"RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT," A GIFT FOR THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope received representatives of the group "Renewal of the Holy Spirit", on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of their presence in Italy.

In his address, John Paul II indicated that the group "can be considered a special gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church in these times. Born in and for the Church, it is a movement in which, by the light of the Gospel, one may experience the living encounter with Jesus, faithfulness to God in personal and community prayer, trust in His word, the rediscovery of the Sacraments, as well as courage in trials and hope in tribulations."

The Pope went on to say: "On this special occasion, I would like to bless especially three of your projects:" the foundation of "a missionary community linked to the diocese of Chisinau, Moldavia; ... spiritual animation in Marian sanctuaries, ... that gives you the opportunity to help pilgrims to deepen their faith and engage in spiritual reflection" and the "'Burning bush' project, which is an invitation to incessantly adore, day and night," the eucharistic mystery.

The Pope concluded by emphasizing that all their evangelizing activities "tend to promote a constant growth of holiness in the people of God. ... The Church needs saints, and the more we allow the Holy Spirit to make us like Christ, the more saintly we and the world become. This is the secret of the regenerating experience of the 'effusion of the Holy Spirit,' a typical experience that characterizes the path of growth proposed by the members of your groups and communities."

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DIPLOMACY MUST BE AT THE SERVICE OF INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received the Letters of Credence of Seo Hyun-Seop, the new ambassador of Korea to the Holy See. In his address, the Pope recalled the "splendid hospitality" shown him by the Korean people during his two visits to that country in 1984 and 1989.

"Your land," he said to the ambassador, "is at a very delicate stage of relations between North and South, and we must hope that the recent evidence of goodwill and progress ... will be allowed to mature and will not be hampered by concerns not directly related to the wellbeing of the Korean people as a whole." John Paul II then went on to mention the "significant shift on the peninsula as the governments of Seoul and Pyongyang move towards the reconciliation of the entire Korean nation, whatever form the political settlement may eventually take."

He then spoke on the international situation, affirming that its "shifting configuration ... presents a great challenge to diplomacy's function and mission. ... Because of changes in the relationship between business and government, for instance, foreign relations and trade often merge. This is perhaps inevitable, but it runs the risk of focussing merely on the economy and reducing relations between nations and peoples to commercial transactions. ... Diplomacy needs to uphold its high ideal of serving the integral development of peoples and the common good of the entire human family."

The Pope concluded by recalling that "the Catholic Church is present and active in the international forum," and that "at the heart of the Church there lies an ethic of communion between individuals, peoples and their communities and institutions." Her long experience of this ethic is what gives the Church "expertise in the workings of that dialogue and solidarity so necessary at this critical time in history."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- As consultors of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Msgrs. Mario Sensi; Demetrio Salachas, and Francesco Tasciotti. Frs. Mykhaylo Havryliv O.S.B.M.; Porfirio Pidrucnyj O.S.B.M.; Zbigniew Suchecki O.F.M. Conv.; Luigi Borriello O.C.D.; Germano Marani S.J.; Adam Owcrazski O.SS.R. and Giorgio Rossi S.D.B. Gaetano Passarelli.

- Msgr. Ryszard Selejdak, official of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as bureau chief of the same congregation.

- Msgr. Michael Xavier Leo Arokiaraj, notary of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, as head of the chancellery of the same tribunal.

- Josep M. Cullell, president of the "Hospitalidad de Nuestra Senora de Lourdes de Barcelona", Spain, as international reviser of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Karl-Josef Rauber, apostolic nuncio in Hungary and Moldavia.
- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, Great Britain and president of the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales, accompanied by Archbishop Patrick Altham Kelly of Liverpool and Msgr. Andrew Summersgill, respectively vice-president and secretary general of the same conference.

- Frere Roger, prior of Taize, and an entourage.

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY ATTENDS VARIOUS MEETINGS IN THE U.S.A.

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, is presently in the U.S.A. where, between March 12 and 18, he is attending various meetings.

Yesterday, the archbishop celebrated Mass at the St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. In his homily, he said that against "the sad days" the Church is experiencing due to charges of sexual abuse against the clergy, "our best defense is virtue." He went on: "We truly need holy priests, priests who are pure in thought, word and deed; priests who are men of prayer; priests who are generous in service; priests who are self-giving, self-sacrificing; priests who are dedicated to making known the saving knowledge and love of Jesus."

Archbishop Foley also made a speech yesterday to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. where his subject was ethics in the media.

"The priest and communications" is the title of the address the archbishop is due to make today at the Seminary of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. Tomorrow he will celebrate the Eucharist in the seminary and make an address on "ethics and ingenuity: a challenge to influence and evangelize through the media."

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