NAVARRO-VALLS: THE ROLE OF THE CATHOLIC PRESS IS TO SERVE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 2, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls spoke twice at the national assembly of the Latin American Catholic Press Union, which took place in La Habana, Cuba, from February 25 to 27.

"The Media at the Service of Evangelization and Human Advancement" was the theme of the first talk. Navarro-Valls said that the Church is interested in the media from her own perspective, and "considers this activity as a job, a human right and thirdly as an element of the culture of our age and as a means of transmitting values, that is, evangelization."

"Christians see this as an attractive field of professional activity, with specific techniques which must be known and managed, and as a task in which the spiritual and human potential of the person can be developed. That is, it should be seen as a portion of the professional landscape with the capacity to enrich the person with the potential of sanctifying oneself and others."

In the second talk he dealt with the theme of "Discernment and Prophecy in Church Publications." Navarro-Valls assured that Church publications "would case to be press, but would especially cease being Catholic press, if they were to cultivate in any way a lack of attention to the historical framework in which the salvation of the human being is involved. The raison d'etre of the Catholic press is to serve, putting their ideas, means and space at the disposition of others. A Catholic press which pretends not to know about the historical context in which it exists, would immediately fall into a vain and sterile state of self-satisfaction which could only reproduce, as in the case of parallel mirrors, an infinitely boring repetition of itself."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Durban, South Africa presented by Auxiliary Bishop Dominic J. Khumalo, O.M.I., on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Frederick F. Campbell, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (area 17,225, population 2,681,324, Catholics 733,961, priests 526, religious 1,407), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Elmira, U.S.A., in 1943, was ordained a priest in 1980, and since 1994 has been pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in West Saint Paul.

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POPE THANKS RETREAT MASTER AT END OF SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father spoke briefly this morning at the end of the six-day period of spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, and thanked Bishop Andre-Mutien Leonard of Namur for his commitment as retreat master.

"You prepared for us," said the Pope, "an authentic Biblical itinerary, enriched by the voices of saints and spiritual masters. We were thus able to contemplate the face of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, starting from the center of New Testament revelation. In such a way, we have been helped to achieve a synthesis of theological contents implied in the three-year immediate preparatory period of the Great Jubilee, now imminent."

In his remarks, John Paul II also acknowledged his "brother cardinals, bishops and officials of the Roman Curia, who have directly shared in this moment of grace."

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THE LIGHT OF CHRIST GIVES US STRENGTH TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 1999 (VIS) - Meditating on the Gospel account of the Transfiguration of the Lord, "we also - like the Apostles - prepare ourselves to relive the decisive events of the Lord's death and resurrection" said the Pope during the Mass celebrated this morning in the Roman parish of Holy Mary Star of the Sea.

The call of God the Father to listen to his Son, as today's Gospel tells us, is "an invitation to let the light of Christ enlighten our lives and give us the strength to proclaim and give witness to the Gospel to our brothers and sisters."

Later, addressing the young people of the parish, John Paul II said: "Be ready to share with your brothers and sisters that you meet every day at school, in places where you gather and enjoy healthy entertainment, the one faith in Christ Redeemer and the joy of being united in the embrace of the same Church, founded on the witness of the apostles Peter and Paul. Be 'missionaries' of faithfulness and hope in this your Church, in which each individual has their own mission to fulfill."

Having expressed his joy for the special attention which is paid to the sacrament of Penance in this parish, the Holy Father renewed "the exhortation to come to this sacrament of spiritual healing. ... For the Sacrament of Penance be celebrated in truth, the confession of sin must arise from a serious and attentive encounter with the Word of God and with a living contact with the person of Christ. For this, appropriate catechism is necessary."

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TELEGRAM FOR PLANE CRASH IN GENOA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 1999 (VIS) - The following telegram was sent in the Holy Father's name by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, for the plane crash in that city on February 25:

"Informed of the sad news of the crash which took place while a plane was landing at Genoa's airport, the Holy Father asks Your Eminence to offer his sentiments of deep sorrow to the family members and friends of the victims and, while he assures them of his fervent prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased, he asks God's comfort for the wounded and for all who are suffering the grave loss of their dear ones. He sends a special apostolic blessing to all as a sign of his special spiritual closeness."

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