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JANUARY 8

Spain celebrates V centennial of St. John of Avila's birth

Madrid, 8 (NE) Five hundred years after the birth of St. John of Avila, Patron saint of Spanish clergy, the Church in Spain is encouraging a campaign in order to make the saint's life more present among faithful. Among other initiatives within the frame of the celebration of the V centennial, the Spanish Bishops' Conference aims to give a new thrust to the promotion of the cause so that the Vatican may declare St. John of Avila Doctor of the Universal Church, as Madrid's ABC daily reported.

It was precisely for this reason that a few years ago the secretariat of "St. John of Avila" was created. Regarding the process that is being carried out in Rome to proclaim the Spanish saint as Doctor of the Church, ABC informed that the secretariat is finishing the required documentation, and at the same time is encouraging other Bishop Conferences, particularly those of Latin America, to support the cause.

Saint John of Avila was born in January 6 in Almodovar del Campo, in the jurisdiction of Toledo. His apostolic work was very varied and intense. His efforts of reforming the clergy of his time was especially important, convinced that the Catholic reform that the Council of Trento encouraged required saintly priests. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1894, and canonized by Pope Paul VI.

A recent message of the Spanish Bishops' Conference highlights its desire that "the saint of Avila may be today for the people of God -lay, consecrated and priests-, as he was in his time, master of evangelizers'." Within the activities programmed for the V centennial, a meeting of Spanish priests is scheduled for May 31. Towards the end of November, an international symposium on the saint will also take place. Besides these events, an edition of all his works is being prepared to be soon published.

Nuncio in Argentina calls to reconciliation during Jubilee

Buenos Aires, 8 (NE) The Apostolic Nuncio in Argentina, Archbishop Ubaldo Calabresi, sent a message to all Catholics in this country with occasion of the Holy Year 2000. Through a catholic radio program, the Archbishop stressed the need to thank God for the blessings received during 1999.

"We expect -pointed out Archbishop Calabresi- for this Holy Year to be, as Pope John Paul II said, a year of conversion for everyone. He manifested that the Holy Year was about returning to God the Father, waiting for us as His children in order to forgive our faults; a year of great pardon for He washes our offenses as we forgive our brothers."

The Papal Nuncio specially encouraged faithful in Argentina to live reconciliation during the Holy Year, inviting also to solidarity and Christian charity with the most needful. "Everyone should take advantage of this Holy Year in order to reconcile themselves with God... And for those people who are alone, sick, abandoned, without work, without a roof, to those handicapped, the Jubilee grants them a message of hope," the Nuncio affirmed.

Paraguay: national youth meeting to gather 10.000

Asuncion, 8 (NE) Next Tuesday January 11, the diocese of Saint John the Baptist of the Missions, in Paraguay, will be hosting a multitudinous youth meeting, that is expected to gather thousands of young people from of all over the country. The organizers of the event esteem that approximately 10,000 youth will be coming from diverse regions of the nation to attend the closing Mass of the meeting, presided by the Apostolic Nuncio, Antonio Lucibello, and concelebrated by the bishops of Paraguay. Youth of the diocese of Saint John the Baptist of the Missions are participating intensely in the preparation of the event. The meeting will begin on Tuesday with a Mass presided by Bishop Mario Melanio Medina in the local Cathedral. From January 11-14, the event will take place in the parishes of the diocese of Saint John the Baptist, moving on the 15th to Ayolas, where a Vigil will take place the evening before the closing Mass.

Bishop encourages faithful to active commitment with evangelization

Peoria, 8 (NE) More than 1500 faithful gathered last Sunday for a Mass presided by Bishop John J. Myers, of Peoria. The Mass was the first of six that Bishop Myers will offer at various locations around the diocese during January and February, celebrating the beginning of the Jubilee Year. During his homily, the Prelate told faithful gathered at Ottawa High School's Kingman Gymnasium that Catholics cannot practice only "defensive" measures meant to preserve their own faith -- they also must share the faith eagerly and joyfully with others. "A team can be good at defense, but if they are not good at offense, they are not going to win," Bishop Myers explained. "We need to reach out to people," he stressed. "We need to live so our lives would not make sense without Jesus Christ."

