A daily news service

August 31

Pope urges faithful to conversion

Vatican City, 31 (NE) During yesterday's General Audience, Pope John Paul II spoke about conversion as he received 25.000 pilgrims from all over the world in St. Peter's Square. Even though man gets away from God by sinning, He always seeks "the rebel who flees far from His gaze with great insistence and love", the Pontiff emphasized.

"God", the Pope said during his catechesis, "entered the tortuous paths of sinners through the Son, Jesus Christ who, in His arrival on the stage of history, appears as 'the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world'." "The first words He pronounced in public," he recalled, "were: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' ... 'Repent' - in Greek 'metanoeite' - in other words accomplish a 'metanoia,' a radical change of heart and mind. It is necessary that we leave evil behind and that we enter the kingdom that is coming into being, the kingdom of justice, of love and of truth."

The Pope highlighted that the mission of the Apostles also began "with an urgent call to conversion," to begin a new life in God. The Holy Father indicated that "in accomplishing the 'metanoia' - the conversion - man returns, like the prodigal son, to embrace the Father who has never forgotten or abandoned him."

Italy: moving celebration in memory of Pope John Paul I

Rome, 31 (NE) With a solemn procession followed by a crowded Eucharistic celebration, the faithful of Canale D´Agordo, home land of Pope John Paul I, recalled the figure of the Pontiff with great emotion during the celebration of a new anniversary of his election to Peter's Cathedra, on August 26, 1978. In the Church where Albino Luciani, the future John Paul I, was baptized, numerous groups of faithful gathered to remember the Successor of Peter and to encourage the process of his beatification.

During the ceremony over 150 thousand signatures were handed to the Bishop of Belluno, asking for the beatification of Pope Luciani, who had one of history's shortest pontificates, but none the less significant to the earthly pilgrimage of the People of God. "The Pope of the smile", as he was called many times, was an instrument chosen by the Holy Spirit to revive in the late seventies a wave of religious enthusiasm, fervor and simplicity.

Pope Luciani was born on October 17, 1912, in Forno di Canale (actually Canale D´Agordo) in the North of Italy. He came from a humble family with little resources, entered the local seminary of Belluno, and was ordained a priest in July 1935. In 1958, Pope John XXIII named him Bishop, sending him to the diocese of Vittorio Veneto. Maintaining his particular humility and simplicity, he was named Patriarch of Venice by Pope Paul VI in 1969, and four years later made Cardinal. When Paul VI was called to the presence of the Eternal Father, after years of an intense and generous work in the service of the Church, Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected to the Petrine Cathedra, taking the names of his two immediate predecessors: John and Paul.

Through the mysteries of the Divine Will, Pope John Paul I would soon be called to The House of the Father, on September 28, 1978, after only a month of his Pontificate, but having shown to the Church and to the whole world that, in the midst of secularization, in the midst of the conflicts and incoherencies of many, it is possible to be a Christian, simple and simply Christian.

Panama gets ready for National Eucharistic Congress

Panama, 31 (NE) Next September 6 in Panama a National Marian Eucharistic Congress will begin. It will be celebrated in this country in the framework of the celebrations of the Great Jubilee of 2000. The event, for which Panamanian Catholics have been preparing during recent weeks, will be started with a solemn Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama, presided over by the Archbishop of Seville (Spain), Carlos Amigo Vallejo. The Archbishop of Panama, José Dimas Cedeño, as well as the other Bishops of the Bishops Conference of Panama will also be present. Among the various activities to be held are the forum "Eucharist, Ferment for the New Society" in the University of Panama, as well as the panel "Mission of Christianity and the Socio-Political World". The National Eucharistic Congress will finish on Saturday, September 9, with the celebration of the Mass and a Marian Act. During the Mass, Holy Mary of "La Antigua" will be proclaimed as the Patroness of Panama.

