JESUS IS BORN FOR A HUMANITY SEARCHING FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II celebrated midnight mass in the Vatican Basilica for the solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

In the homily, the Pope said that "Jesus is born for a humanity searching for freedom and peace; he is born for everyone burdened by sin, in need of salvation, and yearning for hope. On this night God answers the ceaseless cry of the peoples: 'Come, Lord, save us!' His eternal Word of love has taken on our mortal flesh."

He continued "The Word has entered into time: Emmanuel. God-with-us, is born. In cathedrals and great Basilicas, as well as in the smallest and remotest churches throughout the world, Christians joyfully lift up their song: 'Today is born our Saviour'."

The Holy Father went on, "This is the icon of Christmas: a tiny newborn child, whom the hands of a woman wrap in poor cloths and lay in a manger. Who could imagine that this little human being is the 'Son of the Most High'? Only she, his Mother, knows the truth and guards its mystery. (...) We too - the men and women of the third millennium - are able to encounter Christ and to gaze upon him through the eyes of Mary. Christmas night thus becomes a school of faith and of life."

The Pope emphasized that "The Child laid in a lowly manger: this is God's sign. (...) It is a sign of hope for the whole human family; a sign of peace for those suffering from conflicts of every kind; a sign of freedom for the poor and oppressed; a sign of mercy for those caught up in the vicious circle of sin; a sign of love and consolation for those who feel lonely and abandoned." He concluded, "A small and fragile sign, a humble and quiet sign, but one filled with the power of God who out of love became man."

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"URBI ET ORBI": A CALL FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope addressed the traditional Christmas message to the faithful present in St. Peter's Square and to impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

Some extracts of the message are given below:

"Christmas is a mystery of love! The love of the Father, who has sent into the world his only-begotten Son, to bestow on us the gift of his own life. (...) In the cold stable, wrapped in silence, the Virgin Mother, with prophetic intuition, already tastes the violent drama of Calvary, the traumatic struggle between darkness and light, between death and life, between hatred and love. The Prince of Peace, born today in Bethlehem, will give his life on Golgotha, so that love may reign on earth."
"Christmas is a mystery of peace! From the cave of Bethlehem there rises today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds uncertainties and fears. Believers of all religions, together with men and women of good will, by outlawing all forms of intolerance and discrimination, are called to build peace: in the Holy Land, above all, to put an end once and for all to the senseless spiral of blind violence, and in the Middle East, to extinguish the ominous smouldering of a conflict which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided; in Africa too, where devastating famines and tragic internal conflicts are aggravating the already precarious conditions of entire peoples, although here and there signs of hope are present; in Latin America, in Asia, in other parts of the world, where political, economic and social crises disturb the serenity of many families and nations. May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!"

"Adorable mystery of the Incarnate Word! Together with you, O Virgin Mother, may we stop and reflect at the manger where the Child lies. (...) Teach us to recognize his face in the children of every race and culture. Help us to be credible witnesses of his message of peace and love, so that the men and women of our own time, still torn by conflicts and unspeakable violence, may also recognize in the Child cradled in your arms the one Saviour of the world, the endless source of that true peace for which every heart profoundly yearns."

The Pope extended Christmas greetings in 62 languages after the message.

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SERENITY, HARMONY AND LOVE IN ALL FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29 2002 (VIS) - Before celebrating the Angelus with the faithful congregated in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope spoke about today's feast dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, "admirable model of human and supernatural virtues for all Christian families."

The Holy Father exclaimed, "How I would like to see the serenity, harmony and love of the home of Nazareth in today's families! With insisting prayer I ask the Lord that all Christian parents be aware of their irrefutable duty towards their children as well as towards society. We expect them to give true and efficacious evangelical witness.

John Paul II pointed out that "A united family, following the path of these principles, will be able to easily overcome the difficulties it will encounter. Within the faithful parental love, a gift to be nourished and safeguarded continuously, the children may find the best conditions to mature, helped by Jesus, who 'increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man'."

He continued: "We entrust today the families of the entire world to the Holy Family of Nazareth, especially those undergoing great suffering or difficulties. In a special way I would like to place under the particular protection of the Holy Virgin, Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus, the IV World Family Meeting, which will take place in Manila, Philippines, from January 22 to the 26. The theme chosen - 'The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium' - expresses the mission of each Christian family and the trust the Church places in them. May this important appointment bring forth the hoped-for spiritual fruits for the Church and for all of humanity!"

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CLONING OF A HUMAN: CONDEMNATION BY THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28 2002 (VIS) - The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following declaration this morning regarding the announcement of the supposed cloning of a human being in the United States:

"The announcement, made without any proof, has already given rise to skepticism and moral condemnation by the international scientific community.

"The announcement itself is an expression of a brutal mentality, lacking any ethical or human consideration."

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CONSULTATION OF THE VATICAN ARCHIVES UP TO 1939

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2002 (VIS) - Today, a notice was made public stating that from February 15, 2003 researchers will be allowed to consult the documents of the Vatican Secret Archive pertaining to the relations between the Holy See and Germany between 1922-1939, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI.

The catalogues that may be viewed are the following: Extraordinary Ecclesiastic Affairs, Bavaria (1922-1939), Germany (1922-1939), Vatican Secret Archive, Archive of the Apostolic Nunciature of Berlin (1922-1930). This last archive was severely damaged in 1945 because of the Berlin bombings and the fire at the Palace of the Apostolic Nunciature. For this reason, the documents relative to the years from 1931 to 1934 were practically completely destroyed or disappeared.