JANUARY 7

Pope ordains 12 new Bishops in feast of Epiphany

Vatican City, 7 (NE) Celebrating yesterday the feast of the Epiphany, Pope John Paul II ordained 12 new bishops during a Mass held in St. Peter's Basilica. The Holy Father called the new Bishops to "make Christ's light shine always in your hearts in your pastoral ministry". Of the 12 new Prelates, four will serve as Papal Nuncios, seven will be heading dioceses in different countries of the world, and one will maintain his current post as secretary of the prefecture of economic affairs for the Holy See. With yesterday's ordinations, the number of priests consecrated Bishops by Pope John Paul II rises to 290.

During the celebration, the Prelates were presented by Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, moments before the Pope's homily. "Around Bishops", the Holy Father recalled, "faithful from every part of the world gather spiritually". "May the star of the Epiphany never cease to shine in your hearts, so that you may show to people in the third millennium the path to truth, love and peace", said the Holy Father. Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope John Paul had ordained bishops every January 6.

Archbishop Chaput asks commitment and joy for Holy Year

Denver, 7 (NE) "Each year, we open our hearts for the Lord Jesus to be born new again in our lives", said Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, during a message addressed to faithful reflecting about Christmas and the Holy Year. In his message, the Prelate recalled that Pope John Paul II asked that "we prepare for the Jubilee through repentance and personal conversion, so that we might enter the new millennium with commitment and joy". Archbishop Chaput called Catholics in Denver to approach with a Christian view to the millennium now starting. "Even if some people approach the new millennium with anxiety, we Catholics should enter it with overwhelming joy -said the Archbishop-. Like the shepherds who were visited by angels on the first Christmas, we should be filled with awe and jubilation before God's boundless love and generosity. And we should be inspired to serve Him and each other with renewed zeal."

Rome: Latin American pilgrims are the most numerous

Rome, 7 (NE) Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, confirmed that the number of pilgrims visiting Rome has surpassed all expectations and estimates. The Vatican spokesman stated as well that most of the foreigners present in the Eternal City are pilgrims from Latin American countries, especially Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela.

"If one approaches the entrance of the Holy Door, one listens mainly to people speaking Italian and Spanish with Latin American accent," Navarro-Valls highlighted. He also pointed out that although the Great Jubilee has had a good beginning, the organization will have to improve during the course of the year. In relation to this, he urged for more organization among volunteers and more preventive information concerning jubilee events.

Navarro-Valls also praised the general attitude of Romans, who "have demonstrated possessing the know-how on receiving people and being flexible, something which occurs in very few cities in the world." Official numbers show that three million people have arrived to Rome since December 24.

Archbishop proposes Jesus as model for communicators

Mexico City, 7 (NE) During an annual encounter with communicators of the archdiocese, Archbishop Emilio Berlie of Yucatan, inaugurated the new offices for the archdiocese's Pastoral Commission of Communication. During the event, the Archbishop urged the representatives of the diverse means of communication to "encourage and ease the dialogue in society, promoting an active participation of the public in the construction of a new civilization founded on the love toward life, truth, beauty and unity. Such a noble task demands from the communicators not only a technical and scientific training, but, mainly, ethical, moral and spiritual formation." They must "always keep in mind in each decision -said Archbishop Berlie- the person of Jesus Christ, the perfect communicator, that with his coherence of words and life achieved the perfect communication between God and man and of men with each other."

Hundreds of pilgrims to pay homage to Padre Pio's relics during Holy Year

Rome, 7 (NE) Approximately three thousand pilgrims participated yesterday afternoon in the ceremony of opening of the door of the sanctuary of "Holy Mary of Grace", in St. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, where the relics of Blessed Padre Pio are kept. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to travel this year to the sanctuary, in the region of Foggia, to pay homage and ask for the intercession of Padre Pio.

As the Italian news agency ANSA informed, a procession of faithful headed by the Archbishop paid homage to the relics of the Blessed capuchin father, raised to the altars last year in one of the most attended ceremonies celebrated in the city of Rome. Yesterday's opening of the door of the shrine in St. Giovanni Rotondo was part of the activities on occasion of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in this region of Italy.

