IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile, Chile, on April 9, aged 91.
- Archbishop Donato Ugo Bianchi of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, on April 5, aged 69.
- Bishop John Linus Paschang, emeritus of Grand Island, United States of America, on March 21, aged 103.
- Bishop Manuel Antonio Pires, emeritus of Kwito-Ble, Angola, on April 3, aged 84.
- Bishop Vartan Tekeyan of Ispahan of the Armenians, Iran, on April 12, aged 78.
.../DEATHS/... VIS 990420 (90)

POPE AND THE WHOLE CHURCH PRAY FOR PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father to Archbishop Franc Perko of Belgrade, president of the Episcopal Conference of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which he expresses his spiritual closeness and the prayer of the whole Church for all those who suffer because of the war.

"It is with deep sorrow that I am following each and every day the worsening of the tragic humanitarian situation in the various regions of Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo. With special affection I am particularly close to the pastors and faithful of the Catholic communities, as well as to all people of good will who are making efforts to aid those who are suffering most at this time, because they have been deprived of the love of their families, forcefully made to leave their homes and unjustly made to live far from their land.

"At the same time, I wish to assure you, by dear Brother, and all the bishops of Yugoslavia that this Apostolic See will continue in its commitment to peace, so that these people, especially those in Kosovo, who have been so sorely tried, might be spared further suffering.

"Finally, all those responsible for national and international life must be reminded that the path of dialogue is always possible and that such a way can always lead to honorable solutions among the various parties, in the respect of men and women from the same land, who are all children of the same heavenly Father.

"Such is the prayer, at this tragic time, of the entire Church, who is closer than ever to you, invoking the Lord with a single voice, that He might soon let the star of peace shine on your beloved land, in the respect for the rights of every creature of God."

JPII-LETTER;WAR YUGOSLAVIA;...;PERKO;VIS;19990420;Word: 310;

POPE ENCOURAGES RENEWED MISSIONARY ZEAL

VATICAN CITY, APR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Pope this morning received 500 pilgrims from the Italian diocese of Vigevano, which recently held a synod, and expressed the hope that there might be "renewed missionary enthusiasm throughout the entire diocesan community" as a fruit of the work of these last three years.

Addressing the Church community of Vigevano, John Paul II said: "Do not be daunted by the great challenges of the present day! Advance with trust on the path of the new evangelization, working with love at the service of the poor and giving courageous witness in the various realities of society today."

"During the work of the synod, you dedicated special attention to young people and the family. Continue supporting and helping families so that they become authentic communities of life and love. ... Do not spare your energy on the Christian formation of children, adolescents and young people. They need valid points of reference, therefore be examples of coherence in your human and Christian lives. Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are born and developed in a context of faithfulness to the Gospel."

The Holy Father recalled that, during the synod there was also a concern to "bring the living proclamation of the Gospel to those who are 'far away', without being afraid of measuring yourselves against the challenges of post-modern culture." He exhorted them to continue to "use every useful instrument for this."

AC;...;...;DIOCESE VIGEVANO;VIS;19990419;Word: 240;

NEW SAINTS LOVED CHRIST IN NEEDIEST BROTHERS AND SISTERS

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 1999 (VIS) - During the Mass this morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope canonized Blesseds Marcellin Joseph Benoit Champagnat, Giovanni Calabria and Agostina Livia Pietrantoni.

The new saints, said the Holy Father in his homily, "adored and welcomed Christ in the Eucharist, loved him in their most needy brothers and sisters, recognized the imprints of his plan of salvation in the events of daily life."

St. Marcellin, French priest of the Society of Mary, founder of the Institute of the Little Brothers of Mary (Marist Brothers of the Schools), "was sensitive to the spiritual and educational needs of his time, especially concerning religious ignorance and situations of abandonment which youth knew particularly well." He added that "Fr. Champagnat is also a model for parents and teachers, he helps them to look at young people with hope, and to love them totally, encouraging a true human, moral and spiritual formation."

John Paul II said that, in St. Giovanni Calabria, Italian priest and founder of the Congregations of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence (male and female branches), "shine forth ardent faith, true charity, a spirit of sacrifice, love of poverty, zeal for souls and faithfulness to the Church."

Referring to the Italian St. Agostina, of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jeanne Anthide Thouret, virgin, he said: "The Gospel ideal of love for one's neighbor, particularly for the most needy, the sick and the abandoned, also led Agostina to holiness. ... Ready to make any sacrifice, and as a heroic witness of charity, she paid with her own blood the price of faithfulness to Love."

At the end of Mass, and before praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope said: "Mary, whom we invoke as Queen of Peace, in these days of great concern for the conflict in Yugoslavia, give us the precious gift of peace especially for that beloved martyred land which is suffering. May the strength of peaceful co-existence and dialogue prevail over ethnic cleansing and the violence of arms!"

HML;CANONIZATION;...;...;VIS;19990419;Word: 350;

EXHIBITION ON PAUL VI AND LETTER FROM POPE TO ARTISTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 17, 1999 (VIS) - On Thursday April 22 at 11:30 a.m., Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, will present at the Holy See Press Office the exhibition "Paul VI - A Light for Art."

On Friday April 23 at 10:30 a.m., Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, will present at the Holy See Press Office "John Paul II's Letter to Artists."

OP;PRESS CONFERENCES;...;SZOKA; POUPARD;VIS;19990419;Word: 80;