PONTIFICAL COUNCIL PUBLISHES DOCUMENT ON SHRINES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - On Tuesday May 25 at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, there will be a conference to present the document, "The Shrine. Memorial, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God," which was prepared by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerary Peoples.

Those scheduled to participate include Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Francesco Gioia, respectively president and secretary of the pontifical council, and Crescenzio Sepe, secretary general of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee.

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CHILDREN, THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE JUBILEE OF FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Family is preparing the Jubilee of Families which will take place in Rome on October 14-15, 2000 within the framework of the Third World Meeting of the Holy Father with Families.

A note from the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee indicates that, in keeping with the theme chosen by the Pope, "Children, The Springtime of the Family and of Society," this event will be the occasion to deal with the relationship of children with parents and with the social environment, as well as to analyze the problems of abuse, exploitation and violence against minors.

On Saturday, October 14, prayer meetings will be held for families on pilgrimage, both in the jubilee basilicas and in a number of national churches in Rome. In St. Peter's Square on the same afternoon, there will be a meeting of testimony and celebration of the families with the Pope. On Sunday morning, also in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II will preside at a celebration of the Eucharist during which he will administer the sacrament of marriage to 12 couples from different countries in representation of all the continents.

On October 12, 13 and 14, in the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas an international theological-pastoral congress will take place on the theme chosen for the Jubilee of Families. About 1,200 people are expected to attend, including family representatives, delegates and experts.

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BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, A MORAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the Forum of Spiritual Leaders on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which he called "the preeminent instrument to bring about the complete elimination of nuclear weapons."

Speaking at U.N. headquarters about the preparations for the 2000 Review of the NPT, he said that "despite all the difficulties, ... the Holy See never wavers from what it has said on several occasions: 'Nuclear weapons are incompatible with the peace we seek for the 21st century. They cannot be justified. They deserve condemnation. The preservation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty demands an unequivocal commitment to their abolition. ... This is a moral challenge, a legal challenge, and a political challenge. That multiple-based challenge must be met by the application of our humanity'."

The archbishop pointed out that the 1995 extension of the NPT was accompanied by a Program of Action "which called for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). ... Since then the CTBT has been signed by 152 States, but its ratification by the requisite number of States and hence entry into force is far from certain."

The Holy See observer went on to list some of the signs of lack of progress in the NPT process: delayed negotiations for a fissile ban; barely discernible "'systematic' progress in nuclear disarmament"; "START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) is not yet in force"; "nuclear testing by new States"; "continued high military spending in virtually every region of the world"; "resurgence of militarism in the resolution of the dispute over Kosovo and the continued intransigencies in Iraq"; and "the many conflicts ravaging Africa."

"Enormous human suffering, atrocities and forced deportations of peoples are an unacceptable scourge," affirmed Archbishop Martino. "The gross violations of human rights and human dignity are intolerable and must be stopped. There can never be peace in the world while such injustices abound."

He added that "while militarism of all kinds must be checked, the abolition of nuclear weapons is the prerequisite for peace in the 21st century. ... Therefore, the present difficulties must be overcome.

"In order for the 'road map' to be clearer," the archbishop remarked, "the Holy See favors a new set of 'Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament' to be adopted by the 2000 Review," suggesting that these "should reinforce the political accountability that is critical to the vitality and viability of the NPT process."

In concluding remarks, he stressed that "the activities of believers in the field of disarmament are a blessing and a service to humanity."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in the Philippines.
- Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio in Bangladesh. - Six prelates from the Kenya Episcopal Conference on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Bishop Boniface Lele of Kitui.
- Bishop Philip Anyolo of Kericho.
- Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich, military ordinary.
- Bishop Maurice Anthony Crowley, S.P.S. of Kitale.
- Bishop Norman King'oo Wambua of Bungoma.
- Bishop Luigi Locati, vicar apostolic of Isiolo.

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HOLY FATHER GIVES THANKS FOR CHURCH'S GROWTH IN KENYA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 1999 (VIS) - The members of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, in Rome for their quinquennial "ad limina" visit, were welcomed by the Pope this morning who, in his talk to them, expressed "gratitude to the Lord of the harvest" for "the vigor and vitality of the Church in Kenya as she continues to increase."

He noted that, since their last such visit, "two new dioceses have been erected and an apostolic vicariate established." Kenya's 6.6 million Catholics comprise 20 percent of the total population.

The Holy Father highlighted the bishops' "praiseworthy concern for the spiritual and religious welfare of your people in the context of the overall political, social and economic situation of your country." He said "this has immediate repercussions in the lives of the faithful, indeed of all Kenyans."

He then spoke of the diocesan- and parish-level initiatives "which provide effective forums for presenting the Church's social teaching. In fact, the healthy social order to which the citizens of Kenya aspire calls for a renewed moral and political culture of responsibility. ... Without a solid moral foundation no citizenry would be capable of properly exercising its political functions. Only in prudence, justice, temperance and courage can the choices be made ... which are truly conducive to the well-being of the nation."

John Paul II pointed to today's changing societies which "present Catholics with challenges for the living out of their Christian commitment, especially in the area of family life." He urged the prelates to "place a high priority on the pastoral care of families," encouraging the faithful "to be steadfast in embracing the ideals of Christian marriage and family life."

Turning to "the Church as God's family," and quoting the final document from the African synod, the Pope stated: "The new evangelization ... will aim at 'building up the Church as Family, avoiding all ethnocentrism and excessive particularism, trying instead to encourage reconciliation between different ethnic groups, favoring solidarity and the sharing of personnel and resources among the particular Churches, without undue ethnic consideration."

He said "this concept must be an integral part of all formation within the Church," that of the laity, especially youth and catechists, of seminarians and those committed to the consecrated life, and the continuing formation of priests. When the laity understand that "they belong to the Church and the Church belongs to them," and are committed to this," it "will help Catholics to avoid being lured away from the practice of their faith by other religious traditions and by the sects which are becoming ever more numerous in Kenya."

John Paul II spoke of the formation of seminarians, saying: "Care must be taken to avoid imparting models of the priesthood which are too clerical or authoritarian in nature, with the result that future priests find it difficult to work closely with lay people and to acknowledge their role and talents. ... The parish priest remains the leader, but he cannot - and should not - do everything himself."

The Holy Father exhorted the bishops to be close to their priests, particularly those "who may be faltering in fidelity to their vocation, and you must never tire of insisting that ministerial priesthood is not a profession or a means of social advancement. Rather, it is a sacred ministry. The Gospel demands that bishops should deal promptly, frankly and resolutely with any situation which scandalizes the flock or weakens the credibility of the Church's witness."

He dedicated closing remarks to praising both the work of members of institutes of religious and apostolic life, and the generosity of missionaries and catechists.

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