JOHN PAUL II TO BEATIFY FOUR ON SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY. MAR 17, 2004 (VIS) - On Sunday March 21 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul will beatify Servants of God: Luigi Talamoni (1848-1926), priest, founder of the Congregation of the Merciful Sisters of St. Gerard; Matilde del Sagrado Corazon Tellez Robles (1841-1902), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church; Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real (1842-1916), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Maria Candida dell'Eucaristia (1884-1949), virgin, nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.
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CHRISTIANS CULTIVATE HOPE IN THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2004 (VIS) - Psalm 20, "Thanksgiving for the victory of the Messiah-King," was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during the general audience celebrated this morning in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope said that this psalm, "one of the royal psalms," expresses the gratitude of the people for "what God has done in favor of the Hebrew sovereign on the solemn day of his enthronement."

God, he continued, showers blessing on the king who is "a reflection of the light of God in the midst of humanity. ... The prophet Nathan also assured David of this blessing which is a source of stability, sustenance and safety."

"When we recite this psalm, we see the face of Christ, the Messiah King in the figure of the Hebrew king . ... He is the Son of God in the fullest sense and is therefore the presence of God in the midst of humanity. He is the light and the life. ... In this way, the psalmist announces His resurrection from the dead and that He, risen from the dead, is immortal. ... Based on this certainty," he concluded, "Christians cultivate hope in the gift of eternal life."

While greeting pilgrims in Polish, John Paul II recalled that Friday is the solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of Our Lady. "This solemnity," he affirmed, "urges families of today, comforted by the example of Mary and Joseph, who lovingly cared for the Word Incarnate, to be inspired by their lifestyle when making daily decisions and to gather strength to overcome difficulties. Only in an authentic family, one that is united and loving, can children mature in a healthy way, following the example of unconditional love, fidelity, reciprocal self-giving and respect for life. I ask Polish families to strive to be this way. May God bless you all."

The Holy Father also addressed a group of pilgrims from the Italian archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia, accompanied by a delegation that just returned from the Holy Land where they lit the Benedictine torch of peace a few days ago in Nazareth and, after the stop in Rome, will proceed to Norcia. "I am pleased," he said, "by your renewed commitment to harmony among peoples. I hope that your region, land of St. Francis and St. Benedict, may be ever more conscious of the spiritual values that forged the thought, art and culture of Italy and Europe."
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Paolo Trombetta as general accountant of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Magdeburg, Germany presented by Bishop Leopold Nowak upon having reached the age limit.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience five prelates from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Philip Edward Wilson of Adelaide.

- Bishop Edmund John Patrick Collins of Darwin.

- Bishop Daniel Eugene Hurley of Port Pirie.

- Archbishop John Alexius Bathersby of Brisbane.

- Bishop James Foley of Cairns.
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INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON VEGETATIVE STATE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 2004 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, there was the presentation of an international congress on the theme, "Life-sustaining treatments and the vegetative state: Scientific advances and ethical dilemmas," which will take place from March 17 to 20 in Rome. The congress is organized and promoted by the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC) and the Pontifical Academy for Life.

The following people spoke during the press conference: Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life; Professor Gianluigi Gigli, president of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations and Dr. Alan Shewmon, professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Bishop Sgreccia explained that during the congress problems of an ethical and anthropological nature which affect patients in the vegetative state will be addressed. "Some say," he indicated, "that when a person loses the use of reason, he or she ceases to be a person and then there is the possibility of interrupting feeding and hydration in order to facilitate his or her death. As long as there is life in the person," he continued, "that person continues to exist in all of his or her dignity, with all of his or her soul."

Another question that will be discussed during the congress, added Bishop Sgreccia, is whether or not extreme therapeutic care can be suspended in certain situations. The problem lies in defining the methods of therapy and in deciding if the treatment is necessary until the patient's death.

The vice-president of the Academy for Life also referred to another theme to be analyzed at the congress: the principle of patient autonomy and whether or not a patient can decide to eat if he or she is in a vegetative state, as well as medical insurance for those who cannot afford it and necessary support.

Professor Gigli said that 370 people from 49 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Israel and Kazakhstan, will participate in the congress. Forty talks by scientific experts in the field are scheduled as well as 30 reports.
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