COSTA RICA: TRUST IN THE PACIFYING STRENGTH OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope received this morning the prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, at the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit.

John Paul II told them that "Costa Rica's great democratic tradition of dialogue and tolerance is a precious legacy which must lead to a renewed faith in the peaceful strength of the Gospel, in an historical moment in which this value, indispensable to nations and to all of mankind, seems to be threatened and almost impossible to bring about."

After recalling that in their report the bishops emphasized the particular attention which they give to the clergy, the Holy Father underscored that "the bishop's personal relationship, friendly and close, with his priests is irreplaceable, in order to encourage them in their vocation, direct them in their activity, enliven in them apostolic zeal, and, if necessary, paternally correct them, with goodness and promptness."
The Pope noted that despite the spread of "a lifestyle based upon exclusively material criteria, ... the renewal of a profound religious spirit in the country is nonetheless appreciated. ... Therefore, it is extremely important to decisively undertake an evangelizing action that is not only directed to all sectors of society, but which contributes to increasing in the faithful the joy of believing and of celebrating their faith, their responsibility to be members of the body of Christ. ... For this it is necessary to give a decisive impulse to catechesis."

After referring to the "great hopes" placed in the laity, John Paul II spoke of the "pressing need to attentively care for the solid formation in spiritual life and in Christian criteria that the lay faithful must implement in the milieux of the family, society, politics, work, and culture. Of great help will be the closeness and promotion of movements or specific associations, which encourage the reciprocal support of their members, an easier integration of the new generations and a more organized and stable carrying out of their commitments."

"You have also shown," the Pope added, "your concern for the situation of the family in your country. ... In this regard, it is necessary to constantly revitalize the pastoral ministry of the family so that will adequately prepare youth to form a new home; and will accompany married couples in the difficulties that can arise, helping them to welcome children with joy, to educate them with tenderness, and to pass the faith on to them."

AL;...;...;COSTA RICA;VIS;20011130;Word: 420;

PAPAL TRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was Pope John Paul's Letter to Ambassador Brunson McKinley, director general of the International Organization for Migrations, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding. In his Letter, written in English and dated November 22, the Pope praised the IOM's service to migrants over the last half century.

"Although it was founded to deal with the problems of migration in one part of the world and only for a limited time," wrote the Holy Father, "The IOM gradually adapted its structures and activities to deal with the challenges of migration through the world in an enduring way." He pointed out that "the Holy See, as an Observer, has followed with great interest the IOM's broadening commitment through the last half century."

The Pope noted that "Today migration is taking place in all kinds of ways, and the intermingling of people from different cultures means that great efforts must be made to help immigrants to become positively integrated in this new milieu." In particular, he recalled "the Organization's invaluable contribution to the battle against trafficking in human beings by helping the victims of this reprehensible trade to be restored to their freedom and dignity."

"In these troubled times," John Paul II concluded, "the challenges before you are larger than ever, not least in seeking to supplement the legislation of individual nations with the introduction of international norms capable of preventing unilateral decisions which do particular harm to the weakest countries. The Church stands with you in spreading awareness of the fundamental truth that, beyond all differences, all men and women are brothers and sisters in the one human family."

JPII-LETTER;MIGRATIONS;...;IOM; MCKINLEY;VIS;20011130;Word: 290;

HOLY FATHER WELCOMES PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following declaration about the audiences granted today to Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, by Pope John Paul, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States:

"The talks regarded the priorities of the European Union, in particular the process of reform of the Union Treaties, and its being broadened to include new members.

"At the same time, the contribution that Churches in Europe can offer was underlined, as was the need for a suitable juridical recognition of them, within the arrangement of the Union.

"Lastly, the commitment of the European Union in the fight against terrorism and the search for a just peace in the Middle East was discussed."

OP;VISIT PRODI;...;...;VIS;20011130;Word: 140;

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SEPER

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in the Paul VI Hall 1,000 participants in the international symposium promoted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the death of Croatian Cardinal Franjo Seper, former prefect of the same dicastery.

In his discourse in Croatian and Italian, the Pope emphasized Cardinal Seper's role "in the life of the Church of Zagabria, in particular from 1954 to 1968, in a very delicate period for relations between Church and State. ... His ministry also had a profoundly ecumenical character. He was actively committed to the promotion of the unity of Christians."

Cardinal Seper's activity during these years," he continued, "was not limited to the care of his diocese and of the Church in his country. He participated in the preparations of Vatican Council II."

John Paul II noted that the deceased cardinal was "rooted in the local Church and at the same time had a sense of belonging to the universal Church."

"With his example," he concluded, "Cardinal Seper continues to be for the faithful an invitation to trust pastors, listening to their teaching and welcoming with generous readiness the pastoral directives given by them in harmony with the head of the episcopal college, the successor of Peter."

AC;ANNIVERSARY CARDINAL SEPER;...;...;VIS;20011130;Word: 230;

HOLY SEE DELEGATION IN ISTANBUL FOR FEAST OF ST. ANDREW

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - A delegation from the Holy See, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is in Istanbul for the liturgical celebrations today of the feast of St. Andrew, patron of the ecumenical patriarchate. The patriarchate sends a delegation to the Church of Rome every year for the June 29 feast of its patrons, Sts. Peter and Paul.

The Holy See delegation will meet with His Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch and archbishop of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and will hold talks with the synodal commission charged with relations with the Catholic Church.

As he does every year on this occasion, Pope John Paul II has sent a Message to Patriarch Bartholomew. The Message, written in French, is dated November 22.

"In jointly celebrating Andrew and Peter," wrote the Pope, "we show our common desire to transmit together the apostolic faith to the men and women of our time, who too often allow themselves to be overcome by religious indifference, which leads to a loss of the meaning of life. ... The divisions that persist and the acrimony that sometimes is seen among Christians weakens the strength of our Christian preaching which proclaims love for God and our neighbor."
John Paul II thanked the patriarch for "responding favorably to the Catholic Church's request for collaboration and for encouraging initiatives by the Orthodox Churches, which foresee participation by the Church of Rome." He stressed that "The Catholic Church is ready to do all in its power to promote the development of relations with the Orthodox Churches," adding that the difficulties encountered in "the theological dialogue must be analyzed and overcome."

In closing remarks, the Holy Father stated: "Lately, terrorism and wars, with all the weight of death and destruction that they bear, have engendered an anxiety that paralyzes populations and upsets the normal course of civil life. To beg God's protection on all peoples and to reawaken men's consciences, I judged it opportune to call all believers to a day of fasting and of prayer for peace next January 24. The Lord will hear the prayer, that we raise with one heart, for the salvation of all of mankind."

MESS;ECUMENISM;...;ISTANBUL; BARTHOLOMEW I; KASPER;VIS;20011130;Word: 370;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Dorylas Moreau, pastor of St. Patrick's in Riviere-du-Loup in the diocese of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere, as bishop of Rouyn-Noranda (area 23,000, population 58,946, Catholics 56,913, priests 31, religious 96), Canada. The bishop-elect was born in Kamouraska, Canada in 1947, and ordained to the priesthood in 1972. He succeeds Bishop Jean-Guy Hamelin, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Jose S. Vasquez, of the clergy of the diocese of San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A., pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in the same diocese, as auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston (area 23,257, population 4,442,230, Catholics 908,190, priests 437, permanent deacons 292, religious 779), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Stamford, in 1957, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984.

NER; RE; NEA;...;...;MOREAU; HAMELIN; VASQUEZ;VIS;20011130;Word: 150;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, accompanied by his wife, and an entourage.
- Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, U.S.A.
- Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See, with Bishop Franco Croci, secretary of the same prefecture.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, emeritus of Vercelli, Italy, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20011130;Word: 90;

POPE RECEIVES PRESIDENTS OF THE REGIONS OF ITALY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience the presidents of Italian regions and autonomous provinces. In his discourse, he asked them to act with "a spirit of altruism and sincere cooperation, ensuring that institutions offer to all of the citizens, without discrimination, 'the possibility to participate freely and actively in establishing the juridical foundations of community politics, as well as in the governing of public affairs, and in determining the scope of the actions and limits of the different organisms'."

The Pope emphasized the need to pay particular attention to the family, and he referred to the expectations of young couples who delay marriage due to the difficulties related to work and a house.

"Concern yourselves," the Pope went on, "with the world of schools. In this milieu, state and regional jurisdictions converge, which are equally oriented towards guaranteeing the freedom of educational choices of every family."

"And what can be said then," he asked, "regarding the weak, the sick, or those in difficulty? ... May you give constant attention to all that concerns the life and the needs of the human being: from health care to social assistance, to instruction to professional formation, to culture and historical-artistic goods, to work and productive activities, to the good order of the territory and the protection of the environment."

John Paul II concluded by affirming that "openness to direct relations with regions of other countries can contribute to the development of a fruitful reciprocal knowledge and collaboration between peoples with different histories and cultures."

