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August 16

The Pope and the young people conquer Rome

Vatican City, 16 (NE) Pope John Paul II together with hundred thousands of young people from the whole world inaugurated yesterday the XV World Youth Encounter in a moving day of great joy and enthusiasm. St. Peter´s and St. John Lateran squares, as well as the most important avenues of the city were full of young people from the whole world, waving the colorful banners of more than 150 countries present in this Jubilee event.

The youth expressed their adhesion to the Pontiff with enthusiasm in their different languages. The Pope improvised in different occasions warm words of appreciation and welcome to the pilgrims. "Do not be afraid. Open your doors wide to Christ," he asked again to the youth, encouraging them to welcome the Lord Jesus in their hearts.

The day began at St. John Lateran Square where the pilgrims from different parts of Italy were gathered. After cardinal Camilo Ruini, General Vicar of the Pope for the diocese of Rome, welcomed the pilgrims, John Paul II warmly saluted the youth. "We begin these days under the protection of Most Holy Mary, whom we contemplate today in Heaven. Let the example of the young Virgin of Nazareth help us to say ´yes´ to the Lord who knocks at the door of our hearts willing to enter and live with us."

After the encounter of the Italian youth with the Pope, it was the turn for the pilgrims from the whole world who gathered yesterday at St. Peter's Square. The Square was arranged with flags from the countries present at the World Youth Encounter. The Pope's route from one square to the other was full of people who expressed their appreciation and love to the Pontiff.

At St. Peter's Square, after the salutation of Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pope welcomed the youth and shared some reflections with them. "You have come in search of Jesus Christ!", he exclaimed before the thousands of youth present, "But Jesus Christ, has first gone in search of you!"

He then said that "these days, which you will spend together in Rome at the World Youth Encounter, should help each of you to see more clearly the glory which belongs to the Son of God and to which we have been called in Him by the Father. For this to happen, your faith in Christ must grow and be strengthened. I wish," he continued, "to bear witness to this faith here before all of you, young friends, at the tomb of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord wished me to succeed as Bishop of Rome. Beginning with myself, today I wish to tell you that I firmly believe in Jesus Christ our Lord."

Cardinal Law shows his disagreement with change in legislation regarding special education

Boston, 16 (NE) In a recent declaration, Cardinal Bernard Law, Archbishop of Boston, expressed his disagreement with the change in legislation regarding education for special children in the state of Massachusetts, by which the latter is standardized with the rest of the educational system. Cardinal Law pointed out that he shared the "disappointment and concerns" of the special children's parents, who have expressed their protest against the law. "The end of the Maximum Possible Benefit will leave serious vacuums in the services available to these precious human beings and will leave many without a visible environment in which to grow to their full God-given potential", said Cardinal. He went on to say that "through the adoption of the federal standards, we risk making the final pronouncement on what a child will or will not become." At the end of his declaration, he elevated his prayers that "we may all be guided by what is best and just, and may keep our eyes upon and our hearts open to these very special children."

Philippines: prayer campaign for peace

Rome, 16 (NE) Today in the Diocese of Manila, capital of the Philippines, begins a campaign of prayer for peace in Mundanao, the second largest island of the Philippine Archipelago, where there are ever increasing Islamic fundamentalist attacks on Christians. The campaign is sponsored by Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, who, in a letter dated August 10, exhorted the people to intensify their prayers for peace.

Expressing regret for the situation of war in Mundanao, where "so much fear has infiltrated, so many wounds have been inflicted, so much anger unleashed", the Archbishop asks "all individuals, families, offices, parishes and communities during the days beginning August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, to please pray the rosary and after praying each mystery, to repeat, 'Mother Mary, we beg you, bring peace to our Land.' I am firmly convinced of the great love and compassion of our Blessed Mother for our country. She, who has interceded during critical times in our history, will not leave us alone in our plea for assistance."

Pastors ask for reconciliation between North and South Korea

Rome, 16 (NE) The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was intensely celebrated in South Korea. Various Pastors of the Church in this country exhorted an increase in the filial Marian devotion and reconciliation between North and South Korea. The 15th of August the day in which Korea got its independence from Japan is also celebrated.