The notice ends by mentioning that the documents pertaining to National Socialism and the condemnation of racism may be found in the Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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POPE TO CONFER EPISCOPAL ORDINATION ON TWELVE PRESBYTERS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 30 2002 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, John Paul II will confer episcopal ordination on the following twelve priests in the Vatican Basilica at 9 a.m. on Monday January 6, 2003, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord:

1. Msgr. Paul Tschang In-Nam of the clergy of the diocese of Ch'ongiu, Korea, born October 30, 1949, ordained a priest December 17, 1976, elected titular archbishop of Amanzia and appointed apostolic nuncio in Bangladesh on October 19, 2002.

2. Msgr. Celestino Migliore of the clergy of the diocese of Cuneo, Italy, born July 1, 1952, ordained a priest June 25, 1977, elected titular archbishop of Canosa and appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Organization (U.N.) October 30, 2002.

3. Msgr. Pierre Nguyen Van Tot of the clergy of the diocese of Phu Cuong, Vietnam, born April 15, 1949, ordained a priest March 24, 1974, elected titular archbishop of Rusticiana and appointed apostolic nuncio in Benin and Togo on November 25, 2002.

4. Msgr. Pedro Lopez Quintana of the clergy of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, born July 27, 1953, ordained a priest June 15, 1980, elected titular archbishop of Agropoli and appointed apostolic nuncio on December 12, 2002.

5. Msgr. Angelo Amato of Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco, born June 8, 1938, ordained a priest December 22, 1967, elected titular archbishop of Sila and appointed Secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith December 19, 2002.

6. Msgr. Calogero La Piana, of the Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco, born January 27, 1952, ordained a priest August 8, 1981, elected bishop of Mazara del Vallo, Italy on November 15, 2002.

7. Msgr. Rene-Marie Ehuzu of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, born April 12, 1944, ordained a priest September 30, 1972, elected Bishop of Abomey, Benin, on November 25, 2002.

8. Msgr. Jan Babjak of the Society of Jesus, born October 28, 1953, ordained a priest June 11, 1978, elected bishop of the Eparchy of Presov, Slovakia on December 11, 2002.

9. Msgr. Andraos Abouna of the Patriarchal Eparchy of Baghdad, Iraq, born March 23, 1943, ordained a priest June 5, 1966, elected titular bishop of Zenobia of the Chaldeans and appointed auxiliary of the Patriarchate of Babylonia of the Chaldeans, Iraq on November 6, 2002.

10. Msgr. Milan Sasik of the Congregation for the Mission, born September 17, 1952, ordained a priest June 6, 1976, elected titular bishop of Bononia and appointed apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the Eparchy of Mukacheve, Ukraine, on November 12, 2002.

11. Msgr. Giuseppe Nazzaro of the Order of Friars Minor, born December 22, 1937, ordained a priest June 29, 1965, elected titular bishop of Forma and appointed apostolic vicar of Alep of the Latin Rite, Syria, on November 21, 2002.

12. Msgr. Brian Farrell of the Legionnaires of Christ, born February 8, 1944, ordained a priest November 26, 1969, elected titular bishop of Abitine and appointed Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity on December 19, 2002.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 30 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Rev. Giancarlo Vecerrica bishop of Fabriano-Matelica (area 681, population 54,591, Catholics 53,641, priests 79, religious 126), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in 1940 in Tolentino, Italy, was ordained a priest in 1965 and until now was the secretary general of the curia of the diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia.

- Jean Daniel Pitteloud, lieutenant of the Pontifical Swiss Guards, with the grade as lieutenant colonel.

On Saturday, December 28, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Nicola De Angelis, C.F.I.C., till today auxiliary of Toronto, Canada, as bishop of Peterborough (area 25,890, population 391,501, Catholics 85,101, priests 92, religious 110, permanent deacons 13), Canada. He succeeds Bishop James Leonard Doyle, whose renunciation to the pastoral government was accepted, in conformity with canon 401, paragraph 2 of the C.C.L.

On Friday, December 27, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Jesus Tomas Zarraga Colmenares bishop of San Carlos de Venezuela (area 14,800, population 265,837, Catholics 255,303, priests 27, religious 38), Venezuela. The bishop-elect was born in 1957 in Azaro (Venezuela), was ordained a priest in 1985 and until now was the parish priest and director of the diocesan Secretariat of social communications and for the pastoral social. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Arellano Dur n, whose renunciation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Rev. Isabelo Caiban Abarquez auxiliary bishop of Cebu (area 5,088, population 3,255,070, Catholics 2,815,836, priests 489, religious 1,459), Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in 1956 in Panlaan (Philippines), was ordained a priest in 1987 and until today was the rector of the "Saint Charles College Seminary" in the same archdiocese.

- Appointed Rev. Patricio Abella Buzon, S.D.B., bishop of Kabankalan (area 3,923, population 706,984, Catholics 636,286, priests 38, religious 27), Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in 1950 in San Nicol s (Philippines), his first profession was in 1967, was ordained a priest in 1976 and until now was the provincial superior of the Southern Salesian Province of the Philippines.

- Created the diocese of Acarigua-Araure (area 5,510, population 452,000, priests 16, religious 11), Venezuela, with a territory separate from the diocese of Guanare, having it depend upon the Metropolitan Church of Barquisimeto, and appointed Bishop Joaqu¡n Mor¢n Hidalgo, until now bishop of Valle de la Pascua (Venezuela), as the first bishop of Acarigua-Araure.

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