OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 9, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Giuseppe Verucchi of the clergy of Modena-Nonantola, Italy, pastor of the parish of Fiorano, as archbishop of Ravenna-Cervia (area 1,185, population 210,252, Catholics 203,000, priests 129, permanent deacons 5, religious 325), Italy, The bishop-elect was born in Miceno di Pavullo, Italy, in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1961. He succeeds Archbishop Luigi Amaducci, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Francois Maupu, vicar general of Orleans, France, as bishop of Verdun (area 6,216, population 190,000, Catholics 170,000, priests 118, permanent deacons 8, religious 114), France. The bishop-elect was born in Neuville-aux-Bois, France, in 1939 and ordained a priest in 1964.

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MAN IS CALLED TO CONVERSION AND PENANCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Today, Ash Wednesday, the general audience held in St. Peter's Square took the form of a penitential liturgy. Following readings from the Bible and the catechesis in Italian, the Pope imposed ashes on some members of the faithful and, finally, extended greetings in various languages.

John Paul II stated that "Mankind, every person, is called to conversion and to penance and is drawn to friendship with God that they may be gifted with the supernatural life that fills the deepest desire of their hearts.

"In receiving ashes on our heads, we are today reminded that we are dust and to dust we will return." During this rite, he said, "an invitation resounds for believers not to let themselves be tied by material reality which, however significant it may be, is destined to perish. Rather, they must allow themselves to be transformed by the grace of conversion and penance in order to reach the challenging and peaceful heights of supernatural life."

The Holy Father highlighted that "the Jubilee door is open to all! May all enter who are oppressed by guilt, who recognize their unworthiness; may all enter who feel as dust dispersed by the wind; may the weak enter and the distrustful, to draw renewed strength from the Heart of Christ.

"Today," he continued, "the imposition of ashes is accompanied by the traditional practice of abstinence and fasting. These are not mere external observances, ritual fulfillments of duty, but eloquent signs of a necessary change of life. ... Through fasting and penance, the believer is asked to renounce legitimate material goods and satisfactions in order to acquire greater interior liberty."

John Paul II asked of God "that, in this Jubilee Lenten season, all Christians may deeply feel the obligation to seek reconciliation with God, with themselves and with their fellow man. This is the path that must be followed to achieve the longed for full communion between all Christ's disciples."

In his greetings to pilgrims, the Pope addressed a large group from the Italian federation "Women: Arts, Professions, Business" who have come to Rome to celebrate Women's Day: "To all the world's women, on this their day, I happily reiterate my cordial best wishes. May women, thanks to growing social recognition of their specific contribution to the common good, find ever greater expression of the richness of their 'genius,' thus bringing about their true promotion."

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES LEAVES FOR MOZAMBIQUE TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will visit Mozambique from March 9 to 12 in order to give assurance of John Paul II's "spiritual closeness" to the people affected by the recent floods.

On Friday March 10 in Maputo, Archbishop Cordes will meet members of foreign aid organizations who collaborate with Mozambique Caritas to save those stricken by thirst and disease. On the same day he will also meet governmental authorities.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, Archbishop Cordes will visit the areas affected by the disaster: Xai-Xai, Inhambane and the area south of Beira and north of Maputo. He will present a donation from the Pope and the Committee for the Great Jubilee.

Caritas organizations in various countries have sent, thus far, $1,650,000 to help the people of Mozambique.

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1999: "COR UNUM" DISTRIBUTES $29.5 MILLION FOR PAPAL CHARITIES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Papal charities in 1999 totalled $29.5 million, according to the annual report, released today, of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," the curial office responsible for organizing, collecting and distributing financial assistance to the needy in the Holy Father's name. As the third and final year of preparation for the Great Jubilee, 1999 had been denominated "The Year of Charity."

The report, entitled "Together with the Pope to Witness to the Love of Christ for Those Who Suffer in Spirit and Body," also underscored that, in 1998, a total of $189.6 million in aid had been given to particular Churches by ecclesial bodies or persons not directly linked with the pontifical council. This amount includes aid money directly given by the Holy Father to bishops from needy dioceses during his meetings with them, by ROACO (acronym for the Meeting of Works of Assistance the Eastern Churches) and by the three Pontifical Missionary Works (Propagation of the Faith, St. Peter Apostle and the Society of the Holy Childhood).