For the occasion, the Archbishop of Seoul, Nicholas Cheong, recalled that Pope John Paul II "has the evangelization of Asia, especially of China and North Korea in his heart. On each occasion," continued the Archbishop, "the Pope has recalled to us that this evangelizing responsibility must be assumed by South Korea. Now it is time to answer this invitation. under the special protection of Mary."

Archbishop Cheong also highlighted that although the Korean people enjoy political freedom and independence," they don't yet possess the true freedom", that springs from the option for Christ and from the rejection of sin.

For his part, Bishop Ignatius Pak of Andong, encouraged the initiative of consecrating Korea to the Holy Hearts of Christ and Mary. Further on he asked the people present to elevate their prayers "to Mary to intercede for our Northern brothers that they may celebrate the Sunday Mass."

August 15

VII International Youth Forum finishes today in Rome

Rome, 15 (NE) Today finishes the VII International Youth Forum held in the Eternal City. 300 young people from 128 countries have participated in the event, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. It had as motto: "I say it to everyone: Let us set out in the footsteps of Christ!"

As fruit of the forum, the participants wrote a final message that will be read to Pope John Paul II and the participants of the World Youth Encounter on August 19. At the opening ceremony last Saturday 12, the Forum participants received the cross of the World Youth Encounters, from 250 young people that brought them in pilgrimage from Mantua, through 4 Italian regions.

That same day, after receiving the symbolic cross, Cardinal James Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, expressed during his intervention that the Forum would be an excellent occasion of renewal for the youth's Christian life and an important moment to create ties of friendship among the participants.

Thousands of groups support the permanence of the Holy See in the United Nations

New York, 15 (NE) Over 4800 organizations gathered to support the participation of the Vatican in the United Nations, recently informed the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, group that sponsors this campaign and that received the support of other thousand groups of Mexico. The opposite campaign, sponsored by the group "Catholics for a Free Choice", has been fostered for more than a year and a half. It aims to take away the Vatican's condition of permanent observer in the United Nations. Investing large amounts of money -almost 4 million dollars a year- they managed to gather only 500 support groups in 17 months, not being able thus to accomplish their aim. Austin Rose, President of the "Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute" exhorted to continue the support to the Holy See. "The other side seems to be beaten, but they don't have the intention of giving up. We have to continue our fight", he further emphasized.

Mexico: Ideologies encourage anti-life campaign

Mexico City, 15 (NE) "The threats against human life in Mexico are nowadays encouraged by the spreading of an increasing culture of death", pointed out Auxiliary Bishop José Lizares Estrada of Monterrey. He exhorted the means of communication to join in favor of life. Inquired about a possible debate about legalization of abortion, he recalled that "our thoughts must be right, not twisted by ideologies or conveniences. We must support life and peace, not death". The Archdiocesan Commission for Health Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Mexico in a recent message called the people's attention about how in some cases laws are twisted and in others people "cling to the letter of the law, not to have to defend the unborn child".

Cardinal Ruini: The challenges of youth are faith and conversion

Rome, 15 (NE) "Rome can give youth an experience of universality, a deep experience of history of Christianity, of its spiritual fecundity," recently stated Cardinal Camillo Ruini, General Vicar of Pope John Paul II for the Diocese of Rome in an interview for the Italian newspaper Avvenire on the World Youth Encounter that will start today.

Cardinal Ruini stated that "Rome offers an encounter with the Pope and also the possibility of encountering the Church that after 2000 is alive and vital." He also stated that the calling of Pope John Paul II to "open the doors wide to Christ" means today for youth "let yourself be converted, and as the Apostle Paul writes, give a new meaning to your lives."

He also insisted that for the young people of yesterday and today "the challenge is always the same: faith and conversion. This challenge we want and can live it staying in our time. We can assume from our time all the positive elements it has produced and produces. But we must always go beyond our time, to enter the horizon of God."

August 14

Holy Father emphasizes the importance of the Holy Mantle

Castelgandolfo, 14 (NE) Yesterday, at the Pontifical Palace of Castelgandolfo, Pope John Paul II met the pilgrims to pray the Angelus. Many young people were present. They have arrived to Rome to participate at the XV World Youth Day that will take place tomorrow.