Argentina: image of Virgin of Guadalupe in Eucharistic Congress

Buenos Aires, 31 (NE) Last Thursday the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe arrived to Cordoba, Argentina, in the framework of its pilgrimage through the whole continent, which began in 1992 and will conclude on December 12 in the Basilica of Lujan. The Patroness of America will accompany the celebrations of the National Eucharistic Congress from a seat of honor. The celebrations will take place in Cordoba from September 8 to 10.

After travelling 23,000 kilometers, through 19 countries of America and all of the national territory, the Virgin arrived with the Crucified Black Christ, a replica of the Lord of the Esquipulas that is venerated in Guatemala. Both images will be present at the opening of the Congress, during the Mass that Archbishop Estanislao Esteban Karlic of Parana, President of the Argentinean Bishop's Conference, will preside over on Friday 8.

Both images will be present, too, in the "Eucharist of Reconciliation" that Cardinal Jose Rosalio Castillo Lara, Pope John Paul II' Special Legate, will celebrate. After this, the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Black Christ of Esquipulas will be taken to the monastery of the Theresas, in downtown Cordoba. During the closing act, in a symbolic gesture, Our Lady of Guadalupe will join the most popular Argentinean Marian devotions: Lujan, Itati, del Valle, del Rosario and Mary Auxiliary, among others.

August 30

Human cloning is morally unacceptable, says Pope John Paul II

Vatican City, 30 (NE) Pope John Paul II addressed yesterday several "critical issues" that ethics poses to the science of transplants, as he met with participants in the 18th International Congress on Transplants, being held in Rome. Before the 4.000 scientists present, the Pope stressed that the technology used in transplants gives great hopes as well as some dangers which must be overcome bearing in mind "the defence and promotion of the integral good of the human person".

Regarding human clonation, the Pope stressed that "any procedure which tends to commercialize human organs or to consider them as items of exchange or trade must be considered morally unacceptable, because to use the body as an 'object' is to violate the dignity of the human person." He also pointed out that even when the end is good, these practices do not cease to be ethically illicit.

Pope John Paul II expressed the hope that "scientific and technological research in the field of transplants will continue to progress, and extend to experimentation with new therapies which can replace organ transplants. ... In any event, methods that fail to respect the dignity and value of the person must always be avoided. I am thinking in particular of attempts at human cloning with a view to obtaining organs for transplants."

Regarding organ donation, the Pope describe it as "a genuine act of love", inviting participants to encourage a "culture of solidarity and donation". The Holy Father highlighted as well that nevertheless "the human body cannot be considered as a mere complex of tissues, organs and functions, rather its is a constitutive part of the person".

Jubilee celebration to gather Holy See's diplomatic personnel

Vatican City, 30 (NE) Personnel of the Holy See involved in diplomatic service will celebrate in September a special celebration on occasion of the Holy Year, including a special meeting with Pope John Paul II. As it was recently informed, the Apostolic Nuncios in the different countries, together with the Permanent Observers of the Holy See before the diverse international organisms will gather in Rome on September 14 and 15 for their Jubilee celebration. The event will begin Thursday afternoon in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, in Rome. The following day, participants will attend a procession to cross the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. Afterwards, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Pope John Paul II' State Secretary, will preside a Eucharist celebration at the Altar of the Cathedra. On that same day participants will have lunch together with Pope John Paul II.

Pittsburgh faithful prepare for "Eucharistic Conference"

Pittsburgh, 30 (NE) Registration has begun for the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Eucharistic Conference, which will be held on October 28, 2000. The event, organized around the theme "In Christ: We Are One, We Are Sent", will involve several activities, such us celebrations of the word, keynote addresses and breakout sessions focusing on how the Eucharist calls the faithful to be one in Christ and encourages Christians to love and serve others. Among the speakers will be present Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis.

"I invite and encourage all of the faithful of this diocese to attend the Conference, to be enriched by its many programs and to bear public testimony to the place of the Eucharist in our lives," wrote recently Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh, in a letter enclosed in the registration materials distributed throught the diocese. In addition to the presentations, participants will be able to attend two breakout sessions of their choice. The sessions will focus on topics like "Eucharist and the Hungers of the World" and "Ordinary Holiness." The event will culminate in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Wuerl.

