FINAL DECLARATION FROM SYMPOSIUM ON RELIGIONS FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2003 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue organized a symposium in Rome from January 16 to 18 on the theme "Spiritual resources of the Religions for Peace." According to the Final Declaration that was made public today, "38 participants from 15 countries dedicated themselves to exploring the rich resources of religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism) for peace.

Following are some excerpts from that declaration, written in English:

"As conflicts divide neighbors and nations and the threat of war hangs over us like a shadow," says the Declaration, "too many people see and employ religion as a force of divisiveness and violence, rather than a force for unity and peace."

"The talk of war has intensified in recent months, but there has not been much increase in the talk of peace."

"We hold that the scriptures of each religion teach the path to peace, but we acknowledge that our various sacred writings have often been and continue to be used to justify violence, war, and exclusion of others. Our various communities cannot ignore such passages which have often been misinterpreted or manipulated for unworthy goals such as power, wealth or revenge, but we must all recognize the need for new, contextual studies and a deeper understanding of our various scriptures that clearly enunciate the message and value of peace for all humanity."

"Believers need to examine those scriptural passages that depict people of other religions in ways that conflict with their own self-understanding."

"Spiritual resources for peace include not only our scriptural foundations, but also the example of our fellow believers who, down through history, have taught peace and acted as peacemakers."

"The spiritual resources for peace also include interreligious encounters which have helped many to come together to learn about each other's religious beliefs and shared values, and to discover the possibility of living and working together to build societies of justice and peace."

"Opting for peace does not mean a passive acquiescence in evil or a compromising of principle. It demands an active struggle against hatred, oppression and disunity, but not by using methods of violence. Building peace requires creative and courageous action. A commitment to peace is a labor of patience and perseverance. It involves as well as a readiness to examine self-critically the relationship of our traditions to those social, economic and political structures which are frequently agents of violence and injustice."

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BERNARDINE FRIARS MINOR CELEBRATE 550 YEARS IN POLAND

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2003 (VIS) - Late this morning, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Holy Father received a group of Bernardine Friars Minor on the occasion of the 550 years of their presence in Poland and Ukraine. They are commemorating this occasion with visits to Assisi to the tombs of St. Francis and St. Bernardine of Siena, and to Rome to the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul.

In his talk in Polish, the Pope remarked that their Jubilee is linked to the founding of their convent in Krakow, and recalled that "as a young man I went there often and later, as a priest, and even as bishop of Krakow." He also recalled speaking at a scientific symposium there in 1976, saying "We must pray often to have a St. Francis in our times. Perhaps not just one, perhaps many."

"It seems that these words still have meaning today," the Holy Father added. "Man today needs the faith, hope and charity of Francis; he needs the joy that comes from poverty of spirit, that is, from an inner freedom; he wants again to learn that love of everything that God has created; and lastly, he needs for peace and good to reign in families, societies and among nations. Poland needs this, Ukraine needs it, as does the entire world."

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MEETING OF DIRECTORS OF ROAD MINISTRY ISSUES COMMUNIQUE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2003 (VIS) - A communique was released today by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples pursuant to the First European Encounter of National Directors for the Ministry of the Road, that was organized by the council and held in the Vatican February 3-4. Four bishops participated as did the directors of this pastoral ministry in 11 European countries.

Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, council president, said that "since roads have become a place for expressing fraternity," and thus "areopagi for the new evangelization," the Church must turn its attention in this direction. Included in this category of "pastoral objects-subjects," says the communique, are truck, bus and car drivers, tourists, traffic safety employees, those who work at gas stations and also "those without a home, the street people."

"The apostolate of the road aims above all to form a more attentive awareness of the need to lay the foundations for peace and human coexistence even on the roads of the world in a society that has become ever more aggressive, domineering and violent. There is a need for social virtues such as meekness, respect for rights and duties, and prudence."

"Streets and roads can favor encounters among people, and therefore relationships that are more intense, facilitating travel and offering greater freedom and safety at the same time. Movement is therefore a value for man which can also reveal God to him and offer him the possibility of recognizing that the other person is also a brother in mankind or in the faith."

In addition, states the communique, the Church cannot neglect those who die or are wounded on roads. More than 35 million people died in road accidents throughout the world in the 20th century and over 1.5 billion were wounded.

