TO YOUTH: BE LEAVEN, LIGHT AND SALT OF THE EARTH FOR YOUR PEERS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2003 (VIS) - Nine thousand young people from the Italian archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, accompanied by their archbishop and numerous priests, were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning in the Paul VI Hall. He focussed on the mission they are preparing which is called "The Mission by Young People for Young People."

The Pope noted that Italian bishops have "proposed young people and families as privileged recipients of their pastoral commitment in these years. ... Youth and families are the future of society and the Church, and it is comforting to see mature in their midst many meaningful experiences of spirituality, service and sharing."

Quoting Pope Paul VI, who said that "young people, well formed in faith and prayer, must become ever more apostles of youth," he added: "The success of your mission will depend on the quality of the missionaries: the more you are docile instruments in the hands of God, the more efficacious your witness will be. Prepare yourselves with dedication to be the 'leaven', 'salt' and 'light' in the midst of your peers and in the milieux in which you live."

"Holiness astonishes, it makes one think, it convinces and, God willing, converts. The holiness of young people is one of the most beautiful gifts that the Lord has given His Church. Each of you is called to be holy, that is to follow Jesus with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength."

"It is Jesus Who is the hope within you. It is He Who enlightens your young consciences!" John Paul II affirmed. "Transmit to your peers your joy in following Him. Whoever encounters Jesus feels a different way of being happy, a different joy of life, based not on having or appearing, but on being. Being young Christians means living with Jesus, for Jesus, in Jesus."

He urged his young listeners to always be ready to listen to Jesus, to welcome His love and to "be convinced and meek witnesses of the truth."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Fausto Gabriel Travez Travez, O.F.M., superior of the Convent of Ambato in Ecuador as the apostolic vicar of Zamora (area 20,000, population 120,966, Catholics 105,828, priests 18, permanent deacons 1, religious 59), Ecuador. The bishop-elect was born in 1941 in Toacazo, Ecuador and was ordained a priest in 1970. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate presented by Bishop Serafin Cartagena Oca¤a, O.F.M., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Julien Andavo Mbia, rector of the Interdiocesan Institute of Philosophy of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo as bishop of Isiro-Niangara (area 60,000, population 705,233, Catholics 518,875, priests 108, religious 217), Democratic Republic of Congo. The bishop-elect was born in 1950 in Faradje, Democratic Republic of Congo and was ordained a priest in 1979.

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JOHN PAUL II CELEBRATES DAY OF CONSECRATED LIFE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2003 (VIS) - At 5:30 this evening, feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope John Paul presided at the Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Basilica for members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life as they celebrate the Day of Consecrated Life.

The principal moments of tonight's celebration included the liturgy of light, with the lighting and blessing of candles, followed by a procession, the liturgy of the Word and the Eucharistic liturgy.

In his homily the Pope said that "the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple shows itself as being especially suitable to host the grateful praise of consecrated persons, and with good reason we have been celebrating for several years now the 'Day of Consecrated Life'. The image of Mary who, in the temple, offers her Son to God, speaks eloquently to the hearts of the men and women who have totally given themselves to the Lord through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for the Kingdom of Heaven."

The Holy Father remarked that consecrated people throughout the world today "renew their consecration, holding in their hands lighted candles, an expression of their ardent existence of faith and love. We too, here in St. Peter's Basilica, raise a solemn prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of consecrated life in the diocese of Rome and in the universal Church."

He pointed to the statues in St. Peter's that depict the founders of many religious orders, congregations and institutes, saying "they recall the mystery of the communion of saints, by force of which ... is renewed, from generation to generation, the choice to follow Christ with special consecration according to the multiple charisms stimulated by the Spirit."

Pope John Paul, in closing, affirmed that "poverty, chastity and obedience are distinctive characteristics of redeemed man, interiorly freed from the slavery of egoism. Free to love, free to serve: these are the many men and women who renounce themselves for the Kingdom of Heaven."

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ARCHBISHOP LOZANO IS DELEGATE TO WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's Letter to Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, naming him as his Special Envoy to the celebrations of the 11th World Day of the Sick, to be celebrated in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on February 11. The Letter, written in Latin, was dated January 25, 2003.

Also made public were the names of those who will be part of the pontifical mission: Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield, rector of the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and Fr. Michael Place, coordinator of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

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POPE PRAYS FOR VICTIMS OF SHUTTLE DISASTER, PEACE IN IVORY COAST

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2003 (VIS) - In addressing the faithful in St. Peter's Square after praying the Angelus with them, the Pope spoke of the disaster on the shuttle Columbia, the crisis in Ivory Coast and greeted all those who yesterday celebrated the lunar New Year.

"The sad news of the tragic explosion of the United States spaceship Columbia upon its re-entry from the atmosphere, has caused great emotion," he said. "I invite everyone to pray for the victims of the incident, who perished in fulfilling an international scientific mission. In this moment of harsh trial, I am spiritually close to the family members and I assure them of remembrance in my prayers."

The Pope turned to the Ivory Coast which, he noted "is once again tried by a serious crisis that is splitting those populations. Let us pray that the efforts of those who have at heart the country's unity and respect for legality will prevail over the divisions and demands. May the Catholic faithful, led by their pastors, know how to work so that dialogue and respect of persons and their goods are practiced and promoted by everyone."

The Holy Father then remarked that "yesterday, the first day of February, was the lunar New Year for many millions of persons - especially Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans - who spend these days of celebration in family intimacy. ... May the New Year be a time of peace, based on the 'four precious needs of the human soul: truth, justice, love and liberty'."

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