constancy, have kept your ancient traditions of good neighborliness, enriching this land with a contribution of great value and depth.

"Praise to you, Christians, who have given so much ... in shaping the identity of this land. Praise especially to you, Orthodox Church. ... When the fury of atheism was unleashed in this region, you welcomed the children of the Catholic Church who had lost their places of worship and their pastors, and put them into contact with Christ through the grace of the holy sacraments."

The Holy Father urged the men and women of culture and the arts to "transmit a taste for beauty to all those you meet!" He told them their contribution "is essential for the future of the Azerbaijani people. If culture is cast aside, if art is neglected and despised, the very survival of a civilization is imperiled."

Turning to the men and women of politics, he reminded them that their "specific activity is the service of the common good, the promotion of legality and justice, the guarantee of freedom and prosperity for all. But politics is also an area fraught with dangers. The selfish seeking of personal advantage can easily take over, to the detriment of faithful dedication to the common good." He remarked that "politics requires honesty and accountability" and that politicians "cannot deceive themselves: people do not forget!"
John Paul II exhorted the leaders to "look to your young people and spare no effort on their behalf. They are tomorrow's potential. ... Above all, care must be taken to educate them in the important values which last and give meaning to life and its pursuits."

In closing, the Pope addressed the men and women of religion: "You should become ever more involved in proclaiming with sincerity and frankness the values in which you believe, without recourse to dishonest means that impoverish and betray the ideals you affirm. Take a hard look at the substance of these ideals, and avoid methods of persuasion that do not respect the dignity and freedom of the human person."

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HOLY SEE DELEGATE ADDRESSES U.N. FORUM ON ECOTOURISM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2002 (VIS) - Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization, late yesterday afternoon addressed the United Nations program for the environment, the World Summit on Ecotourism, which began May 19 and ends today in Quebec, Canada.

Msgr. Monni noted that, "in a rapidly evolving modern world, ... the tourism sector plays a considerable role. ... A sector that appears still fragile and changing, (tourism) represents today the third export industry at a world level. ... It is an industry which, instead of exporting merchandise, imports consumers." Yet, he admonished, "we cannot forget, as the Holy Father recently recalled, 'those tourism offers of 'artificial paradises', where, for merely commercial reasons, populations and local cultures are exploited to benefit a tourism that does not even respect the most elementary human rights of the local people'."

He said that, for the development of the "new type of tourism, ecotourism, ... it is indispensable to have as a reference point the central character of the human being, recalling the premier principle adopted by the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development in 1992 according to which 'the human person is at the center of concerns for a lasting development'. Such an approach inevitably involves a revision and reorganization of operational systems that aim to obtain immediate economic and financial results to the detriment of a lasting ecotourism, which calls for preserving the common cultural patrimony."

Msgr. Monni pointed out that, in the specialized world of ecotourism, "the participation of local and indigenous communities in organizing, examining and administering tourism activities, as well as the decision processes linked to them, must be guaranteed. ... It would be interesting to evaluate the impact of ecotourism on the protection of the environment and on the socio-economic development of the local communities themselves."

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"EVERYONE MUST BE COMMITTED TO PEACE"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2002 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, the Pope departed from Fiumicino airport in Rome for Azerbaijan, and after traveling 3,111 kilometers in four hours, landed in the international airport of Baku, the capital. There he was welcomed by the president of the republic, Heydar Aliyev, political and civil authorities, three members of the Salesian community and senior members of the diplomatic corps.

After getting off the airplane, the Holy Father kissed the country's soil which two children offered him in a shallow receptacle, as is traditional when he visits a country for the first time.

At the beginning of his speech, the Holy Father recalled that this trip takes place during the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

After emphasizing the role of the great religions in the country that coexist in "a spirit of tolerance and mutual acceptance," he said: "I hope and pray to God that any remaining tensions will soon be overcome and that all will find peace in justice and truth."

"From this gateway of civilization which is Azerbaijan," he continued, "I address today a heartfelt appeal to those lands experiencing the upheavals of conflict. ... Everyone must be committed to peace. But it must be true peace, based on mutual respect, on the rejection of fundamentalism and every form of imperialism, on the pursuit of dialogue as the only effective means of resolving tensions, so that entire nations are saved from the cruelty of violence."