As a capuchin religious declared to ANSA, "this year we expected a greater number of pilgrims coming to pray over the tomb of Blessed Padre Pio. Our predictions have been confirmed by the thousands of faithful that this afternoon have waited in prayer for the opening of the door of the sanctuary."

JANUARY 6

Pope highlights Blessed Mary's maternal role

Vatican City, 6 (NE) Pope John Paul II stated yesterday that God's divine intention of love for humanity is especially demonstrated in Mary, the 'Beloved daughter of the Father.' Addressing pilgrims gathered at the Pope VI Hall for the first general audience of the year 2000, the Pope affirmed that when Jesus leaves His mother in Nazareth and later meets her again, He calls her "woman." He thus wishes to emphasize that "she is not just His biological mother, rather she has a mission to accomplish as 'daughter of Zion' and mother of the people of the 'New Covenant'."

After highlighting that the Virgin "is a model of one who listens and is compliant to the Word of God," the Pope recalled that "she took on the educational commitment implicit in the maternal role." Her behavior "surely exercised an influence on Jesus' conduct," while at the same time she allowed herself "to be influenced and formed by her Son." The Pope concluded his catechesis emphasizing that the role fulfilled by Mary today is "to help the Church to follow, as she did, the footsteps of Christ."

Bishop of Arlington calls to imitate Mary during Holy Year

Washington, 6 (NE) "If we truly imitate Mary, the Mother of God, the 'God-Bearer', then this New Year, this Holy Year of the Great Jubilee, will be a time of great blessings and divine mercy," stated Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington, during a homily delivered last January 1. Addressing faithful, he recalled that the "Solemnity of the Mother of God is the most ancient Marian Feast in the Church's history," and affirmed that "Mary, the Mother of God, stands before us on this first day of the New Year, of the Year 2000, as a model for us to imitate." Let's open wide the doors of our life to the Lord Jesus, as She did, and "allow Christ to become visible and present through us," he further said. Bishop Loverde also echoed the Pontiff's prayer for the Jubilee 2000, and asked the Father to "grant that we may live this Jubilee Year docile to the voice of the Spirit, faithful to the way of Christ, diligent in listening to your Word and in approaching the wellsprings of grace."

Philippines: Bishops express concern over gambling in casinos

Manila, 6 (NE) The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) recently expressed its concern for the negative effects that the increase of gambling in casinos is having on society. Msgr. Hernando M. Coronel, CBCP's spokesman, said that the Church in this country stands firm against all forms gambling - be it 'legal or illegal, local or foreign'.

Msgr. Coronel referred specially to the arrival of a floating casino, transferred and arrived in Manila last December 31, just as Macao, the Portuguese territory at the mouth of the Pearl river, was turned over backed to China. "The CBCP has previously expressed its concern and alarm over society's eventually developing the 'luck' mentality with the already numerous existing forms of gambling. Do we really need to import another one?" Msgr. Coronel said.

The spokesman for the Bishop's Conference also stated that the CBCP believes that the rampant accessibility and rise of gambling enterprises will simultaneously lead to the rise of other vices, crime and corruption. "We don't really need this. What we need is an effective order or system of building revenues which will lead the people to an 'industrious mentality'. This is what the people needs-hard work and not playing loser's games," he further added.

Archbishop recalls will for peace among Honduran and Nicaraguan people

Managua, 6 (NE) Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, Archbishop of Managua, highlighted the strong will for a lasting peace among both the Honduran and the Nicaraguan people. In declarations to "El Nuevo Diario" after the Mass celebrated in the Marian Shrine in Dipilto -where thousands of Nicaraguans and Hondurans gathered last January 3 for a common prayer for peace, together with bishops from both countries- is an indicative that both nations want peace.

"They understand that the peace is a gift of God, and it is necessary to pray in order to reach it," the Cardinal stated, remembering the thousands of pilgrims of both nations that attended the celebration. He also assured that the Catholic Church and international organisms are going to play key roles in the construction of peace among the two Central American countries.

Pointing out the importance of a combined work in order to solve the territorial problems between Honduras and Nicaragua, Cardinal Obando Bravo affirmed that peace doesn't depend on one particular person, "but on the whole of the nation, especially those in charge of mass media, that plays an essential role in the construction of peace."

