AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Raul Nicolau Gonsalves of Goa and Damao, accompanied by auxiliary Bishops Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao do Rosario Ferrao.

- Bishop Thomas Bhalerao, S.J., of Nashik.

- Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai.

- Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, S.J., of Gandhinagar.

- Angela Merkel, head of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian-Social Union of Germany, and an entourage.

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STATISTICS ON THE CHURCH IN CROATIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2003 (VIS) - On the occasion of John Paul II's apostolic trip to Croatia on June 5 - 9, his 100th trip outside of Italy during which he will visit Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Osijek and Zadar, we offer some statistics on the Catholic Church in this country.

Croatia, which the Pope visited in 1994 and 1998, has a population of 4,660,000, of which 3,772,000 are Catholic, approximately 80.9% of the total population. There are currently 27 bishops, 2,260 priests, 3,520 religious and 689 seminarians in the country.

The Catholic Church in this Balkan nation runs 26 primary, middle and secondary schools, and eight superior schools and universities in which more than 4,000 students are enrolled. In addition, there are 33 homes for the elderly, disabled and handicapped, 57 orphanages and 21 family counseling and Pro-life centers and 18 centers for education and social rehabilitation.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Miklos Beer, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, as bishop of the diocese of Vac (area 8,805, population 1,067,000, Catholics 705,000, priests 224, permanent deacons 6, religious 233), Hungary.

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THOROUGH FORMATION TO PREPARE HOLY EVANGELIZERS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2003 (VIS) - Today at midday the Holy Father received participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples during which they are reflecting upon "Formation in mission territories."

The Pope affirmed that "thorough formation is necessary, capable of preparing competent and holy evangelizers who are up to the level of their mission. This implies a long and painstaking process in which every biblical, theological, philosophical and pastoral examination finds its strength in one's personal relationship with Christ "the Way, the Truth and the Life."

"The Church, especially in mission countries," he continued, "needs people who are prepared to serve the Gospel freely and generously, ready for this reason to promote the values of justice and peace, breaking every cultural, racial, tribal and ethnic barrier, able to read the 'signs of the times' and to discover 'seeds of the Word', without indulging in curtailment or relativism."

"For this," John Paul II continued, "these persons must be in the first place 'experts' and they must be 'in love' with God. ... Along with personal intimacy with Christ, it is necessary to foster constant growth in love and service of the Church." For this reason, he added, a priest, "in his spiritual life, is called to relive the love of Christ, Spouse of the Church which is His bride."

The Holy Father thanked those who "are dedicated to the task of education in missionary territories." He concluded by recalling the numerous "seminarians, priests, nuns, religious and lay people from missionary territories who are completing their plan of formatiion here in Rome in colleges and centers, many of whom depend on your dicastery."

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THE RITE OF PIUS V CANNOT BE CONSIDERED DEFUNCT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2003 (VIS) - This afternoon in the Basilica of St. Mary Major Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", celebrated Mass according to the St. Pius V rite. Faithful from several countries participated in the Eucharistic celebration. Prior to the Eucharistic celebration, they prayed the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary.

In the homily, Cardinal Castrillon spoke about "three figures that attract our attention as believers: Mary, the Peter of today and St. Pius V.

"We turn to her, the Mother of God, happy to be welcomed in her house in the context of this Year of the Rosary, proclaimed by the Holy Father." In this temple, "the entire life of Holy Mary is introduced into the prayerful contemplation of the believer. It is the mystery of our whole life."

Later referring to the Holy Father, he affirmed: "Our thoughts, prayer and our profound and affectionate sense of ecclesial communion are directed to our beloved Pope John Paul II. In these 25 years his life and his supreme apostolic ministry have been characterized by the tireless defense of the Truth, total dedication to the cause of unity in the Church and prophetic and brave pastoral work for the promotion of an authentic and just peace among nations and all human beings."

The president of "Ecclesia Dei" stressed that it was a "providential coincidence" to celebrate the Eucharist according to the Rite of St. Pius V in the place where "his mortal remains rest."

"The Rite of St. Pius V," he emphasized, "cannot be considered defunct and the authority of the Holy Father has shown his warm welcome to the faithful who continue to be united to the previous rite and who find in it valid spiritual nourishment on their path to sanctification, while recognizing the legitimacy of the Roman rite renewed according to the indications of the Vatican Council II. ... Therefore, the ancient Roman rite," he concluded, "preserves in the Church their right to citizenship in the variety of Catholic rites, Latin or Eastern."

In a letter addressed to Cardinal Castrillon, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, conveyed to the participants in the Eucharistic celebration the Pope's gratitude for their "cordial loyalty to the Successor of Peter and prayers for the 25th anniversary of his pontificate." Cardinal Sodano writes: "His Holiness is spiritually united to the devoted homage to Holy Mary, asking her to intercede before her Son Jesus so that all Christians may be leaven of sanctity and of spiritual renewal in today's world."

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