Before the Marian prayer the Holy Father stated that the exposition of the Holy Mantle, which began two days ago in Turin and will stay until October 22, "emphasizes the close relationship that joins the message of the Mantle and the Jubilee Year."

He then said that he recalled his visits to the Mantle with "deep emotion": the first one, few weeks after being elected Pope; the second one, after his visit to Turin in 1980; the most recent one, in 1998, after a fire that almost damaged it. "Each time it has been a deep experience of grace! In the Man of the Mantle, in fact, the infinite love of God talks to each one's heart."

The Pope finished calling to pray so that "those who come to Rome for the World Youth Encounter may meet Christ and are strengthened by Him in their faith and their will to follow Him coherently. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church," he added.

Virgin of the Reconciliation arrives to her shrine

Lima, 14 (NE) After nine days of procession the Virgin of the Reconciliation arrived to her shrine, completing once again what is becoming an intense devotion in Lima (Peru).

Carried on a portable platform by members of the brotherhood that carries her name, the image of Our Lady of the Reconciliation arrived to her shine accompanied by a numerous contingent of the faithful. The traditional processional music of Peru, multicolored lights and balloons, as well as showers of confetti expressed the popular devotion to the Holy Virgin. A traditional carpet of flowers covered the wide avenue that leads to the church, with the central design of the Immaculate Heart of Sorrows surrounded by white roses and the motto: "With Mother Mary we are family."

At the conclusion of the impressive procession, the parish priest, José Antonio Eguren, gave a silver rose for the Lord's portable platform to the General Steward of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles on behalf of the Brotherhood of the Reconciliation. "Mary sends a rose from her heart as a gift to her Son, the Lord of the Miracles, as a symbol of her love for Him and so to teach us all that her maternal mission is to guide us towards Jesus and teach us to love Him", said the priest from Lima.

Chinese youth send message to the Holy Father

Rome, 14 (NE) A Chinese Catholic Youth Group has recently sent a message to Pope John Paul II and to all the participants of the World Youth Meeting. The agency Fides, which also received the message, indicated that many of the youths that sent it won't be able to attend the World Youth Meeting for "bureaucratic or political reasons."

The Chinese youths say that although they can not go massively to Rome in this Holy Year, "the Great Jubilee has lit in us a light of hope, and filled with it we will face the new millennium, illuminated by this shining light. With courage we want to overcome the evils of the past and live our Christian lives under the light of the faith."

The youths also denounce the systematic intents of the Chinese government and the "Patriotic Association" to constitute a "national church" separated from Rome. They say they are praying "so that God the Father continues protecting the Catholic Church in China and making it be more and more in communion with the universal Church. We cannot accept the existence of another 'Catholic Church' in China", they declared then.

Cardinal Gantin removes his prologue to controversial book

Rome, 14 (NE) A significant sign of love for the Church and Christian humility has been made by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean of the Cardenalice College, by removing a prologue written by him from a recently published book in Italy. In a letter recently made public, Cardinal Gantin deeply regretted having prefaced a book titled "Vaticanerie" which contains deplorable opinions and comments about the Holy See when commenting many aspects of the life of the Church.

"My bitterness cannot stay in silence. And I am forced, above all in the context of the Great Jubilee which is taking place, and which invites us all to conversion and to give example of an attitude of clarity and edification, to ask for forgiveness to all those whom my ingenuous implication in this matter could surprise, scandalize or disenlighten", pointed out with exemplary frankness the well respected Cardinal. Regretting his having written the mentioned prologue, the Prelate made clear as well that he wrote the preface in good faith. He revealed that it was requested by the publishers who presented a sequence of hand written sheets of paper to him which he verified, trusting that the rest of the book would be of the same edifying nature.

"I also have the duty," he affirms then in his letter," of removing my words and my name, that seem to have given a certain value of solidarity to an initiative of so little respect toward the Holy See, toward the Vatican, and especially toward the person of the Supreme Pontiff."