Jubilee, "time of authentic reconciliation," says Bishop to Costa Ricans

San Jose, 6 (NE) Within the frame of the Great Jubilee of Year 2000, the Bishop of the Diocese of Limon, Costa Rica, Francisco Ulloa Rojas, addressed faithful pointing out that the Jubilee is "a time of authentic reconciliation." "We prepare ourselves to cross -he pointed- the threshold of this time of grace and reconciliation, in which we want to celebrate with happiness and gratitude the 2000 years of the Incarnation of the Son of God in the Immaculate womb of the Virgin Mary."

Bishop Ulloa referred as well to the Jubilee as a "favorable time in order to reaffirm our faith and to rediscover the true friendship with the Lord. It is an opportunity to break away with everything that prevents us from living in peace with ourselves, with God and with others." The Bishop's message closed with a plea to Mary "the first to shelter the Son of God and with loving faith to present Him", so that She may "help us all to open our hearts wide open to Christ, our Redeemer."

JANUARY 5

Number of pilgrims visiting Rome exceeds expectations

Rome, 5 (NE) After more than ten days since the beginning of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, thousands of pilgrims continue crossing the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica and also the Holy Doors of the St. John Lateran and Saint Mary Maggiore Basilicas. Long cues can be seen before St. Peter, with families, groups of persons and pilgrims from different countries waiting to cross the threshold of the Holy Door in order to gain plenary indulgence, in the spirit of what Pope John Paul II has asked for this Jubilee year. According to numbers given by the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, a million four hundred thousand people have already visited the city of Rome for religious motives, since Christmas vigil up to last Monday. This confirms that the average number of pilgrims estimated some months ago -ninety thousand per day during the Holy Year visiting Rome-, has been greatly exceeded.

Bishop's meeting in Asia aims to renew commitment with evangelization

Rome, 5 (NE) Aiming to renew the life of the Church in Asia at the threshold of the XXIst century, the Seventh Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) began this week in Sampran, Thailand. The FABC is composed of all the Episcopal Conferences in Asia.

Delegations of Bishops attending the assembly will reflect upon a "A Renewed Church in Asia: A Mission of Love and Service." The encounter of bishops, which began last January 3, will finish next 12th. Family and youth are among the themes to be discussed.

Cardinal Josef Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, was present during the opening ceremony of the meeting. "The Church in Asia -said the Vatican Cardinal- feels as well the urge to give witness of Jesus Christ." "Evangelization, the proclamation of the Good News," he added, "is integral part of the mandate we receive from Christ, not only to confess his Name, but to give active witness of his Name." This is "the challenge that you, shepherds of the faithful in Asia, are called to face," affirmed Cardinal Tomko.

The Seventh Plenary Assembly of the FABC will be the first held after the Synod of Bishops Special Assembly for Asia, which took place in Rome last year, and the release of the Holy Father's Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia only last November

Last stage of preparations for Sacred Art Museum in Mexico

Mexico City, 5 (NE) After several years of construction and preparation, the "Sacred Art Museum of Yucatan" (Mexico) will be finally inaugurated this year, museum organizers informed this week. The museum to be opened in the first half of the year 2000 will be "not only 'expositive', but also educative: the contents will reflect the importance of sacred art and relevant aspects of Catholicism."

The Archdiocese of Yucatan, private investment, local government and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) will establish a fund to run the museum. "The works that will be exhibited permanently at the museum," it was informed, "will be property of the Archdiocese; but there will also be temporary expositions."

The museum will hold important paintings, sculptures, images, liturgical vestments, tools and sacred objects, together with bibliographical works and different religious documents. "The museum will be complemented with models and replicas of different religious buildings, in order to appreciate the architectonic and historical development of these constructions since the XVI century," informed organizers.

Cardinal O'Connor returns to work

New York, 5 (NE) Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, returned Monday to his office, for his first regular workday there after suffering brain surgery in August last year, informed Catholic News Service this week. Several reporters, still photographers and television crews gathered on the sidewalk outside the archdiocesan Catholic Center, to record the Cardinal's return. Cardinal O'Connor told them he was feeling "much stronger" and was eager to get behind his desk again. CNS informed that according to the Cardinal's spokesman, Joseph Zwilling, the Archbishop will celebrate Sunday Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral on January 9. He also said that Cardinal O'Connor was scheduled to speak at fund-raising dinner at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel marking his 80th birthday, although program details had not been announced.

