POPE ASKS FOR END TO ATTACKS ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following statement late this morning on the situation in the Middle East:

"Worried about the serious attack on the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano has sent a message to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asking, in the name of the Holy Father, for a suspension of such actions which compromise the already slender hopes for peace in that region, and expressing hope for an immediate resumption of dialogue between the parties in reciprocal respect and mutual understanding.

"At the same time, the cardinal secretary of state assured President Arafat, at this sad hour for the Palestinian people and the National Authority, of the closeness of His Holiness John Paul II, and his own closeness, while repeating that the Holy See will continue its commitment for the defense of the right of all peoples to live in peace with secure borders and in a climate of mutual respect."

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WORLD TOURISM DAY: FREE ENTRANCE TO VATICAN MUSEUMS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - Friday September 27 marks the 23rd World Tourism Day, sponsored by the World Tourism Organization. Its theme is: "Ecological Tourism, key to sustainable development."

As is tradition on this day, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Historical Museum, located at St. John Lateran, will be open to the public free of charge.

In addition, on September 28 and 29, the Holy See will participate in "European Heritage Days," an initiative sponsored by the Council of Europe which comprises over 40 countries. This year's theme is: "The discovery of the origins and traditions of our Christian heritage in Europe."

On this occasion, on Saturday September 28 entrance to the archeological area of the sacred necropolis of St. Peter's Basilica will be free, and on Sunday September 29 the Vatican Museums and the catacombs of Rome will be open to visitors at no charge. The catacomb of Via Latina, which is normally closed to the public, will also be open to visitors.
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HOLY SEE URGES COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC CLONING

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday in New York before the Ad Hoc Committee On An International Convention Against The Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings. He reiterated the Holy See's "well known" position on this question, saying it "supports and urges a world-wide comprehensive ban on human embryonic cloning for both reproductive and scientific purposes."

"Based on the biological and anthropological status of the human embryo and on the fundamental moral and civil rule," he affirmed, "it is illicit to kill an innocent even to bring about a good for society."

The apostolic nuncio noted that "the Holy See looks upon the distinction between 'reproductive' and so-called 'therapeutic' (or 'experimental') cloning to be unacceptable. This distinction masks the reality of the creation of a human being for the purpose of destroying him or her to produce embryonic stem cell lines or to conduct other experimentation."

On the other hand, he asserted, "the Holy See supports research on stem cells of post-natal origin since this approach ... is a sound, promising and ethical way to achieve tissue transplantation and cell therapy that could benefit humanity."

"Attempts at human cloning with a view to obtaining organs for transplants, ... insofar as they involve the manipulation and destruction of human embryos, are not morally acceptable." He underscored that the prospect of "cloning a human embryo, while intentionally planning its demise ... is repugnant to most people, including those who properly advocate for advancement in science and medicine."

Archbishop Martino pointed out that with some modern techniques "there is a risk of a new form of racism, for the development of these techniques could lead to the creation of a 'sub-category of human beings', destined basically for the convenience of certain others." Furthermore, if certain characteristics are selected and propagated through cloning, "this would be akin to the practice of eugenics leading to the institution of a 'super race'."

He concluding by noting that "the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reiterates the sanctity of all human life" and that "international law guarantees the right to life to all, not just some, human beings."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Rutilo Munoz Zamora, vicar for ministries of the diocese of Veracruz, Mexico, as bishop of the diocese of Coatzacoalcos (area 10,500, population 1,039,562, Catholics 849,469, priests 50, permanent deacons 4, religious 90), Mexico. Fr. Munoz was born in 1951 in Tulictic, Mexico, and was ordained a priest in 1977. He succeeds Bishop Carlos Talavera Ramirez whose resignation the Holy Father accepted upon having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Eight prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast 2) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, O. Carm., of Olinda and Recife, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Fernando Antonio Saburido, O.S.B.
- Archbishop Jose Carlos Melo, C.M., of Maceio, accompanied by Archbishop Edvaldo Goncalves Amaral, emeritus.
- Bishop Jose Freire de Oliveira Neto of Mossoro.
- Bishop Jorge Tobias de Freitas of Nazare.
- Bishop Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm., of Petrolina.
- Bishop Fernando Iorio Rodrigues of Palmeiras dos Indios.
- Colonel Pius Segmuller, captain commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guards, accompanied by his family, on his farewell visit.
- Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, Italy.

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THEME OF WORLD DAY OF COMMUNICATIONS 2003

VATICAN CITY, SEP 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Social Communications announced today that the theme chosen by John Paul II for the World Day of Communications 2003 is "The Communications Media at the Service of Authentic Peace in the light of 'Pacem in Terris'."

Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the dicastery, affirmed that the "theme chosen by the Holy Father reflects the importance of the media in promoting authentic peace, based on truth, justice and love, as Blessed John XXIII indicated in his famous encyclical letter of 1963, 'Pacem in Terris'."

The World Day of Communications is the only celebration of universal reach expressly desired by Vatican Council II in the document "Inter Mirifica" of 1963. It is celebrated in most countries on the Sunday before Pentecost at the suggestion of bishops from all over the world. In 2003, it falls on June 1st.

The Holy Father's message is traditionally published on January 24, the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron of journalists, to allow the episcopal conferences and diocesan organizations to prepare material for national and local celebrations of this event.

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