Expressing his complete adhesion and love for the Church, as well as his fidelity to Peter's Successor, Cardinal Gantin also manifested in the letter his deep discontent for the use that had been given to his words, which have been used in ways that do not agree with my permanent convictions. "To a good listener, few words," said the Cardinal concluding his missive, affirming that he hopes the letter be circulated in order to clarify the error and manipulation to which his words have been subjected.

August 12

The XV World Youth Encounter is presented in the Vatican

Vatican City, 12 (NE) Yesterday the XV World Youth Encounter was presented in the Vatican. The event was held in the John Paul II Room at the Press Hall of the Holy See. Taking part in this event were Cardinal James Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Cardinal Camillo Ruini, General Vicar of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome; Bishop Crescenzio Sepe, General Secretary of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and Bishop Cesare Nosiglia, President of the Italian Committee for the XV World Youth Encounter, among others.

During his intervention, Cardinal Stafford stated that "the World Youth Day doesn't follow another aim but to put the young people before Christ: the same presence, the same novelty of life, the same persuasive force experienced by the apostles and the first disciples 2000 years ago."

Cardinal Camillo Ruini explained the reasons for the young people to accomplish this pilgrimage to Rome. He stated that the participants of the World Youth Encounter "are young pilgrims and, therefore, they must also be spiritually in pilgrimage, in order to find true and sincere answers to their fundamental questions about life, about faith in God and in Jesus Christ."

He also stated that the "World Youth Encounter puts young people before themselves, before their responsibility towards faith and Christian life, before the demands that derive from a witness of Christ and his Gospel, and also before society and entire humankind."

Bishop Crescenzio Sepe also expressed that "with the Jubilee of Youth, the Holy Year of 2000 prepares to live one of its most important moments. And not only in ´quantitative´ terms: Jubilee and Youth, in many ways, are a reflection of each other".

Cardinal Stafford: "To make a pilgrimage to Rome is a spiritual adventure."

Rome, 12 (NE) Recently, Cardinal James Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, granted an interview to the Fides Agency, about the theme of the World Youth Meeting. "Hundreds of thousands of young people," pointed out the Cardinal, "will pass through the Holy Door. They will enter 'Peter's House' and will go together towards the grave of the 'Prince of the Apostles', approaching thus the foundations of the Church".

Further on, Cardinal Stafford pointed out that the young pilgrims "want to be with Peter's successor in his Apostolic See and celebrate together the Glory of God in Jesus Christ. The young people see Pope John Paul II as a man that has centered his life in Christ", he further emphasized.

He pointed out as well that the young people who participate in the XV World Youth meeting will be "the first pilgrims of the Third Millennium", continuing thus "an ancient devoted tradition of the Middle Ages. The pilgrimage to Rome is a spiritual adventure". In this sense he recalled that it has often occurred in the History of the Church that a pilgrimage to Peter's See be an occasion for a radical conversion. He indicated that "across the centuries we find lots of young people among the pilgrims", among them he mentioned Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Catharine of Siena and Saint Theresa of Child Jesus, among others.

New Tensions in polemical construction of a mosque in Nazareth

Rome, 12 (NE) Recently, some Islamic groups unloaded construction materials in front of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, showing thus their desire to initiate there the polemical construction of a mosque. The Israelite authorities, after a pressure campaign on the part of Islamic groups, decided to give their approval for the unloading of construction material a few meters from the Basilica.

The authorization ignores the treaty signed between Islamites and Israelites not to initiate the works of edification while the activities of the Great Jubilee of the Incarnation continue. It also rejected the speech against the mosque by the National Palestine Authority itself, presided over by Yasser Arafat. The act of piling the materials in front of the Basilica of the Annunciation intends to express the clear decision to construct ignoring the official authorization.

On the other hand, the tensions have increased because a group of Islamic politicians, sponsored by the Adjunct Major of Nazareth, Salman Abu Ahmed, has pronounced that the construction will be done without waiting for the official permissions and with no dialogue. Another element of tension are the numerous attacks by Islamic fundamentalists on Christians going in or out of the Basilica of the Annunciation.

