JOHN PAUL II EVOKES EMOTIONS LIVED IN ASSISI

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2002 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus at midday today, John Paul II, appearing at the window of his study in order to pray the Angelus with pilgrims gathered below in St. Peter's Square, affirmed that "the emotion lived last Thursday in Assisi during the celebration of the Day of Prayer for Peace," was still alive in him.

After recalling the appeal against violence launched together with Representatives from other religions, the Pope affirmed, "In this way we have laid another cornerstone in the path of building a civilization of peace and love."

John Paul II then said, "A very special thought I address to young people who, with their typical enthusiasm, enlivened the town of St. Francis on the occasion of this meeting. It is to you, the new generations, that the future of the world is entrusted." Afterwards, the Pope, greeting the many young boys and girls of Catholic Action of Rome, who today celebrate their own 'Day of Peace', said, "Two among you here, nearby me, in a few moments will release into the sky two doves, symbols of peace. It is a significant gesture that we dedicate to the many children who, unfortunately, are still victims of wars and of significant injustices. May the commitment of all of us guarantee the respect for the fundamental rights of every human being who is born on the face of the earth."
"Among the fundamental rights of human beings that need to be defended and promoted is the right to health care, which is still non-existent or insufficient in many parts of the world. Diseases for which treatments have already been found and that would be defeated on paper, continue to spread, for example, Hansen's disease, commonly called leprosy. Today's celebration of 'The World Day of Leprosy Sufferers' helps bring attention to those struck by this disease and to promote efforts to wipe it out completely."

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THE PARISH, A PLACE TO LISTEN TO AND ANNOUNCE THE WORD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 2002 (VIS) - In the Paul VI Hall at midday today, John Paul II received 3,000 pilgrims from the Italian diocese of Oria, who by today's gathering are preparing for the pastoral visit of their bishop, Marcello Semeraro.

"It is my heartfelt wish," said the Pope, "that (the pastoral visit) may give rise to an energetic missionary impulse, especially in parishes. ... May parish communities be privileged places for listening to and announcing the Word; houses of prayer centered on the Eucharist; true schools of communion where the fervor of charity overcomes the temptation to superficial and folkloric religious sentiment. May they be environments suitable for educating the faithful to that high degree of ordinary Christian life which is sanctity."

The Pope requested the faithful to give special attention to the family, "reacting firmly to those strong cultural pressures that seek to offend and relativize marriage. It is easier for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life to flower in Christian families."

"I pray to the Lord," he concluded, "that your bishop's pastoral visit may be a moment of singular grace, helping all believers to grow in fraternal communion, listening to God's Word."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences two prelates from the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa, of Tainan.
- Bishop Peter Liu Cheng-chung, of Kiayi.

On Saturday, January 26, he received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi S.J., bishop of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-nan.
- Bishop Joseph Wang Yu-jung of Taichung, Taiwan.
- Bishop Lucas Liu Hsien-tang of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
- Cardinal Paul Poupard, Fr. Bernard Ardura O. Praem. and Fr. Fabio Duque Jaramillo O.F.M., respectively president, secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
- Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.

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INDISSOLUBILITY OF MARRIAGE DOES NOT LIMIT THE LIBERTY OF SPOUSES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2002 (VIS) - Following annual tradition, on the occasion of the inauguration of the judicial year, the Pope this morning received the dean, prelate auditors, officials, and lawyers of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.

In his speech, John Paul II spoke of the indissolubility of marriage as an asset for the spouses, for the children, for the Church, and for all of mankind.

"It is important to present in a positive way the indissoluble union," the Holy Father said, "in order to rediscover the good and the beauty of it. Above all, the vision of the indissolubility of marriage as a limit to the liberty of spouses and as a burden, sometimes unbearable, must be overcome. ... To this, it can be added the idea, widespread enough, that indissoluble marriage belongs only to believers, therefore they cannot 'impose' it on the civil society as a whole."

The Holy Father stressed that the indissolubility of marriage "has an objective dimension. It is not merely a subjective fact. Consequently, the good of indissolubility is the good of marriage itself, and the incomprehension of this indissoluble nature constitutes the incomprehension of the essence of marriage."

"One must not surrender to the divorcing mentality: our trust in the natural and supernatural gifts of God to man prevents us. Pastoral activity must sustain and promote the indissolubility of marriage."

John Paul II emphasized that "Every right judgement of the validity or nullity of marriage is a contribution to the culture of indissolubility, not only within the Church but in the world. ... Against the truth of a conjugal bond it is not correct to invoke the liberty of the spouses who, by freely assuming it, committed themselves to respect the objective needs of the marriage reality, which cannot be altered by human freedom."

"It would almost seem," the Pope went on, "that divorce is so much rooted in certain circles of society, that it is not worthwhile to go on opposing it by advocating a mentality of indissolubility in both social customs and civil legislation.
Indeed it is worthwhile!".

The Holy Father then affirmed that, "The essential testimony on the value of the indissolubility is given through the matrimonial life of the spouses, in the fidelity to their bond through the joys and the tests of life. The value of indissolubility cannot be thought to be the object of a simple private choice, it concerns one of the cornerstones of the whole of society."

"To the strong opposition to all legal and administrative measures introducing divorce or that make equal to marriage defacto unions, even homosexual union, it must be coupled a principle, throughout juridical measures, favoring the improvement of the social recognition of true matrimony in the sphere of legal system which unfortunately admits divorce."

On the other hand, civil lawyers "must avoid being personally involved in what could imply a cooperation to divorce. For judges this can be difficult, because the legal systems do not recognize an objection of the conscience that can exempt them from imposing judgment. Despite serious and well-grounded reasons judges can act according to the traditional principles of the actual cooperation to the bad. But they too must find effective means to favour the marriage union, above all by an operation of reconciliation wisely led".

"Lawyers, as independent professionals", the Holy Father concluded, "must always decline to use their profession to an end contrary to justice, such as divorce. They should only collaborate to an action in this sense, when such action is, in the intention of the client, not aimed to the breaking of marriage, but to other legitimate purposes."

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