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Tuesday, November 26, 2002

BRAZILIAN BISHOPS: RESPONSES TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES


VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2002 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received prelates from the Southern Region (III-IV) of the National Conference of Bishops from Brazil who just completed their "ad limina" visit.

In his speech, the Pope recalled that "in exercising the triple function of sanctifying, teaching and governing, bishops help the faithful to be authentic witnesses to the Risen Jesus. It is not always easy to guide them in their search for appropriate responses - according to the teachings of Jesus Christ - to the challenges in the economic and social context."

After emphasizing that plans for development implemented in the 20th century brought about material growth in the country, he said, these plans were still "not capable of eliminating poverty and misery or reducing inequalities in wealth and income, which continue to grow. Perhaps Brazilian economic history itself may be a good demonstration of the inefficacy of economic systems designed to resolve the problems of human development by themselves, when they are not complemented by a strong ethical commitment and a constant effort of service to human dignity."

"The simple planning of measures in the long term to correct existing imbalances never should overlook the commitment of the institutional and personal solidarity of all Brazilians. Thus, Catholics who make up the majority of the Brazilian population, can make a fundamental contribution."

John Paul II indicated that "a vision of the economy and the social problems that departs from the social doctrine of the Church leads us to consider things always from the point of view of the dignity of the human being which transcends the simple games of economics. Furthermore, it helps us to understand that in order to achieve social justice much more is necessary than the simple application of ideological outlines produced by the struggle of the classes, such as for example the invasion of lands - that I reproached during my pastoral visit in 1991 - and of public and private buildings, or, in order not to cite others, the adoption of extreme technical measures which could have much more serious consequences than injustice which aimed at resolving (problems), such as in the case of not fulfilling international commitments."

The Holy Father referred to the importance of promoting the participation of lay people "so that - as much as possible - authentic justice and solidarity, which are the fruits of a coherent Christian life, will reign in Brazil. In a true democracy there must always be legal options so that groups, instead of resorting to violence, can facilitate processes of just pressure in order to accelerate the establishment of equality and justice, so desired, for all."

"We must work incessantly," he concluded, "for the formation of politicians, of all Brazilians so that they may have some decision-making power, great or small, and in general, of all members of society, so that they may assume their own responsibilities fully and know how to offer a human and unified face to economics. It is necessary to instill in the political and business echelons an authentic spirit of truthfulness and integrity."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS


VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, apostolic administrator "Sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Baucau, East Timor, as apostolic administrator of Dili (area 7,767, population 539,811, Catholics 504,299, priests 64, religious 342), East Timor. Bishop do Nascimento retains the office of apostolic administrator of Baucau. He succeeds Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, S.D.B., whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Joseph Vu Van Thien, professor of theology at the Major Seminary in Hanoi, Vietnam, as bishop of the diocese of Hai Phong (area 10,000, population 4,600,000, Catholics 120,000, priests 23, religious 23), Vietnam. The bishop-elect was born in 1960 in Ke Sat, Vietnam and was ordained a priest in 1988.

- Appointed Fr. Stephanus Tri Buu Thien, professor of moral theology at the Major Seminary of Can Tho, Vietnam, as coadjutor bishop of the same diocese (area 13,257, population 4,798,1522, Catholics 161,564, priests 137, religious 377). The bishop-elect was born in Tra Long, Tan Long, Soc Trang, Vietnam in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1987.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giorgio Zur, apostolic nuncio in Austria.

- Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua.

- Archbishop emeritus Attilio Nicora of Verona, Italy, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

This evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul VI Hall, a concert is scheduled in celebration of the International Year of the Mountains as declared by the United Nations.

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POPE ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF BISHOP BELO IN EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2002 (VIS) - Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Holy See Press Office director, said in a communique released today that "Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, S.D.B., has presented to the Holy Father on numerous occasions his resignation as apostolic administrator of Dili, East Timor, motivated by health reasons. Today the Holy Father accepted that resignation. Bishop Belo will explain the reasons for his resignation in a communique that he will issue today."

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