OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Durango, Mexico, presented by Archbishop Jose Trinidad Medel Perez, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: THANKSGIVING FOR THE GIFT OF CREATION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2002 (VIS) - Psalm 147, "Jerusalem re-edified", was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general audience celebrated this Wednesday in St. Peter's Square.

The Holy Father explained that this psalm refers to the Word of God, "that 'runs swiftly' over the face of the earth, but also to the Eucharist, true "flower of wheat", given by God to 'satisfy' man's hunger."

He went on to say that in this psalm, "there are three moments of praise, introduced by an invitation raised to the holy city, Jerusalem, to glorify and praise its Lord. In the first moment, we see the historic action of God," who protects the city of Sion and its sons and daughters.

The Pope emphasized that in the second part of the psalm, "God is presented, above all, as creator. The work of creation is related to the divine word twice," which is the "origin of the cold and heat, of the seasons and the flow of the life of nature. Humanity is invited to recognize and to give thanks to the Creator for the fundamental gift of the universe, which surrounds them, allows them to breathe, feeds and sustains them."

In the third and final moment of the hymn of praise, "the divine word brings to Israel a gift even higher and more beautiful, that of the law, of revelation. ... The Bible is the treasure of the chosen people which must be turned to with love and faithful adherence."

"Just as there are two glorious actions of God in creation and history, there also exist two revelations: one membership in the same nature which is open to all, the other is the gift to the chosen people, who must bear witness to it and transmit it to all of humanity, and which is found in Sacred Scripture. Two distinct revelations, but there is one God and one Word."

After the summaries of the catechesis and greetings in several languages, the Holy Father thanked the directors of Daimler Chrysler who presented him with the gift of a popemobile which will be inaugurated on the occasion of the 17th World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, at the end of the July.

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