THE POOR SHOULD BE THE FOCAL POINT OF POLITICAL ACTION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning told members of Rome's Junta and Provincial Council they they were called to work so that both those who live in this province and those who are in contact with it "might look with hope at the present and the future."

The Pope offered some reflections "which may help your administrative and political work." To take on the overseeing of society, he said, "coordinated and efficient intervention is necessary, particularly to benefit those who live in difficult situations."

Having mentioned the "tragedy of old and new forms of poverty," John Paul II said that public structures must be marked by their concern for "those less fortunate brothers and sisters. ... Moreover, the so-called 'least' run the risk of being forgotten, becoming a greater extension of an opulent society, instead of being the focal point of decisions and general orientations. However, a network of initiatives is necessary which, thanks also to volunteer work, might have the aim of reinstating, favoring and integrating people and groups (into society)."

Regarding young people, the Pope highlighted that "they should be one of the priorities for political action. Young generations, sometimes even without being aware of it, ask for culture, ideals and authentic spirituality, as an antidote to that void in values by which they feel threatened. Families, schools, dioceses and parishes are called ... to pool their resources so as to offer youth a society and a future of hope."

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POPE WELCOMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ARCHBISHOP

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 1998 (VIS) - Newly appointed Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop Jukka Paarma of Turku and Finland was welcomed this morning to the Vatican by the Holy Father, who recalled his 1989 visit to the cathedral of Turku, calling it "an event that greatly strengthened the relations between the Lutheran Church of Finland and the Catholic Church."

"Your presence here today," the Pope continued in English, "is a positive sign that these relations will continue to become even stronger as we strive to move forward in our joint quest for the restoration of that unity which Jesus Christ desires for his followers.

"As the Third Millennium rapidly approaches," he concluded, "we are conscious of the need to commit ourselves ever more firmly and irrevocably to the noble goal of Christian unity, and we are more aware of the beneficial effects that this unity will have on the new evangelization of Europe and the world."

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POPE SPEAKS OF CHRISTIAN UNITY, UPCOMING TRIP TO THE AMERICAS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 1998 (VIS) - Jewish-Christian religious dialogue, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and his imminent trip to Mexico and the United States were the subjects of Pope John Paul's reflections prior to praying the angelus today with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope first referred to the celebration today in Italy of "The Day of deepening and development of Jewish-Christian religious dialogue." He called this an "auspicious occasion" to renew his hope that "this third year of immediate preparation for the Jubilee, dedicated to God the Father, will be a great and joyous opportunity for interreligious dialogue, especially among believers in the one, true God."

He then spoke of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which starts tomorrow and ends January 25, feast of the conversion of St. Paul, with a celebration in the basilica of St. Paul's-Outside-the-Walls. He observed that "in coming days Christians of all denominations will share reflections and experiences on a theme prepared by a mixed group of Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics: 'They shall be his people; and God Himself shall be with them'."

John Paul II said he would be absent from the closing celebrations because, "from January 22 to 28, I will go to Mexico City and to St. Louis in the United States to give the faithful of the American continent the post-synodal apostolic exhortation, which gathers indications and orientations which emerged at the recent Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for America." He recalled that Mexico was the site, 20 years ago, of the first apostolic trip of his pontificate.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Leonel Fernandez Reyna, president of the Dominican Republic, accompanied by his entourage.
- Silvano Moffa, president of the Rome Provincial Junta, together with Alberto Pascucci, president of the Provincial Council. - Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Francesco Gioia and Msgr. Giuseppe De Andrea, respectively president, secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

On Saturday January 16, he received:

- Pietro Badaloni, president of the Lazio Regional Junta, together with Luca Borgomeo, president of the Regional Council.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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DECLARATION ON VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 1998 (VIS) - The following declaration by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls was released this afternoon on the visit to the Vatican by President Leonel Fernandez Reyna of the Dominican Republic:

"During the meetings with the Holy Father, and then with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, the Church-State relations in the Dominican Republic were reviewed, in he light of commitments assumed by both parties in the 1954 Concordat.

"There then was an exchange of opinions about the current international situation, with particular reference to Central America.

"President Fernandez Reyna was accompanied by Foreign Minister Eduardo Latorre and by a delegation of government officials."

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