OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Daniel Francis Walsh of Las Vegas, U.S.A., as bishop of Santa Rosa (area 30,320, population 745,138, Catholics 141,792, priests 118, permanent deacons 18, religious 148), U.S.A.

- Msgr. Abdou Yaacoub as adjunct promoter of justice at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.

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HOLY SEE DELEGATE SPEAKS ON CRIME PREVENTION

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2000 (VIS) - Msgr. Dominique Rezeau, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in Vienna, addressed the 10th U.N. Congress on Crime Prevention and the Treatment of Delinquents, which is taking place in Vienna from April 10 to 17.

Msgr. Rezeau remarked that "while the oft-mentioned globalization offers formidable opportunities to the inhabitants of our planet to communicate, to better understand one another and to help one another, it also broadens the field of action and the means of those who place human genius in the service of evil and profit from the exploitation of their fellow human beings."

He identified trafficking in people, especially women, young people, illegal emigrants and the defenseless, as one of the transnational crimes to be combatted internationally, calling it a "sordid commerce." Another crime, he added, is forced emigration. This Congress, he stressed, must look not only at how to prevent such crimes, but must give "due attention to their economic, social and cultural causes."

Msgr. Rezeau observed that the blossoming of such crimes occurs where human rights and human dignity are not respected. Political and institutional leaders must "strengthen - in public opinion, in the media and in social institutions - the values of morality and legality. Without them, Conventions, Declarations and the most sophisticated juridical bodies serve no propose."

In addition to educating and re-awakening consciences, he stated, there must be aid for the victims of transnational organized crime, the organizers and executors of such crimes must be pursued and punished "on all levels," and "programs must be established which aim at the protection and rehabilitation of victims."

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FREEDOM OF RELIGION MUST BE GUARANTEED FOR ALL

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, Holy See permanent observer to the Offices of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva, Switzerland, spoke on April 6 at the 56th session of the Human Rights Commission on Point 11, "Religious Intolerance."

In his speech in French, made public today, the archbishop highlighted "the Holy See's commitment to guaranteeing the legitimate freedom of believers, Christians and non-Christians, to be able to follow the path of their conscience, adhere to the religion of their choice and to publicly profess their faith, without discrimination or segregation, by freely belonging to an organized religious community. On many occasions Pope John Paul II has recalled that religious freedom is the most intimate of rights, indeed the heart of human rights, which makes other personal freedoms possible."

He said that "the Catholic Church does not ask for privileges, but rather claims the freedom necessary, which every citizen should enjoy, to live her religious life and contribute to the development of society."

"If a concern exists," said Archbishop Bertello, "it is seeing the discrepancy between the theoretical acceptance of these principles ... and respecting them in practice."

Highlighting the Catholic Church's activities in the field of inter-religious dialogue, the Holy See observer noted that "respecting each other's convictions is an irreplaceable value in favoring meetings between persons of different beliefs." He recalled the Holy Father's "forceful" words during a March 23 inter-religious meeting in Jerusalem: "Religion is not and must not be an excuse for violence, in particular when religious identity coincides with cultural or ethnic identity. Religion and peace go together!"

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HOLY SEE DELEGATE TO ATTEND QUALITY IN TOURISM MEETING

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization, will represent the Holy See at the fourth meeting of the Committee for Promoting Quality in Tourism to be held in Madrid, Spain on April 12 and 13.

According to a communique from Msgr. Monni's office, the primary interest of this meeting "is to promote a tourism which respects human values and the dignity of the person, and which always represents a real occasion for encounter, knowledge and dialogue." Msgr. Monni, scheduled to speak on Thursday, April 13, will focus on "the need for a continual 'ethical attention' in the sphere of tourism activity."
Some of the themes which will be discussed by the participants include: the impact of tourism on society and the discussion of possible ways to apply the World Code of Ethics for Tourism; preventing sex tourism involving exploitation of minors; security and protection in tourism; norms and quality certifications.

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POPE CALLS FOR TESTIMONY TO CHRIST'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II received a large group of pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Aversa, Gorizia, Cesena, Ischia and Molfetta, as well as members of the Capitolino Camper Club and of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Cascia and Regello which is based at Florence, Italy.

The Pope encouraged the faithful from Aversa to remain faithful to the Gospel and added, "I know of your intense pastoral activity in all areas of evangelization. I am also aware of your praiseworthy efforts to be close to the weakest and most forgotten elements of society, especially unemployed youth and poorer families. Be witnesses of solidarity."

"Give special attention to the young. May your common commitment be to 'a Church for the young and with the young'. This is a wise pastoral strategy that looks to the future."

The Pope then greeted pilgrims from the dioceses of Gorizia, Cesena and Ischia to whom he said: "May your constant concern be to give witness to your love for Christ and to announce His Gospel through words and example. In this way, you will always be ready to impart the hope that is within you."

John Paul then turned to the superiors and seminarians from the regional Pontifical Seminary of Molfetta; faithful from parishes of the diaconate of Val d'Elsa in the diocese of Siena and members of the fraternity of the Holy Trinity in Naples. He said he hoped that, on passing through the Jubilee Holy Door, they may obtain from Christ "the strength necessary to be His faithful disciples."

Finally, John Paul II had words for members of the Capitolino Camper Club and of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Cascia and Regello: "May you always be filled with sentiments inspired by charity, which is the fullness of Christian law. Moved by solidarity, put into act effective initiatives for alleviating the many forms of poverty present in today's society."

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