Religions, he went on, "should not be used as a tragic excuse for enmities which have their origin elsewhere. No one has the right to call upon God to justify their own selfish interests. ... I ask all religious leaders to reject all violence as offensive to the name of God and to be tireless promoters of peace and harmony, with respect for the rights of one and all."

John Paul II ended by addressing all Christians, and in particular the Catholic community of the country, assuring them that the "tragic difficulties" that they endured "during the time of communism will be compensated for by the Lord with the gift of lively faith, exemplary moral commitment and local vocations for pastoral and religious services."

After the welcoming ceremony, the Pope is scheduled to go to the Monument of the Fallen for the Independence of Azerbaijan. Later he will go to the presidential palace at Baku to pay a courtesy visit to the president of the republic and there he will meet with representatives of religions, politics, culture and art.

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A PAPAL "FIRST": JOHN PAUL II TO STAY IN HOTEL IN AZERBAIJAN

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul left this morning on a five-day pastoral visit to Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, the 96th foreign apostolic trip of his 23 and a half-year papacy.

Two "firsts" will mark the Pope's stay of 25 hours in Azerbaijan. For the first time ever he will stay in a hotel, the three-star Irshad Hotel in Baku, which will have a diplomatic statute for the duration of his stay. The Pope usually resides at the local bishop's residence, the apostolic nunciature or, on occasion, a seminary or monastery. However, there is no bishop in Azerbaijan, In fact, the Catholic populace of this predominantly Muslim country numbers only 120 faithful, the smallest ever number of Catholics in a country visited by a Roman Pontiff.

Azerbaijan occupies an area of 86,000 square kilometers and has a population of 7,558,000 of whom 1.7 million live in the capital of Baku. The official language is Azerbaijani, though Russian is also spoken. Shiite Muslims are 62 percent of the populace, Sunni Muslims 26 percent and Orthodox the remaining 12 percent.

Once part of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991. It is the eighth former Soviet republic to be visited by John Paul II, following Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Armenia. It is the 24th country with a Muslim majority that the Pope has visited, but the first with a prevalently Shiite population.

According to an informational booklet on both Azerbaijan and Bulgaria prepared by Vatican Radio with statistics and historical background on the two countries, there is one ecclesiastical circumscription for the 120 Catholics in Azerbaijan - the "sui iuris" mission of Baku - one parish, two priests, one male Religious and three pastoral ministry workers.

Catholics in Azerbaijan were once a larger community, though always a discreet number, and were mostly linked to non-Azerbaijani ethnic groups, in particular of Polish origin. A beautiful Catholic basilica was erected in Baku in 1888 but Joseph Stalin ordered its destruction during the last century. During that difficult period Catholics turned to the Orthodox Church which generously assured them the sacraments. After the fall of communism, Catholics were under the care of the Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus of the Latins; they are now in the care of the Salesians.

The Catholic community is constituted of both local people, descendants of Catholic immigrants, who celebrate the liturgy in Russian, and the foreign community which uses English in its liturgy.

There are also communities of Lutherans, Baptists and Pentecostals.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti was appointed apostolic nuncio in Azerbaijan on December 13, 2001. He is also nuncio in Armenia and in Georgia. The superior of the "sui iuris" mission in Baku is Fr. Joseph Daniel Pravda, S.D.B.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Essen, Germany presented by Bishop Hubert Luthe, upon having reached the age limit.

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VIDEO-CONFERENCE OF ARCHBISHOP FOLEY ON CHURCH AND INTERNET

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, participated yesterday from Rome in a video-conference about the "Church and Internet," with San Antonio Catholic University in Murcia, Spain.
Today, during a gathering organized in Venice, Italy, he spoke about "Ethics in Social Communications, Advertising and the Internet."

In the video-conference on the Church and new information technology, Archbishop Foley, who celebrated forty years in the priesthood on Sunday, emphasized that "the Church is not content to use the media and use it only for the communion and progress of the people; she also reflects upon it in the light of the Gospel and offers some criteria for its use."

Referring to the two documents published by his dicastery on February 22, "Ethics in Internet" and "The Church and Internet," the council president underlined that both "indicate the value of the electronic media in itself." In addition, "they recognize the novelty of the computer as a medium and from there the necessity for formation and information about its own characteristics."

The documents, he continued, "clearly identify the virtues and risks of the electronic media. They do not idealize them, nor do they condemn them in themselves." Furthermore, "the centrality of the real person and the real community is proclaimed in this 'virtual' medium. Direct contact among people will not be able to be replaced in the life of faith."

