PAPAL LETTER TO NEW PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH OF THE SYRIANS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter that Pope John Paul wrote to His Beatitude Ignace Pierre VIII, the newly elected patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians. The letter is in French and bears the date of February 20. The former patriarch, now Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, was named prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches by the Holy Father.

"The message, marked by deep confidence in the Lord, by which Your Beatitude informs me of your election to the patriarchal see of Antioch of the Syrians, has just arrived and fills me with joy," writes the Holy Father.

He continues: "I welcome with all my heart, beloved Brother in Christ, your request for ecclesiastical communion, in conformity with the custom and the wish of the entire Catholic Church. I am happy on this occasion to send you my warmest congratulations, assuring you of my fraternal charity."

"May the Lord, Master of history and Pastor of the Church, fill you with His graces throughout your new ministry, for the glory of God, the consolation of the souls entrusted to your paternal care and the good of the universal Church!"

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OPEN OUR HEARTS TO JESUS TO ENTER INTO THE MYSTERY OF HIS LOVE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II made a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of the Nativity of Mary, where he celebrated Mass and exhorted the parishioners to open their hearts to Jesus, in order that "we thus enter into the mystery of His love, which enlightens all of existence."

In his homily, the Pope made reference to the Message he sent to the dioceses of Rome last week, and told those present: "Make it an object of attentive reflection and translate its indications into concrete apostolic choices. The Lenten period, which begins in three days, offers a useful occasion for this revision of life."

"Ask yourselves," the Pontiff continued, "both as individuals and as a community: what contribution can I give to the growth of full communion in the Church? How can I offer my specific gift, in order for her to become ever more a home and school of communion? It is necessary to walk in unity to witness to the Gospel together. This is the charge I leave you, dear Brothers and Sisters of the Parish of the Nativity of Mary."

After recalling the apostolic initiatives undertaken in the area "for young boys and girls, engaged couples, families, the poor and the elderly," the Holy Father said: "Continue forth on this road, giving priority to the care of families, who often are often unable to ensure an adequate Christian formation of their children. There are children and adolescents who need those who will help them grow in the faith; Christians who await guides able to support them in evangelical witness, directing them in the various areas of study, activity, and service."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Giuseppe Bausardo, S.D.B., counsellor inspector of the Salesians in Egypt, as apostolic vicar of Alexandria of the Latins (Catholics 9,570, priests 161, religious 1,045), Egypt. The bishop-elect was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1951. He entered the Salesian novitiate in Lebanon in 1965, made his perpetual vows in 1974, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1978.

- Granted the ecclesiastical communion requested by His Beatitude Ignace Pierre VIII, canonically elected patriarch of Antioch of the Syro-Catholics in the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Catholic Church, held in Charfet, Lebanon, on February 16, 2001. He succeeds His Beatitude Ignace Moussa I Daoud. His Beatitude Ignace Pierre VIII was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1930, and ordained to the priesthood in 1954. In 1979, he was ordained chorbishop and appointed exarch of Jerusalem by His Beatitude Ignace Antoine II Hayek, patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians. In 1996, he was elected bishop in the Synod of Syrian Bishops.

- Appointed the following as members of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei": Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments and Louis-Marie Bille, archbishop of Lyon; and Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

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TO BE A SAINT: THE BLUEPRINT FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2001 (VIS) - As is his yearly custom, the Holy Father visited the Major Roman Seminary this afternoon for the feast of Our Lady of Trust, the seminary's patroness.

After listening to a piece of music inspired by the life of former seminary student Servant of God Bruno Marchesini, who died at age 23, "longing for the priesthood," the Holy Father said: "His life was a constant and courageous journey towards sanctity."

John Paul II affirmed that "to be a saint, this is the blueprint for every Christian." He added: "I hope that this plan also directs your life, dear young friends. ... Rome needs saints! A fruitful season of new evangelization is opening before us, which, to bear good results, needs the courage of sanctity. Dear seminarians, bring this yearning into daily prayer."

After recalling "the sincere devotion to the Most Holy Virgin" of Servant of God Bruno Marchesini, the Holy Father said: "Let us look again to Her, the Mother of Christ, and ask Her to teach us as well to 'remain' with the Lord," as did the Apostles, in response to Jesus' invitation.

"Let us ask Her," the Pope concluded, "for the community of the Roman Seminary to be ever more consciously a 'genuine 'school' of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening, and ardent devotion, until the heart truly 'falls in love'.' May all of this become your daily experience!"

After this interlude, the Holy Father dined with the rector, teachers and seminarians.

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CARDINAL SODANO PRESIDES LITURGY AT NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, celebrated Mass this morning in the Chapel of Our Lady of Humility at the Casa Santa Maria, part of the Pontifical North American College and the residence for graduate priests from the United States, on the occasion of its 400th anniversary.

Blessed Pope Pius IX gave this building, built in 1601 as a convent for Dominican Sisters, to the American bishops in 1859 for the training of seminarians. When the new seminary, the Pontifical North American College, was opened in 1953 on Janiculum Hill, the Casa Santa Maria became the residence for American diocesan priests studying in Rome. It is the largest residence of American diocesan priests anywhere in the world and currently house over 80 priests. The building also houses the U.S. Bishops' Office for Visitors to the Vatican.

After Mass, Cardinal Sodano blessed the new library and the St. Katherine Drexel/Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Eucharistic Chapel. Guests included American cardinals, archbishops and bishops living in or visiting Rome as well as outgoing U.S Ambassador to the Vatican, Corinne Boggs. Alumni of the Casa Santa Maria include one third of U.S. bishops and six of the thirteen American cardinals.

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