AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jose Lorenzo Sartori of San Roque de Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena.
- Bishop Jose Vicente Conejero Gallego of Formosa.
- Bishop Luis Guillermo Eichhorn of Gualeguaychu.
- Bishop Martin de Elizalde O.S.B., of Nueve di Julio.
- Bishop Carlos Maria Franzini of Rafaela.
- Bishop Carlos Humberto Malfa of Chascomus.

On Saturday, March 2, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, apostolic nuncio in Mexico.
- Five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Charbel Merhi of San Charbel in Buenos Aires.
- Bishop Ruben Oscar Frassia of Avellaneda-Lanus.
- Bishop Alejandro Antonio Buccolini S.D.B., of Rio Gallegos.
- Bishop Francisco Polti Santillan of Santo Tome.
- Bishop Guillermo Jose Garlatti of San Rafael.

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ISRAELI GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS CONSTRUCTION OF NAZARETH MOSQUE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"The Holy See has learned with satisfaction of the Israeli government's decision to cancel the project for constructing a mosque in the immediate vicinity of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, thus re-establishing legality, respect for the Holy Places and consideration for the respective communities of believers.

"It is to be hoped that the traditional harmonious co-existence between Muslims and Christians in Nazareth, endangered by a provocative initiative, may continue with the assistance of the authorities and of the entire population.

"As may be easily understood, this is not a decision against Muslims, whose own political and religious authorities - in the region and in the world - mostly expressed themselves contrary to a project that offended the sensibility of the Christian world and of pilgrims."

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POPE SENDS ASSISI DECALOGUE FOR PEACE TO HEADS OF STATE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II sent a letter accompanied by the "Assisi Decalogue for Peace" to all heads of State and government today. The decalogue was signed at the end of the Day of Prayer for Peace in the World which was celebrated in Assisi on January 24, 2002.

In the letter, signed on February 24, 2002, the Pope affirms that "the participants in the meeting of Assisi were inspired more than ever by one common conviction: humanity much choose between love and hate."

The decalogue is as follows:

1. We commit ourselves to proclaiming our firm conviction that violence and terrorism are opposed to all true religious spirit and we condemn all recourse to violence and war in the name of God or religion. We undertake to do everything possible to eradicate the causes of terrorism.

2. We commit ourselves to educate people about respect and mutual esteem in order to achieve peaceful coexistence and solidarity among members of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions.
3. We commit ourselves to promote the culture of dialogue so that understanding and trust may develop among individuals and peoples as these are the conditions of authentic peace.

4. We commit ourselves to defend the right of all human beings to lead a dignified life, in accordance with their cultural identity, and to start their own family freely.

5. We commit ourselves to engage in dialogue with sincerity and patience, without considering what separates us as an insurmountable wall, on the contrary, recognizing that facing our differences can become an occasion for greater reciprocal understanding.

6. We commit ourselves to pardon each other's errors and prejudices of the past and present, and to support one another in the common struggle against egoism and abuses, hatred and violence, and in order to learn from the past that peace without justice is not true peace.

7. We commit ourselves to stand at the side of those who suffer poverty and abandonment, speaking out for those who have no voice and taking concrete action to overcome such situations, in the conviction that no one can be happy alone.

8. We commit ourselves to make our own the cry of those who do not surrender to violence and evil, and we wish to contribute with all our strength to give a real hope of justice and peace to the humanity of our time.

9. We commit ourselves to encourage all initiatives that promote friendship between peoples, in the conviction that, if a solid understanding between peoples is lacking, technological progress exposes the world to increasing dangers of destruction and death.