Sudanese youth celebrates first Youth Day

Rome, 30 (NE) While in Rome hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world gathered to celebrate World Youth Day, hundreds of Sudanese youth met together celebrating as well, in the frame of the Great Jubilee, the Incarnation of the Lord. As the Italian daily Avvenire recently reported, it was the first time that young Sudanese Catholics held a Youth Day in their country to witness their faith. As the World Youth Day in Rome did, the celebration in Sudan began also on August 15, with an open air Mass held at a local sports stadium. In this same place, on August 18, a penitential celebration also took place. A great procession, which according to Avvenire gathered approximately 10.000 young people from different parts of the African country, was held the following day. Throughout these days, a delegation of 75 young pilgrims represented in Rome the hundreds of Sudanese youth celebrating World Youth Day in their own country.

August 29

Jesus Christ must be the foundation of all human designs, recalls Pope

Vatican City, 29 (NE) "Above all, you must bring light and hope into today's society", said Pope John Paul II yesterday to the 400 participants in the world congress of secular institutes, who are reflecting on the theme of the formation of their members. During his address, the Holy Father emphasized the need of formation, as well as the importance to "discern the paths of the new evangelization" in today's world.

Formation "involves the whole life of the consecrated person", the Pope afirmed afterwards, calling participants not to allow themselves "be taken in by naive optimism" but "remain faithful witnesses of a God who certainly loves humanity and offers it the grace necessary to work efficiently in constructing a better and more just world, one more respectful of the dignity of all human beings."

"The challenge that contemporary culture places before faith seems to be this: Abandon the facile inclination to depict dark and negative scenarios and draw viable, not illusory, itineraries of redemption, liberation and hope," the Pontiff further said, stressing as well that "the teaching of discernment cannot overlook the foundation of all human designs that is, and remains, Jesus Christ."

World Youth Day: "an incredible grace", recalls Cardinal Law

Boston, 29 (NE) Cardinal Bernard Law, Archbishop of Boston, described as "an incredible grace" his participation in the 15th World Youth Day in Rome. In his weekly column in the latest issue of the archdiocesan weekly "The Pilot", Cardinal Law recalled his experence addressing the young pilgrims, offering them a reflection on the faith before celebrating Mass. "What an encouraging sight to behold: a church filled to overflowing with young people actively and prayerfully participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. This was only one of many such gatherings at the same time in churches throughout the city of Rome!".

"Nothing could have prepared us for what we experienced at the Vigil on Saturday night and the Mass on Sunday… It was as though he (the Pope) was drawing strength and enthusiasm from the enthusiasm and strength of the two million young people", the Cardinal wrote. "It was extraordinarily hot. The pilgrims had endured considerable inconveniences. Many were exhausted. Nonetheless, they responded to the Holy Father with great joy and love", Cardinal Law further said, remembering the event held in Tor Vergata, at the outskirts of the city.

"The difference in age evaporated as the Successor of Peter and the young faithful encountered one another as disciples of Jesus." "Rome," the Cardinal wrote in closing, "in the faith of two million young people from throughout the world, provided hope that with God's help, we can create a culture of life, a civilization of love."

Book on technology raises great interest among philosophy and theology students

Lima, 29 (NE) The book "The Challenge of Technology. Beyond Icarus and Dedalus", written by the Peruvian intellectual German Doig Klinge, has been receiving great attention in the means of communication and in academic and ecclesiastic circles. The book has recently been published in Spanish by the Vida y Espiritualidad (VE) publishing house.

Last week, in the main auditorium of the Pontifical and Civil Faculty of Theology of Lima (Peru) and before a large audience of students and professors Doig, who is the coordinator of the Christian Life Movement as well as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, explained several aspects of his work, highlighting the place that technology should occupy in the culture and its relation to the human being. His book, he explained, analyses the problematic that technology presents in today's world.

