JOHN PAUL II RECALLS APOSTOLIC TRIP TO UKRAINE

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2001 (VIS) - During today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II spoke of his apostolic trip to Ukraine, which took place from June 23 to 27.

The Pope emphasized that "it was an unforgettable experience for me to preside over solemn Eucharistic celebrations in Kiev and Lviv in the Latin and Byzantine-Ukrainian rites. It was like living the liturgy 'with both lungs'. ... 'Ut unum sint': The words of Christ's heartfelt prayer resounded in an eloquent way in that 'land of borders', whose history carries written in blood the call to be 'bridges' between divided brethren."

After recalling that Ukraine suffered "so grievously the coercion of religious freedom," the Pope referred to the numerous Christian, Jewish, and Muslim victims of Nazi and Communist regimes. "All believers in God, rejecting every form of violence, are called to nourish the indispensable religious roots of every authentic humanism."

The Holy Father noted that his pilgrimage "wished to pay homage to the sanctity of that land steeped in the blood of martyrs." He added that, in this regard, "I had the joy of beatifying thirty sons and daughters of Ukraine, both Latin and Greek-Catholic."

After voicing the desire that "Ukraine draw renewed apostolic enthusiasm from the patrimony of holiness left by these exemplary disciples of Christ and by so many others whom these in some way represent," he expressed the hope that "a rich flowering of vocations will ensure the necessary yield for an effective pastoral service to the People of God."

John Paul II then spoke of the "awaited encounter with youth," saying that he had "symbolically entrusted to 'young' Ukraine the divine law of the Decalogue, as an indispensable compass for its journey, placing it on guard against the idols of a false material well-being and the temptation to avoid responsibilities."

At the end of the catechesis the Pope referred to those in Ukraine who are dedicated to the service of the Gospel and "to the many situations of suffering and difficulty, including that of the imprisoned, to whom I send my affectionate greeting, assuring a special remembrance for them in prayer."

AG;TRIP UKRAINE;...;...;VIS;20010704;Word: 360;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2001 (VIS) - This evening the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

AP;...;...;... ;VIS;20010704;Word: 30;

HOLY SEE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2000

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, will present the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Holy See for the Year 2000 at a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 6 in the Press Office. Joining him will be Bishop Franco Croci and Ivan Ruggiero, respectively secretary and bookkeeper of the same prefecture.

OP;FINANCIAL STATEMENTS;...;SEBASTIANI;VIS;20010703;Word: 80;

RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE OF VICENTE FOX HAS NOT BEEN ANNULLED

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2001 (VIS) - In response to questions by journalists concerning a possible ruling of annulment of the religious marriage of Mexican President Vicente Fox, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls declared: "I can deny that there has been a ruling of this type."

OP;RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE;...;MEXICO; FOX;VIS;20010703;Word: 60;

HOLY FATHER RECEIVES ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, issued the following declaration this afternoon:

"Today, July 3, 2001, Pope John Paul II received in audience Silvio Berlusconi, president of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic.

"At the end of the meeting, members of his entourage were presented to the Holy Father, led by under-secretaries to the presidency, Gianni Letta and Paolo Bonaiuti, as well as by the minister of urban affairs, and the ambassador to the Holy See.

"Following this, Mr. Berlusconi visited Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, who then presented Mr. Berlusconi to his colleagues in the two sections of the Secretariat of State, led by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs and Msgr. Celestino Migliore, under-secretary for Relations with States.

"The wish for a close collaboration between both sides for the spiritual progress of the country and for the good of the international community was repeated during the course of the meetings.

"Special attention was given to the topics of the promotion of the person and the family, and to an effective scholastic equality. With regard to international problems, there was an exchange of news on the progress of European unification and on the topics of international solidarity, in view of the G-8 summit in Genoa."

OP;AUDIENCE;...;BERLUSCONI;VIS;20010703;Word: 230;