AC;...;...;PRESIDENTS ITALIAN REGIONS;VIS;20011129;Word: 270;

POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR OCEANIA AND ASIA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2001 (VIS) - The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops today published two reports on meetings held recently in Rome by the post-synodal councils of the Special Assembly for Oceania and the Special Assembly for Asia.

The fifth meeting of the post-synodal council of Oceania was held on November 23, the day after the promulgation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Oceania" by Pope John Paul II in the Vatican's Clementine Hall. The Pope that day signed the document and transmitted it via e-mail to all the bishops of Oceania. The communique today added that those present at the meeting of the post-synodal council primarily discussed the distribution and application of the just-published apostolic exhortation.
On November 20-21 in the offices of the Secretariat General, the fifth meeting of the post-synodal council of Asia was held, in the presence of three cardinals, three archbishops, three bishops and four staff members. The agenda included discussion on a questionnaire sent out regarding the distribution and application of "Ecclesia in Asia" and a synthesis of the answers received so far in the secretariat. It was decided that the Synod of Bishops would directly contact religious congregations and episcopal conferences concerning the distribution and application of this post-synodal apostolic exhortation.

SE;ASIA; OCEANIA; COUNCIL MEETINGS;...;...;VIS;20011129;Word: 230;

COUNCIL ISSUES ANNUAL MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS FOR END OF RAMADAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2001 (VIS) - Published today in French, English and Italian was the annual message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to Muslims for the end of Ramadan, 'Id Al-Fitr 1422 A.H./2001 A.D. The Message, signed by council president, Cardinal Francis Arinze, focussed on "Promoting Human Values in An Era of Technology."

Following are excerpts:

"I address this message to you as a sign of esteem and friendship on the part of the Catholic Church."

"In addressing you at this moment, the end of the period in which you have been fulfilling a specific religious duty in order to come closer to the Most High, I cannot forget, in the first place, the dramatic events which our world is experiencing, events which affect in a particular way the hearts of believers belonging to the monotheistic religions. The faithful adorers of the One God are called to be in the world the artisans of a civilization founded on the perennial values of peace and justice, of unity and love, of dialogue and freedom, of cooperation and fraternity, between persons and among peoples. May expressions of solidarity and fraternity among believers and all people of good will lead society along new paths, in full respect for human values and in the promotion of these values.

"This year it is precisely upon this theme of human values and their promotion in an era marked by great technological progress that I wish to reflect with you. We are living in an era of technology which touches all spheres of activity: transport, communications, information, medicine, genetics, etc. Technological advances are constantly transforming the face of the earth and even allowing human beings to reach out to conquer space. However the most exciting and at the same time controversial field of technology is genetics which touches human nature directly."

"What can we do, Christians and Muslims, together with the believers belonging to other religions and other people of good will, to ensure that we make good use of these new means at our disposal?

"Can we not work together to protect the most important human values which are threatened by a world in continual transformation? In the first place comes the right to life, to be protected from conception right up to natural death. For life comes from God and it is to Him that it must return, when He wills. Life is a most precious gift from God, the precondition for all other divine gifts. Next comes the dignity of the human person and the rights which flow from it; these we must promote for all."

"How can we protect and promote these values together in this technological era? First of all through dialogue, which ... could lead naturally to collaboration in the fields already mentioned. This dialogue and collaboration are to be pursued at all levels, local, regional, national and world-wide. ... The common action to which we are invited concerns the whole of humanity."

CON-DIR;MESSAGE; MUSLIMS; RAMADAN;...;ARINZE;VIS;20011129;Word: 510;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Brian Cowen, foreign minister of Ireland, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- Three prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa Rojas of Limon.
- Bishop Angel San Casimiro Fernandez of Ciudad Quesada.
- Bishop Hugo Barrantes Urena of Puntarenas.

AP; AL;...;...;... ;VIS;20011129;Word: 70;

MEETING IN VATICAN ON FUTURE OF CHRISTIANS IN HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration today:

"On December 13, a meeting will be held at the Vatican on the theme: 'The future of Christians in the Holy Land'.

"The meeting, of a purely pastoral nature, was desired by the Holy Father himself, who, considering the delicate situation in the Holy Land, wishes to confirm, once again, his spiritual closeness to those populations and to share the drama of their daily existence, too often tested by acts of violence and discrimination.

"The meeting, which will bring together the leaders of the Catholic communities of different rites in the Holy Land and the presidents of various episcopal conferences, will offer the possibility to give witness to the solicitude of the entire Church for those Christians, in particular for the Catholic community, as well as to show the common commitment to the continuity of its millenarian presence in that region."

OP;CHRISTIANS; HOLY LAND;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20011128;Word: 170;

POPE EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR VICTIMS OF GAS EXPLOSION IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of this morning's weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, and greetings in different languages to the pilgrims present, Pope John Paul said he had "learned with great sorrow the news of the explosion yesterday which involved a building in the Montesacro neighborhood of Rome."

He added that "In this moment of pain, I am especially close to all those who have been struck by this tragic event; to them I express sentiments of comfort and affection. Let us together call upon the Lord to grant the eternal prize to those who lost their lives, with a special thought for the firemen who died while generously fulfilling their duty. Let us pray that there will be no lack of solidarity with the families who bemoan the loss of loved ones and who must face the serious discomfort following such a grave accident."

AC;CONDOLANCES; EXPLOSION; ROME;...;...;VIS;20011128;Word: 160;

GENERAL AUDIENCE: INVITATION TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS LOVE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2001 (VIS) - In today's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, John Paul II spoke on Psalm 116, an invitation to praise God for His love.

The Pope affirmed that this shortest of all the Psalms exalts "the covenant between God and His people, within a universal context," since it "is not addressed only to Israel, but to all the peoples of the earth. ... We could, therefore, speak of an 'ecumenism' of prayer, embracing all peoples with their different origins, histories and cultures."

"Israel, the chosen people," he continued, "has a mission to fulfill in this universal horizon. It must proclaim two great divine virtues it has experienced in living the covenant with the Lord." The first virtue is that of "profound sentiments between two persons, united by an authentic and steadfast bond. It embraces, therefore, values such as love, fidelity, mercy, goodness, tenderness." The second is "the 'truth', that is, the genuineness of a relationship, its authenticity and loyalty. ... The faithful love of God will never lessen and He will not abandon us to ourselves or to the obscurity of senselessness, of blind destiny, of emptiness, or of death."

The Holy Father emphasized that "God loves us with an unconditional love, which never tires, and which is never extinguished. This is the message of our Psalm, as brief almost as an ejaculation, but as intense as a great canticle."

"Let us praise, therefore, the Lord! Let us praise Him without tiring. Yet may our praise be expressed with our lives, before our words."

AG;PSALM 116;...;...;VIS;20011128;Word: 270;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Eurico dos Santos Veloso of Luz as metropolitan archbishop of Juiz de Fora (area 10,737, population 650,414, Catholics 520,300, priests 118, permanent deacons 1, religious 289), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Sanandira, in 1933, and ordained to the priesthood in 1962. He succeeds Archbishop Clovis Frainer, O.F.M.Cap., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese was accepted by the Holy Father, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Laurindo Guizzardi, C.S., of Bage, as bishop of Foz do Iguacu (area 7,062, population 408,000, Catholics 368,000, priests 34, religious 117), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Olivio Aurelio Fazza, S.V.D., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Philip Huang Chao-Ming, auxiliary of Kaohsiung, as bishop of Hwalien (area 8,144, population 603,487, Catholics 55,454, priests 48, religious 115), Taiwan. He succeeds Bishop Andrew Tsien Chih-ch'un, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Erected the diocese of Nnewi (area 662, population 614,822, Catholics 312,360, priests 77), Nigeria, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Onitsha, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Fr. Hilary Paul O. Okeke, vicar general of the archdiocese of Onitsha, as the first bishop of Nnewi. The bishop-elect was born in Utuh, in 1947, and ordained to the priesthood in 1974.

- Appointed Bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku of Bokungu-Ikela, as bishop of Basankusu (area 70,000, population 420,000, Catholics 170,485, priests 42, religious 43), Democratic Republic of the Congo.

- Appointed Fr. Valerian Okeke, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria, rector of the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, as coadjutor archbishop of Onitsha (area 2,968, population 1,558,714, Catholics 1,114,199, priests 298, religious 300). The archbishop-elect was born in Umudioka, in 1953, and ordained to the priesthood in 1981.

- Appointed as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Sao Paulo (area 1,645, population 8,899,790, Catholics 6,674,842, priests 871, permanent deacons 1, religious 3,446), Brazil: Msgr. Odilo Pedro Scherer, of the clergy of the diocese of Toledo, official of the Congregation for Bishops; Msgr. Benedito Beni dos Santos, vicar general of the diocese of Taubate; Fr. Jose Benedito Simao, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Sao Paulo, director of the faculty of Theology "Nossa Senhora da Assuncao." Bishop-elect Scherer was born in Sao Francisco, in 1949, and ordained to the priesthood in 1976. Bishop-elect Beni dos Santos was born in Lagoinha, in 1937, and ordained to the priesthood in 1962.

