POPE'S SCHEDULE FOR VISIT TO SHRINE IN POMPEII

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2003 (VIS) - On Tuesday, October 7 Pope John Paul will depart Vatican City at 9 a.m. by helicopter for a visit of several hours to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, near Naples, Italy. The one-hour flight will bring the Pope to a heliport set up near the archeological ruins of the ancient city, from where he will travel by car to Bartolo Longo Square in Pompeii.

Following his arrival at 10:30 at the basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, the Holy Father will recite the rosary for peace in the world with the faithful gathered outside the church, and will deliver a homily. He will then recite the supplication to Our Lady as is traditionally done every year on May 8 and in October when thousands of faithful gather at the shrine for the Feast of the Supplication to petition favors and to offer thanksgiving for favors received.

After greeting the civil and religious authorities present at the shrine, the Pope will return to the heliport and is scheduled to leave at 12:30 for Vatican City, arriving one hour later.

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MASS FOR DECEASED POPES PAUL VI AND JOHN PAUL I

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2003 (VIS) - On Saturday September 27 at 6 p.m. on the Altar of the Confession in the Vatican Basilica, the Pope will preside at Mass on the 25th anniversary of the death of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, will celebrate the Mass along with the other cardinals. The Pope will give the homily, lead the prayers of the faithful, and impart his apostolic blessing.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Eight prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines:

- Bishop Guillermo V. Afable of Digos, with Bishop emeritus Generoso C. Camina, P.M.E.

- Bishop Patricio H. Alo of Mati.

- Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz of Tagum.

- Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales of Manila, diocesan administrator of Lipa, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jose Paala Salazar, O.P.

- Bishop Jose F. Oliveros.

- Bishop Antonio Palang, S.V.D., apostolic vicar of San Jose in Mindoro.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS, WORLD TOURISM DAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2003 (VIS) - This year on September 26-28 the Holy See will participate in the "European Heritage Days," an initiative promoted by the European Council which is made up of more than 40 countries. This year's theme is: "The Monastic heritage - symbiosis of spirituality and artistic creativity as a principle channel for the birth of the European identity."
On the occasion of these celebrations, a musical meditation, performed by the Benedictine monks from St. Anselm's Pontifical Athenaeum, is scheduled to take place in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday September 26 at 6 p.m.

On Saturday September 27, World Tourism Day will be celebrated. Its theme is: "Tourism: driving element in the fight against poverty for the creation of employment and social harmony." On this day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be guided visits to the archives of the Vatican Basilica which are normally closed to the public.

As part of World Tourism Day celebrations, on Sunday September 28, entrance to the Vatican Museums and the catacombs of Rome will be free. In addition, in the catacombs of St. Callistus a special didactic exhibition entitled "Monasticism and the Catacombs" will be inaugurated and will remain open until October 28. An exhibition in the Vatican Museums, "Monastic Cultural Heritage - From The Manuscripts of the Vatican Apostolic Library to the Christian Roots of Europe" will be unveiled and open to the public until November 8.

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BISHOPS OF UGANDA WELCOMED AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2003 (VIS) - Today at Castelgandolfo, the Pope welcomed the bishops of Uganda who have been in Rome since September 10 on their quinquennial "ad limina" visit. "The last time the Ugandan Bishops were here as a body," he remarked, "there was but one ecclesiastical province in your country; now there are four metropolitan sees counting a total of 19 dioceses. This is a very positive sign of the work being done for Christ, the building up of His Church in your country."

The Pope then noted that "sadly, parts of your country are currently embroiled in situations of armed conflict and anarchy. In the north especially, the bane of warfare is bringing untold misery, suffering and death, striking out even at the Church and targeting her ministers and her children. In the west and the northeast too, episodes of violence and hostility afflict the land, draining the life and energies of your people. Assuring you and your people of my spiritual closeness in these dire circumstances, I join you in condemning every act of bloodshed and destruction."

"As Bishops," John Paul II continued, "you have a serious duty to address issues of particular importance for the social, economic, political and cultural life of your country, to make the Church ever more effectively present in those areas. Working out the implications of the Gospel for Christian life in the world and applying it to new situations is crucial to your ecclesial leadership."

He encouraged their work in health care, education, and development, saying "these serve to show clearly the Church's commitment to the integral well-being of her sons and daughters and of all Ugandans regardless of religious creed. Worthy of particular mention are the various HIV/AIDS initiatives that, in complete harmony with the Church's teaching, seek to assist those affected by this disease and to keep the public duly informed about it."

The Pope underscored that "if the Church is to assume her proper place in Ugandan society, suitable formation of the laity must be a priority in your mission as preachers and teachers," particularly their involvement "in the life of the parish and diocese, in pastoral and administrative structures. ... Especially important in this same context are efforts aimed at overcoming tribal conflicts and ethnic tensions; for such rivalries have no place in the Church of Christ and serve only to weaken the overall fabric of society."

The Holy Father encouraged "a renewal of the Christian community and of society that passes by way of the family," because a strong "communion of persons in the family is the great antidote to the self-indulgence and sense of isolation so prevalent today."

He added that "in seeking to meet the challenges of the future, attention to young people remains of paramount importance. ... A strong commitment to Catholic schools is a particularly effective way of ensuring the proper formation of Ugandan youth. ... It is important also to continue to seek ways to bring sound moral and religious teaching to the public schools as well, and to promote in public opinion a consensus regarding the importance of such training."

"We cannot fail," said Pope John Paul, "to give thanks for the vocations with which you are blessed." He commented on the work done by priests, the bishops' "closest co-workers. ... With regard to the loneliness that can sometimes accompany the pastoral ministry, your priests should be encouraged, as much as the local situation permits, to live in common and direct their efforts entirely towards the sacred ministry." He also had praise for the communities of men and women religious in Uganda, as well as the numerous catechists.

"Walk always," the Holy Father concluded, "with those entrusted to your pastoral care, showing them a father's love, especially those suffering the scourge of violence, the pain of AIDS, the affliction of any other of a host of situations bringing hardship and difficulty."

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