CARDINAL MARTINEZ SOMALO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul, written in Latin and dated March 1, to Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo in which he congratulated the prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

The cardinal, who is also camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, was ordained a priest on March 19, 1950. He was named a bishop in 1975 and elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1988.

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JOHN PAUL II PRAYS FOR THOSE SUFFERING EMBARGO IN IRAQ

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2000 (VIS) - The Pope today recalled Iraqis who are "being so severely tried by the continuing international embargo," assuring "all those who are suffering, especially women, children and elderly, of my prayerful support. May Jesus, true friend of the poor and afflicted, ever accompany them in their difficulties and sustain them with His love."

John Paul II pronounced these words during an audience in St. Peter's Square with faithful of the Chaldean Catholic Church, accompanied by His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid, patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, who are presently celebrating their Jubilee.
The Pope also addressed pastors and faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church in India and other parts of the world who are also in Rome for their Jubilee: "Through prayer and repentance, devotion and conversion, may the manifold graces which God showers upon His Church during this 'year of favor' bear ever more abundant fruits of holiness in your lives."

John Paul II encouraged faithful from the diocese of Vicenza, Italy, to combat such problems as "the notable drop in vocations to the priesthood and religious life," the fragility of many marriages, secularization and the fall in attendance at Sunday Mass. "Be firm and faithful to Christ and His Gospel, be generous and open towards your brothers and sisters."

The Holy Father requested that pilgrims from the Italian diocese of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia be "submissive to the call of the Lord. ... Allow His Word to enlighten you, His love to transform you and, on your return, take His joy and His peace to all those you encounter."

Turning to address members of the Italian Women's Center, the Pope said. "Know how to live your vocation with a courage similar to that of Mary of Nazareth, new woman and fertile witness of the Lord's goodness."

The Holy Father also had words for participants in The Forum of Christian organizations for pastoral work in circuses and fairgrounds, expressing his desire that they bear witness through "patience, courage, calculated risk, close collaboration and mutual respect."

Finally, John Paul II addressed theology students from the Borromeo College in Munster, Germany: "I hope you will study much over these days in Rome and that, in the city, you will recognize the universal Church."

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ST. JOSEPH, EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND HONOR IN WORK

VATICAN CITY, MAR 19, 2000 (VIS) - Today, the second Sunday of Lent, John Paul II celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the Jubilee of Artisans. The Eucharistic celebration was preceded by songs and readings evoking the figure of St. Joseph. The liturgical celebration of the saint's feast has been put off until tomorrow, March 20.

In his homily, the Holy Father told the 40,000 artisans and their families, who have come to Rome from various countries, that St. Joseph, their patron saint, is an "example of industriousness and honesty in daily work. ... Next to St. Joseph, you find the Son of God Himself who, under (St. Joseph's) guidance, learns the trade of carpentry and practices it to the age of 30, proposing Himself as the 'Gospel of work'."

The Pope explained that "through faith in Christ, died and risen again, the fatigue and burden of daily work gain a new light of hope. ... Dear artisans, fortified by this knowledge, you can restore strength and concrete form to those values that have always characterized your activities: the striving for quality, the spirit of initiative, the promotion of artistic qualities, liberty and cooperation, the equitable relationship between technology and the environment, the bond with the family and good neighborly relations."

"Dear artisans," he concluded, "you have come here today to celebrate your Jubilee. May the light of the Gospel illuminate ever more your daily experience of work. The Jubilee offers you the chance to meet Jesus, Joseph and Mary, entering their home and the humble Nazareth workshop. ... Nazareth teaches us to overcome the apparent tension between active and contemplative life."

During the offertory, representatives of artisans and restorers presented the Pope with various gifts, such as the corner stone of a building, ceramics, a lamp and a book of liturgical songs and prayers, symbols of the works that the various artisan organizations will carry out.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and preacher of the retreat of the Roman Curia.
- Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, O.O., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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FAMILY CANNOT BE EQUATED TO 'DE FACTO' UNIONS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Pontifical Council for the Family published a communique concerning a European Parliament resolution of March 16 that equates families with 'de facto' unions.
In the communique, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo and Bishop Francisco Gil Hellin, respectively president and secretary of the council, indicate that this parliamentary resolution considers "the nature of 'de facto' unions, including open cohabitation between people of the same sex, and the need for recognition of 'legal marriage' between people of the same sex."

"This resolution," they write, "constitutes a serious and sustained attack on the marriage-based family, a union of love and life between a man and a woman from which life naturally results. Upon this matrimonial link, a necessary good, all societies are solidly based. To deny this fundamental and elemental anthropological truth would lead to the destruction of the social fabric (of society). If 'de facto' unions - and, even more so, homosexual unions - are equated to true matrimony and parliaments invited to adapt their legislation accordingly, would this not constitute a non-recognition of the deepest aspirations of people in their most intimate identity?

"Over the course of history, peoples have wisely recognized the nature and consequences of the marriage tie that has now, through this resolution, been subject to such a misguided interpretation by the European Parliament. Fortunately, the parliaments of Europe will surely know how to remain in harmony with the overwhelming majority of European families, who urgently need support in their noble mission and who now find themselves unjustly equated to this kind of 'union' through a resolution which has no true legal value or binding force. The specific nature of the marriage-based family is recognized by the majority of European constitutions. Moreover, that nature is not a truth that pertains only to believers, rather it represents the natural heritage of humanity, it is written in the human heart and marks the culture of peoples.

"Consequently, legislators and especially Catholic parliamentarians, should not vote to support this type of legislation as it goes against the common good and the truth of man and, as a result, is in reality iniquitous."

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