TELEGRAM ON THE DERAILMENT OF A TRAIN IN ITALY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2002 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, sent a telegram in the Pope's name to Archbishop Giovanni Marra of Messina-Lipari-St. Lucia del Mela, Italy, on the derailment of a train on Saturday night that traveled the Palermo-Venice route and which caused deaths and injuries.

"The Holy Father, profoundly saddened by the news of the serious train accident which took place on Saturday night and caused many deaths and injuries, assures you of his spiritual closeness, entrusts all those who have died in such a tragic way to the mercy of God, and invokes celestial consolation for their families, so severely affected, while he sends a special and consoling apostolic blessing with all his heart."

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POPE GOES TO TORONTO TO LIVE EXPERIENCE OF FAITH WITH YOUTH

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 2002 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus this afternoon in Castelgandolfo, the Pope recalled the "unforgettable days" of World Youth Day during the Jubilee in Rome in August of 2000, in which "faithful young people enkindled a flame of hope for everyone. Now, young people will be in Toronto for the next few days where the 17th World Youth Day will be celebrated."

"The tragic events of September 11th and the conflict in the Holy Land," he continued, "have cast a dark cloud over the world. But Jesus urges his disciples not to be afraid and he tells them once again: 'You are the salt of the earth....you are the light of the world.' Young Christians, who will be in Toronto, are willing to respond to Christ: Here we are! On your word, and without fear, we will throw out the nets of the Gospel."

John Paul II indicated that on Tuesday he will leave "to meet those young people from all over the world who are coming to Toronto: I am going to pray with them, and to enjoy and share an enriching experience of faith with them."

After addressing young people who will not be able to be present in Toronto in a special way, he said: "We will all be united through prayer, invoking the One Spirit who makes all Christians one body in Christ. Toronto, metropolis with a cosmopolitan flare, is prepared to become for one week a world capital of youth, the future and hope of the Church and humanity!"

Greeting the pilgrims present in different languages, the Holy Father asked for prayers for the fruits of World Youth Day.

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TELEGRAM ON THE DEATH OF MSGR. VINCENZO TRAM NGOC THU

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2002 - John Paul II wrote a telegram to Archbishop Francesco Marchisano, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, upon the death of Msgr. Vincenzo Tram Ngoc Thu, canon for many years in the same basilica. The text follows:

"Upon receiving with great sorrow news of the death of Msgr. Vincenzo Tram Ngoc Thu, canon of the patriarchal Vatican basilica for many years, generous servant to the Holy See, first in the apostolic delegation of Saigon, Vietnam, then in the Secretariat of State and finally as an exemplary collaborator in my own secretariat, I implore the Divine Shepherd for the well-deserved prize of the just, for his faithful soul, and expressing sympathy, I ask Him to bestow the consoling, apostolic blessing upon his family members and all those who remember him with affection and esteem."

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BISHOP CREPALDI: SOCIAL DOCTRINE IN CHALLENGE OF LATIN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2002 (VIS) - Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, sent a message to participants in the workshop on "Democracy and Civil Society" sponsored by the Episcopal Latin American Council (CELAM) which is taking place in Caracas, Venezuela from July 22 to 24.

"In a democratic state," writes Msgr. Crepaldi, "the participation of citizens in community life is one of the fundamental pillars and one of the greatest guarantees ... For its part, the Church, with its specific mission and competency - which distinguishes and separates it from any political system - looks for the political community in healthy cooperation, to be at the service of man and his transcendental character." Furthermore, the bishop underlines that "Christianity is obligated, as a member of political society, to cooperate with its objectives and development."

Referring later to one of the themes of the seminar, "Adaptation of the social doctrine of the Church to the present context", the bishop recalls that the "teachings of the Church, most recently of John Paul II, on human rights and freedom of association, are a beautiful treasure which we must explore more ... The social doctrine of the Church, by being a coherent doctrinal body, based on the Gospel and managed throughout the years by successive declarations by the Magisterium in response to specific social questions, is a precious and ideal instrument to indicate the correct path when responding also to bigger challenges that the current political situation in Latin America and the Caribbean present."

The secretary of Justice and Peace concludes by expressing the desire that the workshop result in "courses of action" that help "men and women of good will ... to collaborate actively in giving life to processes of authentic democracy that lead to the consolidation of more sensitive, fair and efficient governments, and to more participative civil societies that avoid the grave danger of democratic regression that threatens many in your countries at this time."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Earl Boyea, president-rector of Josephinum Pontifical College in Columbus, U.S.A., as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Detroit (area 10,106, population 4,266,651, Catholics 1,443,651, priests 781, permanent deacons 146, religious 2,333), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1951 in Pontiac, U.S.A., and was ordained a priest in 1978.

On Saturday July 20th, it was made public that the Holy Father nominated Bishop Peter Kang U-il, auxiliary of Seoul, Korea, as bishop of Cheju (1,845, population 543,323, Catholics 52,468, priests 31, religious 109), Korea.

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