- Appointed Msgr. Tamas Szabo, director of the chancellery of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference, as military ordinary in Hungary. The bishop-elect was born in Zirc, in 1956, and ordained to the priesthood in 1988. He succeeds Bishop Gaspar Ladosci, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same military ordinariate the Holy Father accepted, in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Gaspar Ladosci as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest (area 1,543, population 2,094,000, Catholics 1,258,000, priests 388, permanent deacons 14, religious 1,009), Hungary.

NER; RE; ECE; NEA;...;...;...;VIS;20011128;Word: 500;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, apostolic nuncio in Algeria and in Tunisia.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20011128;Word: 50;

CARDINAL CLARIFIES REPORT QUOTING HIM ON MOSQUE IN NAZARETH

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the following communique was published by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Commission for Religious Relations with Jews, following his visit to Israel last week:

"Having learned what was reported by the Roman correspondent of the daily newspaper Ma'ariv's: 'The Vatican agrees for a mosque in Nazareth, but a small one', I desire to clarify that what was attributed to me does not correspond to the truth, as is clear from my declaration released at the conclusion of the meeting with the president of the State of Israel, Moshe Kazav: 'The construction of a mosque near the Basilica of the Annunciation does not contribute to the relations between Christians and Muslims. In case the mosque will have a big size, it will become a provocation'."

...;MOSQUE NAZARETH;...;KASPER;VIS;20011127;Word: 150;

COMMUNIQUE ON ANNOUNCED CLONING OF HUMAN EMBRYO IN U.S.

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the communique released yesterday afternoon by the Holy See Press Office regarding the announcement on Sunday in the United States of the successful cloning of a human embryo:

"The original article in the magazine 'The Journal of Regenerative Medicine', that the researchers of Advanced Cell Technologies published with the date of November 26, 2001, shows in all its dramatic nature the gravity of the event that has been realized: the in vitro production of a human embryo, as a matter of fact, several embryos, that have been developed, respectively, to the stage of two, four and six cells. This event was documented with clear color images from a scansion microscope, that point out the first phases of development of these human lives, which began not through the insemination of an egg with a sperm, but by activating eggs with nuclei of somatic cells.

"The authors repeated that their intention is not to give rise to a human person. But what is it that they, as scientists, call in their article 'early embryo', an embryo in its initial stages? Here we have the bioethical question of 'when does human life begin' returning once again as a topical matter, though in all truth, this is a question that has never abated. Beyond the scientific event, in fact, this remains as the object of contention, being beyond doubt - as indicated by the researchers themselves - that here we find ourselves facing human embryos and not cells, as some would have us believe.

"The event therefore, powerfully, brings us to repeat with force that the beginning of human life cannot be fixed by convention at a certain stage of development of an embryo; it exists, in reality,at the very first instant of existence of the embryo itself. This is understood more easily in the 'human' method of insemination between egg and sperm, but we must learn to recognize it also in the face of an 'inhuman' method, such as that of the reprogramming of a somatic nucleus in an egg cell; even with this method a new life can be created - as shown unfortunately in the experiment that was announced - a life that preserves, in any case, its dignity just as that of every human life brought into existence.

"Therefore, notwithstanding the declared 'humanistic' intentions of those who announce amazing cures through this method, that will go via the cloning industry, a calm but firm evaluation is necessary that will show the moral gravity of this project and motivate its unequivocal condemnation. The principle that de facto has been introduced, in the name of health and well-being, sanctions, in fact, a true and proper discrimination among human beings based on the measure of time of their development (thus an embryo is worth less than a fetus, and a fetus less than a child, a child less than an adult), overturning the moral imperative that imposes, instead, the greatest care and maximum respect precisely of those who are not in a condition to defend themselves and to show their intrinsic dignity.
"On the other hand, stem cell research shows that other paths are available, morally licit and valid from a scientific point of view, such as the utilization of stem cells that have been taken, for example, from an adult individual (there are many in each one of us), from maternal blood or from fetuses that were aborted spontaneously. This is the path that every honest scientist must follow to the end of reserving maximum respect for man, that is, for himself."

...;HUMAN EMBRYO CLONING;...;...;VIS;20011127;Word: 610;

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RECEIVE 2001 CHAMPIONS OF PEACE AWARD

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - During a concert last evening in New York City, Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, presented the 2001 Champions of Peace Award to the Knights of Columbus. He also presented the 2001 Servitor Pacis Awards to Msgr. Richard Albert of Jamaica, and Fathers Mark Raper, S.J. of Australia, and Manuel Jimenez Tejerizo of Colombia and Mrs. Alexi Torres-Fleming of New York.

The awards are given annually by the Path to Peace Foundation, which was established in 1991 in collaboration with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. The Foundation, whose president is Archbishop Martino, serves as a vehicle to promulgate to the international community the teachings of the Holy Father and of the Universal Church on important questions of morality, development, human rights and peace.

The Knights of Columbus received the award "in recognition of its exceptional service to the good of humanity." In presenting the awards, Archbishop Martino highlighted the "consistent" support given to the Holy Father and Holy See by the Knights of Columbus as well as "their uncompromising defense of the sanctity of human life and the family." The Servitor Pacis recipients were recognized "for their personal witness to the cause of peace through their extraordinary efforts at assisting those most in need."

DELSS;AWARDS; PEACE FOUNDATION;...;UN; MARTINO;VIS;20011127;Word: 230;

ARCHBISHOP TAURAN MEETS WITH FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, released the following declaration late yesterday afternoon:

"I can confirm that this afternoon Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, accompanied by Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio in Italy, met with former King of Afghanistan Zaher Shah, in his Roman residence.

"The meeting permitted Archbishop Tauran to renew the Holy Father's solicitude and the Holy See's willingness to help in favor of peace and the well-being of the Afghan people.

"They discussed the necessity of a negotiated peace and international solidarity for the rebuilding of the country, convinced that arms, by themselves, cannot bring peace and security.

"The sovereign also expressed words of heartfelt gratitude for the solicitude of the Pope and the Catholic humanitarian organizations."

OP;KING; AFGHANISTAN;...;TAURAN; NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20011127;Word: 150;

HOLY SEE OBSERVER ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the speech given on November 24 by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and head of the Holy See delegation to the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination. The conference was held in Madrid from November 23 to 25.

Archbishop Martin focussed his talk on educating young people in their faith and in respect for the faith of others. Noting that religion plays a central role in the lives of millions, he said that "religious education is a powerful instrument to help believers intensify their efforts towards the realization of the unity of the one human family, ... and a key factor in fostering understanding and tolerance among religious communities."

"Religious freedom," the archbishop affirmed, "constitutes a fundamental human right and can certainly be considered one of the cornerstones of the edifice of human rights, because it touches such an intimate sphere of human existence and personal identity, the relationship between the person and the Transcendent." This freedom, he added, also includes "the right of religious groups not to be prevented from freely demonstrating the special value of their teachings for the organization of society and the inspiration of human activity in general."

"Honestly addressing the tensions of the past," Archbishop Martin concluded, "generates a strong force for the construction of a different future and for the beginnings of a process of reconciliation and healing. The formation of future teachers should pay special attention to their ability to sensitively address divisive historical issues. Where necessary, school textbooks and curricula should be revised to remove harmful or unbalanced presentations of other religious traditions and historical events."

DELSS;RELIGIOUS FREEDOM;...;MADRID; MARTIN;VIS;20011127;Word: 280;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences two prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jose Rafael Barquero Arce of Alajuela.
- Bishop Hector Morera Vega of Tilaran.

AL;...;...;... ;VIS;20011127;Word: 50;

POPE WELCOMES ANGLICAN-ROMAN CATHOLIC WORKING GROUP

VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed members of the new Anglican-Roman Catholic Working Group, who are in Rome for their inaugural meeting. He told the bishops, who had met in London with Archbishop Carey of Canterbury, that "We cannot but praise the God of all mercies for the many genuine advances of ecumenism."

Reviewing the history of Anglican-Catholic dialogue, he recalled the 1966 meeting between Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey that led to the first Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC). He spoke of his own visit in 1982 to Canterbury when he and Archbishop Runcie established the second ARCIC, and of the 1996 meeting between himself and Archbishop Carey when they issued a Common Declaration. "That Declaration," he stated, "foreshadowed last year's International Meeting of Anglican and Catholic Bishops in Mississauga, Canada, were it was decided to establish the new Working Group."

The Pope told the bishops they "are especially well qualified to consider the next practical steps which might be taken not only to consolidate the gains already made but also to lead us to new depths of communion on the way to that fullness of unity which is the will of Christ. ... It is clear that disunity has impaired our mission in the world. In these troubled times, the world needs more than ever the common witness of Christians in every area, from the defense of human life and dignity to the promotion of justice and peace."

"When discouragement threatens or new difficulties arise," he declared, "we need to focus once more upon the Spirit's power to do what seems to us impossible. At times of apparent pause we must wait for the Holy Spirit to do what we ourselves cannot do."