"The last aspect that I wish to emphasize is the social sensitivity of the documents which invite the Church to work actively in order to avoid the 'digital breach', that is, the chasm between the so-called 'info-poor' and 'info-rich'."

...;CHURCH; INTERNET;...;SPAIN; FOLEY;VIS;20020521;Word: 290;

MESSAGE FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITALIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2002 (VIS) - The Italian Episcopal Conference, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding, began its 49th General Assembly last evening in Rome, during which a Message from Pope John Paul was ready to the assembly.

The Pope recalled Italy's two-millennia old tradition "of faith, holiness and Christian culture," and said the CEI "has contributed to preserving and renewing, in current historical circumstances, this legacy and tradition." He also highlighted the many teachings and initiatives over the years, including "the publication of new catechisms for Christian life" and "the institution of Italian Caritas."

Noting the bishops' "special union and full harmony with the Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome and Primate of Italy," the Holy Father said, "I wish to confirm my affection, support and spiritual closeness to you."

He asked the bishops "to persevere with great charity" in their pastoral responsibilities and "to continue, in particular, to dedicate special attention to the family and to welcome and defend life, to promote the pastoral ministry for the family and to support the rights of the family founded on marriage. Have ever greater faith in children and young people and spare no efforts in favoring their genuine education, above all in the family, the school and in ecclesial communities themselves."

The Pope urged them to dedicate themselves "with passion to the promotion of authentic Christian vocations, in particular vocations to the priesthood and religious life."

"Continue to be," he added, "credible witnesses of solidarity and generous peace makers. Our world, which is ever more interdependent and yet pierced by deep and tenacious divisions, has great need of authentic peace." Italy also needs social harmony, he said, "to give its own contribution to building more just international relations, marked by solidarity."

In conclusion, the Pope stated that "Italy, by virtue of its history, culture and actual Christian vitality, can truly have a great role so that the Europe which is being built will not lose its spiritual roots, but on the contrary will find in the faith lived by Christians an inspiration and stimulus in its path towards unity."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans, U.S.A. with territory taken from the eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit of the Chaldeans, U.S.A. (The eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit of the Chaldeans covered all of the United States for the Chaldeans.) The Pope appointed Fr. Sarhad Jammo as first bishop of the new eparchy. The bishop-elect was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1941 and was ordained a priest in 1964.

- Appointed Fr. Yves-Marie Pean, C.S.C., rector of the philosophy section of the Major Seminary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as coadjutor of Les Gonaives, Haiti. The bishop-elect was born in Pilate, Haiti in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1983.

- Elevated the apostolic prefecture of Kontagora, Nigeria to the status of apostolic vicariate, with the same denomination and territorial configuration. He appointed Fr. Timothy Joseph Carroll, S.M.A., apostolic prefect of Kontagora, as first apostolic vicar of the same vicariate (area 55,000, population 1,250,000, Catholics 20,000, priests 19, religious 22). The bishop-elect was born in Kerry, Ireland in 1940 and was ordained a priest in 1965.

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POPE JOHN PAUL II TURNS 82

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul II turned 82 today and marked his birthday by presiding at an audience in the morning for 7,000 participants in a meeting sponsored by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. A student band played Happy Birthday, and they were joined in song by the pilgrims present in the Paul VI Hall.

Following this encounter the Holy Father went to Largo Braschi, on the left side of St. Peter's Basilica, where he blessed a statue of St. Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra, foundress of the Servants of Jesus of Charity. The statue had been placed in an outside niche of the basilica.

He had lunch with his closest advisors in the Roman Curia and then spent part of the afternoon going over some of the speeches he will give during next week's trip to Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

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ARCHBISHOP LOZANO AT THE WORLD ASSEMBLY ON HEALTH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, led the delegation of the Holy See on Wednesday May 15 in the 55th World Assembly on Health which took place in Geneva, Switzerland from May 13 to 18.

Archbishop Lozano recalled "many of the great risks that health runs today: Actually, 17 million people have died from infectious diseases and nutritional deficiency; 2.7 million from AIDS, 2.2 million from diarrhea, 1.7 million from tuberculosis and 1 million from malaria. To that are added deaths from tobacco and alcoholism, from cancer, as well as other degenerative diseases, from poor life habits, lack of hygiene, drugs, traffic and work accidents, from the abuse of medication or lack thereof due to high prices, and mental illnesses, as there is an increase today in depression."