Youth's Cross reaches the Vatican after long pilgrimage

Rome, 12 (NE) The Cross of the World Youth Encounter that Pope John Paul II will give to the young people in 1994 arrived yesterday at the St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The Cross arrived after a long youth pilgrimage that began last July 14 in Castiglione (Mantua), crossing 4 Italian regions.

During the pilgrimage there were many moments of reflection on the cross. Organizers had already stated at the beginning of it that each week they would "deepen into a different dimension of the Cross according to this progression: the vertical dimension (relationship between God and us), the horizontal dimension (relationship between us) and depth (relationship with oneself)." The Cross -that since 1998 pilgrims through numerous Italian dioceses- arrived together with some 200 young people.

August 11

Pontifical legate goes to the celebration of Saint Stephen of Hungary

Vatican City, 11 (NE) On occasion of the millennium of Saint Steven of Hungary, Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of the Vatican, naming him his legate for this celebration, which will take place next August 20 in Budapest.

In the letter, written in Latin and dated June 29, the Pope praises the saint´s virtues, "first king of Hungary, just governing his people, peaceful and pious, who constantly fostered the life of the Church, followed the laws of God and searched the good of his subjects." The Pope also asks Cardinal Sodano to "talking about the Great Jubilee of the 2000,. exhort everyone "to a renewal of their spiritual life and to give a witness of faith, through the intercession of Saint Stephen."

The letter finishes with the Apostolic Blessing for the legate. It also includes a salute to Cardinal Lásló Paskai, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, to the other bishops and the whole clergy and people of Hungary. The Pope exhorts them to direct, with renewed spirit, all their energies to the new work of evangelization.

Pope prays for peace in countries suffering violence

Vatican, 11 (NE) After the General Audience, the Holy Father wanted to invite the pilgrims to pray for the ending of violence in the Moluca Islands. "While we entrust to divine mercy the numerous victims of the tragedy," said Pope John Paul, "we want to send a thought of intense spiritual proximity to all those who suffer for the death of their dearest beings, the deprivation of the necessary goods for subsistence and the destruction of the places of cult. Many of them have been forced to leave the land in which they lived and in which they have the right to live with dignity and security. May the Holy Virgin, Mother of those who suffer, sustain our petitions with her powerful intercession", he said later on.

Mentioning the bomb which exploded in an underground passage of Moscow last Tuesday causing several deaths and leaving numerous wounded, the Pontiff expressed his "deep shock for this serious attack", while he assured his solidarity and prayer.

At the end the Holy Father manifested the same feelings "toward the victims of the attacks that, regrettably, continue in Spain", and concluded saying: "I desire, from my heart, all forms of violence that generate mourning and pain to be ceased, and the spirits to be guided toward thoughts of intense and peaceful together living."

Medellin: Archbishop invites to renew liturgical life in Colombia

Medellin, 11 (NE) With the title "Liturgy and Life", Archbishop Alberto Giraldo Jaramillo of Medellin outlined important reflections in a recent editorial about the liturgical situation and participation in Colombia. Recognizing that in this country "there is still much participation in the liturgical celebrations, nevertheless Archbishop Giraldo showed his preoccupation with problems that arise in this domain. "Some leave behind the practices of faith of their elders; others give signs of an existence that isn't coherent with the religious celebrations that they have celebrated or celebrate; others seek exclusively whatever they like or are pleased with without understanding their personal relation with Jesus Christ, affirmed the Prelate.

In the face of these problems, the Archbishop of Medellin exhorted recognition of the centrality of the Liturgy in the existence of a Christian, conscious that "each of our liturgical celebrations, above all the ones we call sacraments, is like a true drama that we could certainly entitle 'a fact of salvation'.'' On the other hand, Archbishop Giraldo highlighted the evangelizing dimension of the liturgy, inviting especially the celebrant ministers to "discover how with liturgical life the Lord sanctifies us, makes a strong call to grow in virtue and appeals to us to understand the great responsibility that we have before people who approach the sacraments".

Catholic TV channels evangelize Brazil

São Paulo, 11 (EN) In a great apostolic effort, four TV companies broadcast in Brazil. These are Life-Net Television (Rede Vida de Televisão), Horizon Net Television (Rede Horizonte de Televisão), TV Net New Song (Rede de TV Canção Nova) and TVE XXI Century (TVE Século XXI). "These four catholic TV nets are a miracle. They are becoming Brazil's most famous evangelizers", commented the Episcopal Vicar of Communications of the Archdiocese of São Paulo.