AC;ANGLICAN-CATHOLIC MEETING;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 300;

MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's Message for the 39th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which will be celebrated on April 21, 2002, the fourth Sunday of Easter, on the theme "The vocation to holiness." This annual Message was published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese. Below we offer extracts from the text:

"The main task of the Church is to lead Christians along the path of holiness, so that, illuminated by the intelligence of faith, they may learn to know and contemplate Christ's face and to rediscover in Him their own authentic identity and the mission that the Lord entrusts to each of them."

"Since the Christian Community is the place where all the various vocations raised up by the Lord express themselves, in the context of the World Day of Prayer ... the Third Continental Congress for vocations to ordained ministry and to consecrated life in North America will be held."

"Every vocation in the Church is at the service of holiness. Some however, such as the vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life, are at the service of holiness in a thoroughly unique manner. It is to these vocations that I invite everyone to pay particular attention today, by intensifying their prayers for them."

"The small number of candidates to the priesthood and consecrated life reported in some situations today, must not lead us to expect less and settle for a mediocre formation and spirituality. Rather, it should urge greater attention to the selection and the formation of those who, once constituted ministers and witnesses of Christ, will be called upon to confirm with holiness of life, what they announce and celebrate.

"It is necessary to adopt all means to ensure that vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, essential for the life and holiness of God's People, are continuously at the center of spirituality, of pastoral action and of the prayer of the faithful.

"May Bishops and priests be, first of all, witnesses to the holiness of the ministry they have received as gift. ... May consecrated men and women ... show that their existence is firmly rooted in Christ. ... Let us not forget that the strength of every vocation lies in the love for contemplation, in the joy of serving others, in chastity lived for the Kingdom of Heaven and in the generous devotion to one's own ministry!

"Families are called to play a decisive role for the future of vocations in the Church. The holiness of marital love, the harmony of family life, the spirit of faith with which the problems of daily life are confronted, openness towards others, especially towards the poorest, and participation in the life of the Christian community form the proper environment for their children to listen to the divine call and make a generous response."

"May the Lord of the harvest provide many holy priestly and religious vocations for His Church! Holy Father, look upon this humanity of ours, that is taking its first steps along the path of the Third Millennium. Its life is still deeply marked by hatred, violence and oppression, but the thirst for justice, truth and grace still finds a space in the hearts of many people, who are waiting for someone to bring salvation, enacted by You through Your Son Jesus."

MESS;DAY PRAYER VOCATIONS;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 560;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Entrusted the charge of pontifical legate for the solemn dedication of the new cathedral church of Tirana, Albania, to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state. The sacred rite will take place on January 26, 2002.

- Appointed as consultors of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue: Msgr. Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, Vietnamese, of the International Center of Missionary Activity, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Fr. Marco Gnavi, secretary of the Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue of the Vicariate of Rome; Fr. Pierre Masri, professor at the University of Balamand, Lebanon; Fr. Louis Sako, of the Chaldean rite, pastor of Mossul of the Chaldeans, Iraq; Fr. Hanna Kildani, of the Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem, pastor of Fuhais, Jordan; Fr. Angelo Amato, S.D.B., professor at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome; Fr. Giovanni Bosco Masayuki Shirieda, S.D.B., former under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue; Fr. Michel Fedou, S.J., professor at the Centre Sevres, Paris; Fr. Ignatius Ismartono, S.J., secretary of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, Episcopal Conference of Indonesia; Fr. S. Michael S.V.D., director of the Center for Indian Culture and Inter-religious Dialogue, Bombay, India; Fr. Kieran O'Reilly, superior general of the Society of African Missions, Rome; Fr. Pietro Sonoda, O.F.M. Conv., provincial superior, Buddhism expert, Japan; Sr. Bruno M. Colin, O.S.B., president of Inter-religious Monastic Dialogue, Belgium; Sr. Lorraine Delaney, superior general of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, Rome; Sr. Catherine Jarra, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, counsellor of the Project for Christian Muslim Relations in Africa, Banjul, Gambia; Sr. Teresa Seow, Canossian, member of the Inter-religious Organization, Singapore; Dr. Julius Lipner, professor at Cambridge University, Great Britain; Dr. Jean-Paul Messina, professor of Church History and Inter-religious Dialogue, Catholic University of Yaounde, secretary of the Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue, National Episcopal Conference of Camerun; Dr. Donna Orsuto, professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

NA;...;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 350;

CHARITY TRANSLATED INTO EDUCATION TO PEACE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II received this morning in the Vatican Basilica the participants in an encounter promoted by Italian Caritas, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and in a conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

The Pope expressed his desire that the work of Caritas in the parishes be spread and multiplied, and that charity grow and be "translated into education to inter-cultural dialogue, to global vision, to peace, striving to effectively affect the territory."

"A globalized charitable action," he said, "is needed, which supports the development of the 'little ones' of the earth. If you are close to every situation of poverty, beginning with the recurring national and international emergencies, you can ensure that the poor feel, in every community, at 'home'. ... This involves educating not only individual believers, but the entire community to become together 'subject of charity', ready to be the neighbor of those in need."

The Holy Father also briefly greeted the participants in the conference organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family on the theme "'Familiaris Consortio' in its 20th year: anthropological and pastoral dimensions." This conference closes today. The Pope expressed the desire that "the reflections which have emerged in the course of the work contribute to illuminating consciences on the importance of the family and on its mission in our time."

AC;CARITAS ITALY; FAMILY;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 240;

SANCTITY: LIVING ORDINARY THINGS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the pilgrims who participated in yesterday's canonization of Blesseds Giuseppe Marello, Paula Montal Fornes de San Jose de Calasanz, Leonie Francoise de Sales Aviat, and Maria Crescentia Hoss.

In his speech, the Pope recalled that only eight years have passed since the beatification of Giuseppe Marello, bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph. "A further miraculous sign - the healing of two children in Peru - permitted the earthly crowning of his journey of sanctity."

"In the concrete circumstances of her time, which was never easy," the Pope continued, referring to St. Paula Montal Fornes de San Jose de Calasanz, virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, religious of the Pious Schools, "she perceived the role of the woman in the family and society and dedicated herself to an ideal: the human and Christian education of the woman."

Addressing the professors and educators, Daughters of St. Leonie de Sales Aviat, virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the Holy Father exhorted them, through their work, to give to youth "the human and Christian values necessary for their maturation, through an integral formation and the witness of your life."

Maria Crescentia Hoss, virgin, nun of the Third Order of St. Francis, "already in her time, was a support for others, and advised them to have recourse to the Holy Spirit, from whom we and the Church have received and continue to receive important graces."

The Holy Father concluded by emphasizing that sanctity "does not consist in achieving exceptional undertakings, but in living ordinary things in an extraordinary way, that is to say, with all the love possible."

AC;CANONIZATIONS;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 310;

ANGELUS: PRAY TIRELESSLY FOR THE GIFT OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2001 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass this morning in St. Peter's Basilica, during which he canonized four Blesseds, Pope John Paul appeared at his study window to recite the noon Angelus with the pilgrims gathered in the square.

He reflected on today's Solemnity of Christ the King, saying that "The Church invites us to contemplate the kingliness of the Redeemer, which emerges with particular eloquence in the lives of saints. This morning, in the basilica, I had the joy of proclaiming four new ones. ... Their witness shows that the Crucified One truly 'lives and reigns forever and ever'. Yes, He is 'the living one', 'the Lord', and reigns in the lives of men and women of every place and time, who freely welcome Him and faithfully follow Him."

The Holy Father added that, "Measured by the criteria of the world, the kingliness of Christ seems, so to speak, paradoxical. The power that He exercises, in fact, isn't part of earthly logic. It is, on the contrary, the power of love and service, which calls for the free gift of oneself and a coherent witness to truth."

In closing reflections, John Paul II told the faithful: "We must pray tirelessly to obtain the great gift of peace, a gift that mankind needs so very much. We will invoke this gift with trust, even with the two initiatives I announced last Sunday: the day of fasting in December and the prayer encounter in Assisi in January with the representatives of the world's religions. May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for us before her Son, immortal King and Lord of peace."

ANG;PEACE; CHRIST KING;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 270;

JOHN PAUL II CANONIZES FOUR BLESSEDS FROM EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 25, 2001 (VIS) - Today, solemnity of Christ the King, the Pope celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and canonized Blesseds Giuseppe Marello (1844-1895), Paula Montal Fornes de San Jose de Calasanz (1799-1889), Leonie Francoise de Sales Aviat (1844-1914) and Maria Crescentia Hoss (1682-1744).

Speaking of St. Giuseppe Marello, Italian bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph, the Holy Father emphasized the "fullness of grace, inspired in him by intense devotion to Mary Most Holy; fullness of the priesthood, which God conferred upon him as both gift and commitment; fullness of sanctity, which he attained by conforming himself to Christ, the Good Shepherd. ... From St. Joseph he was strongly attracted to hidden service, nourished by a profound interior life. He instilled this style in the Oblates of St. Joseph."

