GUIDELINES FOR THE PASTORAL MINISTRY OF TOURISM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 11, 2001, (VIS) - Made public today was the document "Guidelines for the Pastoral Ministry of Tourism" produced by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. Written in Italian, it consists of an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion, and is dated June 29, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and Archbishop Francesco Gioia, secretary of the same Pontifical Council, write in the introduction that the document is addressed to bishops, priests, men and women religious and, "more directly, summons the laity, called to evangelize in this specific area of social and secular reality."

The first part, entitled "The Reality of Tourism Today," states: "The tourism industry has been transformed into one of the primary economic forces in the entire world and it holds first place in some countries."

With regard to tourism and free time, the document affirms that the true meaning of rest can be seen when "man consecrates his time to God ... and when he generously dedicates himself to the service of others, especially the family."

Emphasizing that tourism "must always safeguard the dignity of the person, both of the tourist and of the local community," the document recalls "the negative aspects which in many places accompany tourist development: the exploitation of people ... the spreading of illnesses which seriously endanger the health of many sectors of the population; drug traffic and consumption; the physical destruction of the cultural identity and of vital resources."

Referring to the binomial "tourism-theology," the document states that "In tourism the Christian is invited to revive in a special way thanksgiving for the gift of creation, in which shines the beauty of the Creator. ... The contemplation of creation accompanies man in his religious life, inspires his prayer and animates him in the hope of promised salvation."

The second part of the text, "Pastoral Objectives," notes that "The central aim of the pastoral care of tourism is to stimulate those optimal conditions which help the Christian to live the reality of tourism as a moment of grace and salvation."

"The celebration of the Eucharist is the most frequent moment of encounter between the community of a place and the tourists, but it need not be the only one." Also necessary are "the most significant moments of the liturgical year, which often coincide with vacation time."

In reference to the welcoming of visitors, the guidelines emphasize the need to give special attention to the visitors who are members of other Christian confessions, at the same time stressing the importance that the welcome of visitors be prepared "with great care," particularly "in places of specific religious meaning," such as shrines. "It will be worthwhile to remember, moreover, that for many tourists such visits often constitute a unique occasion for experiencing the Christian faith."

It also emphasizes that among the different groups of people who engage in tourism, adolescents and youth in particular must be offered "the necessary conditions to make such travel experiences an occasion for them to deepen their faith."

With regard to the advertising of tourism programs, the document urges "tour promoters to be objective in their information and to have absolute respect for the dignity of persons and the external appearance of the places to which the information refers, as well as honesty regarding tourism proposals and total reliability in the services offered."

Tourism pastoral care workers "must be offered ... a specific preparation during formation, both in professional schools, and through other complementary initiatives. ... Religious and sacramental attention appropriate to their working conditions will be necessary, without violating the times and rhythms of the life of the community."
In the third part of the document, "Pastoral Structures," various concrete initiatives in the tourism milieux are illustrated which could be undertaken by episcopal conferences at the diocesan and parish levels.

"In order to satisfy the desire to know other persons and cultures, to develop his personal abilities and have new experiences," says the conclusion, "man chooses to devote part of his free time to tourism."
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COUNCIL OFFICIALS PRESENT TOURISM MINISTRY GUIDELINES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 11, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Francesco Gioia, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, today presented the council document "Guidelines for the Pastoral Ministry of Tourism," in written statements which accompanied the publication of the document.

Archbishop Hamao noted that "with significant farsightedness, on April 30, 1969 the Sacred Congregation for Clergy, on whom the pastoral ministry of tourism depended at that time, published the General Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Tourism 'Peregrinans in terra', a very important and useful text for pastoral action and, in many ways, well ahead of its time. It did not limit itself to presenting solutions to the problems of that time, but prophetically paved the way in order to face the development of tourism which, at that time, was not completely predictable."

Archbishop Gioia emphasized that "tourism is one of the phenomena which most greatly characterizes modern society. Proof of this is the continual and accentuated growth of tourists on a global level: According to information provided by the World Tourism Organization, in the year 2000 the number of tourists increased by 7.4 percent over the previous year, that is to say, 50 million people more than in 1999, or as many as the United States and Spain receive each year."

He added that "in Europe, which welcomes 58 percent of international tourism, there was an increase of 6.2 percent with 403 million arrivals, about 25 million more trips than the previous year. Income from international tourism last year was US$476 billion. It is predicted that by 2010 international tourists will go from the current 698 million to one billion, and by 2020 will increase by an additional 560 million persons."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Mariano Jose Parra Sandoval of San Fernando de Apure, as bishop of Ciudad Guayana (area 53,596, population 850,000, Catholics 765,000, priests 36, permanent deacons 5, religious 118), Venezuela.

- Auxiliary Bishop Luis Gleisner Wobbe of Rancagua, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of La Serena (area 30,596, population 492,275, Catholics 284,517, priests 67, permanent deacons 49, religious 195), Chile.

- Bishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., of Valdivia, and Fr. Andres Arteaga Manieu, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Santiago de Chile (area 9,132, population 5,083,704, Catholics 3,716,941, priests 825, permanent deacons 145, religious 3,377), Chile, vice-grand chancellor of the Catholic Pontifical University of Chile, as auxiliary bishops of Santiago de Chile. Bishop-elect Manieu was born in Santiago de Chile, in 1959, and ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

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JOHN PAUL II VACATIONS IN THE ITALIAN ALPS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul has returned for the ninth time to Les Combes d'Introd, in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwestern Italy, to spend a brief vacation period in the midst of mountains which have been a part of his life since his childhood in Poland.

The villa where the Pope is staying was completed just before his sojourn there last summer. When he first saw the new house at that time, he had protested, asking "Was the villa made especially for me?" He was reassured that the house, owned by the Salesians, was put to good use throughout the year and, in fact, was used during the winter months as a ski stop.

The villa is a modified chalet-style, two-story building of stone and wood and is surrounded by a large garden and forest. Built at an altitude of 1,200 meters, it overlooks the celebrated Mont Blanc and other mountains on the Italian-French-Swiss borders.

The small papal apartment, and that of his secretary, are located on the first floor of the residence. The other guest rooms are on the ground floor and will be occupied by the three nuns who accompanied the Holy Father to Les Combes, as well as by his personal physician, the Pope's successor at the chair of ethics at the University of Lublin, Poland, and Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. Also on the ground floor is the kitchen and living room/dining room area.

Only one public event is on John Paul's schedule between now and his early evening departure for Rome on July 20. He will recite the angelus this coming Sunday in the presence of a number of faithful who live in or are visiting the area.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2001 (VIS) - The following prelates have died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Silvio Oddi, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Clergy, on June 29, at the age of 90.
- Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland, on June 17, at the age of 76.
- Archbishop Emeritus Jose Goncalves da Costa, C.SS.R., of Niteroi, Brasil, on June 19, at the age of 87.
- Bishop Victor Gil Lechoza of Minas, Uruguay, on June 21, at the age of 69.
- His Beatitude Maximos V Hakim, patriarch emeritus of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, on June 29, at the age of 93.
- Bishop Giulio Nicolini of Cremona, Italy, on June 26, at the age of 74.
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