BISHOPS OF MALAWI RECEIVED AT END OF "AD LIMINA"

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 1999 (VIS) - Pope John Paul received the bishops of Malawi today, as they concluded their "ad limina" visit, and recalled that they are preparing not only for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, but also for the centenary of the founding, in 1901, of the first Catholic mission at Nzama.

Since that time, he said, "the Church herself is increasingly involved in the life of the nation, insisting upon the need for solidarity and civic responsibility and urging dialogue and reconciliation as the way to solve tensions. ... It is also widely recognized that the Church has played an important role in Malawi's transition to democratic government."

The Holy Father added that "the one basis for a democratic society is a right vision of the human person and of the common good. Unless a society builds upon this truth, then it is like a house built upon sand: It cannot stand."
"The challenges to Christian life and service are many and demanding in a situation of widespread poverty, ... and where there is a weakening of moral and ethical conviction, giving rise to many social ills, including corruption and attacks upon the sanctity of human life itself.

"In light of this," he went on, "there is a need to provide the faithful with solid programs of evangelization and catechesis. aimed at deepening their Christian faith and understanding."

The Holy Father affirmed that proper catechesis, supported by Bible study and "a clear exposition of doctrine as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, ... will ensure that lay men and women are secure in their faith and prepared to fulfill its demands in all circumstances, ... especially Christian marriage and family life. ... Catholics will also be able to respond to the objections raised with increasing frequency by the followers of sects and new religious movements" and to better their "dialogue with the followers of African traditional religion and Islam."

"I encourage your efforts to ensure a more effective formation for your seminarians and priests. ... No less important than the training of future priests is the permanent formation of those already in Holy Orders." He exhorted them to nurture in priests "pastoral dedication and zeal for ministry, moral discipline and upright behavior, detachment from worldly possessions and attitudes (and) readiness to give themselves completely in service to others."

"The need for lifelong formation also applies to men and women religions," he concluded. "The witness offered by consecrated men and women can transform society and its ways of thinking and acting."

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HOLY SEE: SATISFACTION FOR THE ARAB-ISRAELI AGREEMENT

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Today, September 5, 1999, in his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father John Paul II received in audience Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority.

"On the same occasion, President Arafat also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.

"In the course of the meeting, President Arafat explained the contents of accords that have been reached concerning application of the Wye Plantation Agreement, signed together with his Israeli counterpart at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

"The Holy See, in expressing its satisfaction and its hopes in the results attained, has not failed to encourage the parties to continue the process they have begun, underlining the importance that peace holds for the two peoples.

"Finally, gratification was expressed for the desire to arrive at the signing of an accord between the Holy See and the PLO on a number of juridical questions concerning the presence and activity of the Catholic Church in territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences six prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Chad, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Charles Vandame S.J., of N'Djamena.
- Bishop Matthias N'Garteri Mayadi of Moundou.
- Bishop Michele Russo M.C.C.I., of Doba.
- Bishop Edmond Jitangar of Sarh.
- Bishop Rosario Pio Ramolo O.F.M., of Gore.
- Bishop Miguel Angel Sebastian Martinez M.C.C.I., of Lai.

Yesterday, Sunday September 5, he received in audience Archbishop Patrick Coveney, apostolic nuncio in New Zealand, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, Naurau and Kiribati; apostolic delegate in the Pacific.

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POPE TO RECEIVE ARAFAT ON SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 3, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority, will be received by His Holiness John Paul II on Sunday September 5, after the angelus prayer in Castelgandolfo.
"Thereafter Mr. Arafat will also be received by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano".

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CARDINAL CASTILLO LARA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD

VATICAN CITY, SEP 3, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter, written in Latin and dated July 30, from the Holy Father to Cardinal Rosalio Jose Castillo Lara S.D.B., former president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, for the celebration tomorrow, September 4, of the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

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