CARDINAL BILLE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2001 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, at 5 p.m. on Saturday January 5, 2002, Cardinal Louis-Marie Bille, metropolitan archbishop of Lyon, France, will take possession of the title of the Most Holy Trinity at Monte Pincio, Piazza Trinita dei Monti, Rome.

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2002

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for January is: "That Christians may intensify their efforts to announce together Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world."

His missionary intention is: "That the local Churches may know how to carry out a renewed commitment for evangelization in every sphere of work and life."

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POPE TO CONFER EPISCOPAL ORDINATION ON TEN PRESBYTERS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2001 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, in the Vatican Basilica at 9 a.m. on Sunday January 6, 2002, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, John Paul II will confer episcopal ordination on the following ten priests:

1. Msgr. Giuseppe Pinto of the clergy of the diocese of Conversano-Monopoli, Italy, born May 26, 1952, ordained a priest April 1, 1978, elected titular archbishop of Anglona and appointed apostolic nuncio in Senegal and apostolic delegate in Mauritania on December 4, 2001.

2. Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti of the clergy of the diocese of Verona, Italy, born October 7, 1955, ordained a priest May 29, 1982, elected titular archbishop of Ravello and appointed apostolic nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on December 7, 2001.

3. Msgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana of the clergy of the archdiocese of Caceres, Philippines, born February 6, 1948, ordained a priest March 19, 1972, elected titular archbishop of Montecorvino and appointed apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea on December 13, 2001.

4. Msgr. Giovanni D'Aniello of the clergy of the diocese of Aversa, Italy, born January 5, 1955, ordained a priest December 8, 1978, elected titular archbishop of Paestum and appointed pontifical representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on December 15, 2001.

5. Msgr. Daniel Mizonzo of the clergy of the diocese of Nkayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, born September 29, 1953, ordained a priest July 12, 1981, elected bishop of Nkayi on October 16, 2001.

6. Msgr. Louis Portella of the clergy of the diocese of Pointe-Noire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, born July 28, 1942, ordained a priest December 31, 1967, elected bishop of Kinkala, Democratic Republic of the Congo on October 16, 2001.

7. Msgr. Marcel Utembi Tapa of the clergy of the diocese of Mahagi-Nioka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, born January 7, 1959, ordained a priest June 29, 1984, elected bishop of Mahagi-Nioka on October 16, 2001.

8. Msgr. Franco Agostinelli of the clergy of the diocese of Arezzo, Italy, born January 1, 1944, ordained a priest June 9, 1968, elected bishop of Grosseto, Italy, on November 17, 2001.

9. Msgr. Amandio Jose Tomas of the clergy of the diocese of Vila Real, Portugal, born April 23, 1943, ordained a priest August 15, 1967, elected titular bishop of Feradi Maggiore and appointed auxiliary to the archbishop of Evora, Portugal, on October 5, 2001.
10. Msgr. Vittorio Lanzani of the clergy of the diocese of Pavia, Italy, born June 14, 1951, ordained a priest April 3, 1976, elected titular bishop of Labico and appointed delegate of the Fabric of St. Peter's on November 17, 2001.

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THANKSGIVING FOR GOOD AND FORGIVENESS FOR SHORTCOMINGS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2001 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 6 p.m. today, the Holy Father presided at the first vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and the "Te Deum" of thanksgiving for the end of the year.

In his homily, the Pope, using the words of the ancient hymn "Te Deum laudamus, Te Dominum confitemur," made a call to raise to God "the expression of our profound appreciation for the good that, over the last 12 months, He has granted us."

"'Te Deum laudamus!' From our grateful hearts arises this hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Thanks for the advantages received, for the apostolic goals attained, for the good accomplished. I would like to give special thanks for the 300 parishes of our city that I have been able to visit thus far. I ask God for the strength to continue, for as long as He wills, in faithful service to the Church of Rome and to the whole world."

"At the end of the year, nonetheless," he concluded, "we must also be aware of our frailties and of the moments in which we have not been completely faithful to the love of God. For our shortcomings and omissions we ask forgiveness of the Lord."