Previously, the Pro-rector Rafael Luyi spoke on the importance of the work in the framework of the dialogue between faith and culture. Afterwards, Professor Gildomero Arista, Director of Philosophical Studies, after analyzing various arguments of the work, highlighted the large reach of the investigation made by the author and the broad use of important and actualized sources as support for his arguments. Finally, Professor Gustavo Sachez, from the Theological Studies Department, analyzed the work from a theological point of view. In his intervention he considered various aspects of the book, emphasizing the contribution that Doig's new work means to Christian reflection in the face of the influence of technology in the world today.

Italy: exposition of Holy Shroud attracts thousands of pilgrims

Turin, 29 (NE) Numerous groups of pilgrims, among them many young people that participated in World Youth Day, have visited in the last days the City of Turin to pay homage to the Holy Shroud. On exhibition since last August 12 with the theme "Lord, I seek your face", the shroud has been a point of pilgrimage for thousands of people, many of whom consider it the authentic shroud that covered the Lord in His sepulcher, a belief that the most recent scientific investigations support with ever increasing conviction.

"I have seen many photographs of the sindone, but to personally see it is a totally different emotion," pointed out last week Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, after seeing the Holy Shroud for the first time. "It is really moving to think that it is the image of the Lord Jesus as He was placed in the sepulcher, as His Mother saw Him after the crucifixion," added Cardinal Schönborn, who also said that the Holy Shroud is very well known in Austria, specially among the young people.

"The Sindone, according to the last scientific investigations, is not an image of a dead man, but rather of a risen one. It is the testimony of the empty sepulcher," affirmed the Archbishop of Vienna. "It makes us also think about the fact that the Lord may have wanted to make the Shroud, image of a martyr, arrive to this century, which is also the century of the martyrs," concluded the Austrian Cardinal.

August 28

World Youth Day: A stage in a journey that must continue, says Pope

Vatican City, 28 (NE) Gathering yesterday with pilgrims from all over the world to pray the Angelus, Pope John Paul II recalled once again emotive moments from World Youth Day, recently held in Rome. "Throughout several days the heart of young people has beaten in Rome… it is a people that with new energies enters the third millennium", the Pope said to pilgrims gathered in Castel Gandolfo.

"I thank the Lord for the good that the Jubilee of Youth has seeded in the Church and in the world", he continued, saying that nevertheless "World Youth Day is just a stage in a journey that must continue". During his brief address, the Pope invited young Catholics to "grow in the consciousness of their own faith", becoming "convincing witnesses of Christ" in their home countries.

Afterwards, the Pope recalled the celebration of the Jubilee for university teachers, to be held in September with the theme "The University for a new humanism". "At the threshold of the third millennium, the Church proposes again to the world of culture, and particularly to universities, the message of Christ as source of a vision of man and the world in which the Plan of God is reflected at its fullest," he said.

Holy Father states that medical experimentation must respect human dignity

Vatican City, 28 (NE) Medical experimentation "must be at the effective service of humanity", and in accordance to its dignity, stated this weekend Pope John Paul II in his message on occasion of the World Day of the Sick. The event to take place in year 2001 will be held in Sydney, Australia, on February 11 with the theme "New evangelization and the dignity of the suffering man". As the Pope writes in his message, it will be also a special occasion "of prayer and support for the many institutions dedicated to the care of those who suffer".

"The Church has always tried to support therapeutical progress, always seeking a more qualified help for the sick", the Pope stresses. He also recalls that "in diverse situations, she has intervened with all the means at her disposal so that the rights of the individual are respected". The Pontiff says in his message that scientific investigation cannot be seen without favor, highlighting that nevertheless it is necessary "that it takes place with an absolute respect for the person and a clear conscience of the risks, and in consequence, the limits it has".

"Today, the teachings of the Church, faithful to the principles of the Gospel, do not cease to propose the moral criteria that may orient people involved in medicine in the study of the aspects of investigation that have not been cleared sufficiently, without violating the demands that derive from an authentic humanism", the Pope further stresses.

