ANNUAL MESSAGE FOR THE END OF RAMADAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - Today the annual Message from the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue to Muslims at the end of Ramadan 'Id Al-Fitr 1423 A.H./2002 A.D. was made public. The message, whose theme is "Christians and Muslims and the Ways to Peace," was published in French, English, Italian and Arabic and was signed by Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, president of the council.

"You are well aware, dear friends, how acute the question of peace has become in our world today. Situations where war prevails are like an open wound in the heart of humanity, above all those conflicts which have been going on for many years, whether in the Middle East, in Africa or in Asia. In several countries such conflicts result in numerous innocent victims, leading the population to despair of peace returning to their land in the near future."

After emphasizing that "the origin of the causes of conflict is often to be located in hearts which refuse to be open to God," the archbishop writes: "While the ultimate causes of wars are well known, we need above all to explore together the ways to peace."

"As believers in the One God we see it as our duty to strive to bring about peace. Christians and Muslims, we believe that peace is above all a gift from God. This is why our two communities pray for peace; it is something they are always called to do."

The president of the pontifical council affirms that "in bringing about peace and maintaining it, religions have an important role to play, one which these days more than ever is being recognized by civil society and by Governments. In this respect, education is a domain in which religions can make a particular contribution. We are indeed convinced that the ways of peace include education, for through it one can learn to recognize one's own identity and that of the other. ... Education for peace also involves recognition and acceptance of diversity, just as it includes learning about crisis management, in order to prevent crises from degenerating into conflicts. We are happy to see that in several countries there is increased collaboration in this field among Muslims and Christians, especially as regards the equitable revision of text-books for schools."

CON-DIR;MESSAGE MUSLIMS; RAMADAN;...;FITZGERALD;VIS;20021122;Word: 390;

BE COURAGEOUS WITNESSES TO CHRISTIAN AND FRANCISCAN LIFE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Pope today welcomed members of the presidency of the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order, meeting in their Tenth General Chapter on the theme "Vital, Reciprocal Communion in the Franciscan Family."

The Pope noted that the Chapter "brought to an end the updating of your basic legislation," including the Rule, the Ritual, the General Constitutions and the International Statute, which was approved in the current Chapter. He said the Church awaits the Order's "great service to the cause of the Kingdom in today's world" and she desires "your Order to be a model of an organic whole and of structural and charismatic union at all levels."

"Your renewed legislation," he added, "gives you optimum instruments to realize and fully express the unity of your Order and the communion with the Franciscan family" as well as your mission to be "courageous and coherent witnesses of Christian and Franciscan life."

"You are called," John Paul II affirmed, "to offer your own contribution, inspired by the person and message of St. Francis of Assisi, to hasten the advent of a civilization in which the dignity of the human person, co-responsibility and love are living realities. You must study deeply the true foundations of universal brotherhood and create everywhere a spirit of welcome and an atmosphere of fellowship. Commit yourselves strongly to fighting every form of exploitation, discrimination and marginalization and every attitude of indifference towards others."

The Holy Father said he wished to conclude his message "by recommending to you to consider your family as the priority place in which to live your Christian commitment and Franciscan vocation," doing so through prayer, Christian catechesis, promoting respect for every life from conception to natural death and "offering a convincing example of the possibility of marriage lived in a way that fully conforms to God's plan."

AC;SECULAR FRANCISCANS;...;...;VIS;20021122;Word: 320;

POPE WELCOMES HAITI'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - Carl Henri Guiteau, Haiti's new ambassador to the Holy See, was welcomed today by Pope John Paul who accepted his Letters of Credence. In their respective speeches, both underlined the fact that the president of Haiti has designated Ambassador Guiteau as a "resident ambassador" which means that presidential envoys to the Holy See will henceforth reside in Rome and not in Paris, as in the past.

"You have just recalled," the Holy Father told the diplomat, "the bicentenary of independence that your country will celebrate in 2004. You have also mentioned the deep crisis affecting your country which you called a crisis of values, a crisis of society. I ardently hope that this anniversary, of which the Haitians are very proud because Haiti was the first country of Latin America and the Caribbean to proclaim its independence, will be a privileged occasion for a deeper ability to live together."

