PAPAL MESSAGE, GIFT TO NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the cathedral of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan Douglas Williams, was solemnly enthroned as the new archbishop of Canterbury. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity represented the Holy See at this ceremony for the new primate of All England and president of the Anglican Communion.

Also in attendance were Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, and the Catholic co-presidents of the two official organisms of dialogue with the Anglican Communion: The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM).

A meeting was held today between Archbishop Williams of Canterbury and Cardinal Kasper, who presented the former with a Message from Pope John Paul II as well as a pectoral cross from the Pope to mark this occasion.

The Holy Father, in his Message, offered "sentiments of joy and cordial esteem" to Archbishop Williams as well as "prayerful best wishes" on the occasion of his enthronement.

"You begin your ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury," notes the Pope, "at a painful and tense moment in history, a moment nonetheless marked by hope and promise. Marred by long-standing and seemingly relentless conflicts, the world stands on the brink of yet another war. The dignity of the human person is being threatened and undermined in various ways. Whole populations, especially the most vulnerable, are living amidst fear and danger. At times the ardent and legitimate human longing for freedom and security manifests itself through the wrong means, means which themselves are violent and destructive. It is precisely amidst these tensions and difficulties of our world that we are called to serve."

"In recent decades," John Paul II observed, "our predecessors have developed an increasingly close relationship, even bonds of affection, through constructive dialogue and close communication. ... Despite disagreements and obstacles, we are still on that path, and irrevocably committed to it."

He concludes his Message by affirming that "we are both aware that overcoming divisions is no easy task, and that full communion will come as a gift of the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit prods and guides us even now to continue to seek a resolution in remaining areas of doctrinal disagreement, and to engage more profoundly in common witness and mission."

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POPE THANKS ST. PETER'S CIRCLE FOR UNSTINTING CHARITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today welcomed 30 members of the presidency of St. Peter's Circle, and thanked them for their assistance during liturgical celebrations in St. Peter's Basilica, their cooperation in the new evangelization in Rome and their solidarity with the poor, marginalized, ill and needy. He also noted that their spiritual director, Bishop Ettore Cunial, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

Members of St. Peter's Circle for the past 130 years have dedicated themselves to professing their faith through works of charity and assistance, such as volunteering in soup kitchens in Rome. They meet annually on or near the February 22 feast of the Chair of Peter and present their financial offering, Peter's Pence, to the Holy Father to assist him in his ministry to the Universal Church.

John Paul II pointed out "the well known and growing needs of the apostolate, of the ecclesial community, especially in mission lands, the requests for help that come from populations, individuals and families that live in precarious conditions. So many await support from the Apostolic See that often they do not find elsewhere."

"Seen this way, Peter's Pence is a true and real participation in evangelization," the Pope said, and "a concrete sharing in the concerns of the Universal Church."

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ITALIAN VOLUNTEER GROUP UNITALSI CELEBRATES CENTENARY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Message to Msgr. Luigi Moretti, spiritual director of the National Italian Union for the Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines, on the occasion of UNITALSI's national meeting in Rimini, Italy, to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Message was dated February 26.

The Pope said it was "meaningful that this anniversary falls in the Year of the Rosary, given that the origins of UNITALSI are tied to the Marian Shrine of Lourdes. It was precisely in that place, blessed with Mary's presence, that your founder, Giovanni Battista Tornassi, found light and comfort. He had gone to the grotto at Massabielle with the intention of taking his life, following a physical and spiritual suffering that had wasted him away, but he was struck by the loving and disinterested work of the volunteers. He also had a clear awareness of his own vocation to serve those who suffer, a vocation that was supported and encouraged by the secretary of the bishop who led that pilgrimage, Father Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, today elevated to the honor of the altars."

The Holy Father expressed his appreciation to the UNITALSI volunteers, saying that, thanks to them, many people have gone to Lourdes and received from Mary "light and comfort" for their pain and trials.

Urging them to persevere in their work, he asked them "to proceed with generosity, disinterest and a spirit of service. Learn from the school of the Gospel to be workers of peace, justice and mercy wherever the Lord calls you. Answer God's love, strong in the awareness that He loved you first." He also asked them to do everything in the spirit of charity, rooted in prayer and the sacraments.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences six prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Romania on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Ioan Sisestean of Maramures of the Romanians.

- Bishop Virgil Bercea of Oradea Mare of the Romanians.

- Bishop Florentin Crihalmeanu of Cluj-Gherla of the Romanians.

- Bishop Martin Roos of Timisoara, accompanied by Msgr. Laszlo Attila Ardai, diocesan administrator of Satu Mare.

- Bishop Anton Cosa of Chisinau, Moldova.

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PRESS OFFICE: NO PLANS NOW FOR PAPAL TRIP TO MONGOLIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls told journalists this morning that "the president of the Republic of Mongolia, during his encounter in the Vatican on June 5, 2000, invited the Holy Father to visit his country. The inauguration of the Catholic cathedral in the capital city was put forth as a possible motive for the trip. At the moment there is neither a program nor a date for such a trip by the Holy Father."

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