The Spaniard, St. Paula Montal Fornes de San Jose de Calasanz, virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, religious of the Pious Schools, was committed, the Pope said, "to diverse apostolic activities and entered, with prayer and with sincere piety, into the mysteries of God; subsequently as foundress of a religious family, she dedicated herself to the promotion of the woman and the family." Her message "is always current and her educational charism is a source of inspiration in the formation of the generations of the third Christian millennium."

St. Leonie Francoise de Sales Aviat, virgin, French, foundress of the Sisters Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, "at the center of her commitment and her apostolate, placed prayer and union with God, from which she drew light and strength to overcome trials and difficulties, and until the end of her life persevered in this journey of faith. ... The resolution which so well characterized Mother Aviat, 'to forget myself entirely', is also for us a call to go against the current with respect to egoism and easy pleasures, and to open ourselves to the social and spiritual necessities of our time."

Referring, in conclusion, to St. Maria Cresentia Hoss, virgin, German, nun of the Third Order of St. Francis, the Pope highlighted her "capacity to confront - in the name of the Gospel - the great difficulties of her time. This saint had to bear sorrows and suffer the pressures which marked her epoch. She endured intrigues in her own community, without doubting her vocation."

HML;CANONIZATIONS;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 400;

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERDENOMINATIONAL BIBLE TRANSLATION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, in the Room of Popes, John Paul II welcomed leaders of the Universal Biblical Alliance, representatives of editors and members of Italian Churches and ecclesial communities on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the publication of the volume "The Lord's Word, the New Testament, Interdenominational Translation in Common Language."

"This important Biblical and ecumenical initiative," he said, "has reached praiseworthy goals, which went well beyond the hopes of those who conceived it and started out twenty-five years ago. The publication of an interdenominational translation in common parlance is an initiative of major ecumenical importance enacted in Italy."

The Pope then underscored how "The work of a translator is always a difficult art." He added that "A good translation is based on three pillars that must contemporaneously support the entire work. First, there must be a deep knowledge of the language and the cultural world at the point of origin. Next, there must be a good familiarity with the language and cultural context at the point where the work will arrive. Lastly, to crown the work with success, there must be an adequate mastery of the contents and meaning of what one is translating."

"You wished to make the text comprehensible to modern readers, using words and forms of everyday language," the Holy Father said. "I recall that it was precisely this translation of the Bible that was used during World Youth Day in Rome in August of 2000."

AC;BIBLE TRANSLATION;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 250;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Three prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Roman Arrieta Villalobos of San Jose de Costa Rica, with Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Troyo Calderon.
- Bishop Ignacio Nazareno Trejos Picado of San Isidro de El General.
- Cardinal Eugenio de Araujo Sales, archbishop emeritus of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro.

On Saturday, November 24, he received in separate audiences:

- Two prelates of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Elias Samuel Bolanos Avelar of Zacatecoluca.
- Fr. Luis Morao, O.F.M., apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the military order of El Salvador.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston.

AL; AP;...;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 130;

HOLY SEE CONDEMNS IN VITRO CLONING OF HUMAN EMBRYO

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2001 (VIS) - In response to the article published by the researchers of Advanced Cell Technology in "The Journal of Regenerative Medicine" that announced the in vitro production of a human embryo, the Holy See Press Office released a communique this afternoon that states, in part: "The (Journal) article shows in all its dramatic nature the gravity of the event that has been realized: the in vitro production of a human embryo, as a matter of fact, several embryos, that have been developed, respectively, to the stage of two, four and six cells."

"Notwithstanding the declared 'humanistic' intentions of those who announce amazing healings through this method," the communique affirms, "a calm but firm evaluation is necessary that will show the moral gravity of this project and motivate its unequivocal condemnation."

The communique in its entirety will be published tomorrow.

OP;CLONED HUMAN EMBRYOS;...;...;VIS;20011126;Word: 150;

RECONCILIATION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST OF PRIMARY CONCERN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2001 (VIS) - The pope received this morning in the Clementine Hall the participants in the international symposium promoted by the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the entering into force of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

John Paul II recalled that the symposium emphasized "the necessity to intensify fraternal relations with other Christians and, in particular, with the Orthodox Churches. ... I hope that the journey of reconciliation between the East and the West is for you a constant and primary concern, as it is for the bishop of Rome."

The Holy Father mentioned his apostolic trips to Greece, Syria, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Armenia, and affirmed that in these he saw "fulfilled the vows of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council, which considers the ecclesiastical and spiritual patrimony of the Eastern Churches as a good of the entire Church. Precisely to safeguard and promote the specificity of this patrimony, on October 18, 1990 I promulgated the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which entered into force in October of the following year."

AC;CODE EASTERN CHURCHES;...;...;VIS;20011123;Word: 200;

JOHN PAUL II PROFILES THE PARISH PRIEST

VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today received participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy, which is meeting in the Vatican on the theme "The Priest, Pastor and Guide of the Parish Community."

In his speech to the congregation members, the Pope stressed that only an ordained priest can be appointed as a valid pastor and that parishioners may collaborate but may never take a priest's place. He also underscored the importance, in a pastor's life, of good preaching, of the vital nature of the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist and keeping holy the sabbath, of teaching the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and of not allowing canonically approved consulting bodies to go beyond their duties as consultants to a pastor.

Remarking that "the priest in persona Christi celebrates the Sacrifice of the Mass and administers the Sacraments," the Holy Father then affirmed: "For a parish to have a priest as its own pastor is of fundamental importance. The title of pastor is one specifically reserved to the priest. The Sacred Orders of priesthood represent, in fact, for (the priest) the indispensable and necessary condition to be appointed as a valid pastor. Other faithful may actively collaborate with him, even full time, but, as he has received the ministerial priesthood, they can never take his place as pastor. ... The ecclesial community absolutely needs the ministerial priesthood to have Christ Head and Pastor present in it."

John Paul II emphasized that "Christ is present in the Church in an eminent way in the Eucharist, source and culmination of ecclesial life. He is truly present in the celebration of the Mass, as well as when the consecrated bread is kept in the tabernacle."

Then, turning to the importance of keeping holy the sabbath, he quoted his 1998 Apostolic Letter "Dies Domini": "'Among the many activities of a parish, none is so vital or as community-forming as the Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and His Eucharist'. Nothing will ever take its place."

"Where there are no priests," declared the Pope, "with faith and perseverance, prayers must be offered, beseeching the Lord for numerous and holy vocations. ... It would be a fatal error to resign ourselves to the current difficulties and behave as if we must prepare the Church of tomorrow, envisioned as deprived of priests. In this way the measures adopted to remedy the current lacks would end up being, despite every good intention, seriously detrimental for the ecclesial community."

"The parish is a privileged place for the proclamation of the Word of God," said the Pope. A pastor should "have great personal familiarity with the Word of God" and should try to be as efficacious as possible in his preaching ministry.

"The collaboration of others, who are not ordained to the priesthood," he concluded, "is to be hoped for and is often necessary." However, "they must be faithful to their proper function as consultants" and care must be taken that no office or person "deprive the parish priest of his authority."

AC;PARISH PRIESTS;...;...;VIS;20011123;Word: 460;

EL SALVADOR: THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY MUST BE BUILT ON PEACE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the prelates of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador, at the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit.

The Pope began his discourse speaking of peace and justice: "You well know," he said to the bishops, "that the future of the country must be built on peace, the fruit of which is justice. ... Help to build a society which favors agreement, harmony and respect for the person and for his fundamental rights. With your word, courageous and timely, and keeping in mind the needs of the common good, you must encourage everyone, beginning with those responsible for the political, administrative and judicial life of the nation, to promote better living and working conditions."

After emphasizing "the diligence, the moral force and the spirit of sacrifice of Salvadorians in the face of adversity," which was fully revealed after hurricane Mitch, and the earthquakes which struck the country this year, the Holy Father said that even though "external assistance is necessary," Salvadorians "must be the protagonists and the principle craftsmen of the reconstruction of the country."

"To give new impulse and vigor to evangelization," the Pope continued, "must be the primary objective of your pastoral work. ... The means of social communication used today must be used also to evangelize and catechize. ... I encourage you, then, to develop these means in order to place them at the service of spreading the Gospel."

The Pope affirmed that the bishops must encourage priests, their "direct collaborators," to "be men of regular and frequent prayer" and to be close to them "in order that they see you as authentic fathers and teachers. ... Offer them the best means to continue their formation and develop the virtues necessary to their mission, to confront with serenity and courage the difficulties that can arise."

Following this, John Paul II emphasized the need to promote the practice of Sunday Mass, "because in the process of strengthening the faith, the Eucharist is the privileged moment for encounter with the living Jesus Christ."

