DUBLIN CONFERENCE: HOLY SEE SAYS NO TO LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2003 (VIS) - A Holy See delegation, led by Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, apostolic nuncio in Ireland, was present at the Ministerial Conference on "New Challenges for Drug Policy in Europe," which was held in Dublin October 16-17.

Archbishop Lazzarotto, in his address to the assembly, stated that "there is no doubt that the phenomenon of drug abuse is connected to a crisis of civilization and with great dejection. One of the most important factors leading to drug abuse is the lack of clear motivation, the absence of values, the conviction that life is not worth living."

"Faced with the many suggestions ... for resolving the problem," the nuncio said, "the Holy See does not agree with the proposal to legalize the circulation and distribution of drugs, not even so-called light drugs. ... The State must not assist its most vulnerable citizens to alienate themselves from society and ruin their lives. Rather, the Holy See encourages above all the promotion of preventive information and education, and the possibility of the proper treatment and reintegration into society of those who unfortunately fall prey to drug addiction."

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POPE AT CONCERT: EUROPE: BUILD A FUTURE OF HOPE AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2003 (VIS) - In celebration of the 25th anniversary of his election to the pontificate, this afternoon in the Paul VI Hall John Paul II attended a concert offered by the choir and symphonic orchestra of Leipzig, Germany which performed Beethoven's entire Ninth Symphony, including the Ode to Joy. Cardinals, bishops, prelates of the Roman Curia and ambassadors were present.

At the end of the concert, the Pope thanked the members of the orchestra and chorus, saying: "The Ninth Symphony, Ludwig van Beethoven's last, has invited us to meditate on the richness and drama of human life. In the grand finale, the Ode to Joy has guided our thoughts, beyond humanity in its entirety, to the new Europe, that is extending its borders to other countries. Drawing on the heritage of the human and Christian values of its past, may the European continent be able to contribute to building a future rich in hope and peace for all of humanity."

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OCTOBER 21: CONSISTORY AND COURTESY VISITS FOR NEW CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul will hold an Ordinary Public Consistory in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, October 21 at 10:30 for the creation of 31 new cardinals, including one "in pectore." That afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:30 in the Paul VI Hall, Fabbrica di San Pietro and the Apostolic Palace, friends may pay courtesy calls on the new cardinals.

Guests must use the Sant'Uffizio entrance to greet the cardinals who will be in the Paul VI Hall and the Fabbrica di San Pietro. To greet the cardinals in the Apostolic Palace, entrance is through the Bronze Gate (Portone di Bronzo).

Following is a list of the rooms to which the new cardinals have been assigned:

PAUL VI HALL - ATRIUM

- Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M.

- Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien

- Cardinal George Pell

- Cardinal Josip Bozanic

- Cardinal Peter Erdo

- Cardinal Bernard Panafieu

- Cardinal Philippe Barbarin

- Cardinal Gustaaf Joos

PAUL VI HALL - MAIN HALL

- Cardinal Angelo Scola

- Cardinal Ennio Antonelli

- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.

- Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali

- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S.


FABBRICA DI SAN PIETRO (ST. PETER'S FABRIC)- Cardinal Francesco Marchisano


SALA DUCALE

- Cardinal Julian Herranz
- Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan


SALA DEI PARAMENTI 1

- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran


SALA DEI PARAMENTI 2

- Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino


SALA DEI PONTEFICI

- Cardinal Attilio Nicora


SALA DEI SANTI

- Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao


SALLE DELLE ARTI LIBERALI

- Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man


SALONE DELLE SIBILLE

- Cardinal Stanislas Nagy, S.C.I.


SALONE SISTINO

- Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie

- Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako

- Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

- Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo


BRACCIO NUOVO

- Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I.

- Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada Toruno


GALLERIA LAPIDARIA

- Cardinal Georges Marie Martin Cottier, O.P.

- Cardinal Tomas Spidlik, S.J.

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TO CARDINALS: BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST WITH ONE VOICE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2003 (VIS) - At the end of the four-day meeting celebrated in the Vatican for the 25th anniversary of his pontificate, the Pope addressed the participants, the members of the College of Cardinals, patriarchs and presidents of the episcopal conferences.

The Holy Father thanked them for their message read by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, on behalf of all those who attended the symposium.
Upon recalling the twenty-five years that have passed since the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II specifically referred to the numerous times that the cardinals have helped him with their advice in order "to understand better the important questions regarding the Church and humanity."

"The profound changes that have come about in the last 25 years," he continued, "involve our ministry as pastors. ... The courage to proclaim the Gospel should never diminish; on the contrary, up to our last breath it must be our principal commitment, confronted with ever-renewed dedication."

The Pope emphasized that "Christ's commandment is this: to announce the one Gospel with one heart and one soul. ... For this reason, we must cultivate among ourselves deep unity which is not limited to an affective fraternity, but which is based on complete doctrinal agreement and translates into a harmonious understanding from an operative point of view."

"How can we be authentic teachers for humanity and credible apostles of the new evangelization if we allow the seed of division to enter into our hearts? ... God sent us to the world as one, undivided college that must bear witness with a unanimous voice to His person, His word, His mystery. Our credibility depends on it! How much more effective our work will be the more we know how to make the face of the Church radiate, the Church that loves the poor, that is humble and is on the side of the weakest of society. Mother Teresa who tomorrow I will have to joy to inscribe in the book of Blesseds, gave us an emblematic example of this evangelical attitude."

John Paul II concluded by assuring them of prayers "for each one of you. ... I ask you to continue to pray for me so that I may faithfully fulfill my service to the Church as long as the Lord wishes."

In their message to the Holy Father, the cardinals write: "As a pilgrim of the Gospel, you, like the apostles, have put yourself on the path and have traversed continents to proclaim Christ, the Kingdom of God, forgiveness, love and peace. You have tirelessly ... announced the Gospel and in its light you have called everyone back to the fundamental human values: respect for the dignity of man, the defense of life, the promotion of justice and peace. You have especially reached out to young people."

"You have reached out to men of other religions in order to reawaken in everyone the desire for peace and the willingness to become an instrument of peace. In this way, you have become, for all of humanity, above all barriers and divisions, a great messenger of peace."

After the encounter, the Pope invited the cardinals to have lunch at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. John Paul II thanked the entire College of Cardinals for the "generous gift" of 700,000 Euro that they gave him, saying "it will go to Christian communities in the Holy Land that are suffering so much."

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JOHN PAUL II WATCHES FIREWORK DISPLAY FROM STUDY WINDOW

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2003 (VIS) - Shortly after 8 this evening, Pope John Paul II, to the surprise of the thousands of pilgrims assembled in St. Peter's Square, appeared at his study window to watch the firework display organized by the city of Rome as part of the celebrations in honor of his silver jubilee as Pope.

At the end of the pyrotechnic display, the Holy Father told the crowd that he "greatly enjoyed the fireworks" for which he thanked the mayor of Rome and "the beloved city of Rome for the affection that even in this manner it wishes to show me. For this I bless all the citizens. May Christ bless you all!" The public continued to applaud and wave handkerchiefs, prompting the Pope to "wish everyone a beautiful evening. Good night," he said, as he left the window, having appeared for almost a half hour.

The fireworks were accompanied by and synchronized to the music of "Missa pro Pace," which was composed for Pope John Paul by the Polish musician, Kilar Wojciech, and performed in the Vatican, in the presence of the Holy Father, on December 7, 2001 by the chorus and National Philharmonic Orchestra of Warsaw.

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