ETHICS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM JOURNALISM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 2000 (VIS) - After praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope moved to the Paul VI Hall where he received in audience the 7,000 participants in the Jubilee of Journalists, which concludes today.

At the beginning of his talk, John Paul II said that one of the purposes of the meeting was to pay a debt of gratitude he felt towards the many journalists who, throughout his pontificate, "have striven to make the words and acts of my ministry known. I am deeply grateful for all this commitment, for the objectivity and courtesy that have marked a large part of this service, and I ask the Lord to give each their adequate reward."

The Holy Father affirmed that the question of ethics cannot be separated from journalistic work. "With its immense and direct influence on public opinion, journalism cannot only be guided by economic forces, by profits and partisan interests." He recalled that "the powerful communications media" are entrusted to journalists "for the good of all and especially for the good of the weakest groups, from children to the poor, from the sick to people who are marginalized and discriminated against."

"One cannot write or broadcast," he continued, "solely on the basis of audience ratings and to the detriment of a truly informative service. Nor can one appeal indiscriminately to the right to know, without taking into account the other rights of the person. No freedom, including freedom of expression, is absolute; indeed, its limits lie in the duty to respect the dignity and legitimate freedom of others. Nothing, however fascinating it may be, can be written, produced or transmitted if it damages truth, I am thinking here not just of the truth of the events you report but also of the 'truth of man', of the dignity of the human person in all its dimensions."
After his address, the Pope greeted those present in French, English, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Polish.

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WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY AND JUBILEE OF JOURNALISTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, before reciting the Regina Coeli, reminded the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that "today in many parts of the world the Ascension of Jesus into heaven is celebrated. ... Thus, the public life of Jesus concludes and the missionary expansion of the Church starts," when "Christ's disciples began to spread everywhere the word of salvation."

"Announcing and witnessing to Christ! This is the mission of every baptized person. And today's celebration of World Communications Day makes direct reference to that mission with its theme: 'Announcing Christ in the Means of Communication at the Dawn of the New Millennium'. ... Precisely to underline the importance of the media, which represents a pastoral priority for the Church, it was decided to celebrate on this occasion the Jubilee of Journalists whom I personally will have the joy of meeting in a short time."

The Holy Father observed that "journalists and professionals in social communications and everyone who, in any way, works in this sector, is asked to discharge their mission in a responsible way, aware that when one works while respecting the truth, one renders a precious service to the truth itself, and thus to mankind."

After reciting the noon prayer, the Pope greeted the numerous groups present in the square, including pilgrims who came on horseback from Viterbo, Italy, oarsmen who had participated in a regata on the Tiber, a theater group, and musical bands from throughout Italy.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Natsagiin Bagabandi, president of Mongolia, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Theophilos V. Theophilou, ambassador of Cyprus, on a farewell visit.

This evening at 6:30 he is scheduled to receive Vladimir V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, accompanied by his entourage.

On Saturday, June 3, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., apostolic nuncio in Ethiopia and Eritrea and apostolic delegate in Djibouti.
- Msgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana, charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Taipei.
- Archbishop Frane Franic, emeritus of Split-Makarska, accompanied by his entourage.
- Bishop Lubomyr Husar M.S.U., auxiliary of the major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, Ukraine.
- Cardinal Virgilio Noe, vicar general of Vatican City, accompanied by his entourage.
- Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, accompanied by Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the same council.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Friday, Jun 2, he received Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ZOUNGRANA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram of condolences sent by the Pope to Archbishop Jean-Marie Untaani Campaore of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, upon hearing of the death of Cardinal Paul Zoungrana, M.Afr., archbishop emeritus of this archdiocese, at the age of 82:

"Having learned with emotion of the death of Cardinal Paul Zoungrana, I wish to tell you of my deep union in prayer with the archdiocese of Ouagadougou, with the family of the deceased and with all persons touched by this mourning. I pray to All Merciful God to receive in the light and peace of His Kingdom this zealous and faithful servant of the Church. I give thanks to God for the long and fruitful years of the episcopal ministry of this eminent son of Burkina Faso and of Africa, who tirelessly spent himself to proclaim the Good News of salvation to everyone, for his fraternal service and for promoting the least advantaged peoples, especially in the Sahel region. To you, to the other bishops of Burkina Faso, to the family of the deceased, to the priests, religious, catechists and all the faithful of the archdiocese, as well as to those who will take part in the funeral liturgy, I send, as a sign of comfort, my apostolic blessing."

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POPE THANKS ST. PETER'S CIRCLE FOR THEIR SUPPORT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope received the presidency and members of the Circle of St. Peter which dedicates itself to works of charity and assistance. This year, the organization has been entrusted with the distribution of meals in the canteens for the poor which have been set up near the patriarchal basilicas.

John Paul II thanked them for their voluntary work in the canteens as well as for their activities in parishes, hospitals and welcome centers, "never tiring of standing alongside those who suffer in body and in spirit, in order to bring them the consoling certainty that Christ is the Savior of all."

"Peter's Pence which, as every year, you consign to me personally, constitutes a further sign of your silent but substantial participation in the concerns of the Holy See, which is called to intervene ever more incisively in response to the growing appeal of the poorest people in so many parts of the world. Your praiseworthy willingness to collect funds for the Pope's charity represents a much appreciated sign of communion with the universal ministry of Peter's Successor."

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