TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SILVA HENRIQUEZ

VATICAN CITY, APR 10, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent today by Pope John Paul II to Archbishop Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa of Santiago de Chile, upon the death of Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of this same archdiocese, at the age of 91:

"Having learned the sad news concerning the death of the beloved Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile, following a long and difficult illness, I express my condolences to you, the auxiliary bishops, the clergy, religious communities and lay people of this archdiocese, to which he generously and selflessly dedicated many years of his episcopal ministry, encouraging many pastoral initiatives according to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, in which he was an active participant.

"I join with all the bishops and faithful in Chile in entrusting this zealous pastor to the heavenly Father's mercy, he who with so much prudence and evangelical charity served his people and the Church. Recalling his ardent ministry, first of all as a Salesian religious, priest and teacher, and later as bishop of Valparaiso and Santiago, I pray to the Good Shepherd to grant him eternal rest, whilst I affectionately impart to all the comfort of my apostolic blessing as a sign of Christian hope in the victory of the Risen Lord."

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NEW CALL FOR PEACE MADE BY POPE

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 1999 (VIS) - The Pope made a new call for peace in Kosovo and the Balkans during the Mass celebrated this morning in the Roman parish of Our Lady of Loreto in Castelverde. "Christ," he recalled, "by his death and resurrection, has reconciled us with the Father, and has offered the precious gift of peace to all those who welcome him."

"These days, our minds are full of images of violence and death coming from Kosovo and the Balkans, where there is a conflict with tragic consequences. In spite of all, we do not want to lose the hope of peace."

John Paul II expressed to parishioners his hope that today's parish encounter "would be a fitting occasion to travel further on the path to God, thanks to a more solid Christian life, nourished by constant attention to the Word of God, strengthened by the frequent practice of the sacraments, and characterized by a genuine witness to the Gospel in all environments and situations."

Having referred to Rome's Citizens' Mission, the Holy Father said he trusted that this "would not end with the celebration of the final stage in the solemn Vigil of Pentecost. ... Many have the desire to live a more authentic Christian life, and this desire should be encouraged and sustained with suitable spiritual missionary initiatives. It is up to you to prolong this extraordinary apostolic experience, taking into account the expectations and challenges of your neighborhood."

"The Risen Lord calls all of us to a renewed apostolic effort. Go, he tells each of us. Go out, proclaim the Gospel and do not be afraid! He is with us always until the end of time."

HML;...;...;OUR LADY LORETO;VIS;19990412;Word: 290;

HOLY SEE'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 10, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique which stated that "the news published today in an Italian daily newspaper, according to which 'the Vatican's objective' would be for Ibrahim Rugova, (representative of the Albanian Kosovars) to meet with the Pope in the Vatican, is untrue."

"Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia of the St. Egidio Community is in Belgrade on behalf of the Italian authorities. He has received no mandate from the Secretariat of State which, obviously, has been informed of his trip."

"With regard to the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Secretariat of State, headed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, continues to keep in contact with the chancelleries of countries involved in the crisis. The Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum' is working to coordinate aid from Catholic organizations. And lastly, the apostolic nunciature in Belgrade is active."

OP;YUGOSLAVIA; RUGOVA;...;SODANO;VIS;19990412;Word: 150;

COMMUNIQUE FROM ISLAMIC-CATHOLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE

VATICAN CITY, APR 10, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon by the Holy See Press Office was a communique from the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee expressing concern over the situation in Kosovo and the Balkans. This committee was established in 1995 between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and international Islamic organizations.

The text of the English-language communique, dated Rome, April 10, 1999 and Jeddah 24 Dhu Al-Hajjah 1420, follows:

"The Islamic-Catholic Liaison committee expresses its grave concern about current situations in the world where there is violence, destruction and war. This concern is particularly great in regard to the situation in Kosovo and the Balkan region. The Committee strongly condemns the harm done to innocent civilians, particularly women, children and the elderly, and all violations of human dignity and human rights. The Committee appeals to all sides and to the international society to do their utmost to bring and end to the hostilities. Appreciating every positive step to resolve the conflict, it urges all people who believe in the one God, and in particular religious leaders, to use their influence to bring about a permanent and just solution to the underlying problems, encourage urgent humanitarian aid, and so restore peace for all the inhabitants of the region."

CON-DIR;ISLAMIC-CATHOLIC LIAISON;...;...;VIS;19990412;Word: 220;

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."

JPII-LETTER;SYLVESTER II;...;SEJOURNE;VIS;19990412;Word: 280;