POPE SYLVESTER II, AT THE SERVICE OF MANKIND AND THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul to Bishop Rene Sejourne of Saint-Flour, France, on the occasion of the millennium of the election of Pope Sylvester II on April 2, 999.

Sylvester II, who reigned until May 12, 1003, was a monk named Gerbert in the Benedictine monastery of Aurillac at the time of his election to the papacy. The Pope recalls that it was the monastery's founder, St. Geraud, "who welcomed the young Gerbert and formed the man and the Christian in him.

"A remarkable man, the monk Gerbert singularly dominated his century. The breadth of his knowledge, his pedagogical qualities, his matchless erudition, his moral uprightness and his spiritual sense made him a true master. Emperors and Popes turned to him. Gerbert, the humanist scholar and the wise philosopher, true promoter of culture, placed his intelligence at the service of man."

The Holy Father highlights throughout the Letter how Pope Sylvester placed "his knowledge and moral and spiritual qualities at the service of man and the Church." He writes that "it was as an authentic pastor that (Gerbert) defended the Church's interests, that he fought simony, that he protected monasteries against diverse encroachments."

Pope Sylvester II was also a "man of unity and peace, ... a Pope with a missionary spirit" who brought the Church to Hungary and Poland. "On the threshold of the third millennium, as violence and wars succeed each other, and Christians are still not united, the figure of Gerbert invites us to tirelessly seek peace and unity, through the path of dialogue, and concerned with truth and forgiveness."

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HOLY FATHER'S EASTER GREETINGS TO ORTHODOX CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 1999 (VIS) - Following the Regina Coeli prayer, the Holy Father spoke to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and recalled that "today, as I said a short while ago, the Orthodox Churches celebrate Easter. With joy I join our Orthodox brothers in prayer, sending them my very best wishes.

"May the peace which Christ announced to the disciples in the day of His Resurrection reign always among believers. At this moment, my thoughts turn in a special way to those who are suffering because of the war. May the hope of peace sustain them in this difficult trial and make them ever greater builders of a coexistence respectful of the rights of each one and marked by a fraternal solidarity."

John Paul II then extended "a special greeting to the Marthoma Christians from the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches, who today celebrate the appearance of the Risen Lord to the Apostle St. Thomas. I pray that Almighty God will continue to bless your communities with vigorous faith and generosity in works of charity."

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REGINA COELI: AN INVITATION TO MERCY AND PARDON

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 1999 (VIS) - Prior to reciting the Regina Coeli, Pope John Paul, recalling that today is the octave day of Easter, expressed "a special thought for our Orthodox brothers who precisely today celebrate the solemnity of Easter."

He pointed out that today is also known as "Divine Mercy Sunday: It constitutes ... a precious occasion to enter into, as individuals and as the Church, the authentic Jubilee spirit, according to the very of words of Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; He has sent me ... to preach a year of the grace of the Lord'."

"I am very happy," the Holy Father then remarked, "that many priests and faithful have gathered this morning in St. Peter's Square for a solemn Mass, presided over by Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, whom I cordially greet, as well as all those present, while I express my delight for your devotion to the merciful Jesus."

"How can we not feel," John Paul II asked, "the strident contrast between the invitation to mercy and pardon, which echoes throughout today's liturgy, and the violence of the tragic conflict which bloodies the Balkan region? May peace finally prevail! Here I wish to renew my appeal, dictated not only by faith, but above all by reason: May the populations coexist in harmony in their lands, may arms be silenced, may dialogue be resumed!"

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Cuzco, Peru, presented by Bishop Severo Aparicio Quispe, O.de M., upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday April 10, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Abelardo Lobato, O.P., as president of the Pontifical Academy St. Thomas Aquinas, and Msgr. Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo as prelate secretary of the same pontifical academy.

- Msgr. Marcello Bordoni as president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, and Don Angelo Amato, S.D.B., as prelate secretary of the same pontifical academy.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Eleven bishops from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Jude Saint-Antoine, Andre Rivest, Anthony Mancini and Louis Dicaire.
- Archbishop Bertrand Blanchet of Rimouski.
- Archbishop Roger Ebacher of Gatineau-Hull.
- Archbishop Andre Gaumond of Sherbrooke.
- Bishop Jean-Guy Hamelin of Rouyn-Noranda.
- Bishop Jean-Guy Couture of Chicoutimi, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Roch Pedneault.
- Archbishop Edmond Farhat, apostolic nuncio in Slovenia and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

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