"It is worth noting," he continued, "as a patent risk to health, the neo-Malthusian mentality against life, given that health and life are identified with each other, current projects of reproductive health, especially propositions for the third world, and in particular the misconception as to what is quality of life, which has brought the legalization of euthanasia to some places. Nor can we forget environmental pollution, hunger, armed conflicts, natural catastrophes."

The leader of the Holy See delegation also referred to the existing risk today of "a 'microbial' unification of the world, where infectious diseases, given the growing mobility of populations, are present everywhere, as much for the rich as for the poor; viruses and bacteria do not have borders."

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PAPAL MESSAGE FOR WORLD MISSION DAY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was the Pope's annual Message for World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, October 20, on the theme "Mission is a Proclamation of Pardon."

In his Message, dated tomorrow, May 19, the solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father writes that "only God's love, capable of making the men and women of every race and culture into brothers and sisters, can make painful divisions, ideological contrasts, economic disparities and the violent abuses that still oppress mankind, disappear."

Despite the "horrible wars and revolutions that have bloodied the past century, and the conflicts that unfortunately continue to afflict the entire world, ... we can't help but see, at the same time, the longing of so many men and women who, though living in great spiritual and material poverty, feel a great thirst for God and His merciful love. The Lord's invitation to proclaim the Good News is still valid today; as a matter of fact it is even more urgent."

John Paul II affirmed that "from the Cross, Jesus indicated under what conditions it is possible to exercise pardon. In answer to the hatred with which His persecutors nailed Him to the Cross, He prayed for them. Not only did He pardon them, He continued to love them, to wish them well and, thus, to intercede for them. His death became the true and proper realization of Love."

"The Risen Christ," he continued, "gave His disciples peace. The Church, faithful to the Lord's command, continues to proclaim and spread peace. ... The main path of mission is sincere dialogue ... that allows speaking to another with esteem and understanding, affirming the principles in which one believes and announcing with love the deepest truths of faith, which are joy, hope and a sense of one's existence."

The Pope underscores that "commitment to an attentive and respectful dialogue is the sine qua non for an authentic witnessing to the saving love of God. This dialogue is deeply linked to the will for pardon, ... whose practice challenges and opens hearts, heals the wounds of sin and division and creates true communion."

After inviting the faithful "to pray regularly for missions and to collaborate with all possible means in the activities that the Church undertakes throughout the world," the Pope exhorts them to "never be ashamed of the Gospel and to never be afraid of calling oneself a Christian by silencing one's own faith. It is thus necessary to continue to speak, to broaden the spaces for proclaiming salvation, because Jesus has promised to always remain with His disciples."

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BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS CELEBRATE 300 YEARS IN ITALY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father welcomed 7,000 faithful, including Brothers, associates, teachers, parents and students, who are participating in a meeting promoted by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools to celebrate its third centenary in Italy. Founded in France by St. John Baptist de La Salle, the Institute was brought to Italy in 1702 by Brother Gabriel Drolin.

The Pope recalled that St. John Baptist de La Salle, in his testament, wrote: "I encourage my Brothers to always and totally submit themselves to the Church, especially in such terrible times and, to give proof of this, may they never separate themselves from our Holy Father the Pope and from the Church of Rome." He added that "these words have lost none of their strength ... and they inspire the mission entrusted to you in the service of the integral formation of young people."

John Paul II noted that brother Drolin left France in 1702 "on an important and difficult mission: to make known a new educational, pedagogical and methodological reality. ... The La Salle ascetic-educational thought aimed not so much at 'how to educate', as it did at 'how to be' an educator. .... La Salle aims at educating youth through the renewal of the educator."

He went on to say that "if the educator, with his witness and word, is not a model for young people, the school has not achieved its goal. 'You - La Salle told the Brothers - are ambassadors and ministers of Christ in the profession you exercise; you must therefore act as representatives of Christ Himself'."

"La Salle's educational works continue to be a providential resource for the good of young people, the Church and all of society," said the Holy Father. "You have a glorious history to remember and recount, but a great history yet to be built."

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POPE SPEAKS OF "INTOLERABLE PHENOMENON" OF CHILD LABOR

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2002 (VIS) - Following Mass today, Pentecost Sunday, during which the Pope canonized five Blesseds, he prayed the Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered in a rain-drenched St. Peter's Square.