Paraguayan youth in congress on faith and commitment

Asuncion, 5 (NE) Next week, from Tuesday 11th until the 16th, hundreds of young Paraguayan will gather in the diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones in order to participate in a week of faith and commitment with Christian life. The event is part of diocesan activities with occasion of the 2000 anniversary of the Incarnation of the Son of God, and is expected to be an important occasion in order to renew the commitment of youth in this country with evangelization at the threshold of the XXIst century.

As Coadjutor Bishop Mario Medina pointed out in declarations to ABC daily of Paraguay, the meeting also expresses the trust that the Church has deposited in the youth. "They are capable of assuming serious commitments when they are demanded; now, they must be educated thinking of a new world, where peace can be a reality," the Bishop affirmed, highlighting the necessity of activities that nurture youth with Christian and human values.

Within the frame of the Great Jubilee, the youth meeting will meditate on different themes. The program contemplates as well moments of prayer, reflection and sharing. On Sunday 16 a Mass will take place with which the encounter will also conclude. This event, Bishop Medina affirmed, is generating much expectation among the youth.

Vatican organizes first-aid assistance to pilgrims

Vatican City, 5 (NE) The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State released this week a press release detailing a massive operative to offer first-aid assistance to pilgrims during the Jubilee year. Due to the great number of pilgrims that will be received in the Vatican and the Roman basilicas during this time, the Vatican commission is coordinating several first-aid posts modernly equipped, assisted by 240 doctors of various specialties and 840 nurses. On regular days, assistance will be focused on the four Roman patriarchal basilicas and the Vatican Museums. During large Jubilee events, first-aid posts will be located in strategically designate places. As it was informed, more than the 70% of the personnel will be serving voluntarily.

JANUARY 4

Church in Colombia asks for extension of cease-fire

Medellin, 4 (NE) The Church in Colombia proposed this week the prolongation of the cease-fire established by the guerrilla soldiers of the FARC (Colombian revolutionary army) during the Christmas holidays. Members of the Church in this country said that the period originally established must be extended to foster negotiations of peace between the guerrilla group and the government.

"The cease-fire is an effort and an experience that we must all achieve to create the conditions that permit the necessary actions for peace," stated in a recent interview Archbishop Alberto Giraldo of Medellin, President of the Colombian Bishop's Conference. He also exhorted not to yield to despair and pessimism, knowing that "as children of God, we are capable of changing the negative conditions we are in."

Meanwhile, Archbishop Isaias Duarte of Cali said that the present moment Colombia is living must be used for the good of the country. "We all decide our future here: either we continue war, with pain, suffering and death, or we all work for peace, because it is the only way to guarantee our living together," he stated.

Archbishop regrets role of UN regarding population control

Santo Domingo, 4 (NE) The Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, expressed his concern for the absence of adequate solutions to face the growing poverty in the world as we begin the XXI century. In statements made this weekend, the Dominican Cardinal criticized as well the role of the United Nations, expressing his concern since several times "this international organism has been characterized by discrimination and privileges during the last decades." He specially regretted the role of the UN in issues regarding population control.

Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez also said that the pursuit of common good in a political community, its acting and policy, can not go against the common good of humanity. "Every human being is a child of God. Therefore, we are called to be a family," he stated, noting that there will be peace among men as long as people learn to discover and live this calling.

The Archbishop also emphasized the need for a better distribution of goods, "but without falling in the ideological errors that Marxism brought during the XX century". "Neither it's true that the earth lacks resources nor that there is no capacity to feed these thousands of millions of persons," he stated. "It is simply that they are applying a model of development that doesn't contemplate the great richness of humanity, that is, that the resources be distributed with equality."