"One of the urgent necessities of our time, as I highlighted in the Apostolic Letter 'Novo Millennio Ineunte'," the Pope continued, "is attention to the family," in the face of the "serious dangers that currently threaten it: the breakdown of the matrimonial bond, the scourge of abortion, the contraception mentality, moral corruption, infidelity and domestic violence, factors which endanger the family, the fundamental unit of society and the Church." The Holy Father expressed his hope that youth who enter into marriage and families as well would receive a good formation "in order that they overcome the pressures of a culture contrary to marriage and the familial institution."

The Holy Father concluded his discourse by exhorting the Salvadorian prelates to "intensify efforts in the formation of an adult laity, who collaborate actively in the life and mission of the Church" and to help the youth "who in their situation are more easily exposed to the dangers and seductions of easy and illusive paths. Present to them, in all of their authenticity and richness, the great ideals of the Christian life and spirituality, in order that they may learn the values and norms of conduct most adapted to confronting the challenges of the present."

AL;...;...;EL SALVADOR ;VIS;20011123;Word: 570;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences three prelates of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Eduardo Alas Alfaro of Chalatenango.
- Bishop Miguel Angel Moran Aquino of San Miguel.
- Bishop Jose Adolfo Mojica Morales of Sonsonate.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AL; AP;...;...;... ;VIS;20011123;Word: 70;

POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "ECCLESIA IN OCEANIA"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2001 (VIS) - Published today, along with the full text of Pope John Paul's Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Oceania," was an official summary of the papal document in English, Italian and French. Following are excerpts from that summary:

"The document is, therefore, an instrument of the papal post-synodal Magisterium which sets forth in an ordered manner the fruits of the work of the special synodal assembly and provides particularly applicable pastoral teaching to assist the Church in Oceania in her work of evangelizing all ' Church members and others ' in the Pacific region."

"'Ecclesia in Oceania' is mainly composed of four chapters based on the elements in the formulation of the synod theme: 'Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: Walking His Way, Teaching His Truth, Living His Life'. ... Through the Holy Spirit, the Father calls believers'individually and in community'to walk the way that Jesus walked, to tell all nations the truth that Jesus revealed, to live fully the life that Jesus lived and continues to share with us now' (8). The Holy Father has also chosen to introduce each chapter with Scriptural icons, indicative of Oceania and its peoples who are scattered, for the most part, on innumerable islands in a vast expanse of water and are dependent on the sea for food and travel."

"The document's brief Introduction (1-2) is Oceania's song of praise to God at the beginning of the New Christian Millennium and a proclamation of hope in Jesus Christ for the future as a result of the many gifts of peoples which the region and its peoples have received in the past through 'God's infinite goodness in Christ' (1), not the least, the Christian Faith brought by missionaries to the region."

"The Scriptural passage of Christ's call of Peter and Andrew as they were casting their nets by the sea of Galilee (cf. t 4: 18-20) introduces Chapter I, entitled 'Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania'. ... The Holy Father, therefore, insists, that 'Christ is now calling the Church to share in his mission with new energy and creativity, requiring the Church in the region to search 'appropriate ways of presenting to the peoples of Oceania today Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. What follows is a brief theological explanation of the Person of Jesus Christ, 'Shepherd, Prophet and Priest', ... the call to mission, ... the history of the faith in the region and the rich, vibrant diversity of the Peoples of Oceania. ... The Holy Father states that not to be forgotten in presenting Christ is the variety of cultures in Oceania, a fact which requires a 'careful discernment to see what is of the Gospel and what is not, what is essential and what is less so (7) and a consideration of 'the worldwide process of modernization which has effects both positive and negative'."

"Chapter II, 'Walking the Way of Jesus Christ in Oceania (10-17), begins with the Biblical passage of the call of James and John to discipleship as they were mending their nets near their father Zebedee's boat (cf. Mt 4:21-22), and treats Church 'communio', its effects and challenges in the Pacific region. ... After the explanation of the concept of Church 'communio', the chapter proceeds to illustrate the various examples of 'communio', that is, the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Oceania, the unity of the episcopal college, the unity of the local Churches and the unity of the universal Church. Quoting again Pope Paul VI on the subject, the Holy Father augurs: 'May we always find ways to support one another in our united efforts to build up the Church and to live out this communion in service and faith'. These words are given practical form in the chapter's treatment of episcopal conferences ' national and regional ' and the presence of Eastern Churches in the region."

"The emphasis in the initial part of Chapter II on 'communio' logically gives way in the latter part to the subject of mission in which 'the present generation of Christians is called and sent now to accomplish a new evangelization among the peoples of Oceania ...', a mission which involves many challenges 'to reach out to those who live in unfulfilled hopes and desires, to those who are Christians in name only, and to those who have drifted away from the Church, perhaps because of painful experiences'. Above all, 'the Synod Fathers wanted to touch the hearts of young people'. ... The Holy Father concludes Chapter II with the reminder, 'to guide the process, fidelity to Christ and the authentic Tradition of the Church is required'.

"Chapter III, 'Telling the Truth of Jesus Christ in Oceania' (18-35) opens with a citation from the Gospel of Luke, 5:1-3, in which Christ uses Simon's boat to teach the crowd. Relating this image to the Church's charism to teach, the Holy Father emphasizes that the truth of 'the Gospel must be heard in Oceania ...A new evangelization is needed today so that everyone may hear, understand and believe in God's mercy destined for all people in Jesus Christ'."

"The entire group of agents of evangelization is to proclaim the truth of Christ in the particularly challenging areas in Oceania, that is, 'traditional religions and cultures and...the modern process of secularization'; 'the media of social communications'; 'catechesis, instruction and formation in the faith'; 'the work of ecumenism'; 'fundamentalist religious groups and movements' and 'interreligious dialogue'. This proclamation of truth is not only in words but in actions. The Holy Father points out, therefore, that 'the Church regards the social apostolate as an integral part of her evangelizing mission to speak a word of hope to the world; and her commitment in this regard is seen in her contribution to human development (26), her promotion of human rights (27), the defense of human life and dignity (30), social justice (28) and protection of the environment (31)'. The chapter concludes with a treatment of the Church's 'remarkable contribution' in Oceania in the fields of education (32-33), health care (34) and social services (35).

"The Biblical icon introducing Chapter IV, 'Living the Life of Jesus Christ in Oceania', is the account of the miraculous draught of fish (Lk 5:4-7), whose note of abundance aptly convokes the treatment of the Spiritual and Sacramental Life of the Church (36-52), in which 'living in Christ implies a way of life made new by the Spirit' (36). The Holy Father points out in this chapter that the Synod Fathers 'emphasized the fundamental importance for the Church in Oceania of prayer and the interior life in union with Christ ... and recognized the need to give fresh impetus and encouragement to the spiritual life of the faithful' (37)."

"'Each personal vocation is a call to share in the Church's mission; and, given the needs of the new evangelization, it is especially important now to remind lay people in the Church of their particular call' (43); to youth, praying that 'they always be drawn to the overwhelmingly attractive figure of Jesus, and stirred by the challenge of the Gospel's sublime ideals!' (44); to married couples and families, who 'will always need the concerted pastoral care of the Church' (45); to women who need to be provided with opportunities to 'offer their gifts more abundantly in service of the Church's mission' (46); and to new ecclesial movements, 'a sign of the times' (47) in the region, asked to 'work within the structures of the local Church in order to help build up the 'communio' of the Diocese in which they find themselves' (47).

"The section concludes with a treatment of the ordained ministry and the consecrated life. ... The Holy Father points out that 'the promotion of vocations is an urgent responsibility of every Catholic community'(48) and that 'each bishop is responsible for the formation of the local clergy in the context of the local culture and tradition' (48). While praising priests for 'their ongoing fidelity and commitment' (49), the Holy Father also reminded them that 'every priest needs unceasing conversion and openness to the Spirit in order to deepen his priestly commitment in fidelity to Christ' (49), particularly in priestly celibacy and the 'communio' of the 'presbyterium'. ... The Holy Father also notes that the 'permanent diaconate has been introduced in some dioceses of Oceania, where it has been well received' (50) and that 'faithful to the charisms of the consecrated life, congregations, institutes and societies of apostolic life have courageously adjusted to new circumstances, and have shown forth in new ways the light of the Gospel'(51).

"In the conclusion of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation 'Ecclesia in Oceania' (53), the Holy Father, recalling that Our Lady is revered in Oceania under the titles of Our Lady of Peace and Help of Christians, invokes the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church with a lengthy prayer."

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POPE PROMULGATES AND TRANSMITS APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2001 (VIS) - During a special ceremony celebrated this morning in the Vatican, the Holy Father promulgated and transmitted by e-mail the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Oceania." Participating in the ceremony were various cardinals, bishops, priests, and religious invited by the Synod of Bishops.

After a brief introduction by Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, and remarks by Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams, archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, John Paul II signed the exhortation and gave a discourse.

"I would have wished," the Pope said, "to visit Oceania once again, in order to present the fruits of the Synod's work. ... But it was not to be! ... In you I see the boundless ocean glimmering in the sun, ... the islands great and small. ... But most of all I see in you the peoples who are the true wealth of Oceania: the Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian peoples in their wonderful array; the Aborigines of Australia; the Maoris of New Zealand; the many immigrant peoples who have made Oceania their home."

