NEW AMBASSADOR FROM MOROCCO WELCOMED BY HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - Mohamed Sbihi, Morocco's new ambassador to the Holy See, presented his Letters of Credence today to Pope John Paul. In their speeches both men recalled that ties have existed between Morocco and the Holy See since the 13th century. The Pope emphasized that Morocco, given its geographic position, history and blend of peoples, cultures and religions, "can play a great role" in promoting dialogue for peace.

The Pope highlighted the many difficult situations throughout the world today, most especially in the Middle East, and stated that "the leaders of Nations and spiritual leaders as well have the duty to try ceaselessly to eradicate the violence that too often in our world dominates relations between men and groups." Leaders must also, he said, "clearly denounce all false legitimization of violence, especially in the name of religion."

He referred again to "the tragic situation in the Middle East, and the concerns that assail us about the holy sites of the region, especially the Holy City of Jerusalem, a symbol for the believers of the monotheistic religions." He appealed for the resumption of negotiations and "for everything to be done to end the armed conflict" which "gives neither prospects nor hope to the peoples present there."

"As I have already said," John Paul II stated, "neither the blind violence of terrorism, nor the violence of war can contribute to a solution."

He observed that Morocco has "the honor of a long tradition of tolerance and openness to religions, and the faithful of several religions live there in mutual respect, without harm to their basic freedoms, and showing that it is possible for believers of different religious traditions to live in peace in the same land." He added that Catholics "have their place in the life of the country and enjoy the population's esteem. They hope to work ... to build a world of justice and peace, in service to man and his development."

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for May is: "That Christians may live their faith coherently and so be credible witnesses of the hope of the Gospel."

His missionary intention is: "That, with the help of Mary, Most Holy Virgin and Mother, the social and family vocation of women may be safeguarded and promoted in every country and culture."

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EUROPE: FIND TRUE IDENTITY IN CHRISTIANITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope to Archbishop Giuseppe Verucchi of Ravenna-Cervia, Italy to mark the millennium of the construction of the first church in Ravenna dedicated to St. Adalbert, bishop of Prague, and the dispatch to Poland of the monks John of Classe and Benedict of Benevento.

In the Message, which is dated April 23, the Holy Father writes that the plans of Pope Sylvester II and Emperor Otto III to evangelize represent "a stimulus for believers today to become ever more aware of the fact that the great mosaic of the social and religious identity of Europe has, in the Christian faith, one of the main factors of its most profound unity."
"On this jubilee anniversary, may the memory of Adalbert, Romuald, John and Benedict prompt this diocesan community and each individual Christian to safeguard the spiritual and moral dimension of Europe, giving the project for the unity of European peoples a 'transcendental anchor-point' through explicit recognition for the 'rights of God.' This is the only truly indisputable guarantee for the dignity of man and the freedom of peoples."

John Paul II continues: "Going beyond those technical, administrative, economic and monetary norms, which are nonetheless necessary, we must recover that authentic identity and that legacy of civilization of which Christianity is the fundamental component, the inspiration for the universalist European dream that has been maintained over so many generations."

Just as, thanks to their faith, Adalbert, Romuald, John and Benedict overcame "the temptations of petty existential and political concepts," now too "full adherence to basic Christian values such as spirituality, solidarity, subsidiarity and the central importance of the individual (will) enable Europe to develop harmoniously and to play an important role in the gathering of nations."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
- Six prelates from the Antilles Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop John Joseph Myers of Newark, U.S.A., superior of the "sui iuris" mission in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Bishop Aloysius Ferdinandus Zichem C.SS.R., of Paramaribo, Suriname.
- Bishop Benedict Singh of Georgetown, Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
- Bishop Sydney Anicetus Charles of St. George's in Grenada, Grenada.
- Bishop Donald James Reece of Saint John's-Basseterre, Anguilla.
- Bishop Ernest Mesmin Lucien Cabo of Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Basil Myron Schott O.F.M., of Parma of the Ruthenians, U.S.A., as metropolitan archbishop of Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians, (Catholics 64,986, priests 74, religious 116), U.S.A. The archbishop-elect was born in Freeland, U.S.A., in 1939, ordained a priest in 1965 and consecrated bishop in 1996.

- Archpriest John Kudrick, archieparchal administrator of Pittsburgh and rector of the cathedral, as bishop of Parma of the Ruthenians (Catholics 12,572, priests 45, permanent deacons 4, religious 17), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Lloydell, U.S.A., in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1975.

- Msgr. Mark Benedict Coleridge, official at the Secretariat of State, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Melbourne (area 27,194, population 3,365,173, Catholics 995,797, priests 611, permanent deacons 1, religious 1,988), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Melbourne in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1974.

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TWENTY-EIGHT NEW SWISS GUARDS TO BE SWORN IN

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - In the afternoon of Monday, May 6 in Vatican City's San Damaso courtyard, 28 new recruits of the Swiss Guard will be sworn in during a ceremony commemorating the death of 147 guards who gave their lives in defense of Pope Clement VII on the same date in the year 1527.

Eighteen guards will make their oath in German, six in Italian and four in French. The ceremony will be attended by Vatican City authorities and by representatives from diplomatic delegations, from the Swiss Army and from other countries.

At 7:30 a.m., the guards and their families will attend a Mass in the Hall of Blessings of the Apostolic Palace, celebrated by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State. At 8:45 a.m. they will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the dead of the Corps at the Monument to the Fallen in the Courtyard of Honor of the barracks. An audience with the Holy Father is scheduled for midday and the swearing-in ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.

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