Guidelines for embryonic stem cell research are illegal, says NCCB official

Washington, 28 (NE) The final guidelines for destructive human embryo research, released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "are immoral and illegal as well as unnecessary for medical progress," said Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of the Pro-Life Secretariat at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In a recent declaration, Doerflinger stressed as immoral the fact that "for the first time in history, our federal government will promote research in which developing human beings are destroyed." "The Clinton Administration has ignored the moral objections submitted by tens of thousands of Americans during the NIH's public comment period," he further said.

The Associate Director of the Pro-Life Secretariat at the NCCB also recalled that the funding of research in which human embryos are harmed or destroyed is prohibited by federal law, making the guidelines illegal. Finally, in his declaration Doeflinger highlighted that the claim "that embryonic stem cell research is needed for new medical advances has been rebutted by numerous breakthroughs in adult stem cell research and other alternatives", an approach that overcomes the ethical and immunologic concerns associated with the use of fetal tissue.

Brazil: Sao Paulo celebrates Jubilee of Seminarians

Sao Paulo, 28 (NE) Hundreds of young Catholics in Brazil gathered yesterday in the city of Sao Paulo to pray for vocations to religious life. During the ceremony, presided by Bishop Fernando Figueiredo of Santo Amaro, Brazilian youth prayed so that there be more vocations to priestly life, as well as to religious and consecrated life. In an activity held in parallel, the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo organized a "Vocational festival", in a school north of the Brazilian city. During the event, participants reflected on the meaning of vocation, as well as on the need to discover and follow God's call. Both events, together with others to be held during this week, form part of the Jubilee of Seminarians taking place in the Archdiocese. The main event will be held on Thursday, when more than 500 seminarians from the 10 dioceses that conform the ecclesiastical province of Sao Paulo will gather in the Faculty of Theology to reflect on the blessing of God's call to priestly life.

August 26

Argentinean Bishops promote legislation that defends life

Buenos Aires, 26 (NE) Yesterday the Permanent Commission of the Argentinean Bishop's Conference issued a document on human life and sexuality. The text answers to the polemics that the discussed law on the so called "reproductive health" has caused, recently emitted by the Legislative of the city of Buenos Aires.

The document states that "being the ´good news´, the message of the Church on life and sexuality never goes against but always in favor of everything human, of all women and men. It only promotes a fuller human life." It also states that "human sexuality, as a gift and a task, requires an education for love apart from easy fallacies that promote a culture of the superficial and banal, that foster, specially among youth, risky behaviors that frequently are paid with one's life or irreparable damages on oneself and those close to one."

The Pastors of the Church in Argentina also give some guidelines for the creation of a "legal framework that permits a true education for love," that "promotes a true culture of discernment and responsibility in the exercise of sexuality and communication of life."

This legal framework must also "honor human life; and help to confirm the culture of life in our country, avoiding manipulations that damage the dignity of the person" and also defend "the irreplaceable and inalienable duty-right of parents to the moral education of their children."

The document also states that a legislation corresponding the fundamental rights of the human being can never favor "situations of social injustice. But these are not solved with the promotion of a birth control attitude and they become graver with the dehumanizing practice of sexuality."

Holy See rejects the use of human embryos for investigation

Rome, 26 (NE) The Pontifical Academy for Life issued a communiqué yesterday about the ethical problems involved in the "production, and scientific and therapeutic use of human embryonic cells." The communiqué is in answer to the debate originated by the recent decision of the United States Congress to grant the use of public funds for investigations in which human embryos were destroyed.

In response to this controversial decision, whose footsteps are being followed by England, Japan and Australia, the communiqué indicates that it is morally illicit to produce or use living human embryos for the preparation of these cells. It also rejected the moral legitimacy of the application of "therapeutic cloning" through the production of human embryos and their subsequent destruction for the production of these cells.

