THE MEDIA CULTURE MUST BE EVANGELIZED

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications who, for the last few days, have been reflecting upon the theme: "The media and the new evangelization: current activities and plans for the future."

"The special challenge before you," said the Pope, "is to find ways to ensure that the voice of the Church is not marginalized or silenced in the modern arena of the media. You have a role to play in ensuring that the Gospel is not confined to a strictly private world. No! Jesus Christ must be proclaimed to the whole world; and therefore the Church must enter the great forum of the media with courage and confidence."

The Holy Father indicated that "not only must we use the media to communicate Christ to the world, but we must preach the Gospel to the world of the media itself. ... This media culture must itself be evangelized! And you are called to provide the Church with inspiration and ideas for that great work, drawing upon the highest standards of professionalism and the deepest resources of the Christian faith and Catholic tradition."

"We have nothing to offer but Jesus, the one mediator between God and man. To evangelize is simply to enable Him to be seen and heard, for we know that if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man. Therefore I urge you, in all your planning, to make room for Christ. In the print media, in radio and television, in the world of cinema and the internet, seek to open doors to Him who so mercifully is the door of salvation for us. Then the mass media will be a world of genuine communication, a world not of illusion but of truth and joy."

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POPE ATTENDS FIRST LENTEN SERMON

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - This morning at 9 a.m. in the Vatican's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, in the presence of the Pope, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the Pontifical Household, gave the first sermon of Lent. The topic of the meditations is "Starting Afresh from Christ". The other three sermons will take place on March 8, 15 and 22.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop German Garcia Isaza C.M., of Caldas, Colombia, as bishop of Apartado (area 21,000, population 500,000, Catholics 400,000, priests 57, religious 106), Colombia.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jorge Arturo Meinvielle S.D.B., of San Justo.
- Bishop Fabriciano Sigampa of La Rioja.
- Bishop Mario Luis Bautista Maulion of San Nicolas de los Arroyos.
- Bishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Mar del Plata.
- Bishop Miguel Mykycej F.D.P., of Santa Maria del Patrocinio en Buenos Aires of the Ukrainians.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for March is: "For the ecclesial organizations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of love."

His missionary intention is: "That the peoples of the African continent, receiving with a generous heart the Gospel's message of truth and liberation, may dedicate themselves actively to promoting reconciliation and solidarity."

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