DOCUMENT ON ORGAN TRANSPLANTS FROM ANIMALS TO HUMAN BEINGS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2001 (VIS) - On Wednesday, September 26, at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, a press conference will be held for the presentation of the new document of the Pontifical Academy for Life entitled "The perspective of xenotransplantation (organ transplants from animals to humans). Scientific aspects and ethical considerations."

Participating in the conference will be Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice-president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and three people who worked on the preparation of the document.

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HOLY SEE SIGNS ACCORD WITH GERMANY REGARDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday in Germany the Holy See and the German State of Saarland signed an Accord which modifies a 1975 Accord between the two regarding private schools which are run by the Catholic Church, according to a note released this afternoon by the Holy See.

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, apostolic nuncio in Germany, signed for the Holy See and Peter Muller, minister-president, signed the agreement for the Saarland.

The note states: "The present Accord, which consists of 2 articles and an additional Protocol, assures those running Catholic schools of state financial contributions in order to adopt the type of schools which are prescribed in the State constitution regarding the 'Erweiterte Realschulen' and secondary schools."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Josep Pique, foreign minister of Spain, accompanied by his entourage.
- Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio in Tanzania.
- Archbishop Luigi Gatti, apostolic nuncio in Lebanon.
- Four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara of Esteli.
- Bishop Leopoldo Jose Brenes Solorzano of Matagalpa.
- Bishop Bernardo Hombach of Juigalpa.
- Bishop Pablo Schmitz Simon, apostolic vicar of Bluefields.

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD IS ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF THE FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2001 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which took place in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II reflected on Psalm 56, explaining that it is "a nocturnal song which prepares the one praying for the light of dawn, awaiting with anxiety, to be able to praise the Lord in joy. The Psalm, in effect, passes from dramatic lament to God to serene hope and joyous thanks."

The Pope explained that the first part of the Psalm concerns the "experience of fear at the assault of evil which attempts to strike the just man. ... The presence of the Lord does not delay in showing its efficacy, through punishment of the adversaries. ... Such faith in divine justice, always alive in the Psalter, prevents discouragement and surrender to the power of evil. God always takes the side of the faithful, overturning the designs of the enemy, making them stumble on their own wicked plans."

The second part of the Psalm, the Pope continued, is one of thanks. "The liturgy, therefore, causes hope to blossom: it turns to God, inviting Him to draw near to His people anew and to listen to their supplication."

The Pope emphasized that "the Psalm closes, thus, with a song a praise to the Lord," and concluded affirming that "Psalm 56 is transformed in Christian tradition into a song of reawakening to the Easter light and joy, which shines upon the faithful erasing the fear of death and opening the horizon to the celestial glory."

In his greetings to English-speaking pilgrims after the audience, in reference to the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States, the Pope said: "I invite you to pray in these days that Almighty God will guide the mind and hearts of world leaders so that the ways of justice and peace may prevail."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop George Kocherry, apostolic nuncio in Ghana and Togo.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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