Before the prayer, however, he had multi-language greetings for the pilgrims present. He also noted that "yesterday in Italy, was a day of sensitizing people to the serious problem of child labor, promoted by the Global March against Child Labor and the Extended Hands Association. May such an initiative be a propitious occasion for seeking efficacious ways of solving this intolerable phenomenon."

The Holy Father then saluted "the young people gathered in San Giovanni Rotondo in preparation for the canonization of Padre Pio. Walk with courage, dear young people, on the path of holiness."
"In conclusion," he said, "I wish to express my gratitude for the wishes that have been expressed to me in everyone's name by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, dean of the College of Cardinals. In particular I am comforted by the assurance of special prayers for me and for the fulfillment of the petrine service entrusted to me by the Lord. In this perspective I ask you now to join me in invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom we turn, singing the Regina Coeli."

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POPE CANONIZES FIVE BLESSEDS, INCLUDING FIRST SAINT OF BRAZIL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2002 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Pope celebrated the Eucharist in St. Peter's Square and canonized five Blesseds: Alonso de Orozco 1500-1591; Ignazio de Santhia (ne Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti), 1686-1770; Umile da Bisignano (ne Luca Antonio Pirozzo), 1582-1637; Paulina do Coracao Agonizante de Jesus (nee Amabile Lucia Visintainer), 1865-1942 and Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello, 1791-1858.

"The mission of forgiving sins and accompanying human beings on the ways of evangelical perfection," said the Holy Father in his homily, "was lived in a singular way by the Capuchin priest Ignazio da Santhia," who was "father, confessor, counsellor and teacher."

John Paul II said that Umile da Bisignano "was a constant bearer" of Christ's peace. "In our society, in which too often God's imprints are lost, this monk represents a happy and encouraging invitation to gentleness, kindness, simplicity and a healthy detachment from the ephemeral goods of the world."

The Pope emphasized that Augustinian Saint Alonso de Orozco's "pastoral dedication to the service of the poorest people in the hospitals and jails makes him a model for those who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, base their whole existence on love for God and their neighbor, according to Jesus' supreme commandment."

Italian-born Mother Paulina, whose family went to Brazil when she was ten-years old, is Brazil's first saint, said the Pope. She founded "with a group of friends a house of refuge, which was shortly thereafter christened by the people as 'Saint Virgil's Little Hospital', for the material and spiritual attention of the sick and abandoned. Thus was born ... Brazil's first religious community, named the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception."

Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello, religious, foundress of the Institute of Benedictine Nuns of Providence, "worried about doing the will of God with faithfulness and coherence. With unlimited confidence in the kindness of the Lord, she abandoned herself to 'providential love', deeply convinced, as she used to like to repeat, that it is necessary 'to do everything for the love of God'."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Dominique Mamberti, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio in Sudan and apostolic delegate in Somalia, elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Marrakesh, Morocco in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1981.

- Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, apostolic nuncio in Slovenia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as apostolic nuncio in Republic of Macedonia.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of Brazil, accompanied by his wife and an entourage. - Three prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Eugenio Arellano Fernandez, apostolic vicar of Esmeraldas.
- Bishop Rafael Cob Garcia, apostolic vicar of Puyo.
- Bishop Manuel Valarezo Luzuriaga, apostolic prefect of Galapagos.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Saturday, May 18, he received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Serafin Luis Alberto Cartagena Ocana, apostolic vicar of Zamora en Ecuador.
- Bishop Jesus Esteban Sabada Perez, apostolic vicar of Aguarico.
- Bishop Pietro Gabrielli, apostolic vicar of Mendez.
- Bishop Paolo Mietto, apostolic vicar of Napo.
- Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, C.M.F, of Pamplona and Msgr. Juan Jose Asenjo Pelegrina, secretary of the episcopal conference.

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PAPAL MESSAGE TO NEWLY INDEPENDENT NATION OF EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2002 (VIS) - It was announced today that "the Holy See and the Democratic Republic of East Timor, desirous of establishing relations of mutual friendship, have decided of common accord to establish diplomatic relations between them, at the level of apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See and of embassy on the part of the Democratic Republic of East Timor."

