PAPAL APPEAL FOR PEACE IN AFRICA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul made an appeal for peace in Africa, noting that "from the African continent, already tried so harshly by calamity and conflict, disturbing news continues to arrive regarding the Ivory Coast, which runs the risk of having the basic good of peace compromised.

"I invite you to join me in prayer, so that the Lord may inspire everyone to proposals of reconciliation and may sustain the efforts of the international community, in particular those of the African Union, aimed at favoring dialogue. Let us pray, singing the Our Father together in Latin."

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POPE ENCOURAGES PILGRIMS TO PRAY THE ROSARY IN OCTOBER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father, following today's general audience catechesis in Italian, and summaries in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and German, greeted the pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square in those languages as well as Dutch, Croatian, Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian and Lithuanian.

"I extend a special greeting to the diaconate class of the Pontifical North American College," he said in English. "Dear friends, keep your lives centered on Jesus Christ so that your ministry in the Church will always reflect His own self-sacrifice for the redemption of the world."

The Holy Father recalled that "October, the month of the rosary, invites us to use this prayer, so dear to Christian tradition, ever more to our advantage. I invite you young people to recite it daily. I encourage you who are ill to abandon yourselves with trust into Mary's hands, invoking her incessantly through the rosary. I ask you, dear newlyweds, to never overlook this prayerful meditation on the mysteries of Christ."
In closing, the Pope noted that "tomorrow is the 'World Day for Sight'. I express my spiritual closeness to those suffering from eye disease and I encourage all who work for the prevention and cure of blindness to persevere with commitment in their important activity."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: LET ALL PEOPLE GLORIFY GOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 - "Psalm 66: Let all people glorify the Lord" was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during this Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square.

John Paul II indicated that in Psalm 66 "the universal choir of nations is invited to join the praise that Israel raises in the temple of Sion. ... Even those who do not belong to God's chosen people's receive a vocation from Him. The 'way' is the divine plan of salvation, the kingdom of light and peace in which pagans, who are invited to listen to Yahweh's voice, are also included."

"At the beginning and at the end of the Psalm," he said, "the desire to receive divine blessing is expressed resolutely. ... This blessing on Israel will be like a seed of grace and salvation that will be sown throughout the lands of the entire world and in all of history, called to grow and become a tree."

The Holy Father recalled that "in biblical tradition the gift of life, of fecundity and fertility is one of the effects that are experienced during divine blessing. In our psalm an explicit reference is made to this specific reality, precious for life: 'The earth has given its fruit'." Some Fathers of the Church, such as Origen, he continued, apply this phrase "to the Virgin Mary and to the Eucharist, that is, to Christ Who comes from the flower of the Virgin and becomes fruit for nourishment."

St. Augustine, concluded the Pope, "identifies the fruit that sprouts on earth with the transformation that is produced in human beings thanks to the coming of Christ, one of conversion and a fruit of praise to God."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins.
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POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL FOR AMERICA MEETS IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 (VIS) - The Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops for the Special Assembly for America held its seventh meeting in Rome on October 2 and 3 in the main offices of the secretariat under the presidency of Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod.

Three cardinals, six archbishops, two bishops and four members of the synod staff joined Cardinal Schotte, who opened the work sessions with a report on the activity of the secretariat since the last meeting. Also on the agenda was the presentation of a rough draft of a document on the application in the Americas of the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation. The rough draft is entitled "Updated information on the putting into practice of the Apostolic Exhortation 'Ecclesia in America'."

The second day was dedicated to working in two language groups, English and Spanish. It was also decided that the next meeting of this post-synodal council will take place October 28-29, 2003.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Vicente Costa, auxiliary of Londrina, Brazil, as bishop of the Umuarama (area 13,200, population 360,000, Catholics 265,000, priests 66, religious 86), Brazil.

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