The Life-Net, for example, is on air for five years and already occupies the fifth place of preference in open commercial television. It has over 240 particular repeaters and 1500 places with secondary repeaters, reaching already the 72,15% of houses with television in Brazil. One of this year's aims is to transmit the Jubilee central celebrations to be held in the 27 country's capitals. From the beginning of this year up to now the goal has been accomplished: there are only four remaining.

August 10

Holy Father urges radical and generous encounter with Christ

Vatican City, 10 (NE) Yesterday in the General Audience Pope John Paul II dedicated his reflection to the "most sublime encounter between God and man that occurs in Jesus Christ, the divine Word, who becomes flesh and dwells among us." The Holy Father appeared in St. Peter´s Square after flying by helicopter from his residence at Castelgandolfo.

Before the thousands of pilgrims that listened to him, he stated that the encounter with Jesus Christ "takes place in the daily life, in time and space." He exhorted to open the doors wide to Christ in all aspects. "A life full of Christ means, in fact, a deep change in one's history and in one's plans," he stated. He added that this is "a radical change that doesn't allow doubting and that leads through a path full of difficulties, but that is truly freeing."

Moreover he affirmed that even though 2000 years have already passed since the Incarnation of the Word in Mary's womb, "Christ continues walking beside us through the paths of history." He recalled that the Lord Jesus "is present in his Word" and also "in the Eucharist, source of love, unity and salvation."

Buenos Aires: Saint Cajetan's Feast, an occasion of conversion and solidarity

Buenos Aires, 10 (NE) On August 7 the feast of Saint Cajetan was celebrated in the capital of Argentina, with the assistance of thousands of people to the saint's worshipping shrine. Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires said in the Eucharistic celebration for those devout to San Cajetan "it is the same feeling that summons all of us who have come to San Cajetan, a very deep feeling."

During his homily he remembered that the celebration of the feast of the patron saint "of bread and work", is an invitation to put oneself confidently in the hands of the provident God and also to learn how to share with those who have less. In this sense, he exhorted the present people to be "full of hope, wishing to be cured and that all our sick society be cured, hoping to improve together with our countrymen, wishing to allow others to help us."

"Here, together as Faithful People of God," he said to those present, "we have the same feelings that Jesus had, and we thank the Father because it is Him who gives tenderness to our heart... We thank the Virgin, because She -as Mother of us all- treats us with tenderness and obtains us from the Father the feelings that Jesus had: effective desires of being more just, more solidary and full of hope", added the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Traditionally during the feast of Saint Cajetan provisions and dresses are collected for the poor. In a single day the devotee give more than 50 tons of food of first necessity, as well as thousands of boxes with medications and clothes.

Colombia: Archbishop of Cali denounces the violence of the guerrilla

Cali, 10 (NE) Writing on Tuesday in the newspaper "El País", Archbishop Isaias Duarte of Cali expressed his deep pain for the continuous acts of violence by the Colombian guerillas fighters and denounced "the guerrilla's permanent violation of the humble populations of Colombia. Until when will we tolerate in this land vandal groups that think they are allowed to sow panic and terror because they have three or four letters in their bracelets: ELN, FARC, working as sanguinary fratricidal hordes, kidnapping people, committing crimes, genocides and attacking defenseless populations and policemen; all humanity hurting crimes?", asked the Colombian Prelate.

Archbishop Duarte rose his prayer to the Lord "so that these guerilla fighters of Colombia feel deep in their soul the pain of killing an innocent and defenseless brother, that they understand they are not making a just war but repeating the barbarism of the darkest times in human history and also so that they convert from their bad lives." He also begged "for the whole civil society to find the paths to efficiently demand those violent who murder Colombia respect for the people's life and freedom, thus finding "paths of peace, in the social justice and in concord among all Colombians."

