EASTER SUNDAY: MASS, URBI ET ORBI BLESSING

VATICAN CITY, APR 23, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul celebrated Easter morning Mass in a flower-bedecked St. Peter's Square with well over 100,000 faithful from around the world after which he recited the traditional, twice-yearly "urbi et orbi" (to the city and to the world) message and blessing.

The Mass and blessing were broadcast live by TV stations in some 50 countries on all continents. For the 15th year, Dutch florists, who had arrived earlier in the week, decorated the papal altar and adjacent area in St. Peter's Square with flowering trees and more than 50,000 flowers, including 30,000 tulips. They also placed floral garlands on the loggias or balconies of St. Peter's Basilica.

At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration a deacon, standing in front of the icon of the Most Holy Savior, known as the "acheiropita" (not painted by human hands) announced the resurrection of the Lord. The icon is housed in the Oratory of St. Lawrence, known as the "Sancta sanctorum" (holiest of holies) at St. John Lateran Basilica. It is a full representation of the enthroned Savior, painted on cloth applied to a wood tablet. Restored in 1995-96, the only part presently visible is the Lord's face which is painted on a silk cloth superimposed upon the original. The rest of the icon is covered by a sheet of silver.

In his urbi et orbi message, the Holy Father focussed on the triumph of life over death and "the power of renewal flowing from the Resurrection." He recalled that one month ago in the Holy Land he had had "the grace of kneeling before the stone slab which marked the place of Jesus' burial."

"May the Message of life proclaimed by the angel near the stone rolled back from the tomb overturn the hardness of our hearts: may it lead to removing unjustified barriers and promote a fruitful exchange between peoples and cultures. May the image of the new man, shining on the face of Christ, cause everyone to acknowledge the inalienable value of human life," lead to justice and equal opportunity for all, and lead to an end of conflicts among nations and peoples.

Following the urbi et orbi, John Paul II wished a Happy Easter in 61 languages to those gathered in St. Peter's Square or linked to it by television and radio.

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HOLY SATURDAY: BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION OF 8 CATECHUMENS

VATICAN CITY, APR 22, 2000 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 8 p.m. today, the Pope presided at the Easter Vigil during which he administered Baptism and Confirmation to eight catechumens: one each from Cameroon, Italy and Albania, two from China and a father, mother and daughter from Japan.

The vigil began at the obelisk in the square where the Holy Father blessed the new fire and lit the Easter candle which was then carried in procession to the altar while the 'Exultet' was sung. Following this, the Pope presided at a Liturgy of the Word, a Baptismal Liturgy and a Eucharistic Liturgy, concelebrating with 20 cardinals.

"At the Easter Vigil, 'mother of all vigils'," said John Paul II in his homily, "everyone can likewise acknowledge their own personal history of salvation, which has its basic moment in our rebirth in Christ through Baptism. In a very special way, this is your experience too, dear brothers and sisters who are about to receive the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist."

The Pope indicated that the variety of the catechumens' native countries "points to the universality of the salvation brought by Christ. Soon, dear friends, you will become intimate sharers in the mystery of the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May your lives become a song of praise to the Most Holy Trinity and a witness of love which knows no limits."
"Christ is risen!" exclaimed the Holy Father. "So the Church proclaims, at the end of this Easter night, even as yesterday she proclaimed Christ's death on the Cross. It is a proclamation of truth and life. 'Surrexit Dominus de sepulchro, qui pro nobis pependit in ligno, Alleluia!' The Lord, Who for us was nailed to the Cross, is risen from the tomb! Yes, Christ is truly risen and we are witnesses of this."

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REGINA COELI: CHRIST IS TRULY RISEN

VATICAN CITY, APR 24, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope appeared at his study window to pray the Regina Coeli - the prayer that substitutes the angelus during Easter - with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Prior to the Marian prayer, the Pope recalled that today is Easter Monday, also traditionally known as Monday of the Angel because an angel appeared to the women who were weeping before Jesus' empty tomb and announced that He had risen.

"Life," said the Holy Father, "has conquered death. Faith is necessary to comprehend this new and marvelous horizon. Let us allow ourselves to be penetrated by the thoughts and emotions that resonate in the events of Easter: 'Yes, we are certain, Christ is truly risen!' This truth marked the lives of the Apostles who, after the Resurrection, felt their souls aflame with the desire to follow their Master and, having received the Holy Spirit, went out without delay proclaiming to everyone what they had personally seen and experienced."

