GENERAL AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The theme of today's general audience celebrated in St. Peter's Square, was "Knowing the Father.'" The Pope said that "we can know God as Father on different levels, according to our perspective and the aspect of the mystery contemplated."

The Holy Father explained that "there is a natural knowledge of God from creation. This leads us to recognize in Him the origin and transcendent cause of the world and the human person." However, "it is not possible to know the depths of divine fatherhood, but only as God himself shows himself."

"In the events of the history of salvation what reveals itself more and more is the initiative of the Father who, with his interior action, opens the hearts of believers to welcome his Incarnate Son. Knowing Jesus, they will be able to know the Father also."

John Paul II said that "knowing the Father means, then, finding in him the source of our being and our unity as members of one family, but it also means being immersed in a 'spiritual' life, the same life of God."

"The proclamation of the Son," he concluded, "continues to be, therefore, the royal road to know the Father and to make Him known. ... God is the one Father of all, wishing to offer salvation to all through the work of His Son. It is what St. John's Gospel calls the gift of eternal life."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Osorio Bebber O.F.M. Cap., prelate of the territorial prelature of Coxim, as bishop of Joacaba (area 10,202, population 256,800, Catholics 220,000, priests 37, religious 88), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Henrique Muller, O.F.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Joacaba was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Luc J. Matthys as bishop of Armidale (area 115,000, population 168,564, Catholics 40,553, priests 34, religious 68), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Drongen, Belgium, in 1935, was ordained a priest in 1961, and since 1998 has been dean and pastor of Melbourne cathedral.
- Accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Hilarion Capucci B.A., apostolic visitor for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Western Europe, on having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Bishop Enzo Dieci, auxiliary for Rome for the northern pastoral sector, together with Fr. Tommaso Pacini, O.C.D., pastor of the parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Panfilo, and a parish curate.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
- Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, secretary general for the Synod of Bishops.

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POPE WILL TRAVEL TO ROMANIA FROM MAY 7 TO 9

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 1999 (VIS) - The following is the entire text of a communique made public today concerning the Holy Father's forthcoming trip to Romania, scheduled for May 7-9. The communique was signed by representatives of the Romanian presidency and government, by the patriarchate of the Romanian Church and by the Catholic Church.

"Following an exchange of letters between His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Rumanian Orthodox Church, and His Holiness John Paul II, and the subsequent meeting on March 15, 1999, of official representatives of the presidency and government, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, on the occasion of the visit by Holy See special envoy, Fr. Roberto Tucci, S.J, to Bucharest, it is announced that the Holy Father's visit to Romania will take place from May 7 to 9, 1999.

"The Holy Father's main engagements will be the following:

"Friday May 7: Official welcome at Bucharest's Baneasa airport, followed by a time of prayer at the Patriarchal Cathedral. On this first afternoon, the Supreme Pontiff will meet the Romanian Catholic episcopate. In the evening, there will be a visit to the Cotroceni Palace, where His Holiness will meet with the president of the Republic and other dignitaries.

"Saturday May 8: After a time of prayer at Belu Catholic cemetery, there will be Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral. In the afternoon, His Holiness John Paul II will meet His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist and some members from the Holy Synod, after which there will be a reception for the Holy Father at the Patriarchal Palace.

"Sunday May 9: A meeting will be held with the prime minister in the morning. There will then be a Mass with His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist and members of the Holy Synod, in the presence of His Holiness John Paul II. In the afternoon, the Supreme Pontiff will preside at the celebration of Catholic Mass, in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist. In the evening, there will be the official farewell ceremony for John Paul II at Bucharest's Baneasa airport.

"We hope that the Pope's visit be a sign of joy and hope for the Romanian people and for our churches, with ecumenical dialogue in view of bringing about the unity desired by Christ."

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