During the Synod, which was held at the Vatican in 1998, he said, "we looked back upon the story of evangelization in Oceania, and gave thanks to the Father of all mercies for the magnificent work of the early missionaries. ... We heard the story of the remarkable development of the Church in your lands. ... The Synod rejoiced at the countless signs of holiness and justice present among the peoples of Oceania, a pledge of the springtime of faith for which we yearn and work.

"But," he continued, "we recognized too that the many challenges facing the peoples of Oceania at this time are summoning the Church to engage the Pacific peoples and their cultures with renewed vigor and conviction. The Synod heard of the economic crises, political instability, corruption, ethnic conflicts, ... of a genuinely spiritual crisis of meaning. ... Yet the bishops were in no way daunted by all of this. On the contrary, it became clearer ... that the Holy Spirit is calling the Church in Oceania to embark upon the great task of a new evangelization."

After highlighting that spirituality and the experience of communion flow forth "from the profundity of contemplation," as the bishops also recalled, John Paul II concluded with the hope that the Church in Oceania "give proof of ingenuity and an ever greater courage while setting out anew into the depths of the Pacific."

Following his discourse, the Pope distributed the document to those present and for the first time transmitted it by e-mail, in English and French, to all of the dioceses of Oceania. After a song by the choir and the concluding prayer, the Holy Father imparted the apostolic blessing.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the request of Cardinal William W. Baum for resignation from the charge of major penitentiary for reasons of age and health. He appointed Bishop Luigi De Magistris, regent of the same apostolic penitentiary, as major pro-penitentiary of the same, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop.

- Appointed as members of the Congregation for Bishops Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See, and Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, apostolic nuncio.

- Appointed as ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Prof. Paul Kirchhof, ordinary professor of public law and director of the Institute of Financial and Fiscal Law at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Two prelates of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Rodrigo Orlando Cabrera Cuellar of Santiago de Maria.
- Bishop Romeo Tovar Astorga of Santa Ana.
- Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet, apostolic nuncio in Greece.
- Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris.

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AUDIENCE: CHRIST FREES US WITH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - In today's Wednesday general audience, which took place in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father spoke of the Canticle to the victory of the people of Israel who, "in a humanly desperate situation," were freed by God after crossing the Red Sea.

"The Canticle," stated the Pope, "does not speak only of liberation obtained but it also indicates the positive effect, which is none other than entering into God's dwelling place to live in communion with Him." The event of the Red Sea "becomes the 'symbol' of the entire history of salvation ... and prefigures the great liberation that Christ will realize with His death and resurrection."

John Paul II stated that this liberation "will reach its fullness at the end of time" when "the event that the Exodus prefigured and Christ's Easter fulfilled in a definitive way, will be fully realized, open, however to the future."

"As days add on to days, there is no fatality that oppresses us, but rather a plan that unfolds and that our eyes must learn to read (events) as one reads a watermark."

The Pope concluded by recalling that "this hymn of victory does not express man's triumph, but God's triumph. It is not a hymn of war, it is a hymn of love. Allowing our days to be pervaded by this sigh of praise of the ancient Jews, we walk on the paths of the world, not without deceit, risks and suffering, with the certainty of being wrapped in the mysterious glance of God: nothing can resist the power of His love."

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HOLY SEE ON REFUGEES, RETURNEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke yesterday before the Third Committee of the General Assembly on Item 114, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions.

"In recent weeks," the archbishop stated, "our attention is so strongly drawn to Afghanistan, although the refugee crisis involving millions of Afghans has been going on for over twenty years. The latest reports from the office of the High Commissioner tell us that more than 3.5 million Afghan refugees have sought refuge in Pakistan and Iran." Quoting Pope John Paul, he noted that the problem of refugees "'is a world emergency which does not allow us to forget that in other parts of the world there continue to be conditions of great and compelling need'."

"What can be done to alleviate or solve the world's refugee problem?" the nuncio asked. "In the short-term, the answer must lie in protecting refugees by providing security, humanitarian assistance, ... and practical relief to those in need of food, water, clothing, shelter, and basic health care."

Archbishop Martino pointed out that "Today the fastest growing group of 'people on the move' are displaced persons who do not cross borders, but are adrift inside their own country. ... But the world has been slow to acknowledge their painful plight."

"It should be abundantly clear," he affirmed, "that the recognition of human dignity and the protection of human rights imply that short-term aid to refugees and internally displaced persons is necessary but not sufficient. The building of more just and peaceful societies, the lack of which is the main cause of population displacements, must become the goal. As on other occasions, the Holy See expresses its commitment to participate in this common task."

"My delegation," concluded Archbishop Martino, "would like to pay tribute to those states that have been courageous enough to welcome refugees and did not remain indifferent in the face of this global problem."

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TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY FOR CLOISTERED SISTERS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience catechesis in Italian, and summaries in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German, Pope John Paul greeted the pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall in these and several other languages.

"I offer a warm welcome," he said in English, "to the participants in the Rome study visit organized by the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. May your experience of Christian Rome be a source of enrichment for you and for your work in the service of reconciliation and unity between Christ's followers. I also greet the clergy of the Church of Norway, taking part in a study tour."

The Holy Father then noted that "today, the liturgical memory of the Presentation of Mary Most Holy in the Temple, we are celebrating the Day for Cloistered Sisters. To those sisters called by the Lord to contemplative life, I wish to assure my special closeness and that of the entire ecclesial community. At the same time I renew my invitation to all Christians so that they will give cloistered monasteries the necessary spiritual and material support. We owe so much, in fact, to these persons who have consecrated themselves entirely in unceasing prayer for the Church and the world!"

He concluded by saying he was "profondly saddened by the recent news of the brutal killing of four journalists in Afghanistan. I express heartfelt condolences to their families and to all those who have been struck by this dramatic event. Let us entrust to the Lord's mercy the souls of the deceased and, for them and for all the other victims of violence, let us now pray together the Our Father."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Pedro Barreto Jimeno, S.J., pastor and superior of the Community of Tacna, as apostolic vicar of Jaen en Peru (area 32,572, population 365,000, Catholics 346,000, priests 34, permanent deacons 1, religious 106), Peru. The bishop-elect was born in Lima in 1944, and ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He succeeds Bishop Jose Maria Izuzquiza Herranz, S.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Gave his assent to the election, canonically carried out by the Synod of Bishops of the Antiochean Church of the Syrians, meeting in Charfet, Lebanon from September 11 to 15, 2001, of Chorbishop Antoine Chahda, apostolic exarch of the Syrians in Venezuela, to the archiepiscopal see of Aleppo of the Syrians. This see was made vacant by the transfer of Archbishop Raboula Antoine Beylouni to Beirut as patriarchal vicar. The archbishop-elect was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1946, and ordained to the priesthood in 1973.
- Erected the diocese of Dundo (area 103,000, population 700,000, Catholics 70,000, priests 7, religious 9), Angola, with territory taken from the diocese of Saurimo, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Church of Luanda. He appointed Fr. Joaquim Ferreira Lopes, O.F.M.Cap., counsellor of the Angolan vice-province of the Capuchin Fathers, as the first bishop of Dundo.

- Appointed Fr. Martin S. Jumoad, administrator of the territorial prelature of Isabela (area 1,359, population 301,195, Catholics 80,430, priests 15, religious 44), the Philippines, as bishop of the same prelature. The bishop-elect was born in Kinasang-am, the Philippines in 1956, and ordained to the priesthood in 1983.

- Appointed Fr. Martin Werlen, O.S.B., prefect of the Maria Einsiedeln boarding-school as well as prefect of studies and professor of psychology at the theological school of the Monastery of Maria Einsiedeln, Switzerland, as ordinary abbot of the territorial abbacy of Maria Einsiedeln (area 1, population 85, Catholics 85, priests 45, permanent deacons 1, religious 83). The abbot-elect was born in Brig in 1962, and ordained to the priesthood in 1988.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland.

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THEOLOGICAL-PASTORAL CONGRESS ON THE FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - A theological-pastoral congress will be celebrated in the Vatican from November 22 to 24 on the theme "'Familiaris consortio' in its 20th year: Anthropological and pastoral dimensions."

The congress, organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation "Familiaris Consortio," will be inaugurated by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Speakers will include Bishop Francisco Gil Hellin and Msgr. Francesco Di Felice, respectively council secretary and under-secretary, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico, Archbishop Carlo Caffara of Ferrara-Comacchio, Italy and Archbishop George Pell of Sydney, Australia.

