ECUADORIAN AMBASSADOR PRESENTS LETTERS OF CREDENCE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received the Letters of Credence from the new ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador, Jose Ayala Lasso.

In his speech, John Paul II referred to the peace accord signed some months ago between Ecuador and Peru "in the negotiations for which, you," he said, addressing the diplomat, "played an important role. ... The ability to find a solution to a long- standing problem should cause Ecuadorians to mature in their attachment to the peaceful tradition of the region. At the same time, they must feel themselves directly committed to the struggle against drug trafficking and corruption, scourges that especially implicate the young and endanger social peace and stability. It is to be hoped that Ecuador finds in the international community all the support and financial aid necessary to face up to these problems."

The Holy Father said he was aware that the Ecuadorian government was facing up to "the grave economic situation the country was going through, due to heavy external and internal debt."

"At the present time," he added, "I am closely following news regarding the activity of the Pichincha volcano, in the hope that it provokes no more damage."

The Pope made clear his delight with the fact that "the constitution (of Ecuador) makes allowance for the importance of education and ratifies the recognition of parents' rights in the education of their children. This represents an important step forward in the face of an excessively state-dominated regime typical of earlier times." He concluded by expressing his desire that "legislation regarding universities be marked by the principle of religious liberty."

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WORKING GROUPS MEET TO FORMULATE PROPOSITIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 1999 (VIS) - The seventh session of the working groups of the synod for Europe met this morning in the Synod Hall from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to start work on the formulation of the propositions. These will be presented to the Holy Father for his consideration when he writes the post-synodal apostolic exhortation.

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DECLARATION ON THE BUILDING OF A MOSQUE IN NAZARETH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 1999 (VIS) - The following declaration was made this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:
"The decision to authorize the construction of a mosque several meters away from the historical basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth worries both the Secretariat of State as well as the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, as was authoritatively underlined by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, and by all the leaders of Christian Churches. Pope John Paul II sympathizes with everyone and is especially close to the Christians of Nazareth.

"It is hoped that the Israeli government authorities, considering the value that the city of Nazareth has for all of Christianity, will known how to assure respect for the Christian shrine and its free and peaceful access to pilgrims.

"It would not be superfluous to mention that such a situation does not help in preparing for an eventual pilgrimage by the Holy Father to that illustrious shrine, where he should be able to find a city which is the symbol of the traditional and centuries-long peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, and a stimulus for peace which the Holy Land needs so much."

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POPE WELCOMES CONGREGATION DEDICATED TO HOLY FACE OF CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 1999 (VIS) - On the occasion of their fourth general chapter, the Benedictine Sisters of Reparation of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ were welcomed this morning by the Holy Father who commented "on the "abundant flowering of vocations" in their congregation because of their "generous dedication."

"Your religious family," he observed, "is marked by devotion to the Holy Face of Christ, in the spirit of 'reparation'. You adore the face of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist and in the tabernacle; you contemplate it, ... meditating on the mysteries of salvation in the prayerful silence of your hearts; you honor it in the most needy of our brothers and sisters, the ill and the poor, to whom you turn in your apostolate."

"May the face of Christ," the Pope concluded, "which you commit yourselves to make known, and to make seen in all who suffer in body and spirit, be the constant reference point of your spiritual life and your apostolate."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Holy See permanent observer at the UN organizations and organisms for food and agriculture (FAO, IFAD, PAM, CMA).
- Archbishop Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger.
- Hermes Herrera Hernandez, Cuban ambassador, accompanied by his wife, on a farewell visit.

The following participants in the Synod for Europe were invited to lunch by the Holy Father:

- Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France.
- Archbishop Lucien Daloz of Besancon, France.
- Archbishop Boutros Gemayel of Cyprus of the Maronites, Cyprus.
- Archbishop Emile Marcus P.S.S., of Toulouse, France.
- Bishop Jean Huard of Tournai, Belgium.
- Bishop Michel Hrynchyshyn C.S.S.R., apostolic exarch for the Ukranian faithful of Byzantine rite in France, Ukraine.
- Bishop Bellino Ghirard of Rodez, France.
- Bishop Andre Fort of Perpignan-Elne, France.
- Bishop Luc Alfons de Hovre S.J., auxiliary of Mechelen-Brussel, Belgium.
- Msgr. Roland Minnerath, professor at the faculty of Catholic theology of the University of Strasbourg and member of the International Theological Commission, France.
- Fr. Marijan Sef S.J., former provincial superior of the Society of Jesus and director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Fr. Jacques Scholte F.M.S., president of the Union of European Conferences of Superiors Major, Netherlands.
- Alain Besancon, member of the "Institut de France, Academie des Sciences Morales et Politiques," France.

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