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ANGELUS: FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 30, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, John Paul II appeared at the window of his study in order to pray the angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled that today is the feast of the Holy Family and emphasized that "the Redeemer chose the family as the place for His birth, ... thus sanctifying this fundamental institution of all societies."

In the family of Nazareth, he went on, we see "the accomplishment of the divine plan for making the family an intimate community of life and love. ... The future of humanity," said the Holy Father, recalling the 20th anniversary of the apostolic exhortation 'Familiaris consortio', "comes through the family that, in modern times, has been marked more than any other institution by the deep and rapid transformations of culture and society."

He concluded by quoting the apostolic exhortation: "The Church has never ceased 'to speak and offer her help to those who are already aware of the value of marriage and the family and seek to live it faithfully, to those who are uncertain and anxious and searching for the truth'."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: MAY HUMANITY WALK IN THE WAYS OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2002 (VIS) - In today's general audience, the first of the year 2002, the Pope invited the faithful present in the Paul VI Hall to renew their "thanksgiving to the Lord for the innumerable advantages with which He enriches every day of our lives."

John Paul II affirmed that the angels' song in Bethlehem, "glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth" must "spread throughout the world even in our own time which holds such great hopes and extraordinary openings in all fields yet which is also charged with great tensions and difficulties. Everyone's practical commitment is needed in order that, in the new year that has just begun, humanity may walk more freely and safely along the paths of peace."

"Throughout the year," he concluded, "may our prayer become stronger and more insistent, that we may obtain from God the gift of peace and fraternity, especially in the most troubled parts of the globe."

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"NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE, NO JUSTICE WITHOUT FORGIVENESS"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2002 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today in St. Peter's Basilica, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and for the occasion of the 35th World Day of Peace which has as its theme this year: "No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness."

"We reflect upon peace," said the Pope in his homily, "in a climate of widespread concern caused by the recent dramatic events that have shaken the world. Yet, however difficult it may appear to look to the future with optimism, we must not surrender to the temptation of despair. On the contrary, we must courageously work for peace, in the certainty that evil will not prevail."

The Pope went on: "Justice and forgiveness, these are the two 'pillars' of peace that I wish to highlight. Justice and forgiveness are complementary, not opposing, qualities because both are essential for promoting peace. ... Only forgiveness can satisfy the thirst for revenge and open hearts to true and lasting reconciliation between peoples."

"In the name of God, I renew my heartfelt appeal to all - believers and non believers - that 'justice and peace' may always mark the relationships between individuals, between social groups and between peoples. This is an appeal, above all, to those who believe in God, particularly to the three great Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam which are called to pronounce an ever more firm and decisive refusal of violence. No-one, for any reason, may kill in the name of God, the One, the Merciful."

The Pope concluded by highlighting that "an anguished appeal for peace arises from various parts of the world; particularly from that Land which God blessed with His Alliance and Encarnation and which, for that reason, we call 'Holy'."

At midday, the Pope appeared at the window of his study which overlooks St. Peter's Square, in order to pray the angelus. Before the prayer, he launched an appeal, "particularly to the men and women who, last century, knew the tragic world wars. I also appeal to young people who, luckily for them, did not live through those conflicts. To all of them I say: together we must firmly oppose the temptation of hatred and violence which only give the illusion of resolving conflict but which, in fact, cause real and permanent losses. Forgiveness on the other hand, which may appear a weakness, presupposes great spiritual strength and ensures long term benefits.

"Forgiveness, in opposing the instinct to return evil for evil, is an attitude that has profound religious motivations, especially for Christians; yet it is also supported by a basis of reason. Indeed, the rule of do unto others that which you would wish done unto you applies to everyone, believers and non believers alike. This ethical principle applied at a social and international level is the highway to building a juster and more unified world."

After the angelus, John Paul II expressed his special wish "for peace and prosperity to the counties of the European Union that today, with the single currency, have reached a historic landmark. I hope that this may favor the full development of citizens in the various countries. May justice and solidarity grow throughout Europe to the benefit of the entire human family!"

Before saying farewell, the Pope wished everyone a happy New Year in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and Arabic.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Rosario Colantonio as judicial vicar to the Lazio regional tribunal for the causes of nullity of marriage.

- Msgr. Slawomir Oder as judicial vicar to the appeal tribunal of the Vicariate of Rome.

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