Catholic church to be built in Qatar after 1,300 years

Rome, 4 (NE) The government of Qatar has authorized the construction of a Catholic church for the first time in that country, that would become the first church in Qatar for 1,300 years. The decision was made public by the Italian ambassador in Qatar in declarations to a local newspaper, stating that "permission to build a Catholic church in Qatar has been granted." Authorization to build the church, said the ambassador, was officially communicated to Bishop Giovanni Gremoli in Abu Dhabi by the Foreign Ministry in Doha. Approximately 70,000 Christians, of whom 60,000 are Catholic and 10.000 orthodox, live in this country, which has a population of about 520,000 inhabitants. As the Italian ambassador Di Pace declared, "only some technical and financial details remain to be solved." "Although some years ago the construction of a church was unthinkable," Di Pace said that the country had changed a lot with the new Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

Brazil: Faithful celebrate impressive maritime procession

Rio de Janeiro, 4 (NE) In what has been considered the largest maritime procession of Sao Salvador of Bahia, the inhabitants of this Brazilian region rendered their traditional homage to the "Good Jesus of Navigators". At 9 a.m. yesterday, after the Eucharist celebration that inaugurated the celebrations, the images of the Good Jesus and Our Lady of Conception began their procession towards the "Good Voyage", as the journey is called. The two images were carried on boats, followed by a procession of more than 200 boats. For the feast, every boat was decorated with green and yellow colors -the colors of the Brazilian flag-, recalling the celebration of the 500 anniversary of the discovery and evangelization of Brazil.

Faith, Chile's greatest treasure, stresses Archbishop Errazuriz

Santiago, 4 (NE) "The prayer offered to the Father who is in heaven, upon commencing this year, recalls with gratitude the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel two thousand years ago," pointed out the Archbishop of Santiago, Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa in his New Year's message. Archbishop Errazuriz raised in his message, -addressed to all Chileans- a prayer of gratitude to the Lord Jesus for the blessings received, especially the gift of faith. "Sharing the feelings and the attitude of His Blessed Mother, we remember Him with immense gratitude, for His presence and His spiritual heritage in our country is the most beautiful treasure that we have," the Archbishop pointed out. The Prelate closed his message entrusting the pilgrimage of the Church in Chilean lands to the Blessed Virgin.

JANUARY 3

Celebration of faith and joy in encounter of Pope with thousands of children

Vatican City, 4 (NE) Tens of thousands of children filled St. Peter's Square yesterday to meet Pope John Paul II and participate at the Jubilee of Children, one of the first big events of the Holy Year. The children showed their joy and spontaneity as the Pope expressed the special attention he has always had with them. "Today we are many. I am not able to see you all or to see until where you reach. You probably reach the river Tiber," he joyfully commented during the event.

The Pope prayed the Angelus and addressed the delegations of children from forty different countries gathered. "Dear boys and girls, you are the hope for humanity." The Holy Father also urged them to say "yes" to the message of Jesus. In Italian, French, English, Spanish and Pole, he said that the Jubilee is a "time of joy, when we must be prepared to forgive." He also invited the children to make a "pact of friendship with Jesus Christ," recalling that He already preached the word of God when he was 12 years old.

Thirteen special trains, as well as more than 600 buses, arrived full of children from different countries of Europe. Delegations from countries of other continents where also present. They all expressed their wish to answer with generosity to the Pope's invitation to announce the Lord. "We, children and boys for the Jubilee," they said, "commit ourselves to offer our help so that the new millennium is better, more beautiful and just for everyone."

Pope opens Holy Door of St. Mary Maggiore

Rome, 3 (NE) On January 1, Pope John Paul II opened the Holy Door of Saint Mary Maggiore, the first Marian Basilica in the West. The Pope celebrated the Eucharist at the Basilica in the morning, before a multitude that filled the temple. During the homily, recalling that on that same day the World Day of Peace was being celebrated, the Holy Father stated that "beginning the year 2000, we cannot but ask ourselves about the future: What direction will the great human family take in this new era of its own history?" The Pope prayed the Lord Jesus asking Him to make peace and reconciliation accompany the future of humanity.

The Pope later underlined the Marian character of the celebration. He said that "a week after the solemn rite that took place at the Basilica of St. Peter, today it is as if ecclesial communities from each nation and continent were here, under the eyes of the Mother, to cross the threshold of the Holy Door that is Christ!"