Among the reasons given to point out that we have, in both cases, "grave immoral acts and thus gravely illicit" is the fact that "the living human embryo, from the fusion of the gametes, is a human being" and as such "has the right to its own life." As well it is pointed out that an embryo, once constituted, "cannot be, in any posterior stage, considered as a simple number of cells." The communication clarifies that a good aim, as would be a scientific advance or the search for new solutions to disease, for example, "doesn't change into good an intrinsically bad action."

Further on, the communication of the Pontifical Academy for Life points out that "the most reasonable and human solution is to use cells that come from adults." It also indicates that, although this alternative is still being developed, it would be a possibility that "would permit reaching the same aims" by means of the "use of the right method, in a field that opens up fruitful therapeutic applications to the investigators and a hope for many people who suffer."

Everything ready for the largest pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, 26 (NE) Over 1000 buses and hundreds of private cars left on Thursday from Rio for the Shrine of 'Nossa Señora de Aparecida' (Our Lady of Aparecida), in the most numerous pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro in the last 29 years. The estimated 50 thousand pilgrims will take part in the central Mass in the Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Eugênio de Araújo Sales and concelebrated by over 200 priests. After that, the pilgrims will renew their consecration to the Virgin of Aparecida and will go towards "Cruzeiro " mountain to make the route of the "Via Sacra". The whole event will be covered by the Network TV "Redevida" and also by the radio station of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, "Catedral FM 106,7".

Indonesia: Parliament rejected law that would affect religious freedom

Rome, 26 (NE) The Apostolic Nuncio of Indonesia, Renzo Fratini, expressed his satisfaction at the decision of the Parliament not to approve Islamic law in the country. In declarations to the Fides Agency, the Prelate highlighted the decision of the Parliament, which rejected the proposal of the United Development Party and other smaller Islamic formations that had encouraged the adoption of the Islamic law. Spokesmen of various parties that opposed introducing a change in article 29 of the Constitution of 1945, dealing with relations between the State and religion, thus declaring Indonesia an Islamic State, indicated that the measure could have seriously affected religious freedom in this country, in which the situation of the religious minorities, -and particularly of the members of the Catholic Church, is difficult owing to the various persecutions and acts of violence that they have had to support in recent years.

August 25

Cardinal Sodano urges to discover and keep the richness of liturgy

Vatican City, 25 (NE) The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, emphasized the need to keep the authentic richness of the Liturgy of the Church, centered in the Lord Jesus. In a message in name of Pope John Paul II on occasion of the 51st National Italian Liturgy Week, Cardinal Sodano also stated the importance of "undertaking again an intensive education to teach the riches that liturgy contains."

"To face the loss of interest regarding liturgical education we must foster the duty of commitment at all levels to help our communities to always keep the rich contents of that characteristic expression of the Christian liturgical prayer that is "for Christ": it contains a clear witness of Christ's mediation, as well as the meaning of celebration and the given salvation," stated the Cardinal in his message.

Cardinal Sodano also expressed the Holy Father's wish that the Italian National Liturgy Week may contribute to the formation of faithful that participate at the Sunday and feast days´ Eucharistic celebrations. "Each celebration must constitute an encounter with the saving ministry of Christ, an experience of grace and salvation," he recalled. He also pointed out the need for a "progressive education in the language of celebration, so immediate but also so complex, and also in the putting in practice of its different dimensions: chant, word, silence."

Holy Father recalls evangelizing zeal of Pope Innocent XII

Vatican City, 25 (NE) On Wednesday the Press Office of the Holy See issued the letter that the Holy Father sent to the Bishop of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti (Italy), Mario Paciello, on the occasion of the Third Centenary of the death of Pope Innocent XII, "illustrious son of this noble land."

In the letter, dated July 29, the Holy Father points out that "the strong spiritual, human and ecclesiastical character of his antecedent, "whose work in the service of the Church and of 17th Century society was often inspired by solid principles, courage in reformations, sensitivity for the weakest social sectors and pastoral prudence."

