POPE RECEIVES AZNAR OF SPAIN AND KHATAMI OF IRAN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 2003 (VIS) - The following declaration by the Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, was released this afternoon concerning the visit to the Holy Father by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and by Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khatami, vice president of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly:

"This morning, February 27 2003, the Holy Father received in a private audience Jose Maria Aznar, prime minister of Spain who afterwards met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, who received him together with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"In this cordial conversation, which lasted a half hour, they agreed that the situation that has been created in Iraq is serious and that there must be a solution. The Holy Father hopes that all parties involved - without exception - will make just decisions and undertake peaceful initiatives that are efficacious and that conform to justice, inspired by international law and ethical principles.

"The head of the Spanish government explained the path of action followed up to now by Spain in the face of the Iraqi crisis, illustrating, in particular, the danger of terrorism and, therefore, the need for a common action on the part of the United Nations Organization. On these matters a convergence of positions with the Holy See was noted. And lastly, they examined several aspects of the European reality, with particular attention to the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.

"In the late morning His Holiness received Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khatami, vice president of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Afterwards he was received by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and by Archbishop Tauran of Relations for States.

"The talks allowed for an exchange of opinions on the need to safeguard peace in the Middle East region. On this very serious subject, Vice President Khatami brought a message from President Mohamad Khatami to the Holy Father. There was then a productive dialogue concerning the living conditions and activities of the Catholic communities in the country."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Jose Maria Aznar Lopez, president of the government of Spain, and an entourage.

- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Romania, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucarest.

- Bishop Alexandru Mesian of Lugoj of the Romans.

- Bishop Jozsef Tempfli of Oradea Mare of the Latins.
- Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khatami, vice-president of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, and an entourage.

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CONSISTORY FOR CAUSES OF CANONIZATION SET FOR MARCH 7

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 2003 (VIS) - On Friday, March 7, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, during the Sixth Hour, there will be an ordinary public consistory for the canonization of 12 Blesseds, according to an announcement today from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. The notification, dated February 22, feast of the Chair of Peter, was given by mandate of the Holy Father.

The 12 causes of canonization are for the following Blesseds:
1. Pedro Poveda Castroverde, priest, martyr, founder of the Teresian Association;

2. Jozef Sebastian Pelczar, bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus;

3. Daniele Comboni, bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Combonian Holy Mother Missionary Sisters of Nigrizia;

4. Arnold Janssen, priest, founder of the Society of the Divine Word, the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit and the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration;

5. Jose Maria Rubio y Peralta, priest, of the Society of Jesus;

6. Joseph Freinademetz, priest, of the Society of the Divine Word;

7. Urszula Ledochowska, nee Julia Maria, virgin, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony;

8. Genoveva Torres Morales, virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Holy Angels;

9. Maria de Mattias, virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Adoring Sisters of the Blood of Christ;

10. Angela de la Cruz, nee Maria de los Angeles Guerrero Gonzalez, virgin, foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross;

11. Virginia Centurione Bracelli, widow, foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mt. Calvary;

12. Maria Maravillas de Jesus, nee Pidal y Chico de Guzman, virgin, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.

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PROGRAM FOR ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 26, 2003 (VIS) - A prayer service, procession and Eucharistic liturgy will mark the start of Lent next week with Pope John Paul taking part in the Ash Wedsnday services on March 5.

At 5 p.m. there will be a prayer service in the church of St. Anselm on the Aventine Hill, and then a penitential procession to the basilica of St. Sabina in which cardinals, archbishops, bishops, the Benedictine monks of St. Anselm's and the Dominican Fathers of St. Sabina and a number of faithful will take part.
The Holy Father will preside at the Liturgy of the Word in St. Sabina's Basilica, deliver a homily and officiate at the rite of the blessing and imposition of ashes. At the end of Mass he will impart the apostolic blessing. Cardinal Jozef Tomko will celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy.

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PSALM 150: A SIMPLE AND CONSTANT CALL TO PRAISE GOD

VATICAN CITY, FEB 26, 2003 (VIS) - The catechesis of today's general audience in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 6,500 pilgrims, was dedicated to Psalm 150, which Pope John Paul called "a text of marvelous simplicity and transparency." He said "we must only let ourselves be drawn by its insistent appeal to praise the Lord."

He noted that the Psalm asks us to praise God "in His sanctuary" and "in His mighty firmament." God is thus both "far from our horizon" and yet "close to us. ... Between heaven and earth, therefore, is almost established a channel of communication in which the action of the Lord and the hymn of praise of the faithful meet. The liturgy unites two shrines, the earthly temple and infinite heaven, God and man, time and eternity."

"It is necessary," the Pope affirmed, "to discover and constantly live the beauty of prayer and the liturgy. We must pray to God not only with theologically exact formulas, but also in a beautiful and dignified way.

"In this regard, the Christian community must examine its conscience so that the beauty of music and song return even more to liturgy. We must purify worship from an aberration of styles, of careless forms of expression, of slipshod music and texts that are barely in harmony with the greatness of the act we celebrate."

John Paul II said that "Psalm 150 is a festive hymn, a great 'alleluia' sung to the Lord. Every living being is invited to join in the song of praise. All men and women are called to sing a hymn of gratitude to the Creator for the gift of their existence."

The Pope remarked that "St. Augustine sees the various musical instruments as symbols representing the saints: God's holy people are the trumpets, the cymbals, the tympani, the strings, the flutes, all the instruments that produce a harmony of beautiful sounds. Every spirit that praises God is a voice raised in song: this is the music most pleasing to our Creator."

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