AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and for the Governorate of Vatican City State.

On Saturday, December 22, he received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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ANGELUS: THE EVANGELICAL HEROISM OF ST. STEPHEN

VATICAN CITY, DEC 26, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, the feast of St. Stephen protomartyr, John Paul II appeared at the window of his study in order to pray the angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"The gentle atmosphere of light and joy typical of Christmas," said the Pope, "extends into today's liturgical feast. ... We continue to meditate on the mystery of Christmas and upon the demanding requirements that arise therefrom."

He went on: "The words pronounced by the angels in Bethlehem ... also resound in our own time. They invite us not to fear because the Messiah is born for us. ... His birth constitutes a priceless gift that, if fully understood and accepted, changes peoples lives and renders them capable of the evangelical heroism of saints.

"This message also comes to us from the protomartyr, St. Stephen," concluded John Paul II. "This young deacon was outstanding for his courage and the constancy with which he announced the Gospel to his countrymen and rendered loving service to the poor. His martyrdom reminds us that the Baby Jesus, from the stable where He lay defenseless ... called us to follow him step by step ... to the cross, so as to share with Him the triumphant victory over death."

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"URBI ET ORBI": CHRIST IS OUR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope appeared at the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in order to deliver the traditional Christmas message and to impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

Some extracts of the message are given below:

"'Christus est pax nostra', 'Christ is our peace; he has made the two into one people.' At the dawn of the new millennium, which began with so much hope but is now threatened by dark clouds of violence and war, the words of the Apostle Paul which we listen to this Christmas are a powerful ray of light, a cry of trust and optimism. The Divine Child born in Bethlehem brings in His little hands as a gift the key to peace for mankind. He is the Prince of Peace!"

"Yes, we can repeat with certainty: Today, in the Incarnate Word, peace is born! Peace to be implored, for God alone is its source and guarantee. Peace to be forged in a world in which peoples and nations, burdened with so many and such varied difficulties, hope for a new humanity united not just by economic interests but by the unceasing effort to bring about a society that is more just and supportive."

"In (the newborn Redeemer) we can recognize the face of every little child who is born, of whatever race or nation: the little Palestinian and the little Israeli; the little American and the little Afghan; the child of the Hutu and the child of the Tutsi... whoever the child is, to Christ each one is special. Today my thoughts go to all the children of the world: so many, too many, are the children condemned from birth to suffer through no fault of their own the effects of cruel conflicts. Let us save the children, in order to save the hope of humanity! This is what we are urgently called to do by that Child born in Bethlehem, the God who became man, to give us back the right to hope.

"Let us beg from Christ the gift of peace for all who are suffering as a result of conflicts old and new. Day after day, I bear in my heart the tragic problems of the Holy Land; every day I think with anxiety of all those who are dying of cold and hunger; every day there reaches me the desperate cry of those who, in so many parts of the world, call for a fairer distribution of resources and for gainful employment for all. Let no-one lose hope in the power of God's love! May Christ be the light and support of those who believe and work - sometimes in the face of opposition - for encounter, dialogue and cooperation between cultures and religions. May Christ guide in peace the steps of those who tirelessly devote themselves to the progress of science and technology. May these great gifts of God never be used contrary to the respect and promotion of human dignity! May God's holy name never be used as a justification for hatred! Let it never be used as an excuse for intolerance and violence! May the gentle face of the Child of Bethlehem remind everyone that we all have one Father."

Following the message, the Pope extended Christmas greetings in 60 languages.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Kevin J. Farrell of the clergy of Washington, U.S.A., vicar general for administration and pastor of the parish of the Annunciation, and Fr. Francisco Gonzalez Valer S.F., episcopal vicar for the pastoral care of Hispanic peoples in Washington, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Washington (area 5,447, population 2,419,324, Catholics 515,000, priests 1,092, permanent deacons 229, religious 1,737). Bishop-elect Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1978. Bishop-elect Gonzalez Valer was born in Arcos de Jalon, Spain, in 1939 and ordained a priest in 1964.

On Thursday, December 27, it was made public that he appointed Bishop Antonio Jose Lopez Castillo of Barinas, Venezuela, as archbishop of Calabozo (area 27,000, population 360,203, Catholics 283,500, priests 18, permanent deacons 3, religious 37), Venezuela. The archbishop-elect was born in San Rafael de Mara, Venezuela, in 1945, ordained a priest in 1970 and consecrated a bishop in 1988. He succeeds Archbishop Helimenas de Jesus Rojo Paredes C.I.M. whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday, December 22, it was made public that he appointed Fr. Gilberto Gomez Gonzalez, rector of the major seminary of Abancay (area 12,950, population 317,000, Catholics 295,000, priests 44, religious 112), Peru, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Albeos, Spain, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1975.

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THE POPE'S GREETINGS TO DIFFERENT GROUPS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received this morning in the Clementine Hall a group of young people from Catholic Action, the "Alpinisti Trentini" Choir, and the Italian "Friends of the Nativity" Association. He addressed the groups with some brief words.

"I appreciate with pleasure your initiative for peace, called 'Month of peace', which you plan to hold this coming January," the Pope said to the youth of Catholic Action. "It is an invitation to peace which ... acquires the strength of a convincing supplication, because the 'new measure' of the Kingdom of God is also perceived in the 'littleness' of children. The 'Month of peace', proposing your message of peace within the parish, will surely offer to believers the opportunity for further reflection on this precious gift which ... is the fruit and work of justice and love."

The Pope reminded the choir from Trent that "song is a unique way of raising to the Creator a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the wonders of His love."

Lastly, John Paul II encouraged the Friends of the Nativity to "continue in your commitment to promote the traditional representation of the birth of Christ, in the footsteps of St. Francis."

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