A communique announcing the congress states that there will be six round tables that will examine more closely the following themes: "'Familiaris consortio' during 20 years, revisited by several couples from around the world"; the statute of the embryo; institutes of the family and life; responsible procreation and natural methods; sex education and demographics today.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2001 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Paolo Bertoli, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, former camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, on November 8, at the age of 93.
- Archbishop Jose Newton De Almeida Baptista, emeritus of Brasilia, Brazil, former military ordinary for Brazil, on November 11, at the age of 97.
- Archbishop Agostino Baroni, M.C.C.I., emeritus of Khartoum, Sudan, on November 10, at the age of 95.
- Bishop Tarcisio Sebastiao Batista Lopes, O.F.M.Cap., emeritus of Ipameri, Brazil, on November 7, at the age of 63.
- Bishop Tomas Roberto Manning, O.F.M., emeritus of Coroico, Bolivia, on November 9, at the age of 79.
- Bishop Walfrido Teixeira Vieira, emeritus of Sobral, Brazil, on November 9, at the age of 79.

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POPE TO CANONIZE FOUR BLESSEDS SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2001 (VIS) - On Sunday, November 25, the Solemnity of Christ the King, at 9:30 a.m., the Pope will celebrate Mass in the Vatican Basilica during which he will canonize four blesseds.

The future saints are: Giuseppe Marello (1844-1895), bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph; Paula Montal Fornes de San Jose de Calasanz (1799-1889), virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, religious of the Pious Schools; Leonie Francoise de Sales Aviat (1844-1914), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; and Maria Crescentia Hoss (1682-1744), virgin, nun of the Third Order of St. Francis.

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ENSURE POSITIVE SPIRITUAL CONTENT IN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2001 (VIS) - The Pope received today in audience 450 participants in the world congress promoted by OCIC and UNDA, the international Catholic organizations for cinema, television, and radio, which is being held in Rome from November 19 to 27.

John Paul II expressed his pleasure that the members of the International Catholic Association for Radio and Television (UNDA) and the International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisuals (OCIC), are preparing to merge in a few days to form SIGNIS, the new international Catholic organization for all audiovisual media.

"It is my hope," he said, "and yours too I am sure, that SIGNIS will expand and make ever more effective the work which your two organizations have undertaken for the past seventy years, the work of evangelizing in and through the communications media, proclaiming the Lord's saving Gospel in the world of cinema, radio, television and, most recently, internet."

The Holy Father emphasized that "SIGNIS must continue to create new audiences for Catholic programming and work with other involved bodies to ensure that positive religious and spiritual content is not lacking in the various media productions."

"People spend enormous amounts of time absorbed in media consumption, particularly children and adolescents. An important part of your work, therefore, is to teach wise and responsible media use. This means setting high standards not for the general public alone but also for the leaders of the communications industry. It means bringing people to a keen awareness of the great influence that the media has in their lives. It means monitoring the quality of content and promoting constructive dialogue between media producers and consumers."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Marcel Utembi Tapa, vicar general of Mahagi-Nioka (area 18,490, population 1,137,399, Catholics 579,661, priests 71, religious 60), Democratic Republic of the Congo, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Luma in 1959, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984. He succeeds Bishop Alphonse-Marie Runiga Musanganya, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

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CLONING IS MORALLY AND ETHICALLY UNACCEPTABLE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the U.N., addressed the Sixth Committee on the International Convention Against the Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings. He repeated the Holy See's unequivocal position, "that calls for the rejection and prohibition of any and all aspects relating to the cloning of humans on a moral and ethical basis."

He stated that "those born as a result of cloning would begin life as an anomaly in terms of the relationship with parents and relatives through an act of predetermination which is at the same time deliberate and arbitrary in relation to their corporeity. The ethical and juridical consequences which will arise from this act would contaminate and desecrate the future of humankind."

He referred to a meeting of the United States Academy of Science last summer where "experts made the explosive proposal to initiate the practice of cloning for reproductive purposes as a technique of assisted procreation for couples who are unable to conceive a child naturally, or by using other recognized methods. ... Those attending that meeting ... rejected the use of cloning at a scientific level as a dangerous adventure, with serious risks and predictable failures."

Archbishop Martino reiterated the Holy See position on cloning, noting that it had been set forth in a June 1997 document by the Pontifical Academy for Life entitled "Reflections on Cloning," which "provided a moral and ethical argument for the rejection of all aspects of human cloning." He added that this opposition by the Holy See is derived "first and foremost from anthropological and ethical reasons. ... In fact, this discussion is based upon the generation of a child outside the act of personal love. Such an act excludes paternity and maternity and is an asexual and agamic conception, thus resulting in a lack of union between the person and the gametes."

"Science," said the nuncio, "must be free from every form of abuse and every form of submission to the interests of any party."

The archbishop stated that "Therapeutic cloning, the production of human embryos as suppliers of specialized stem cells, embryos to be used in the treatment of certain illnesses and then destroyed, must be addressed and prohibited. This exploitation of human beings, sought by certain scientific and industrial circles, and pushed forward by underlying economic interests, retains all its ethical repugnance as an even more serious offence against human dignity and the right to life, since it involves human beings (embryos) who are created in order to be destroyed."

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JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES THE BISHOPS OF MYANMAR

VATICAN CITY, NOV 17, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today welcomed the bishops of Myanmar, and told them that he wished "to honor the witness given by Christ's faithful in ... Myanmar, a land where the Church in her early years knew martyrdom, and still today lives close to the Cross of the Savior."

"On your 'ad limina' visit," he continued, "you bring with you the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments, not only of the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care but of the people of Myanmar as a whole. The difficulties include widespread poverty despite the abundant resources of the land, and limits placed on fundamental rights and freedoms. These problems are in many ways aggravated by isolation, which is all the more harmful when interaction between peoples and between nations is increasing and growing more complex by the day. Moreover, these are troubled times in the world, when a deep and unexpected turmoil has gripped the international community. In this situation the Church's pastors must be all the more concerned to remain close to their people and lead them in the path of the Gospel."

"In this task we are guided by the Lord Himself," the Holy Father stated. "In contemplating the face of Christ, you and your people will find the strength to live the humility, poverty and even solitude of your situation not as a burden but as an evangelical virtue, uplifting and freeing." He reminded them of "the special presence of Christ in the poor," saying "this requires the Church to make a preferential option for them."

He counselled the bishops of Myanmar (formerly Burma) "to be resolute in following the path of evangelical freedom, which is the path of ever deeper obedience to Christ" because "when we submit to the power of Christ, our obedience is actually liberating."

"To live in this way," Pope John Paul said, "is to be drawn into that love which is the heart of the 'spirituality of communion' to which bishops are called." He highlighted the need for bishops "to live an affective and effective collegiality with the Successor of Peter and the episcopate throughout the world," to be "closer to priests" and "to collaborate with consecrated Religious and the lay people, to embrace with a particular love the poor and oppressed."

The Pope closed by stressing the need for a new evangelization, and for "fresh pastoral efforts" where everyone plays a role. He assured them that "the key to success is proper training at every level, especially for your priests."

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RIGHT EXERCISE OF POWER PROMOTES PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL GOOD

VATICAN CITY, NOV 17, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, John Paul II received the participants in the 16th International Conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, on the theme: "Health and Power."

In his discourse the Pope emphasized that "in health care, as in every area, the exercise of power has good results when it promotes the integral good of the person and of the entire community."

The Holy Father affirmed that "In the world of health, different kinds of power interact: from economic and political power to that linked to means of communication, from professional power to that of the pharmaceutical industries and of national and international organisms." If, on the one hand "the immense possibilities which exist for bettering service to life and health are emphasized, on the other hand, the risk is highlighted of power exercised in a way which does not respect life and mankind."

"In the face of a widespread culture of indifference and, sometimes, of disdain for life, before the unscrupulous search for predominance by some over others, with the consequent marginalization of the poor and the weak, it is more than ever necessary to offer sound criteria so that power in the world of health is placed in every situation at the service of the dignity of the human person and the common good.

"I welcome the opportunity," the Pope continued, "to make an urgent appeal to those in this important field who hold roles of responsibility so that, in a spirit of constructive collaboration, they will work to promote an effective culture of solidarity, taking account of the conditions of those who live in countries marked by worrying material, cultural, and spiritual poverty.

"In this sense, I make myself the spokesman of every sick and suffering person, as well as of the peoples wounded by poverty and violence, so that a future of justice and solidarity arises for them as well and for all of humanity."

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THE WORLD NEEDS THE UNITED WITNESS OF CHRISTIANS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 17, 2001 (VIS) - The participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning, who thanked them for their work and further encouraged them, stating that "More and more it is becoming clear that the world needs the united witness of Christians."

"In truth and love," the Pope addressed them in English, "these could be the words which express the essence of your study and discussions during these days, as you have sought to take stock of the progress made in recent times in ecumenical dialogue. I hope that my Message at the beginning of your meeting will have confirmed for you that for the Bishop of Rome and for the Catholic Church the movement towards visible communion of all Christ's followers is not merely an appendix of the Church's activity, but an essential feature of her life and mission."

"You are joined," said John Paul II, "by representatives of the American Episcopalian Communities in Europe who are in Rome for their annual convention.

"Dear friends, I greet you and thank you for your presence. Among you are a number of young people, a sure sign of hope that the search for Christian unity will be carried out by a new generation of men and women committed to making a reality of the Lord's prayer: 'that all may be one'."

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