JUBILEE OF WORKERS: "BLESS, O LORD, THE WORK OF OUR HANDS"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 1, 2000 (VIS) - Tens of thousands of workers from around the world who represented a wide spectrum of labor and management participated this morning in the Jubilee of Workers, celebrated at Rome's Tor Vergata University, where the day began with a Mass presided over by Pope John Paul.

"In God's plan," the Pope said in his homily, "work appears as a right and duty. Necessary to make the goods of the earth useful for the life of every man and of society, it contributes to orienting human activity to God in fulfilling His command to 'subjugate the earth'."

"The Jubilee Year," he continued, "invites to a rediscovery of the meaning and value of work. It also invites us to face the economic and social imbalances which exist in the world of work, re-establishing the just hierarchy of values, with, at the top, the dignity of the men and women who work, their freedom, responsibility and participation."

John Paul II stated "I cannot fail to express my solidarity with all those who suffer because of unemployment, an insufficient wage or for lack of material means. I am well aware of those populations who are forced to live in a poverty which offends dignity." Remedying such situations "is a work of justice and peace."

"The new realities," he affirmed in conclusion, "such as the globalization of finances, the economy, trade and work, must never violate the dignity and centrality of the human person nor the freedom and democracy of peoples." There must be solidarity, he added, "so that persons and peoples become, not tools, but rather the protagonists of their future."

Following Mass, there were brief addresses from Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labor Organization and Paola Bignardi, president of Italian Catholic Action, and a concert in the Pope's honor for May Day and the Jubilee of Workers. A delegation of 18 workers, representing various fields of endeavor, was presented to the Holy Father.

Greeting all those gathered at Tor Vergata, Pope John Paul highlighted the "fresh possibilities emerging" from "the new technologies and global computerized communications," pointing out, however, that "there is no shortage of new problems. ... Realities such as unemployment, exploitation of minors and low wages persist, and are even getting worse in some parts of the world. ... Globalization is a reality present in every area of human life, but it is a reality which must be managed wisely. Solidarity too must become globalized."

"The Jubilee," concluded the Holy Father, "offers a suitable opportunity to open our eyes to the poverty and marginalization, not only of individuals but also of groups and peoples. In the Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee I recalled that 'some nations, especially the poorer ones, are oppressed by a debt so huge that repayment is practically impossible'. To reduce or indeed to remit this debt, here is a Jubilee gesture which would be so desirable!

"This appeal is addressed to the rich and developed nations, but also to people of great wealth who are in a position to foster solidarity among peoples. May it ring out at this historic encounter at which Christian workers and non-confessional labor organizations have united in a common effort."

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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER TO BE KNOWN AS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2000 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, the second Sunday of Easter, John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in St. Peter's Square and canonized Polish Blessed Maria Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938), virgin of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.

The Pope told the 150,000 people present that Christ entrusted the new saint with His message of mercy in the period between the First and Second World Wars: "Jesus said to Sister Faustyna: 'Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustingly to divine mercy'. Through the work of this Polish nun, this message remains forever linked to the twentieth century. ... It is not a new message, but it can be seen as a particularly illuminating gift that helps us to live the Easter Gospel more intensely, in order to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time."

"It is important," he went on, "that we accept in its entirety the message that comes to us from God's Word on this second Sunday of Easter. From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of 'Divine Mercy Sunday'."

The Holy Father confirmed that the message of Christ's mercy "continues to reach us thorough the gesture of His hands, stretched out to suffering man. This is how Sister Faustyna saw Him and how she announced Him to men on all continents. Hidden in her convent at Lagiewniki in Krakow, she rendered her life a hymn of mercy: 'Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo'."

"Above all, this consoling message is addressed to those who, afflicted by a particularly difficult trial or crushed by the weight of sins committed, have lost all faith in life and are tempted to give in to despair. ... How many souls have been consoled by the invocation suggested by divine Providence through Sister Faustyna: 'Jesus, in You I trust'! This simple act of abandonment to Jesus breaks through the darkest clouds and allows a ray of light to fall into the life of all."

At the end of Mass and prior to praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope addressed greetings in various languages to pilgrims from all over the world who were present at the celebration, as well as to others who were connected by satellite to St. Peter's from the Lagiewniki Shrine.

Later in the day, after Jubilee Vespers, which are celebrated by a prelate every evening at 7:30 in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II appeared at his study window, which overlooks the square, and greeted the pilgrims present. The Holy Father recalled that this morning he had proclaimed Sister Faustyna Kowalska a saint and encouraged everyone to always trust in God's merciful love.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Fidele Agbatchi of the clergy of the diocese of Dassa-Zoume, Benin, and official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as metropolitan archbishop of Parakou (area 9,259, population 227,192, Catholics 59,233, priests 33, religious 101), Benin. The archbishop-elect was born in Save, Benin, in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1978.
- Appointed Bishop Marcel Honorat Leon Agboton of Kandi, Benin, as bishop of Porto-Novo (area 5,000, population 1,080,000, Catholics 326,623, priests 47, religious 79), Benin. He succeeds Bishop Vincent Mensah, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Clet Feliho of the clergy of Parakou, diocesan administrator, as bishop of Kandi (area 25,534, population 445,449, Catholics 8,665, priests 14, religious 31). The bishop-elect was born in Conakry, Guinea, in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- Erected the diocese of N'Dali (area 11,454, population 358,836, Catholics 6,344, priests 12, religious 24), Benin, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Parakou, making it a suffragan of that same metropolitan church. He appointed Fr. Martin Adjou of the clergy of Cotonou, Benin, rector of the minor seminary of Parakou, as first bishop of the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Cotonou in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1983.

