POPE TO VISIT ITALIAN PARLIAMENT ON NOVEMBER 14

VATICAN CITY, SEP 25, 2002 (VIS) - Late yesterday afternoon, Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following statement: "The Holy Father has accepted an invitation extended to him by the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate of the Italian Republic to visit parliament which will meet in a joint session. The Pope's visit is scheduled for November 14."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD FORGIVES AND AWAITS MAN'S CONVERSION

VATICAN CITY, SEP 25, 2002 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope reflected on "Psalm 84: our salvation is close at hand."

The Holy Father explained that Psalm 84 "is a joyful hymn, full of hope in the future for salvation. It marks the glorious moment of Israel's return from exile in Babylon to the land of the fathers. ... Above all, Israel's physical return is celebrated" as well as another "'more interior and spiritual return'."

"In this 'return' the Lord acts effectively, revealing His love while forgiving the iniquity of the people and erasing all sins, while showing His anger and yet putting an end to His ire. It is precisely this delivery from evil, this forgiveness of and purification from sins that create the new people of God."

John Paul II emphasized that "a 'return' must correspond to this 'return' of God, that is, the conversion of man who repents. The psalm declares that peace and salvation are offered to 'he who returns to Him with all his heart'." He who continues on the path to holiness with determination will receive the gifts of joy, freedom and peace."

In the second part of Psalm 84, he concluded, "a new world is described, one in which God's love and fidelity embrace each other as if they were people. ... Mercy, truth, justice and peace become the four cardinal points of this geography of the spirit."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 25, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care presented by Bishop Antonin Liska, C.SS.R., of the diocese of Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jiri Pad'our, O.F.M. Cap.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Prague, Czech Republic, presented by Bishop Jaroslav Skarvada, upon having reached the age limit.

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