The Pope also highlighted that "every human and spiritual experience of this admired Pontiff appears again with surprising actuality. The rediscovery and exploration of Pope Innocent XII's doctrine, spirituality and reforming zeal," continued the Holy Father, "can constitute strong encouragement to the work of the new evangelization."

"The 'Innocent' Celebrations," Pope John Paul II further recalled, "are inserted into the context of the Great Jubilee of 2000, that finds the Christian community involved in a deep path of spiritual renewal, reconciliation and solidarity."

After expressing his joy for the testimony of charity that the Diocese has been making through its many apostolic works -among which he mentioned support to the birth of local cooperatives, the formation of young people who want to enter the world of work and business, and the support to the populations of the poor countries, the Pope recalled again Pope Pignatelli's example that "encourages facing the challenge of the Third Millennium bravely and confidently."

Bishop Rylko comments on the World Youth Encounter

Rome, 25 (NE) "When the Pope says that young people are his hope, the hope of the Church, he isn't repeating a slogan, but rather affirming his experience as a Shepherd. And the young people answer him" -pointed out Bishop Stanislaw Rilko, Secretary for the Pontifical Council for the Laity yesterday. His declarations were taken from an interview granted to the Fides Agency, in which he commented on various aspects of the World Youth Encounter.

"The young people have evangelized even without words: waiting for hours in Saint Peter's Square; taking part silently in the catechesis; approaching the Sacrament of reconciliation." He also remarked that the crowded confessions in the Circus Maximum "have been the most radical sign of their testimony."

Regarding the teachings that come out of this event for the youth pastoral, he pointed out that one of the essential ones is the necessity for a "direct announcement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes," he explained, "we talk to young people about thousands of things, very attractive according to us, but we forget that the first right of the young people is to encounter Jesus and His Gospel."

At last, commenting on how the Pope related to the young people, Bishop Rilko highlighted especially "the totality." In this sense he observed that "the Pope says, 'I am a young people's friend, but a demanding one… You aren't a friend if you let everything be.' The Pope is not afraid of asking them to be saints, to maintain purity before marriage, to discern if they are called to a sacred vocation," he added.

Cardinal Shan: "The future of the Church in China is in the hands of our youth"

Rome, 25 (NE) Cardinal Paul Shan, Archbishop of Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and President of the Chinese Bishop's Regional Conference, has recently granted an interview to the Fides Agency, in which he talks about the meaning of the World Youth Encounter for the Church in China. "The fruits of World Youth Encounter," he stated, "will be the courage to bear witness to faith and to evangelize. These are also the greatest challenges facing young Christians today, particularly those in China. The future of the Church in China, Taiwan and the Mainland, is in their hands."

Cardinal Shan explained that the week of the World Youth Encounter was an occasion of intense growth in their spiritual lives for the young people and manifested his belief that "the young people will be able to be authentic witnesses and evangelizers." He further added, "they will certainly reflect on what the Pope told them and make an effort to put it into practice," especially striving to "encounter the Lord Jesus-" and to "communicate to others the announcement of love they have received."

August 24

Holy Father: "I shall never forget the enthusiasm of those young people

Vatican City, 24 (NE) 40,000 pilgrims gathered yesterday with Pope John Paul II in St. Peter´s Square for the General Audience. Many were young people that participated at the World Youth Encounter. The Pope dedicated his message to them, recalling the different stages of that memorable encounter.

The Holy Father thanked God for "this gift, truly great not only for our city and the Church in Italy but also for the whole world," and he also thanked the different persons that collaborated in the organization.

After recalling the welcoming of the young people in St. John Lateran´s Square and in St. Peter´s Square, the Pope shared that he still felt the "deep emotion with which he participated in Tor Vergata in the vigil of Saturday night with which I presided, one day after, the solemn closing celebration."