In the decision taken by leaders to promote the common good, said the Pope, "it is important to take into consideration the just aspirations of the population in respect to persons, peace, security, justice and fairness. A great majority of inhabitants suffer from an ever more unbearable poverty" which leads many Haitians to emigrate, especially to cities, thus causing "savage urbanization" and "the disintegration of family ties."

John Paul II affirmed that "a strong democracy" and "a State of law are powerful antidotes to the despair" felt by many Haitians. What must be strengthened, he added, is the "culture of fraternity and solidarity of the Haitian people" as it is "an important resource for weaving solid relations among citizens." This patrimony belongs to everyone, he said, not to just a few who wish to profit economically from it. The Pope encouraged Haitian leaders to "open up the country" through a network of better communications, health structures, schools and rural development.

"The fight against injustice and arbitrariness," the Holy Father went on, "presupposes guaranteeing an ever more independent and fair judicial system that respects the rights of the poorest."

He stated that leaders must be attentive to young people as well, for they are "the first natural richness. Their education and formation give them the taste of hope and the possibility of participating in the transformation of the country." Youth must "be made aware of the common good and solidarity, respect for life from its conception, (and) the greatness of creation, placed into the hands of man in order for him to suitably administer it."

Pope John Paul underscored "the endemic and ever more shocking scandal of misery which creates (a) permanent instability in the country." He urged leaders "to listen to the cries of the poor and to not disappoint their hopes." He also exhorted them "not to allow themselves to be influenced by special or occult interests which harm the good functioning of institutions."

The Pope closed with words of greeting for Haiti's Catholics and recalled the Church's presence and its work in the country's long history and her constant efforts "to promote the common good of all the Haitian people."

CD;LETTERS CREDENCE;...;HAITI; GUITEAU;VIS;20021122;Word: 520;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Werner Thissen, auxiliary of Munster, Germany, as metropolitan archbishop of Hamburg (area 33,055, population 5,769,315, Catholics 504,091, priests 240, permanent deacons 39, religious 421), Germany. The archbishop-elect was born in Kleve, Germany in 1938 and was ordained a priest in 1966.

NER;...;...;THISSEN ;VIS;20021122;Word: 50;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region III-IV) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Estanislau Amadeu Kreutz of Santo Angelo.

- Bishop Aloisio Sinesio Bohn of Santa Cruz do Sul.

- Bishop Thadeu Gomes Canellas of Osorio.

- Bishop Gironimo Zanandrea of Erexim.

- Cardinal Jean Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France.

AL; AP;...;...;...;VIS;20021122;Word: 70;

APOSTOLATE FOR PARTICIPANTS IN MARITIME COMPETITIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples published a communique which recalls that the 21st World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea, promoted by the council, was celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 29 to October 5.

The congress examined the problems that globalization presents to seafarers and their families. to merchant navies, the fishing sector - small scale and industrial - and the leisure cruise industry.

The communique affirms that there is another category of professional seafarers that this dicastery cares for: the participants in maritime competitions such as the Vuitton Cup and America's Cup, their families, the support teams and journalists that follow them. "Today, this sector too must be reached by the Apostleship of the Sea," says the note.
For this reason, the communique continues, Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, entrusted the task of completing a study in this regard to the person in charge of the council's maritime section. The first phase of research (November-December 2002) will consist of contacting the people that can help in understanding this environment, such as parish priests and chaplains and the journalists who cover these events. The second phase will establish a dialogue at the end of the Vuitton Cup (January 2003) with the local Church, the media and support groups in order to make known the Apostleship of the Sea and its ministry among seafarers and itinerant people.

The communique concludes by affirming that the information and suggestions that are gathered in these two phases of the study will help "diocesan bishops in particular to 'determine the most suitable forms of pastoral care for maritime personnel'."

...;APOSTLESHIP SEA;...;HAMAO;VIS;20021122;Word: 300;