PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 14, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father addressed to Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council of Culture, on the 20th anniversary of the creation of this dicastery.

"From the beginning of my pontificate," writes the Pope in the message dated May 13, "I have taken advantage of every opportunity to underline the importance of dialogue between the Church and cultures. ... I would like to thank this pontifical council, that I created on May 20, 1982, for the help it has offered me in this field, so important for the missionary activity of the Church."

John Paul II encourages the members of the dicastery to "continue the path that has been undertaken so that the voice of the Holy See reaches the diverse areopaghi of modern culture, maintaining useful contacts with experts in art and science, in humanities and philosophy."

"In the ecclesiastical and intercultural gatherings of science, culture, education," he concludes, "may you constantly strive to give testimony to the Church's interest in fruitful dialogue of the Gospel of Christ with cultures and an active participation of Catholics in building a society that is ever-more respectful of the human person, who is created in the image of God."

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HOLY FATHER TO CANONIZE FIVE BLESSEDS ON PENTECOST

VATICAN CITY, MAY 14, 2002 (VIS) - On Sunday, May 19, the solemnity of Pentecost, Pope John Paul II will celebrate the Eucharist in St. Peter's Square, during which he will canonize five Blesseds.

The future saints are: Alonso de Orozco, priest, of the Order of St. Augustine; Ignazio da Santhia (Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti), priest, of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins; Umile da Bisignano (Luca Antonio Pirozzo), religious, of the Order of Friars Minor; Paulina do Coracao Agonizante de Jesus (Amabile Lucia Visintainer), virgin, foundress of the Sisters of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception; Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello, religious, foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence.

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PAPAL ENVOY TO FIRST PLENARY COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH IN SLOVENIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was the Pope's letter, written in Latin and dated April 28, in which he names Cardinal Jozef Tomko as his special envoy for the solemn promulgation of the Acts of the first Plenary Council of the Church in Slovenia. It will take place on May 18 in Ljubljana.

Msgr. Borut Kosir, president of the Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Tribunal and professor of Canon Law on the faculty of Theology in Ljubjlana, and Fr. Bogdan Kolar, S.D.B., professor of Church History on the faculty of Theology in Ljubjlana, will accompany Cardinal Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples.

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JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM BULGARIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed Bulgaria's foreign minister, Solomon Passy, and the delegation he led to the Vatican on the occasion of the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Also present during this traditional encounter was Metropolitan Kalinik, who greeted the Pope on behalf of Patriarch Maxim.

John Paul II spoke of his imminent trip to Bulgaria, and said that "while my visit to your country will have a pastoral purpose, that of confirming my Catholic brothers and sisters in their faith, it is also my fervent desire to strengthen the bonds of Christian communion between the Catholic Church and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Our encounter will surely help Bulgaria to consolidate its Christian foundations at a time when the old order has gone and a new life is taking shape for your country."

The Pope noted that the vision of Saints Cyril and Methodius "was a vision of unity within diversity, of freedom tied to truth, of hope in the face of every affliction. In visiting Bulgaria I shall be visiting the people born of their witness and meeting the culture which embodies the soul of their teachings."

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GREETING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN STUDENT MARATHON

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2002 (VIS) - At 9:30 a.m., the Holy Father appeared at the window of his private study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to greet participants - the students of Catholic schools in Rome and Lazio - in the 22nd edition of the Spring Marathon.

Organized during the holidays of Roman Catholic schools, "this act," said the Holy Father, "brings together students, teachers, collaborators, former students and all those who help Catholic schools, in order to live a moment of happiness and fraternity, with the desire to give visibility to a social and educational reality, committed to carrying out a project of formation inspired by the Gospel."

"I urge the different Catholic schools of Rome to persevere with courage and dedication in their important mission to the service of young generations. He concluded by saying, "I hope, at the same time, that the steps already initiated on the way of effective equality between public and private schools can reach a good end."

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