GENERAL AUDIENCE: TOMORROW EASTER TRIDIUM BEGINS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father recalled that tomorrow begins the Easter Tridium, "which will make us relive the central event of our salvation," Christ's passion, death and resurrection.

The institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist is commemorated on Holy Thursday, he noted. In the sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ "wanted to remain with us, becoming our food for salvation."

The Pope affirmed that on Good Friday "we will go over the tragic moments of the Redemptor's passion till the Crucifixion at Golgotha. The veneration of the Cross will allow us to understand with more depth the infinite mercy of God. ... The way of the Cross is certainly difficult! However, only there is the Mystery of the death that gives life revealed to us."

"Holy Saturday's mood of recollection and silence will offer us the ocassion to hope, praying with Mary, for the glorious event of the Resurrection, savoring already the intimate joy."

The Pope said that on Easter Sunday "we will be able to understand and love until the end Christ's Cross which eliminated sin and death for ever."

"In the Easter Tridium, we will fix our gaze intensely on Christ's face. The suffering and agonizing face that makes us better understand the drama of the events and situations which afflict humanity also during these days."

John Paul II emphasized that "in Gethsemane we will feel a special harmony with those who sleep beneath the weight of pain and loneliness. Meditating on the treatment to which Jesus was subjected, we will remember those who are persecuted for their faith and for the cause of justice. ... In the supreme hour of the sacrifice of the Son of God, we will abandon trustingly at the feet of Christ that desire that dwells in everyone's heart: the desire for peace!"

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CARDINAL ANGELINI WILL TAKE POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - The office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced in a communique made public today that Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, will take possession of the title of Holy Spirit in Sassia, a diaconate raised "pro hac vice" to a presbyteral title, on April 7 at 9:45 a.m., Via dei Penitenzieri, 12, Rome, Italy.

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PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION TO HOLD PLENARY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - According to a communique released today, the Pontifical Biblical Commission will hold its annual plenary session from April 8 to 12 in the Santa Marta residence in Vatican City. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, president of the commission, will preside the meeting. Fr. Klemens Stock, S.J., secretary general, will lead the work sessions.

This is the Commission's first meeting since the partial renewal of its members. During the plenary a new study will be undertaken on the theme "The Bible and morals." A sub-commission, led by Fr. Stock, has prepared a draft of the work that was sent to members and will serve as the basis for discussions.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience today Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples.

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HOLY SEE ADDRESSES HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN GENEVA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Holy See permament observer, yesterday addressed the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which is meeting in Geneva from March 18 to April 26. His talk focussed on the first principle of the 1992 Rio Declaration: "Human beings are the center of concerns for sustainable development."

He noted that "It is human persons who are the focal point of a knowledge-based economy. It is their initiative and creative ability that are the driving and innovative force of a modern economy." Yet, he said, quoting Pope John Paul, "the sad fact ... is that 'many people, perhaps the majority today, do not have the means which would enable them to take their place in an effective and humanly dignified way within a productive system in which work is truly essential'."

The archbishop recalled that "poverty today must be defined not simply in terms of a lack of economic income, but more in terms of an ability to fully realize that God-given human potential with which every man and women is endowed. Fighting poverty ... is about enhancing human potential."

Archbishop Martin further underscored "the right of people to be able to realize their capacity fully" by saying that "the attainment of this right is not just an understandable human aspiration. It is a prerequisite for the development of a strong modern economy."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez of Maturin, Venezuela, as metropolitan archbishop of Cumana (area 6,162, population 505,864, Catholics 480,000, priests 35, religious 53), Venezuela. The archbishop-elect was born in Montalban, Venezuela in 1939 and was ordained a priest in 1963.

- Appointed Bishop-Prelate Emiliano Antonio Cisneros Martinez O.A.R., of Chota, Peru as bishop of Chachapoyas (area 21,659, population 281,000, Catholics 267,000, priests 22, religious 65), Peru.

- Appointed Fr. Jose Carmelo Martinez Lazaro O.A.R., superior of his community and vice-pastor of the parish "Santa Rita de Casia" in Lima, Peru as bishop-prelate of Chota (area 6,823, population 320,000, Catholics 310,000, priests 32, religious 30), Peru. The bishop-prelate-elect was born in Luezas, Spain in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1980.

- Elevated the apostolic administration of Zakarpattia of the Latins, Ukraine to the diocese of Mukacheve of the Latins and appointed Bishop Antal Majnek O.F.M., apostolic administrator of the same ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as first bishop of the new diocese.

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