TO SERVANTS OF THE VISITATION: ATTEND TO THOSE WHO NEED US

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message written on September 8 by John Paul II to Sr. Maria Vincenza Minet, superior general of the Congregation of the Servants of the Visitation, and to the religious of the same order who celebrated their fourth general chapter at the St. Francis and Holy Cross Resort in Acerno, Italy.

Making reference to the theme of this meeting, "Our charism in a world that is changing," the Holy Father encourages their desire to "look with prophetic value at the future in order to understand better what the challenges and hopes of the Church and the world are."

Afterward, recalling that the charism of the order is rooted in "the admirable mystery of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth," he says that the nuns are inspired by that Gospel scene "when you work with abandoned children as well as when you put yourselves at the service of the elderly and sick in the parishes or in mission countries."

"The example of the Virgin requires that we are constantly up to date and in touch with the difference historical, geographical and cultural demands. In a world that is changing, your charisma should not vacillate, on the contrary it needs that 'imagination of charity', to which I made reference in the apostolic letter 'Novo millennio ineunte', in order to be effective and to bring about abundant fruits."

"To be servants of the Visitation," he concludes, "means ... to attend to those who need us; this is the commandment that Christ gave each disciple and that you have taken on as the ideal and goal of your experience and your community service."

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ST. BRIGID: EXAMPLE FOR WOMEN TODAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Mother Tekla Famiglietti, abbess general of the Order of the Most Holy Savior of St. Brigid on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the birth of the Swedish saint.

At the beginning of the message, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude to the religious for their "significant apostolic work in the service of unity among Christians, especially in Europe, following the footsteps of the saint from Sweden."

"When proclaiming St. Brigid the co-patron of Europe," he affirms, "I wanted to offer the faithful of the continent a singular model of 'feminine sanctity'. ... Her example can be an effective stimulus for women today so that they may be protagonists in a society in which their dignity is fully respected, a society that knows how to consider men and women as protagonists with the same rights to the universal divine plan for humanity."

John Paul II recalls that St. Brigid "was a master in accepting the Cross as a central experience of the faith; she was an exemplary disciple of the Church, professing complete Catholicism; she was a model of the contemplative and active life and a tireless apostle in the search for unity among Christians. She also had the gift of prophetic intuition when reading the history of the Gospel and the Gospel in history."

After highlighting the "marian dimension of her consecration to Christ," he says: "Striving always to imitate Mary, she was a wife, mother, and faithful religious. Following the footsteps of the Virgin, she tried to do the will of God in all circumstances."

The Holy Father concluded by emphasizing the saint's passion for unity in the Church: "As a woman of unity, she is for us a witness of ecumenicism. ... Unity of the Church is a grace from the Holy Spirit that must be asked for constantly in prayer."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience nine prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Chile on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Patricio Infante Alfonso of Antofagasta.
- Archbishop Antonio Moreno Casamitjana of Concepcion accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Felipe Bacarreza Rodriguez and Tomislav Koljatic Maroevic.
- Archbishop Manuel Donoso Donoso, SS.CC., of La Serena accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Luis Gleisner Wobbe.
- Bishop Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida of San Bernardo.
- Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatron of Temuco.
- Bishop Pablo Lizama Riquelme, military ordinary.

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MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE WTO IN ST. PETERSBURG

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 (VIS) - Msgr. Piero Monni will participate in the 69th session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) from October 3 through 5 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is the permanent observer of the Holy See to the World Trade Organization and will participate in the seminary on the theme "The future challenges of cultural tourism."

In a note made public today, it was indicated that at the meeting of the Executive Council the following themes will be discussed: the importance of the formation of professionals in the tourism industry, the development of sustainable tourism and ecological tourism, the importance of the "safety" and "quality" of tourism; the outcome of the World Summit in Johannesburg (August 26 to September 4) and the contribution of tourism in the fight against poverty; the process of transformation of the Organization in the Specialized Institution of the UN.

In his speech on October 5, Msgr. Monni will talk about the subject of cultural tourism, "which represents an essential tool of knowledge and solidarity among peoples." In addition, he will emphasize "the importance of religious cultural tourism, an incentive for discovering the spiritual roots of all populations on the earth."

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NUCLEAR ARMS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, head of the delegation of the Holy See before the first Committee of the 57th session of the UN General Assembly on General and Complete Disarmament, delivered an address on October 1.

In his speech, Archbishop Martino, who has recently been appointed as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said that "practical measures to consolidate peace, regional disarmament agreements, and especially the measures adopted to curb the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons can be re-energized. These steps, along with the strengthening of the relationship between disarmament and development, can have tremendous effects by improving the conditions for human security throughout the world."

"The Holy See has stated in this Committee many times and repeats now: There can be no moral acceptance of military doctrines that embody the permanence of nuclear weapons. They are incompatible with the peace we seek for the 21st century; they cannot be justified. These weapons are instruments of death and destruction."

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