- Appointed Bishop Donato Negro of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, Italy, as archbishop of Otranto (area 800, population 198,968, Catholics 198,468, priests 143, religious 260), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in San Cesario, Italy, in 1948, ordained a priest in 1972 and consecrated a bishop in 1994.

- Appointed Msgr. Felice di Molfetta of the clergy of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, pastor of the parish of the Immaculate Virgin in Terlizzi and teacher of sacramental and liturgical theology, as bishop of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano (area 1,327, population 105,230, Catholics 103,230, priests 56, permanent deacons 9, religious 102), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Terlizzi in 1940 and ordained a priest in 1966.

- Appointed Msgr. Carlos Maria Franzini, vicar general of San Isidro, Argentina, as bishop of Rafaela (area 38,050, population 290,000, Catholics 264,000, priests 42, permanent deacons 6, religious 71), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1977.

- Appointed Archbishop Pier Luigi Mazzoni of Gaeta, Italy, as a member of the Congregation for Bishops.

- Appointed Fr. Ivan Fucek S.J., adjunct theologian, as theologian of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

- Appointed Emilio Acerna, co-director of I.R.I., Italy, as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church.

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JUBILEE CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2000 (VIS) - Following are the Jubilee events scheduled for May 2000:

- Saturday 6: Recitation of the Rosary in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
- Sunday 7: Third Sunday of Easter. Ecumenical celebration at the Colosseum for the commemoration of the Witnesses to the Faith of the 20th century.

- Friday, 12: Pope John Paul departs for Fatima, Portugal.

- Saturday 13: Recitation of the Rosary in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. In Fatima, the Pope beatifies Jacinta and Francisco, two of the three shepherd children who saw the Virgin Mary on the site of the shrine six times between May 13 and October 13, 1917. The third child, Sr. Lucia, is a cloistered nun, living in Portugal.

- Sunday 14: Fourth Sunday of Easter. World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Mass and priestly ordinations in St. Peter's Basilica.
- Thursday 18: Holy Father's 80th birthday. Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee of the Clergy. A concert by the London Philharmonic in the Paul VI Hall.

- Saturday 20: Recitation of the Rosary in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

- Sunday, 20: Fifth Sunday of Easter. Mass and canonization in St. Peter's Square.

- Thursday 25: Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee of Scientists.

- Friday 26: Divine Liturgy in the Alexandrine-Ethiopian rite (Feast of Mary Covenant of Mercy) in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.

- Saturday 27: Recitation of the Rosary in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

- Sunday 28: Sixth Sunday of Easter. Celebration of Mass in St. Peter's Square. Jubilee of the Diocese of Rome.

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JUNE 1 - 3: JUBILEE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2000 (VIS) - Today in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Francesco Gioia, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, presented the Jubilee for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples which will be held in Rome from June 1 to 3.

Archbishop Fumio Hamao outlined the program for the event. The first day will be dedicated to catechesis on the signs and values of the Jubilee. "Participants," he said, "are distinguished not just by categories (migrants, refugees, nomads, seafarers, students abroad, tourists, circus people and airline workers) but also, as far as possible, by their ethnicity and places of origin." In the afternoon of the same day, there will be time for confessions and, at 8 p.m. in the Paul VI Hall, a concert will be held in honor of the migrants and itinerant people.

In St. Peter's Square on Friday June 2, the Pope will preside at a concelebrated Mass. On Saturday June 3, initiatives from the various groups will be presented.

Archbishop Gioia presented a small book written in Italian and English entitled "The Solidarity of the Church with Migrants and itinerant People." The volume offers, in addition to some statistics, a brief overview on problems and on pastoral activity in each of the sectors that concern human mobility.

By way of example, Archbishop Gioia indicated that "migratory flows affect all continents and almost all countries. There are 119 million emigrants in the world, of whom 44 percent are in the industrialized countries and 56 percent in developing countries." There are 15 million in Africa, 43 million in Asia, 7 million in Latin America, 24 million in North America, 25 million in Europe and 5 million in Oceania.

Refugees and those who remain under the mandate of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees reach a total of 22 million, most of them women and children.

The secretary of the Pontifical Council also recalled that in 1999, the number of international tourists, in other words people travelling abroad for pleasure, had reached 657 million.

Finally he mentioned gypsies, whose numbers stand at 15-18 million; between 7 and 8.5 million in Europe, 7-8 million in India and southeast Asia and 1.7 million in U.S.A. and South America.

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