CARING FOR THE SICK FULFILLS THE GOSPEL OF LOVE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 7, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father welcomed 700 participants in the 17th annual international conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Pastoral Ministry. The three-day conference began today in the Vatican on the theme "The Identity of Catholic Health Care Institutions."

The Pope said that this theme "has great importance for the life and mission of the Church" as she has "always associated assistance to and care of the sick ... with the proclamation of the Good News." He noted that many of the "saints of charity and hospitality, such as St. Camillus de Lellis, St. John of God, and Vincent de Paul" founded institutions for the sick which were precursors of modern hospitals. Catholic health care institutions, he added, are "the Church's answer in solidarity and charity to the mandate of the Lord Who sent the 12 Apostles to announce the Kingdom of God and heal the sick."

Pope John Paul thanked the participants for their "efforts to give a new stimulus to the International Federation of Catholic Hospitals, a valid body for answering in an ever better fashion the many questions faced by those who work in the world of health on many fronts."

"To completely understand the identity of (Catholic) health care institutions," stated the Holy Father, "we need to go to the heart of what the Church is, where the supreme law is love. Catholic health institutions thus become privileged witnesses to the charity of the Good Samaritan because, in caring for the sick, we fulfill the Lord's will and contribute to realizing the Kingdom of God. In this way they express their true ecclesial identity."

"In the Apostolic Letter 'Novo millennio ineunte', John Paul II said, "I recalled all those who are lacking even the most elementary medical care. The Church looks at these brothers and sisters of ours with particular concern."

He expressed the hope that "Catholic health care institutions and public ones might efficaciously collaborate, united in the common desire to serve man, especially the weakest and those who in fact are not supported socially."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 7, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, apostolic nuncio in the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Four prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Eastern Region II) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Serafim Fernandes de Araujo, archbishop of Belo Horizonte. - Archbishop Silvestre Luis Scandian of Vitoria, accompanied by auxiliary Bishop Helio Adelar Rubert.
- Archbishop Luciano Pedro Mendes de Almeida of Mariana.

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PSALM 97, A SONG OF PRAISE TO THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 2002 (VIS) - Today in the Paul VI Hall, in the presence of more than 7,000 pilgrims from around the world, Pope John Paul centered his weekly general audience catechesis on Psalm 97, saying it "is a song of praise to the Lord of the universe and of human history."

Psalm 97, he went on, "calls upon the people, and indeed all of creation, to rejoice and proclaim God's greatness." He noted that "there are four singers of this immense chorus of praise. ... The earth and its inhabitants, the sea, the rivers and the mountains all express their joy at the wonderful things the Lord has done for His Chosen People. The Psalm ends on a note of intense expectations: for the Lord will come to rule with justice and judge with truth."

The Pope remarked that this Psalm "is defined as a 'new song', which in biblical language means a perfect song, one that is full, solemn and accompanied by a festive musical show." He affirmed that "This is a colossal chorus, therefore, that has only one aim: to exalt the Lord, king and just judge. ... And this is our great hope and our prayer: 'Thy kingdom come!', a reign of peace, justice and serenity that brings back creation's original harmony."

He said that "God is at the center of the scene in all His majesty, while He effects salvation in history and is awaited to 'judge' the world and peoples. The Hebrew word for 'judgment' also means 'to govern': therefore we await the efficacious action of the Sovereign of all the earth, Who will bring peace and justice."

"Read in the perspective of the Old Testament," said the Holy Father in conclusion, "the Psalm proclaims that God saves His people and that all nations, seeing this, are admiring. On the other hand, in the Christian perspective, God works salvation in Christ, the Son of Israel; all nations see this and are invited to take advantage of this salvation as the Gospel 'is the power of God for the salvation of whoever believes'."

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THE EUCHARIST: SOURCE OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 2002 (VIS) - Early last evening the Holy Father received participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, who have been reflecting upon the theme of the next congress, "The Eucharist, Light and Life of the New Millennium," which will take place in October of 2004 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Pope recalled that the main objective of the committee is "'to make the Lord Jesus known and loved better in His Eucharistic mystery, center of the life of the Church and its mission for the salvation of the world'," as well as to promote international Eucharistic congresses periodically and to foster initiatives to increased devotion to the Eucharist.

The Eucharistic congresses are, he said, "a celebration of faith centered on Eucharistic Christ, in which the faithful, not only from a particular Church or one nation but also from many parts of the world, participate. The Church gathers around her Lord and her God."

In this sense, John Paul II continued, "the work of national delegates, who have been appointed by the respective authorities of Churches in the East and West, is more important than ever. They are called to sensitize their Churches to the theme of the international congress, especially during the period of preparation, so that it may be a source from which the fruits of life and communion flow in the specific Churches."

After emphasizing that the "Eucharist is a source of unity in the Church," the Pope said that the participation of the faithful from different places at an international Eucharistic congress "symbolizes unity and communion."

"The Eucharistic apostolate to which you dedicate yourselves with all your energies," he concluded, "is surely a response to the Lord's invitation: 'Duc in altum!' Persevere in it with commitment and passion, encouraging and spreading Eucharistic devotion in all your expressions."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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