An informative note published with this news states that, from an ecclesiastical point of view, there are two apostolic administrations on the territory of the newborn nation: Dili and Baucau. There are 750,000 Catholics in 31 parishes, administered by 43 priests. Male religious number 130, with the most numerous being the Salesians. Jesuits were the first to come to East Timor: they arrived in 1899, were expelled in 1910 and returned in 1958. There are 220 women religious. The 350 religious work in 247 educational and welfare institutes.

On the occasion of the declaration of national independence, the Holy Father sent a Message to the people of Timor, conveyed by his Extraordinary Envoy to the official ceremonies, Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The May 19-20 ceremonies were inaugurated by an outdoor Mass that was presided over by Archbishop Martino in Tacitolo, near the capital of Dili.

In the Message, dated May 6 and addressed to the apostolic administrators of Dili and Baucau, to the bishops, the authorities and the people, the Pope writes: "In this moment which is so significant to your history ... I unite myself spiritually to all of you in order to share your feeling of joy and to encourage you to construct a just, free, united and peaceful society.

"The hour of freedom has arrived! The time for reconstruction has arrived!" exclaims John Paul II. "Freedom must always be defended and preserved, whether from that which could imprison it, or from falsehoods which can pervert its genuine character, to the detriment of the person and his dignity."

The Pope asks that the land of East Timor "which God entrusts" to their "diligent hands, base itself on values without which a true democracy cannot exist: respect for life and for all people; effective solidarity among the members of the community; openness to the positive contribution of each one of its categories and of all its members, with respect to different fields; attention to the real necessities of families, and in a special way, of young people who are the promise of the new country's future."

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ECUADOR: PASTORAL MINISTRIES MUST EMBRACE ALL MILIEUX

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received this morning the prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

In his speech, the Pope referred to "the Global Pastoral Plan of the Church in Ecuador from 2001-2010, which," he said, "must implement effective activities, continued and coordinated, that invigorate ordinary pastoral ministries in this first decade of the first millennium. In this sense, I remind you that any pastoral plan must have the sanctity of every Christian as its ultimate and unrelinquishable goal."

"For this reason," he continued, "no effort must be spared to promote those most fundamental resources of evangelical action, without which the success of any programing would be seriously comprised. Capillary and organized vocational pastoral care must be included among these, without a doubt, so that it takes into account the world's indigenous environments with their peculiarities, but without creating separations or, much less, discrimination."

John Paul II urged them to "take great care also in the permanent formation of priests, which should include, in addition to required theological updating, a constant stimulus to their spiritual life, which strengthens their fidelity to the duties acquired with ordination and stimulates all their pastoral work from their experience of faith in Christ."

He went on to say: "Particular attention must be applied to the formation of the laity and to their role and mission in the Church." He indicated that they must ask all baptized people to "not only manifest their Christian identity but also to be effective craftsmen, within their field, of a social order inspired ever more in justice and less conditioned by corruption, disloyal antagonism or lack of solidarity. It would be a contradiction to invoke ethical principles, denouncing some morally deplorable situations and not demanding from those who are in the field of business, politics or public administration that they put into practice the values proclaimed with such insistency by the Church and her shepherds."

Then, speaking about the fundamental right of families to educate their children according to their own faith, the Pope expressed his desire that the "right formulas are found so that the right to liberty of education may soon be a fuller and more effective reality for all."

He recalled that the Church "considers a great treasure the variety of ways in which the Gospel and ecclesiastical message can be expressed." And he stated: "An attitude that concerns itself exclusively with keeping intact all the traditional components of a human group, not only compromises the authentic announcement of the Good News of the Gospel - which is also leaven in diverse cultures and a promoter of new civilizations - but also, paradoxically, favors (the group's) insulation with respect to other communities and, above all, to the great family of the people of God all over the globe."

John Paul II concluded by inviting all the Ecuadorian pastors to create a "pastoral ministry of emigration that helps families that are separated not to lose contact with those that are far away and that establishes the necessary channels with the dioceses of destiny in order to assure them of the necessary religious assistance, in such a way that their roots and Christian traditions are not lost."

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PEACE IS THE FIRST PRIORITY OF ALL COUNTRIES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received collectively this morning the Letters of Credence of eight new ambassadors to the Holy See. The Pope spoke in French to all the diplomats, but handed each one of them a speech, in which he addressed specific questions about their country.