10. We commit ourselves to ask the leaders of nations to make every possible effort so as to build, at both national and international level, a world of solidarity and peace founded on justice.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2002 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Michele Alagna Fodera S.D.B., emeritus of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil, on January 11, 2002, at the age of 89.
- Archbishop Alexander Goncalves Amaral, emeritus of Uberaba, Brazil, on February 5, 2002, at the age of 96.
- Bishop Michael Joseph Begley, emeritus of Charlotte, U.S.A., on February 9, 2002, at the age of 92.
- Bishop Alexander Carter, emeritus of Sault Sainte Marie, Canada, on February 17, 2002, at the age of 92.
- Bishop Telesforo Giovanni Cioli O.Carm., emeritus of Arezzo, Cortona, Sansepolcro, Italy, on January 15, 2002 at the age of 94.
- Bishop Vincenzo Cirrincione of Piazza Armerina, Italy, on Feruary 12, 2002, at the age of 75.
- Bishop Ernesto Goncalves Costa O.F.M., emeritus of Faro, Portugal, on January 7, 2002, at the age of 80.
- Bishop Aloysius Josef G. Dibjokarjono, emertius of Surabaya, Indonesia, on January 23, 2002, at the age of 84.
- Bishop Juan Bautista Herrada Armijo O.M., emeritus of Antofagasto, Chile, on January 21, 2002, at the age of 79.
- Bishop Herminio Malzone Hugo, emeritus of Governador Valadares, Brazil, on February 20, 2002, at the age of 86.
- Bishop John Raymond McGann, emeritus of Rockville Center, U.S.A., on January 29, 2002, at the age of 77.
- Archbishop Eduardo Andre Muaca, emeritus of Luanda, Angola, on January 26, 2002, at the age of 77.
- Bishop Eliseu Maria Gomes de Olivera O.Carm., emeritus of Itabuna, Brazil, on February 11, 2002, at the age of 81.
- Bishop Manuel Lisboa de Oliveira, emeritus of Nazare, Brazil, on January 24, 2002, at the age of 85.
- Bishop Marius Pare, emeritus of Chicoutimi, Canada, on February 16, 2002, at the age of 85.
- Bishop Gabino Peral de la Torre O.S.A., former apostolic vicar of Iquitos, Colombia, on January 24, 2002, at the age of 78.
- Bishop Elias Prado Tello, former auxiliary of Ayacucho, Peru, on February 14, 2002, at the age of 91.
- Bishop Lawrence Joseph Riley, former auxiliary of Boston, U.S.A., on December 2, 2002, at the age of 87.
- Bishop Hernando Rojas Ramirez, emeritus of Neiva, Colombia, on February 14, 2002, at the age of 77.
- Bishop Frans Simons S.V.D., emeritus of Indore, India, on January 28, 2002 at the age of 93.
- Bishop Alexander Sye Cheong-Duk, auxiliary of Taegu, Korea, on December 22, 2002, at the age of 64.
- Bishop Fiorino Tagliaferri, emeritus of Viterbo, Italy, on February 22, 2002, at the age of 80.
- Bishop Hovhannes Tertsakian C.A.M., former apostolic exarch for the Armenian faithful resident in Canada and U.S.A., on January 28, 2002, at the age of 78.
- Bishop Carlo Urru, emeritus of Citta di Castello, Italy, on February 2, 2002, at the age of 86.
- Archbishop Alois Wagner, former permanent observer to the United Nations Food and Agriculture organizations and organisms, on February 26, 2002, at the age of 77.

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THE MEDIA CULTURE MUST BE EVANGELIZED

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications who, for the last few days, have been reflecting upon the theme: "The media and the new evangelization: current activities and plans for the future."

"The special challenge before you," said the Pope, "is to find ways to ensure that the voice of the Church is not marginalized or silenced in the modern arena of the media. You have a role to play in ensuring that the Gospel is not confined to a strictly private world. No! Jesus Christ must be proclaimed to the whole world; and therefore the Church must enter the great forum of the media with courage and confidence."

The Holy Father indicated that "not only must we use the media to communicate Christ to the world, but we must preach the Gospel to the world of the media itself. ... This media culture must itself be evangelized! And you are called to provide the Church with inspiration and ideas for that great work, drawing upon the highest standards of professionalism and the deepest resources of the Christian faith and Catholic tradition."

"We have nothing to offer but Jesus, the one mediator between God and man. To evangelize is simply to enable Him to be seen and heard, for we know that if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man. Therefore I urge you, in all your planning, to make room for Christ. In the print media, in radio and television, in the world of cinema and the internet, seek to open doors to Him who so mercifully is the door of salvation for us. Then the mass media will be a world of genuine communication, a world not of illusion but of truth and joy."

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