"Mary," explained the Holy Father, "was present with the Apostles the day of Pentecost: she participated directly at the birth of the Church. Her maternity accompanies the history of the redeemed humanity ever since, the path of the great human family that receives the work of Redemption". "At the beginning of this year 2000, as we advance in the time of the Jubilee, we trust your maternal 'memory', oh Mary!" concluded the Pope.

With Te Deum of thanksgiving, Holy Father closes 1999

Vatican City, 3 (NE) On the last day of the year 1999, Pope John Paul II celebrated a solemn "Te Deum" ceremony in the Basilica of St. Peter during which he recalled significant events of the last century and the millennium. The Pope specially highlighted the fact that "in the history of the great human family, God has introduced his eternal Word, assuming a humanity like ours." "It is by means of the sublime event of the Incarnation that the human and the cosmic time arrives to its fulfillment," he affirmed.

"Each instant of human time is under the sign of the redemption of the Lord, that has entered, once and for definitely forever" the Pontiff also reminded. "Under this perspective, we give thanks to God for all that has happened in the course of this year, of this century and of the whole millennium."

"We thank -he added- for the saints of this millennium: those elevated to the honor of the altars, and those, even more numerous, unknown for us, that have sanctified time with their faithful adhesion to the will of God. We also give thanks for all the conquests and successes achieved for the entire of humanity, in the scientific, technical, artistic and cultural fields."

US Bishops present first declaration of year 2000

Washington, 3 (NE) The organism of communications of the US Bishop's Conference recently informed that the country's bishops have presented their conjunct declaration "Because God loves you" at the beginning of this year 2000. "New possibilities lie before you -before all of us- at the start of the third Christian Millennium. This is a time to look at the world and decide how to better serve your neighbor," state the Bishops in the declaration. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, who will discuss this declaration today at his radio program "Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua," recalled that "as we step across this great threshold, we know that there is still much work to be done." The Cardinal also emphasized that the Jubilee Year is a "time of great hope."

With Christmas spirit, Cuban faithful pay homage to Magi

Miami, 3 (NE) The Magi, the wise men from the East who came to adore Jesus in Bethlehem, appeared yesterday in the Cathedral of Havana, in Cuba, in order to visit hundreds of Cuban children during a Mass presided by Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino. Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, represented by members of a Puerto Rican association, assisted yesterday dressed in their "royal robes" to the celebration presided by the Archbishop of Havana.

The applause and celebration of hundreds of Cuban faithful that expressed their enthusiasm upon celebrating in this way a traditional Christmas feast roared as the three Magi climbed the stairs before entering the Cathedral. Amid clouds of incense, the magi approached the altar, kissing the baby that represented the newly born Jesus.

During Mass, Cardinal Ortega y Alamino, asked Cuban children to pray for "the peace in their families" and "for good friendship." He also, highlighted the necessity of "rooting the celebration of the Magi not only in the cultural aspect, but also as part of the religiosity that marks the time of Christmas," rejecting "elements that are not part of the traditional Christmas celebration."

The Magi, "sent" by a catholic association from Puerto Rico, also visited yesterday the shrine of the Virgin of la Caridad del Cobre, Patroness of Cuba, in Havana, and will also visit several parishes and places of the country, before returning on Tuesday to Puerto Rico.

Honduras and Nicaragua unite in massive prayer for Peace

Managua, 3 (NE) The peoples of Nicaragua and Honduras united yesterday in an impressive gathering of prayer for peace, carried out in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in Dipilto. From early hours in the morning, pilgrims from both countries went to the Marian sanctuary, where the Eucharistic celebration took place, assisted by Bishops of both countries. Approximately 10,000 people gathered in order to pray for peace and a quick solution to the tensions arisen in the last days due to territorial problems.

Violence doesn't build peace and when the internal and external unity is broken then war threatens, reminded Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, Archbishop of Managua, during the celebration. Cardinal Obando assured that the use of weapons is not an appropriate way for the solution of problems. "Human rights -he highlighted- must be saved in all circumstances."

In the place where the event was carried out, flags of both nations, next to the yellow and white colors of the Vatican flag, waved together. In one of the most significant moments of the ceremony, the Bishops present received from children several pigeons as a symbol of peace, that were later set free by the Prelates, crossing the skies of Honduras and Nicaragua as a symbol of peace among the two countries.

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