JESUS IS BORN FOR A HUMANITY SEARCHING FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II celebrated midnight mass in the Vatican Basilica for the solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

In the homily, the Pope said that "Jesus is born for a humanity searching for freedom and peace; he is born for everyone burdened by sin, in need of salvation, and yearning for hope. On this night God answers the ceaseless cry of the peoples: 'Come, Lord, save us!' His eternal Word of love has taken on our mortal flesh."

He continued "The Word has entered into time: Emmanuel. God-with-us, is born. In cathedrals and great Basilicas, as well as in the smallest and remotest churches throughout the world, Christians joyfully lift up their song: 'Today is born our Saviour'."

The Holy Father went on, "This is the icon of Christmas: a tiny newborn child, whom the hands of a woman wrap in poor cloths and lay in a manger. Who could imagine that this little human being is the 'Son of the Most High'? Only she, his Mother, knows the truth and guards its mystery. (...) We too - the men and women of the third millennium - are able to encounter Christ and to gaze upon him through the eyes of Mary. Christmas night thus becomes a school of faith and of life."

The Pope emphasized that "The Child laid in a lowly manger: this is God's sign. (...) It is a sign of hope for the whole human family; a sign of peace for those suffering from conflicts of every kind; a sign of freedom for the poor and oppressed; a sign of mercy for those caught up in the vicious circle of sin; a sign of love and consolation for those who feel lonely and abandoned." He concluded, "A small and fragile sign, a humble and quiet sign, but one filled with the power of God who out of love became man."

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"URBI ET ORBI": A CALL FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope addressed the traditional Christmas message to the faithful present in St. Peter's Square and to impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

Some extracts of the message are given below:

"Christmas is a mystery of love! The love of the Father, who has sent into the world his only-begotten Son, to bestow on us the gift of his own life. (...) In the cold stable, wrapped in silence, the Virgin Mother, with prophetic intuition, already tastes the violent drama of Calvary, the traumatic struggle between darkness and light, between death and life, between hatred and love. The Prince of Peace, born today in Bethlehem, will give his life on Golgotha, so that love may reign on earth."
"Christmas is a mystery of peace! From the cave of Bethlehem there rises today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds uncertainties and fears. Believers of all religions, together with men and women of good will, by outlawing all forms of intolerance and discrimination, are called to build peace: in the Holy Land, above all, to put an end once and for all to the senseless spiral of blind violence, and in the Middle East, to extinguish the ominous smouldering of a conflict which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided; in Africa too, where devastating famines and tragic internal conflicts are aggravating the already precarious conditions of entire peoples, although here and there signs of hope are present; in Latin America, in Asia, in other parts of the world, where political, economic and social crises disturb the serenity of many families and nations. May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!"

"Adorable mystery of the Incarnate Word! Together with you, O Virgin Mother, may we stop and reflect at the manger where the Child lies. (...) Teach us to recognize his face in the children of every race and culture. Help us to be credible witnesses of his message of peace and love, so that the men and women of our own time, still torn by conflicts and unspeakable violence, may also recognize in the Child cradled in your arms the one Saviour of the world, the endless source of that true peace for which every heart profoundly yearns."

The Pope extended Christmas greetings in 62 languages after the message.

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SERENITY, HARMONY AND LOVE IN ALL FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29 2002 (VIS) - Before celebrating the Angelus with the faithful congregated in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope spoke about today's feast dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, "admirable model of human and supernatural virtues for all Christian families."

The Holy Father exclaimed, "How I would like to see the serenity, harmony and love of the home of Nazareth in today's families! With insisting prayer I ask the Lord that all Christian parents be aware of their irrefutable duty towards their children as well as towards society. We expect them to give true and efficacious evangelical witness.

John Paul II pointed out that "A united family, following the path of these principles, will be able to easily overcome the difficulties it will encounter. Within the faithful parental love, a gift to be nourished and safeguarded continuously, the children may find the best conditions to mature, helped by Jesus, who 'increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man'."

He continued: "We entrust today the families of the entire world to the Holy Family of Nazareth, especially those undergoing great suffering or difficulties. In a special way I would like to place under the particular protection of the Holy Virgin, Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus, the IV World Family Meeting, which will take place in Manila, Philippines, from January 22 to the 26. The theme chosen - 'The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium' - expresses the mission of each Christian family and the trust the Church places in them. May this important appointment bring forth the hoped-for spiritual fruits for the Church and for all of humanity!"

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CLONING OF A HUMAN: CONDEMNATION BY THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28 2002 (VIS) - The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following declaration this morning regarding the announcement of the supposed cloning of a human being in the United States:

"The announcement, made without any proof, has already given rise to skepticism and moral condemnation by the international scientific community.

"The announcement itself is an expression of a brutal mentality, lacking any ethical or human consideration."

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CONSULTATION OF THE VATICAN ARCHIVES UP TO 1939

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2002 (VIS) - Today, a notice was made public stating that from February 15, 2003 researchers will be allowed to consult the documents of the Vatican Secret Archive pertaining to the relations between the Holy See and Germany between 1922-1939, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI.

The catalogues that may be viewed are the following: Extraordinary Ecclesiastic Affairs, Bavaria (1922-1939), Germany (1922-1939), Vatican Secret Archive, Archive of the Apostolic Nunciature of Berlin (1922-1930). This last archive was severely damaged in 1945 because of the Berlin bombings and the fire at the Palace of the Apostolic Nunciature. For this reason, the documents relative to the years from 1931 to 1934 were practically completely destroyed or disappeared.

The notice ends by mentioning that the documents pertaining to National Socialism and the condemnation of racism may be found in the Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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