The new ambassadors are: Vladimir R. Korolve of Belarus; Amadou Toure of Niger; Fredrik Vahlquist of Sweden; Jullapong Nonsrichai of Thailand; Euloge Hinvi of Benin; Abdelbasit Badawi Ali Elsanosi of Sudan; Horour H. Bjarnason of Iceland and Dina Kawar of Jordan.

"Peace," he said, "must be the first priority for all countries and on all continents, so that armed conflicts cease, as they only jeopardize the future of nations and populations, some of which are subjected to degrading and unworthy conditions of life. No one can be disinterested in the future of his brothers and sisters and act as if they did not know."

John Paul II emphasized that, "there are, without a doubt, two essential elements upon which it is important to insist together: dialogue and negotiations among the protagonists, called to live together in the same land and, on the other hand, the phenomena of globalization and of the growing contrast between rich and poor nations that creates ever-more striking inequalities. In the long term, peace means that less-advanced countries benefit from economic growth and appropriate aid. The first perspective must be to sustain local economies and to form people who will be in charge tomorrow of the future of their national community, and to thus reach the autonomy necessary for the country."

"Inequality among peoples challenges us unceasingly and must be for everyone the object of particular attention. ... In fact, peace goes along with the eradication of misery, the suppression of disparities among peoples. Likewise, it implies education for all. Young generations, especially sensitive to dramatic situations, need great signs so that their hopes are not in vain."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop German Trajano Pavon Puente of Ambato.
- Bishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Ibarra, apostolic administrator of Tulcan.
- Bishop Climaco Jacinto Zarauz Carrillo of Azogues.
- Bishop Miguel Angel Aguilar Miranda of Guaranda.
- Community of the Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, Austria.
- Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2002 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Adolfo Luigi Bossi, O.F.M.Cap. former prelate of Sao Jose do Grajau, Brazil on May 8 at the age of 93.
- Bishop Jose Maria Cases Deordal, emeritus of Segorbe-Castellon de la Plana, Spain on April 21 at the age of 82.
- Bishop Tiago Postma, emeritus of Garanhuns, Brazil on May 8, 2002 at the age of 69.
- Bishop Osorio Willibaldo Stoffel, O.F.M., emeritus of Rondonopolis, Brazil on May 10 at the age of 80.
- Bishop Pierre Wadih Tayah of Nuestra Senora de los Martire del Libano en Mexico dei Maroniti, Mexico on May 4 at the age of 74.

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COOPERATE TOGETHER IN THE VAST FIELD OF EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II received today participants in the general assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Works, headed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

In a message that he presented to Cardinal Sepe, the Pope recalls that in the days previous to the general assembly they had reflected upon the "necessity of adequate formation of missionaries and in regard to dialogue with other religions, very necessary today."

"In fact," he continues, "it is necessary that, on different levels of responsibility, everyone in the Church be educated to cooperate together for the same mission in Christ. Everything possible must be done so that there are vocations 'ad gentes', and workers with multiple functions in the vast field of evangelization. In addition, missionary activity can never be reduced to simple human promotion, help of the poor and the liberation of the oppressed."

The Holy Father underlines that "missionary activity must be above all concerned with the transmission of the salvation that Jesus won for us. Furthermore, who better than you to give testimony that the poor are hungry above all for God, and not only for bread and freedom?"

"Missionary formation requires in the first place evangelical testimony. The true missionary is a saint and the world is waiting for missionary saints. It is not enough to dedicate oneself exclusively to the renovation of pastoral methods and structures, coordinating better ecclesiastical forces; it is not enough to limit oneself to examine with greater clarity the biblical and theological foundations of the faith."

After emphasizing the "urgency of missionaries 'ad gentes' and 'ad vitam'," the Pope affirms: "Sustained by divine grace, missionaries - priests, religious and lay people - dedicate their energies to Christ in far-away countries, sometimes amid difficulties, misunderstanding, danger and persecution." He concludes by reminding the bishops of the priests, religious and laity, "'the martyrs and witnesses of the faith' of our time, who encourage believers to serve the Gospel with total dedication."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Ricardo Lagos Escobar, president of the Republic of Chile, and an entourage.
- Four prelates from the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Victor Alejandro Corral Mantilla of Riobamba.
- Bishop Emilio Lorenzo Stehle, emeritus of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, accompanied by Bishop-elect Wilson Abraham Moncayo Jalil.
- Bishop Jesus Ramon Martinez de Ezquerecocha Suso of Babahoya.

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