He concluded: "The comforting announcement of the Resurrection has once more rung out for us: 'Christ, my hope, is Risen!' If Christ is risen we can look at each event of our lives with new eyes and a new heart. This is the Easter message that I would like to communicate to men and women the world over."

In the late afternoon, the Pope left by helicopter for his residence at Castelgandolfo.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, pontifical representative in the Antilles, as apostolic nuncio in Yugoslavia.

On Tuesday April 25, it was made public that he:

- Accepted the resignation presented by Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Rivera Alvarez of the diocese of Potosi, Bolivia, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Hubert Barbier of Annecy, France, as metropolitan archbishop of Bourges (area 14,210, population 576,000, Catholics 508,000, priests 223, permanent deacons 11, religious 509), France. The archbishop-elect was born in Chaize-le-Vicomte, France, in 1932, ordained a priest in 1955 and consecrated a bishop in 1980. He succeeds Archbishop Pierre Plateau, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Thursday April 20, it was made public that he appointed:

- Fr. Benyamin Bria, professor of canon law at the major seminary of Kupang, Indonesia, as bishop of Denpasar (area 25,730, population 6,194,000, Catholics 24,897, priests 37, religious 63), Indonesia. The bishop-elect was born in Decabiti, Indonesia, in 1956 and ordained a priest in 1985.

- Bishop Lucas Sirkar S.D.B. of Krishnagar, India, as coadjutor archbishop of Calcutta (area 29,857, population 24,813,952, Catholics 133,740, priests 220, religious 1,220), India, The archbishop-elect was born in Barisol, India, in 1936, ordained a priest in 1968 and consecrated a bishop in 1984.

- Fr. Jean-Luc Brunin of the clergy of Lille (area 2,288, population 1,527,950, Catholics 804,230, priests 704, permanent deacons 41, religious 1,403), France, rector of the interdiocesan seminary of Lille, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Roubaix, France, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1981.

- Fr. Diomedes Espinal de Leon of the clergy of Santiago de los Caballeros (area 6,391, population 876,753, Catholics 789,000, priests 91, permanent deacons 74, religious 135), Dominican Republic, rector of the St. Pius X minor seminary, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Villa Trina, Dominican Republic, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1978.

- Fr. Jozef Szamocki of the clergy of Torun (area 5,427, population 713,350, Catholics 685,500, priests 399, religious 416), Poland, spiritual director of the major seminary of Torun, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Gdynia, Poland, in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- Fr. Jan Watroba of the clergy of Czestochowa (area 6,925, population 921,190, Catholics 900,710, priests 746, religious 1,221), Poland, rector of the major seminary of Czestochowa, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Biala, Poland, in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1979.

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THE GLORY OF THE TRINITY IN THE TRANSFIGURATION

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, in the catechesis of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, which was bathed in sun and still decorated with the myriad flowers from Sunday's Easter Mass, focussed on the glory of the Trinity in the Transfiguration.

Before an estimated 30,000 pilgrims, the Pope remarked that "the liturgy of the Easter Octave joyfully proclaims that 'Jesus is truly risen'. In these words, the promise of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor is fulfilled. At that time, Jesus revealed His glory to the Apostles Peter, James and John. They heard the voice of God the Father saying 'This is my beloved Son', and saw Moses and Elijah, whose presence indicates that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, The brilliant light, the white clothing and the cloud all point to the divinity of Christ. The Father's command to listen to the Son means that the Son is filled with the Holy Spirit and that His words are 'spirit and life'."

"Vision and listening, contemplation and obedience," continued the Holy Father, "are therefore the paths which lead to the holy mount on which the Trinity is revealed in the glory of the Son. The Transfiguration offers us an anticipation of the glorious coming of Christ 'who will transform our poor body to conform it to His glorious body'. But it also reminds us that 'it is necessary to undergo many tribulations to enter into the Kingdom of God'."

The Pope's catechesis in Italian was then summarized in French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and German. He greeted pilgrims in those languages as well as in Lithuanian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian, Croatian and Slovenian.

John Paul II arrived by helicopter this morning from Castelgandolfo for the general audience. He is scheduled to return to the lakeside papal residence and remain there until Friday for a brief vacation.

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