POPE HIGHLIGHTS A "PROMISING" BEGINNING TO THE JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received members of the regional administration of Lazio, Italy, and of the local and provincial administration of Rome, for the traditional exchange of new year greetings.

After giving thanks to God "for this promising start," the Pope said, addressing the presidents of the region of Lazio and the province of Rome: "I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude, to all the institutions you represent" as well as to those who have contributed towards preparing Rome to welcome pilgrims from all over the world.

John Paul II thanked Romans for the "generous willingness with which they accepted the sacrifices and inconvenience linked with the preparations immediately prior to the Jubilee," and requested that they "recognize, in the Jubilee event, a precious occasion for grace, as well as for civil, social and economic development. Furthermore, I trust that they will put their traditional hospitable qualities at the service of pilgrims."

Going on to refer to "a number of features that may enrich and give a new perspective to objectives already achieved," the Pope made a call to especially protect the family and asked "those responsible to shun any initiative that may favor or support placing the family on an equal level with other forms of co-habitation." He also requested that certain obstacles be removed, such as "the lack of affordable accommodation and the shortage of structures for welcoming younger children."

The Holy Father also requested from those present "courageous choices in the field of schooling and education." He went on: "It is also important, in the field of healthcare, to combine technical progress and cost control with giving primary attention to the sick." Finally, he repeated his concern for "the numerous unemployed young people," and asked that greater efforts be made towards the creation of new work and occupational opportunities.

AC;PROVINCE; REGION ROME;...;...;VIS;20000113;Word: 320;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Pietro Badaloni, president of the Lazio Regional Junta, accompanied by Luca Borgomeo, president of the Lazio Regional Council.
- Francesco Rutelli, mayor of Rome.
- Silvano Moffa, president of the Rome Provincial Junta, accompanied by Alberto Pascucci, president of the Rome Provincial Council.
- Archbishop Francesco Marchisano, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church and of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology, accompanied by Fr. Carlo Chenis S.D.B. and Msgr. Michel Berger, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church and Fabrizio Bisconti, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20000113;Word: 120;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. David Kamau, vicar general and pastor of the cathedral in Nairobi, Kenya, and Fr. Anthony Ireri Mucobo I.M.C., pastor and professor at the major archdiocesan seminary of Christ the King in Nyeri, Kenya, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Nairobi (area 3,271, population 3,987,217, Catholics 999,110, priests 618, religious 2,575). Bishop-elect Kamau was born in Kamondo, Kenya, in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1982. Bishop-elect Mucobo was born in Mufu, Kenya, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Bishop Juan Maria Uriarte Goiricelaya of Zamora, Spain, as bishop of San Sebastian (area 1,977, population 680,000, Catholics 671,600, priests 722, religious 2,423), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Jose Maria Setien Alberro, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

NEA; NER; RE;...;...;...;VIS;20000113;Word: 140;