LETTER TO NEW PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH OF GREEK-MELKITES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 9, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from John Paul II to His Beatitude Gregory III, canonically elected as patriarch of Antioch of Greek-Melkite Catholics in the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church, which was held in Charfet, Lebanon on November 29, 2000.

In the Letter, written in French and dated December 5, the Pope wrote: "With my warm congratulations and the assurance of an entirely fraternal charity, I welcome with a full heart, venerable brother, your request for ecclesiastic communion, in conformation to the usage and desire of the entire Catholic Church. May the Lord assist you, Beatitude, throughout your new ministry, which I hope to be most fruitful, in union with our brothers in the episcopacy, the Fathers of the Patriarchal Synod!"

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CARDINAL PLACES GOLDEN ROSE IN MARIAN SHRINE AT LORETO

VATICAN CITY, DEC 9, 2000 (VIS) - Today, vigil of the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, in the name of all families throughout the world, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, offered a golden rose to Our Lady of Loreto in the marian shrine of the same name on Italy's Adriatic coast. The rose, blessed by the Holy Father during the Mass on October 15 for the Jubilee of Families, was presented during a solemn Eucharistic concelebration

A communique released today which highlighted this event explained that "this initiative was born in the context of the Jubilee of Families, who are inspired by the model of the Holy Family of Loreto." It added that members of an Italian family, accompanied by Archbishop Angelo Comastri, prelate of Loreto, had presented the 40 centimeter long rose to the Pope for his blessing on October 15.

Two weddings bands, which mark a couple's commitment to fidelity, form part of the flower's stem. On a cartouche at its base is the prayer: "Queen of Families, make every house a Holy House and every family a Holy Family." This prayer will now be recited every morning in the shrine of Loreto.

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AUDIENCE WITH GROUPS OF JUBILEE PILGRIMS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 9, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in St. Peter's Square, the Pope received numerous groups of pilgrims who have come to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee and meet the Holy Father.

Speaking to a group of taxi drivers and transport workers from various European countries, he said: "If you know how to communicate the joy of your faith and your Christian commitment, then you will perform a precious service of evangelization. In order for this to happen, you yourselves must not cease to grow in the knowledge of Christ and of His Gospel."

John Paul II then greeted members of the Federation of Christian Organizations of International Voluntary Service: "Your meritorious activity in support of developing countries arises from a deep-seated desire to put the Gospel of charity into practice."

He reminded members of the Christian Union of Business People and Managers that the aim of their association is "to know, implement and spread the Church's social doctrine, contributing to the construction of a more just and fraternal society by the Christian and professional formation of members."

Then, speaking French and German, the Pope greeted notaries from different European countries who are celebrating their Jubilee in Rome.

In Polish, the Pope addressed professors and students from the major seminary of Tarnow in Poland. He told the students that their preparation for the priesthood should be "a special path towards sanctity, towards a life of intimate interior union with Jesus Christ."

"Strengthened within and full of grace, you can respond to the gift of the priestly vocation with still greater fervor and generosity." He expressed the hope that they "remain faithful to their vocation to the end of their lives. ... The world has need of you, it has need of your sanctity and your authentic Christian witness. Carry the Gospel to the men and women of our time."

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POPE RECALLS 50 YEARS OF U.N. COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2000 (VIS) - Before praying the angelus with the estimated 45,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square today for the Jubilee of Catechists and Teachers of Religion, the Holy Father spoke of the 50th anniversary of the statute which created the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Calling this "an important date for those who were forced to flee their countries because of war and persecution," the Pope said this moment was "also important for those men and women who so unselfishly offered time, intelligence and generous availability well beyond their work duties, to bring help to these refugees, in situations often serious and dangerous. To them go the thanks of the international community. ... In international solidarity and political dialogue it is possible to find solutions so that welcoming refugees will not be too burdensome in some countries and so that they will find in institutions and public structures a defense of their rights and their basic liberties."

John Paul II then turned to the tens of thousands of catechists and teachers of religions present in Rome, representing their more than 2 million confreres throughout the world, and expressed his "gratitude and encouragement" for their work.

"Precisely to encourage you to pursue your activity with that missionary spirit which marks today's Jubilee celebration, in a few minutes I will give the Catechism of the Catholic Church to five couples of catechists, representing all the continents. I would like this gesture to underscore that, in the variety of languages and cultures, catechists are called to announce to the entire world the one Truth: Christ, Only Savior of the world, yesterday, today and always."

The Holy Father repeated his gratitude and encouragement to catechists in a number of languages before praying the angelus with them.

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THE GOSPEL MUST BE ANNOUNCED IN ALL ENVIRONMENTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2000 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m. today, the second Sunday of Advent, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration for the Jubilee of Catechists and Teachers of Religion.

Commenting on the Gospel reading in his homily, the Pope affirmed that, like St. John the Baptist, "catechists are called to teach that Jesus is the awaited Messiah, the Christ. Their task is to invite people to fix their gaze on Jesus and follow Him, because He alone is the Master, the Lord, the Savior."

"Your work, dear catechists and teachers of religion," he continued, "is more than ever necessary and requires from you constant fidelity to Christ and to the Church. Indeed, all the faithful have the right to receive from those who by virtue of their office or mandate are responsible for catechesis and preaching, non subjective answers that conform to the constant Magisterium of the Church."

The Holy Father highlighted that "the paths that must be made straight" mentioned in St. Luke's Gospel, are a reference to believers who, under the influence of the dominant mentality, subjectively consider certain elements of the heritage of faith, "and wander from the straight path of evangelical spirituality to find reference in vague values inspired by a conventional and irenical moralism."

In keeping with St. Paul's exhortation to preach the Gospel, "in all circumstances, in all environments, favorable or otherwise, Christ's Gospel must be courageously proposed, an announcement of joy for all people of whatever age, category, culture or nation. ... May the Christian message, complete and universal, permeate all milieux and levels of culture and social responsibility!"

John Paul II concluded by assuring catechists that they were always in his prayers. He gave homage to "many of your colleagues who have paid with all kinds of suffering, often with their lives, for their faithfulness to the Gospel and to the communities to which they were sent. May their example be a stimulus and encouragement for each of you."

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