POPE THANKS ST. PETER'S CIRCLE FOR SERVICE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father, during this morning's annual meeting with the members of St. Peter's Circle, which commemorates 130 years since its founding, thanked them for their "commitment to the poor and the dedicated service to the Church and the Pope."

The Pope recalled that among the different activities of the institution, there was "'Peter's Pence', which is collected yearly in Rome's churches, and which today you have come to present." He stated: "May the Lord reward you for this gesture of active concern for the Apostolic See!" Members also look after liturgical services in St. Peter's Basilica.

"My wish," added the Pontiff, "is that all the baptized may be inspired to a generous impulse to charity, in the likeness of the extraordinary love with which the Father gave his Only Son for the salvation of the world."

"Through your commitment to solidarity, recently enriched by the inauguration of the Welcome Center for free assistance to the terminally ill, particularly the destitute, and your service to the Apostolic See," concluded John Paul II, "you are called to show that tenderness which God has for each and every person."

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ANGELUS: HOLY FATHER'S PLEA FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 28, 1999 (VIS) - At today's angelus, recited in St. Peter's Basilica following Palm Sunday Mass, Pope John Paul greeted all the young people present for World Youth Day, and also made a heartfelt appeal for peace in the Balkans.

"I know that you are preparing the 15th World Youth Day, which will take place in Rome in August 2000," he told the youth. "It is up to you to welcome in the best possible way your peers who will come from every part of the world, and to give them a witness of authentic faith and cordial fraternity."

The Holy Father then thanked Italy's Puglia region for the olive trees they offered to decorate St. Peter's Square, as well as the olive branches for the day's celebration.

"May these branches," he said, "be the symbol of that peace so desired by the populations of the Balkan region! Today we fervently pray to 'the Prince of Peace', who offers himself to us so defenseless, so that He may inspire all those who take up arms! May fraternity and understanding prevail, also in that part of Europe, over the forces of hatred! The Pope is with those who are suffering, and he cries out to everyone: It is always time for peace! It is never too late to meet and negotiate!"

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Didier Opertti, president of the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, and foreign affairs minister of Uruguay, with his wife and entourage.
- Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

He also received on Saturday March 27:

- Bishop Reinhard Lettmann of Munster, Federal Republic of Germany.
- Bishop Jayme Henrique Chemello of Pelotas, Brazil, president of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, accompanied by secretary of the conference, Bishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis, auxiliary of Brasilia.
- Prof. Sergio Zaninello, rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, prefect of the Congregation of Bishops.
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PLEAS FOR PEACE IN BALKANS, END OF DEATH PENALTY IN EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 29, 1999 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, the Pope welcomed 300 members of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, and members of the parliamentary committees for political affairs, juridical affairs and human rights, migrations, refugees and demography.

Speaking French, he told them that the work that has been accomplished by the Council since it was founded 50 years ago, "has been an eminent service rendered to the peoples of Europe." He recalled that the Council "has steered the same course for 50 years: ... to more closely unite the European peoples on the basis of the patrimony of values which they share."

To accomplish this, John Paul II observed that "what must be remembered is that there is no just political, economic or social life without respect for the dignity of each person." He added that the values of human rights, freedom, democracy, and solidarity "are deeply rooted in the European conscience; they represent the strongest aspirations of European citizens. They must inspire every project whose noble ambition is to unite the peoples of this continent."

The Holy Father then spoke of the conflict in Kosovo, saying it "wounds all of Europe. I ask insistently that everything be undertaken to establish peace in the region and that people be able to live in fellowship in their land. Answering violence with violence is never the way to get out of a crisis. What must be done is to silence arms and acts of vengeance in order to undertake negotiations" leading to a peace agreement respectful "of different peoples and cultures."

Pope John Paul then said: "I add my voice to that of the Council of Europe in asking that the most basic right, the right to life for every person, be recognized throughout Europe and that the death penalty be abolished. This premier right ... not only implies that every person must be able to survive, but that each can live in just and dignified conditions."

The Pope urged the parliamentarians not to neglect "a serious family policy, which guarantees the rights of married couples and children. ... I invite national parliaments to redouble their efforts to sustain the basic cell of society, which is the family, and to give it its full place: it constitutes the primary place of socialization."

In concluding remarks, he expressed the Holy See's appreciation for the assembly's recent declaration that "democracy and religion are not incompatible; on the contrary ... religion, through its moral and ethical commitment, the values it defends, its critical sense and its cultural expression, can be a viable partner of a democratic society."

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POPE CALLS FOR END TO WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLEPOPE CALLS FOR END TO WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 26, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II yesterday evening called for an end "as soon as possible" to the war in Yugoslavia and for a just and lasting peace. The Pope made this plea during a meeting with young people from the diocese of Rome in the Paul VI Hall.

As is traditional every year before the World Youth Day on Palm Sunday, the Pope took part in a time of celebration and reflection with the youth of Rome. Those who could not enter the hall followed the event on a big screen outside.

He answered three questions asked by the young people. The first was: How could the love of God the Father be understood in the face of hate, violence and war? The Holy Father referred to the current conflict in Yugoslavia and said: "I hope with all my heart that arms are silenced as soon as possible and that dialogue and negotiation are resumed so that with the participation of all, a just and lasting peace may reign throughout this region." He explained that evil "has its root in sin," and that in spite of all, "the Father's love is not lacking for us because God Himself wanted to share suffering and death with us."

Then, in reference to his Message this year for World Youth Day, in which "there is a strong invitation to conversion and to come to the Sacrament of Confession," he was asked: "Where should our desire for conversion come from?"

The Pope said that "only thanks to a constant process of conversion and renewal, will the person move forward on the path of self-knowledge, the control of their will and the capacity to avoid evil and do good. ... In Confession, we live at first hand the essence of the love of God. He comes to meet us in the most fitting way, which is that of mercy. By this, I do not mean that the way of conversion is easy."

In the third question, the youth asked the Pope how the Church knows how to love and pardon. "The most important sign of the capacity to love like God," responded the Pope, "is forgiveness. God loves us and for this he forgives us constantly."

Before the end of the encounter, John Paul II invited the young people to World Youth Day 2000, which will take place in Rome from August 15 to 20. He also encouraged them to invite their friends who are indifferent to the faith, and to generously welcome those who come from far away.

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