POPE PRAYS FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER IN THE HOLY LAND AND IRAQ

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2002 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

In his speech, the Pope referred to the topics that they were considering during their meeting: the activity carried out by the dicastery in the last four years, the election of bishops in the patriarchal Churches and the state of the Eastern Churches.

Speaking about the first point, John Paul II emphasized "the congregation's priority for liturgical and catechetic renewal, as well as the formation of the different members of the People of God, staring with candidates to holy orders and consecrated life."

With respect to the procedure of the election of bishops in the patriarchal Churches, the Holy Father said: "I will be happy to take into consideration your proposals regarding the relative norms of the Code of Canon Law of the Eastern Churches. In any case, when difficulties in applying the current canon norms are made known to the Holy See, everything will be done to help overcome them with a spirit of active collaboration."

On the state of the Eastern Churches and their prospects for pastoral renewal, the Pope affirmed that he was familiar with the difficulties that the Eastern communities encounter in many places: "Few people, lack of means, isolation, and being a minority frequently impede serene and effective educational and charitable pastoral care. In addition, there is an incessant emigration of the most prepared members of your Churches to the West."

"And what is there to say," he asked, "of the suffering endured in the Holy Land and other Eastern countries, dragged into a dangerous spiral that seems humanly unstoppable? May God end this vortex of violence as soon as possible!" John Paul II appealed for peace through the intercession of Blessed John XXIII who "lived for many years in the East, and loved the Eastern Churches so much. ... May he also intercede so that these Churches do not close themselves off to the ways of the past and so that they open up to that healthy revision that he himself desired in line with the sapient harmony between 'nova et vetera'."

The Holy Father concluded by invoking Our Lady's protection for the members of the communities that extend from the Middle East to Africa and from Europe to India, "in particular for those in the Holy Land and Iraq who are going through difficult moments of great suffering."

AC;ORIENTAL CHURCHES;...;...;VIS;20021121;Word: 430;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Giuseppe Nazzaro, O.F.M., guardian of the Fraternity of St. Anthony in Damascus, Syria, as apostolic vicar of Alep of the Latins (Catholics 10,000, priests 40, religious 242), Syria, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in 1937 in San Potito, Italy and was ordained a priest in 1965. He succeeds Bishop Armando Bortolaso, S.D.B., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate the Holy Father accepted upon having reached the age limit.

NER; RE;...;...;NAZARRO; BORTOLASO ;VIS;20021121;Word: 90;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience three prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region III-IV) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Nei Paulo Moretto of Caxias do Sul.

- Bishop Paulo Antonio De Conto of Criciuma.

- Msgr. Alex Jose Kloppenburg, diocesan administrator of Bage.

AL;...;...;...;VIS;20021121;Word: 60;

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAITY STARTS PLENARY ASSEMBLY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2002 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Laity today started its three-day plenary assembly with a welcoming speech by Cardinal James Francis Stafford, council president. The 62 members and consultors, including those recently named by Pope John Paul to a five-year term, will study the theme "We Need to Continue to Walk, Departing from Christ, that is, from the Eucharist."

A communique from the council noted that of the 37 members, 24 are lay people, nine are cardinals and four are bishops. Of the 25 consultors, there are 13 lay people, four bishops and 8 priests. Given the presence of new members at this assembly, the opening day of the program will include an introduction to the history, nature and activity of this pontifical council.

The work will be divided into three sessions aimed at listening, study and reflection. The first day will include "an exchange of experiences and reflections on the vocation and mission of lay faithful in the life of the Church and in the world in order to try and delineate the prospects and priorities to bear in mind in the present context."

Tomorrow will be dedicated "to studying more deeply the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the lay faithful; this will be followed by reflections on the sacraments of Christian initiation set in motion during the plenary assemblies dedicated to Baptism and Confirmation. ... Three aspects of the Eucharistic mystery linked to the vocation of lay Christians, their life and their mission will be studied."

On the third and last day, says the communique, "the council's future programs and projects will be presented and the new members and consultors will be called upon to contribute to these topics. The culmination will be an audience with the Holy Father late Saturday morning."

CON-L;PLENARY;...;STAFFORD;VIS;20021121;Word: 310;