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JOHN PAUL II, WITH A COLD, GREETS FAITHFUL FROM STUDY WINDOW

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2003 (VIS) - Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar for the diocese of Rome, presided at Mass this afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica for the ill and for the pilgrims from UNITALSI, an Italian organization of volunteers who assist sick people on pilgrimages to Marian shrines.

Pope John Paul, who has a slight cold, was scheduled to address the faithful in the Basilica at the end of the Eucharistic celebration for the 11th World Day of the Sick but instead greeted them from his study window after the Mass. He told them that it was a great joy for him to meet them, especially the sick among them. Holding a candle, as were the faithful in St. Peter's Square, he added: "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this candlelight gathering."

In his talk, read by Cardinal Ruini, the Pope noted that, through hymns and prayers, everyone in the basilica would be "spiritually joined" to the faithful gathered in Lourdes as well as those present in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

"Observing the venerated image of Our Lady of Lourdes, our glance goes to the Rosary she has in her joined hands. The praying Virgin seems to wish to renew the invitation made of little Bernadette, to recite with trust the holy Rosary. With what joy we welcome that exhortation on the World Day of the Sick, which is a significant event of the Year of the Rosary."

"Dear sick people," he stated, "the Rosary carries within it the Christian answer to the problems of suffering: it draws from the Easter mystery of Christ. ... In the sorrowful mysteries we contemplate Christ who takes on Himself, so to say, all the 'sicknesses' of man and of mankind. The Lamb of God assumes not only their consequences, but also their deep cause, that is, not only the evils themselves but the radical evil of sin."

The Holy Father observed that "in this year disturbed by many concerns for the fate of mankind, I desired that the prayer of the Rosary have as its specific intentions the cause of peace and of the family. You, dear brothers and sisters who are sick, are on the 'front line' to intercede for these two great intentions."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Archbishop Ildefonso Obama Obono of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on his "ad limina" visit.

- Bishop Michael J. Cleary of Banjul, Gambia on his "ad limina" visit.

- A group of Bernardine Religious from Poland and Ukraine.

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PSALM 117, A HYMN OF JOY AND VICTORY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's catechesis in today's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 3,500 pilgrims, centered on Psalm 117 which, he noted, "recalls the years of oppression in Egypt and celebrates the protection which God gives to His people, even when they are besieged by cruel adversaries."

"In all the most meaningful and joyous feasts of ancient Judaism, in particular the celebration of Passover," he began, "the sequence of Psalms that went from 112 to 117 was sung. This series of hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God was called the 'Egyptian hallel', because in one of them, Psalm 113A, the exodus of Israel from the land of oppression, pharaonic Egypt, and the marvelous gift of the divine covenant, was evoked in a poetic and almost visual way."

"In the face of this danger which was avoided, the People of God break into 'a cry of jubilee and victory' in honor of 'the right hand of the Lord which was raised and performed wonders'. There is, therefore, the awareness of never being alone, prey to the storm unleashed by evil ones. The final word, in truth, is always God's, who allows the faithful to be tried, but does not turn them over to death."

The Holy Father pointed out that "It is God Who grants victory, and His people are invited to give Him thanks as they enter through the doors of justice. By glorifying His Chosen One, God had made 'the stone which the builders rejected ... the cornerstone'. Christ applies this image to Himself when He announces His passion and glorification. Thus we are able to interpret this hymn of trust and thanksgiving in a Christian perspective. As St. Ambrose says, we too should strive to be a rock: a stone of action, word and faith founded on the true rock."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Thomas Vazhapilly, rector of St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore, India, as bishop of Mysore (area 21,051, population 7,964,529, Catholics 93,379, priests 133, religious 811), India. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Joseph Roy having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Msgr. Josef Clemens, study assistant of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

It was made public on February 11 that the Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the office of Auxiliary of the archdiocese of Brisbane, Australia presented by Bishop John Joseph Gerry upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Archbishop Hector Gonzalez Martinez of Oaxaca, Mexico as metropolitan archbishop of Durango (area 109,422, population 2,197,771, Catholics 2,157,812, priests 279, religious 433), Mexico.

- Appointed Fr. Roger Paul Morin, of the clergy of the archdiocese of New Orleans, U.S.A., vicar general and pastor of Incarnate Word Parish, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 10,895, population 1,331,561, Catholics 489,652, priests 406, religious 1,157, permanent deacons 199). The bishop-elect was born in Massahusetts in 1941 and was ordained a priest in 1971 for the archdiocese of New Orleans.

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