First Vietnamese delegation in a world youth meeting

Rome, 10 (NE) The Catholic Church in Vietnam will send an official delegation to the World Youth Meeting this year for the first time. 37 delegates will go to the Eternal City to express their adhesion to the Holy Father, celebrating the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 with the whole Church. The list of delegates, on which are 27 young people who belong to the 25 dioceses of Vietnam, 2 bishops and 8 priests, had to be approved by the department for religious matters of the Communist government. As Bishop François Nguyen Van Sang, from Thai Bihn, informed, responsible for the delegation is a priest in charge of the commission for the pastoral of the youth in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh. He will preside over the group during the celebration from August 15 to 20.

August 9

Vocations Congress in North America

Rome, 9 (NE) The Canadian Bishop's Conference has recently announced that the Continental Congress for Vocations to the Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life will take place on April 18 21, 2002, in North America. The Congress will be the third continental congress. It was initially convoked by Pope John Paul II for October 2001, but it had to be postponed so that it wouldn't coincide with the Synod of Bishops.

The Canadian Bishops informed that the purpose of the event -which will gather around 1000 delegates- is to "establish a positive environment within North America for promoting vocations to the ordained ministry and to the various forms of consecrated life. It is hoped that the event will unify and guide the Church in North America in its commitment to foster and nurture vocations."

The Bishops also thanked the Holy Father for selecting North America for the site of this III Continental Congress on Vocations. The former two congresses took place in Brazil, for South America (1994) and in Rome, for Europe (1997).

Korean young people prepare for pilgrimage to Rome

Rome, 9 (NE) 610 Korean young people are about to arrive to Rome for the World Youth Meeting. Of these young people 360 will arrive from Korea and the other 250 from the U.S.A. where they live. The World Meeting has been being prepared for a long time in Korea. Evidence of this is that from July 25 to 27, over 4000 young people gathered together in the youth festival "Christ with us" that was held in Taegu in the South of Korea.

Many Korean Bishops attended the event, among them Cardinal Stephen Kim, Emeritus Archbishop of Seoul, and also the Apostolic Nuncio Battista Morandini. In an intense dialogue Cardinal Kim exhorted the young people to welcome and comprehend God's love, learning thus to love as Jesus did. At the same time he invited them to pray always, especially in the difficult moments. "Behold Christ, imitate Christ. Beloved young friends, be with Christ, live with Christ", said the Cardinal to the thousands of young people gathered.

Buenos Aires: Marian Children's Pilgrimage

Buenos Aires, 9 (NE) "We follow your steps and announce your joy." This is the motto under which a great number of children of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires will make a pilgrimage to various Marian shrines on Saturday the 19 of August. The Marian children's pilgrimage will start from various vicariates and will go to the temples of Saint Charles Borromeo (Mary Auxiliary Basilica), Our lady of Luján Porteño, Our Lady of Carmen and Our Lady of Loreto.

Those in charge of the organization pointed out that "knowing the importance of our people's making a pilgrimage as one of the most simple and strong expressions of faith", the aim of the initiative is that the children "live deeply and actively the experience of God's People who walk following in the footsteps of the Virgin and transmitting the joy of being friends of Jesus and sons of the same Father".

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio, commented that in this manifestation of filial Marian piety, the children "walk towards their Mother; walk happily because the expression of love is a celebration. They walk confidently because in the same way that they gave their first steps, they know that their Mother's arms are waiting for them". In addition, he pointed out that "the experiences of childhood stay recorded forever in the heart and we want this to be one of them".

Mexico cannot become a people of murderers, state Bishops

Mexico City, 9 (NE) Our people mustn't and shouldn't become a people of murderers through legalization of abortion, because abortion is a crime and it has no motive at all, not even the raping of a mother that justifies it, warned Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico and Bishop Onesimo Cepeda Silva of Ecatepec, addressing the Mexican lawmakers.

Laws, they recalled, should be far from justifying a murder such as abortion. They should rather protect life of the human being since conception, as well as the rights of women. In the case of raping, he who committed the fault should be penalized, not the conceived child, who is the most innocent and defenseless. Therefore, they exhorted the lawmakers not to eliminate penalization for abortion, on the contrary, to engage themselves to protection of life.

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