GENERAL AUDIENCE: WE EAGERLY AWAIT CHRIST'S COMING

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - In the last general audience of 2002, celebrated today in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father dedicated his catechesis to Christmas.

John Paul II recalled that "the liturgy of Advent, full of constant calls to eagerly await the Messiah, helps us to understand fully the value and significance of the mystery of Christmas. It is not only about commemorating the historical event which took place more than 2000 years ago in a little town in Judea. It is necessary rather to understand that our life must be an 'advent', a vigil of the definitive coming of Christ. In order to prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord ... we must learn how to recognize Him in the events of daily life."

"In the liturgy of these days," he continued, "the Church presents us with three 'guides' - Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary - who show us how we should prepare to meet this divine 'guest' of humanity."

In the first place, the Pope said, Isaiah "urges all to be vigilant in prayer in order to recognize the 'signs' of the Messiah's coming. John the Baptist, herald of the Messiah, is 'a voice in the desert who cries out', preaching 'a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins'. It is the only condition to recognize the Messiah who is already present in the world. Finally, Mary guides us toward Bethlehem in this novena of preparation for Christmas. Mary is the woman of the 'yes', as opposed to Eve, who makes God's project her own without any reservations. In this way, she becomes a bright light for our steps and the highest model from whom we draw inspiration."

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2002: MORE THAN 400,000 FAITHFUL IN GENERAL AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - According to a communique from the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, more than 400,000 people participated in 46 general audiences celebrated on Wednesdays in St. Peter's Square or in the Paul VI Hall in 2002.

Today's general audience was the last one for the year. During the 24 years of his pontificate, John Paul II has met with almost 17 million people in 1064 audiences.

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TO PILGRIMS: WELCOME GOD IN DAILY LIFE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - At the end of the catechesis of today's general audience, John Paul II greeted the many pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall. He addressed in a special way the faithful of Croatia, the nation who gave the Vatican the Christmas tree that is in St. Peter's Square.

The tree, which came from a national park in the region of Gorski kotar, Croatia is 28 meters high and weighs 7 tons, and is decorated with traditional Croatian hearts.

"I thank you," the Pope said, "for this gift of the Christmas tree, offered as a sign of the profound bond that has united the Croatian people to the Holy See of Peter for fourteen centuries. I thank especially all those who were involved in coming up with the idea of the tree which was proposed four years ago in the Croatian Episcopal Conference after my pastoral visit to Zagreb, Marija Bistrica, Split and Sonin."

"In the next few days," he continued, "this gift from Croatia will remind visitors to this hall and pilgrims who will come to St. Peter's Square of the mystery of the Incarnation which illuminated the horizons of humanity with new hope. May the light of that hope help the men and peoples of our time to recognize Emmanuel - God with us - in the Child born in Bethlehem, and to welcome Him in our daily life in order to continue faithfully along our way on the paths of history."

Later, John Paul II addressed a group of Italian pilgrims from the region of Molise which suffered the effects of an earthquake this past November in which 54 children died. "While I assure you of my constant prayers for you and your families," he exclaimed, "I encourage you to look to the future with faith and hope. I hope that the attention and solidarity of the whole nation for your communities does not cease."

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Adolfo Gerstner, emeritus of Concordia, Argentina on December 4 at the age of 81.

- Archbishop Eduardo Pena Picher, military ordinary in Peru, on November 30 at the age of 82.

- Bishop Dante Sandrelli, emeritus of Formosa, Argentina on December 8 at the age of 80.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

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