AUDIENCE: THE VALUE OF COMMITMENT IN TEMPORAL REALITIES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2000 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which was held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 35,000 people, John Paul II spoke on "The value of commitment in temporal realities."

The Pope said that "biblical revelation and the finest philosophical wisdom agree in their emphasis that humanity is, on the one hand, drawn towards the infinite and the eternal and, on the other, firmly rooted on earth within the coordinates of time and space."

Genesis indicates that the alliance between the Creator and man comes about in the latter's commitment to stewardship over earthly realities and to the service of God. "Unfortunately," continued the Pope, "man often accomplishes the mission with which God has entrusted him, not as a wise architect but as an arrogant tyrant. In the end, he finds himself in a devastated and hostile world, in a shattered and wounded society. Genesis also shows us this ... in describing the rift in man's harmony with his fellows, with the earth and with the Creator Himself. This is the fruit of original sin."

"We must, then, with the grace of Christ the Redeemer, make ours once more the plan of peace and development, of justice and solidarity, of transformation and evaluation of earthly and temporal realities. ... By means of the economy, commerce and social life, we must cultivate well-being and knowledge and seek victory over misery and over all forms of humiliation of human dignity."

The Holy Father emphasized that "the work of creation is, in a certain sense, delegated by God to man in order that it may continue in the extraordinary feats of science and technology, ... with the aim of 'cultivating and protecting' the earth and making men and women more united."

"Christians," he concluded, "are called to collaborate with the Creator in order to build on earth a 'house for man' more in keeping with his dignity and the divine plan."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Luigi Martella of the clergy of Otranto, Italy, spiritual director of the pontifical seminary of Molfetta and professor of moral theology at the theological institute of Molfetta, as bishop of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi (area 422, population 138,269, Catholics 137,105, priests 99, permanent deacons 6, religious 162), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Depressa, Italy, in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1977.

- Appointed Msgr. Alfonso Badini Confalonieri of the clergy of Susa, Italy, delegate of the ordinary section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, as bishop of Susa (area 1,062, population 62,000, Catholics 60,000, priests 75, permanent deacons 1, religious 159). The bishop-elect was born in Valenza, Italy, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1978. He succeeds Bishop Vittorio Bernardetto, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Tommaso Stenico, study assistant at the Congregation for the Clergy, as bureau chief of the same congregation.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, accompanied by Bishop Pierfranco Pastore, secretary of the same pontifical council.

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DECLARATION REGARDING AUDIENCE WITH PRESIDENT KOSTUNICA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, following the Holy Father's audience with Vojislav Kostunica, president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Mr. Kostunica gave an assurance of his desire to cooperate towards peace in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in the Balkans.

"The talks dwelt upon the Holy See's commitment to peace during these years of difficult and tragic events, and the hope was expressed that the situation soon reach harmony between souls and social peace.

"Mr. Kostunica, accompanied by his entourage, then went on to visit His Holiness' Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Saint Augustine, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John J. Snyder upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Edward K. Braxton, auxiliary of St. Louis, U.S.A., as bishop of Lake Charles (area 13,755, population 259,425, Catholics 84,908, priests 71, permanent deacons 25, religious 46), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Jude Speyrer, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Martin W. Currie of the clergy of Halifax, Canada, vicar general of the same archdiocese and pastor of the parish of the Immaculate Conception at Truro, as bishop of Grand Falls (area 42,369, population 92,464, Catholics 30,749, priests 27, religious 28), Canada. The bishop-elect was born in Marinette, Canada, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1968.

- Appointed Fr. Ruben Antonio Gonzalez Medina C.M.F., provincial in the Antilles of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as bishop of Caguas (area 1,728, population 653,012, Catholics 515,000, priests 113, permanent deacons 60, religious 217), Puerto Rico. The bishop-elect was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1975.

- Appointed Fr. Antony Devotta, vicar general and pastor of the cathedral of the archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, India, as bishop of Tiruchirapalli (area 18,144, population 3,666,320, Catholics 392,430, priests 257, religious 1,199), India. The bishop-elect was born in San Thome, India, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1971.

- Appointed Fr. Stephen Athipozhiyil, rector of the minor seminary of Alleppey (area 333, population 700,000, Catholics 137,700, priests 82, religious 295), India, as coadjutor bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Chennavely, India, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1969.

- Appointed Msgr. William Francis Malooly, vicar general of Baltimore (area 12,430, population 2,849,409, Catholics 484,287, priests 583, permanent deacons 187, religious 1,583), U.S.A., as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born In Baltimore in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1970.

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