Cor Unum, whose president is Archbishop Paul Cordes, earmarked the following sums for papal charities: $1.2 million for populations struck by calamities and natural disasters; $555,000 to support projects of human and Christian promotion (work for the handicapped, youth formation, support for rural populations, aid to orphans, building chapels, schools and social centers, etc); $20 million for the "100 Projects of the Holy Father," a series of micro-projects which in realty number over 200; over $400,000 from the "Bread for Charity" project, which began in 1998 in Italy, for special projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Sudan; $1.7 million from the "Popolorum Progressio" Foundation to finance 215 micro-projects for indigenous populations of Latin America and $5.5 million given by the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel. These last two foundations operate within the sphere of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum and were founded by Pope John Paul II (Popolorum Progressio in 1992 and the Sahel Foundation in 1984).

The report highlighted the generosity of more well-to-do dioceses towards those in need, and noted that often "twinning" occurs when the dioceses which give and those which receive aid become "sister dioceses."

It also noted that in December 1999 the Pontifical Council produced, in both book form and CD-ROM, the fifth edition of the Catholic Aid Directory. This is a catalogue which lists the names and pertinent information of over 1,100 international or national organizations, associations and institutions which work in the field of charity.

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MARCH 12: DAY OF REQUEST FOR PARDON

VATICAN CITY, MAR 7, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in the Holy See Press Office, the International Theological Commission's document entitled "Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past" was presented during the course of a press conference. Taking part in the event were Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger and Roger Etchegaray, Bishop Piero Marini, Fr. Georges Cottier O.P. and Msgr. Bruno Forte.

Making reference to the forgiveness requested by the Pope for the faults, past and present, of the sons and daughters of the Church, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000, stated that "a penitential act, however public it may be, must not appear as a form of spectacular self-flagellation, nor must it be considered from on high with a certain morbid curiosity."

He continued: "Only those who deeply love the Church are capable of clearly and forcefully examining her. Those on the outside are at risk of not understanding the religious meaning of a penitential act."

Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith explained that the document was written by the International Theological Commission, over which he presides. Created by Paul VI in 1969, the commission collaborates with the Holy See, especially with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Its 30 members, who work in communion with the Magisterium, come from different theological schools throughout the world.

The theme of today's document was suggested by Cardinal Ratzinger who appointed the sub-commission that studied the question. After various rounds of debate and exchanged opinions this body gave its definitive ruling. Once approved, the text was submitted for approval to the president who then informed the Holy Father of the result. The cardinal made it clear that the document is not part of the Magisterium.

Bishop Marini, master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies, spoke about the Holy Year 2000 Day of Pardon which will take place on Sunday, March 12 and will coincide with a eucharistic celebration by the Pope and the cardinals in the Vatican Basilica. This day, said Bishop Marini, "was expressly desired by the Holy Father as a powerful sign of the Jubilee Year which, by its nature, is a time of conversion."

"Consequently, the liturgy of request for pardon from God for the sins committed by Christians over the centuries is not only legitimate, but the most appropriate form to express penance and to obtain purification."

Bishop Marini listed the admissions of fault already made by Pope Paul VI and, on various occasions, by John Paul II during his pontificate:
Paul VI (1964): Confession of faults in general: purification of memory and commitment to true conversion.

John Paul II:

1. Faults committed in the service of truth: intolerance and violence against dissidents, wars of religion, violence and abuses of the crusades, coercive methods of the Inquisition.
2. Faults that have compromised the unity of the Body of Christ: excommunications, persecutions and divisions.
3. Faults committed in the area of relations with the people of the First Alliance, Israel: disdain, acts of hostility, silences.
4. Faults against love, peace, the rights of peoples, the respect of cultures and of other religions, committed in the course of evangelization.
5. Faults against human dignity and the unity of the human race: towards women, different races and ethnic groups.
6. Faults in the area of fundamental rights of individuals and against social justice: the downtrodden, the poor, the unborn, social and economic injustices, marginalization.

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