ANGELUS: NO-ONE IS LORD OVER HUMAN LIFE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 3, 2002 (VIS) - Prior to praying the angelus at midday today from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that, in Italy, today is the "'Day for Life,' an appropriate occasion to reflect on that most fundamental value that is the life of man.

"The theme the bishops have proposed this year is: 'Recognize life.' To recognize means, above all, to rediscover with renewed wonder that which both reason and science are not afraid to call a 'mystery'."

John Paul II affirmed that "to recognize also means to guarantee every human being the right to develop according to their own potential, safeguarding their inviolability from conception to natural death. No-one is lord over life; no-one has the right to manipulate, oppress or eliminate life, neither their own nor that of others. Still less can this be done in the name of God, Who is the one Lord and the greatest lover of life. Martyrs do not take their own lives, rather, in order to remain faithful to God and His commandments, they accept that their lives be taken.

"Recognizing the value of life calls for a coherent application of the legal aspects of the matter, especially in defence of human beings who cannot defend themselves such as the unborn, the mentally disturbed and the seriously or terminally ill."

The Holy Father concluded by making reference to the human embryo: "Science has already shown that (the embryo) is a human being that from the moment of fertilization possesses its own identity. Consequently it is logical to insist that this identity also be legally recognized, above all in its fundamental right to life, as demanded by the praiseworthy initiative of the Italian 'Movement for Life'."

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CONSECRATED PERSONS: WITNESSES OF SOLIDARITY AND OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2002 (VIS) - This afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at a Eucharistic celebration marking the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the sixth Day of Consecrated Life.

The Pope was present at the Mass and delivered the homily: "Today," he affirmed, "in commemorating what happened on that day in Jerusalem, we too are invited to enter the Temple to meditate on the mystery of Christ, Only Begotten Son of the Father, Who with His Incarnation and Passion, became the first-born of redeemed humanity."

"In today's feast," he continued, "we celebrate the mystery of consecration: the consecration of Christ, the consecration of Mary, the consecration of all those who follow Christ for love of the Kingdom."

John Paul II reminded consecrated men and women that today's feast is especially dedicated to them, who represent "with singular eloquence the eschatological novelty of Christian life. You are called to be the light of truth and of justice; witnesses of solidarity and of peace."

The Holy Father gave special thanks to the numerous contemplative communities who, with their prayers, "cooperate in Christ's victory over hatred, vengeance and the structures of sin. Moreover, apart from your prayer, many of you build peace with the testimony of fraternity and communion."

"On many fronts there is no lack of male and female religious who pledge their active commitment to justice; working among the marginalized, intervening at the roots of conflict, and thus contributing to the construction of solid and stable peace. Wherever the Church commits herself to the defense and promotion of mankind and of the common good, there, dear consecrated people, you too are to be found."

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SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from John Paul II addressed to Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Ministry. The letter, written in Latin, appoints the archbishop as the Pope's special envoy to the Tenth World Day of the Sick, due to be held in Vailankanni, India, on February 11.

The mission accompanying the archbishop will be made up of Fr. Alex Vadakumthala of the archdiocese of Verapoly, executive secretary of the commission for healthcare ministry of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, and Fr. Vincent Arackal of the diocese of Calicut.

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TELEGRAM FOR EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2002 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano sent a telegram in the name of the Holy Father to Archbishop Luigi Conti, apostolic nuncio in Turkey, for the earthquake which struck that country last Sunday leaving 45 people dead and hundreds injured. The text of the telegram is given below:

"Informed of the dramatic consequences of the earth tremor that took place in the region of Bolvadin, Turkey, the Holy Father entrusts the victims of this catastrophe to the mercy of the Almighty, praying that He accepts them into His light. He expresses his profound sympathy to their families, as well as to the numerous injured and their relatives, and to all those participating in the rescue operations, whom he also congratulates for the courage they have shown."

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PROTECT INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN SEMINARIES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received participants in the Congregation for Catholic Education's plenary session, which began today in the Vatican.

John Paul II affirmed that during the activity of the coming days, participants will study a paper entitled "Guidelines for the use of psychology in the admission and formation of candidates to the priesthood. This document is proposed as a useful instrument for formators who are called to discern candidates' suitability and vocation with a view to the good of the candidates themselves and of the Church."

The psychological sciences, he said, must be integrated into the framework of a candidate's overall formation, safeguarding the "value of and time dedicated to spiritual guidance." Psychology "does not eliminate all difficulties and tensions, but favors a broader awareness and a freer exercise of liberty so as to be able - with the invaluable support of grace - to engage in an open and frank struggle (with those difficulties)."

The Pope went on to stress that the formation given in seminaries must be "of the highest level from both an intellectual and spiritual point of view. Candidates must be introduced to the practice of prayer, meditation and personal asceticism."

"It is especially necessary to nourish the students' joy in their own vocation. Celibacy for the Kingdom of God must be presented as a choice that is eminently favorable to the joyful announcement of the Risen Christ."

He added: "You also wish to discuss the formation of students of Canon Law. ... In present circumstances, the Church needs specialists in this field in order to tackle the juridical and pastoral questions, that are more complex today than they were in the past."

The Holy Father concluded by underlining "the vital task of the Pontifical Work for Ecclesiastical Vocations which, since 1941, has been accompanying and encouraging vocational pastoral care." On this subject, he recalled the third Continental Congress on vocations to ordained ministry and to the consecrated life, due to be held this April in Montreal, Canada, following those held in Latin America and Europe. He expressed the hope that it may "cause a renewed vocational commitment to grow in local Churches, and a more generous enthusiasm to develop among Christians of the 'New World'."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Sebastian Adayanthrath of the clergy of the archieparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars (area 1,500, population 4,370,000, Catholics 455,200, priests 561, religious 4,716), India, and director of the "Save a Family Plan" in London, Canada, as auxiliary of the same archieparchy. The bishop-elect was born in Vaikom, India, in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1983.

On Saturday, February 2, he appointed:

- Don Francisco Moreno Barron, episcopal vicar of Morelia (area 22.000, population 3.000.000, Catholics 2.850.000, priests 616, religious 1.345), Mexico, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Salamanca, Mexico, in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- As ordinary members of the Pontifical Academy for Life: Fr. Roberto Colombo, associate professor of bio-chemistry at the Sacred Heart Catholic University of Milan, Italy, and Mieczyslaw Grzegocki, professor of medical physiology at the university of medicine of Leopolis, Ukraine.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Ricardo Maria Carles Gordo, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Josep Angel Sainz Meneses.
- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Justo Oscar Laguna of Moron.
- Bishop Vartan Waldir Boghossian S.D.B., of San Gregorio de Narek en Buenos Aires of the Armenians, apostolic exarch for faithful of the Armenian rite in Latin America and Mexico.
- Bishop Omar Felix Colome of Cruz del Eje.

On Saturday, February 2, he received in separate audiences:

- Nine prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, accompanied by his auxiliaries: Bishops Mario Jose Serra, Guillermo Rodriguez Melgarejo and Joaquin Mariano Sucunza.
- Archbishop Eduardo Vicente Miras of Rosario, accompanied by his auxiliaries: Bishops Luis Armando Collazuol and Sergio Alfredo Fenoy.
- Archbishop Jose Maria Arancibia of Mendoza.
- Archbishop Mario Antonio Cargnello of Salta.
- Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, apostolic nuncio in El Salvador and Belize.
- Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, apostolic nuncio in Poland.

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