The Pope then recalled that when he flew by helicopter upon the two million young people gathered at the esplanade of Tor Vergata, he could "admire from the height a unique and moving scene: an enormous human carpet of people in feast, happy for being together. I shall never forget the enthusiasm of those young people." He also stated that "he would have desired to embrace them all and express each one of them the love that unites me with the youth of our time, to which the Lord entrusts a great mission at the service of the civilization of Love."

The Pope then stated that "young people, with the enthusiasm proper of their age have answered that they wish to follow Jesus. They want to do this, because they feel they are a living part of the Church. They want to do this walking together, because they feel themselves as the People of God in pilgrimage. Beyond any race and culture," stated the Pope, "they feel united by one same faith, one hope and one mission: to light the world with the love of God."

Archbishop of Rio comments on globalization

Rio, 24 (NE) The Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Cardinal Eugênio Sales, has recently issued a message about globalization, emphasizing the necessity to understand this phenomenon with the right hierarchy of values. As he explained, globalization is a phenomenon of a mainly economic character that nevertheless embraces many other dimensions of men's lives, such as communications, new technologies and customs. "The extraordinary changes occurring on the Earth and, as it seems, in an irreversible manner, must lead us to evaluate the factors that may prevent the evils that come out of this revolution. This is done through conversion to the importance of moral criteria and not through indiscriminate combat against these new ways. Only this way can progress. change into admirable strength in favor of humanity."

Cardinal Sales pointed out as well that various situations of crisis "frequent in times of globalization lacking the control of moral principles, have led many recognized economists to the defense of what the Church also predicates: an ethical role for the global financial system" that "cannot be considered an aim itself," he went on to say, "but should be at men's service."

He finished by explaining that the matter "is not out of the Shepherd's jurisdiction. It is a part of the Church's Social Doctrine because it affects men, the well being of society and the exercise of virtues. The Christian's right attitude," he concluded, "is to fight for the inclusion of ethical values in the structures of these courses of the economy. To act like this is more intelligent and also efficient for the promotion of Social Justice."

Buenos Aires: XII exposition of the Catholic book

Buenos Aires, 24 (NE) With the slogan "Open the doors to Christ, Men's Redeemer" the XII Exposition of the Catholic Book will be held from September 4 to 17, in the Argentinean capital. The event, which will be held in the Father Federico Grote Cultural Center, will be inaugurated by the Assistant Archbishop of La Plata, Hector Aguer.

Besides the exposition of the volumes from over twenty publishing companies, there will also be conferences and concerts. In addition, the prizes corresponding to the VI National Catholic Literary Contest "Cardinal Antonio Quarracino" will be awarded.

The titles of the conferences to be given are: "Reconciliation and Solidarity", "Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy: the Star that Guides the Great Jubilee", "Testimony of the Martyrs on the Horizon of the Third Millennium", "The Challenge of being a Family in the Third Millennium", among others. The closing Mass of the XII Exposition of the Catholic Book will be presided over by Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires on the afternoon of September 17.

U.S.A.: Legal pressures of pro-abortion groups

Philadelphia, 24 (NE) In its most recent editorial, the Archdiocesan weekly "Catholic Standard and Times", has denounced the pressure from the pro-abortion group "Planned Parenthood" to include contraceptive drugs as a part of the medical insurance that the workers must receive from any institution as part of their rights. Having waged a legal campaign in Pennsylvania, understanding contraceptives as "good medicine" is under consideration, as well as the condition of pregnancy as a disease that must be healed.

"Unfortunately, nowadays many accept the rhetoric of Planned Parenthood and similar groups, and see contraceptives as the cure for abortion and pregnancies out of wedlock or "undesired". Nevertheless, after 40 years, contraception and the desire for 'reproductive liberty' upon which it was founded, haven't solved but rather increased our social diseases, making it possible for people to separate sex from the procreation and to connect it exclusively to pleasure. "Making this evaluation, the weekly also considers the consequences of the devaluation of marriage, the increase in promiscuity and the erroneous vision of children as a burden, factors that the pro-abortion group apparently doesn't consider relevant to the matter.

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