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September 16

Nuncios: witnesses of unity, recalls Pope

Vatican City, 16 (NE) Apostolic nuncios and pontifical representatives were welcomed yesterday morning by Pope John Paul II, on the occasion of their Jubilee celebration. After a Eucharist celebration presided over by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano in St. Peter's Basilica, the participants gathered in the Clementine Hall to meet the Holy Father.

The Pope recalled during the audience that the nuncios are "representatives of the Pope to national governments or to supranational institutions, but in the first place are witnesses of his ministry of unity to the local Churches." Pope John Paul II underlined that those who are nuncios to the Church in the country in which they live perform" a service of communion... but must also be an authentic pastoral presence. The nuncio - never forget it - is also a pastor."

The Holy Father expressed his "great consideration" for their commitment "as well as for all the work of mediation which you undertake with respect to the political and social situations of the countries where you work or in the relationship with international organisms. ... In your work, you can count on the prestige of a centuries-old diplomacy."

"The gifts of human prudence, intelligence and sensitivity must unite in every one of you to the spirit of the Beatitudes. In a sense, yours is the 'diplomacy of the Gospel'", the Pope said in closing. "That is why faith in Christ must be the flame that lights and warms every moment of your day".

Argentinean youth prepares for traditional Marian pilgrimage

Buenos Aires, 16 (NE) Numerous young people in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, are preparing for the traditional pilgrimage towards Our Lady of Luján's shrine. This year, the XXVI Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to the popular Marian shrine will take place on the first weekend of October with the motto: "Mother, that we may see Jesus in every brother."

With an eye to this pilgrimage that every year gathers many young people together in an act of devotion and love for the Mother of God, a preparatory meeting will take place during the following days with the aim of gathering pilgrims, support groups, entertainers, volunteers of the health posts, coordinators, priests and everybody that will participate in any way in this public expression of popular faith.

On the other hand, the Commission for the Popular Pastoral of the Youth Vicariate exhorted to celebrate masses in every parish and chapel of the Archdiocese during the pilgrimage days, September 30th to October 1st, to join thus the pilgrims and the intentions of this walk in the honor of Argentina's Patroness.

Mexican archdiocese recalls that cloning of human embryos is immoral

Mexico City, 16 (NE) The Archdiocese of Mexico expressed a strong rejection to the cloning of human embryos this week, pointing out that it is an "aberrant manipulation". Through its weekly publication "From Faith", the Mexican Archdiocese clarified that "common welfare" cannot attempt against the "moral welfare" in the creation of "supermen" and "superwomen" industrially projected and reproduced for any objective.

Though it is not logical to impede the advance of Medicine, always that it supposes "a substantial benefit for mankind, the cloning of human embryos", the publication clarifies, "can never be licit, because no objective, no matter how attractive it may be from scientific point of view" can justify the manipulation and elimination of a human being.

"The maxim that says that the end justifies the means continues being erroneous. Besides, it is so when medicine forecasts new alternative scientific morally right techniques ". Finally, the publication affirms that "the supposed benefits of cloning don't justify opening the door for manipulating experiments that could create with it supermen and superwomen, industrially projected and reproduced for any kind of objective, including the most perverse that anyone could think of."

Costa Rica: new diocese of Cartago to be created

Saint Joseph, 16 (NE) Archbishop Román Arrieta of San Jose of Costa Rica will traveled this week to Rome in order to finish the last details in establishing a new diocese in the Central American country. The creation of the Diocese of Cartago, proposed to Pope John Paul II by the Bishops Conference of Costa Rica, is a part of the changes that have been suggested and analyzed by the Bishops Conference and were described in a document named "Project for Restructuring the Ecclesiastic Province of Costa Rica".

"The only one who can approve or reject the creation of a Diocese is the Holy Father, but I hope he approves the solicitude as he has since we began the project of restructuring in 1995, which has given the expected results," affirmed Archbishop Arrieta. If the creation is approved, Costa Rica will have seven Dioceses and an Archdiocese.

"With this the restructuring begun various years ago would be finalized, and thus Costa Rica would be well constituted, because it has Bishops in the most populated parts of the country," also explained the Archbishop. At present, the six Dioceses are located in Alajuela, San Isidro, Limón, Tilarán, Ciudad Quesada and Puntarenas.

The national shrine of Our Lady of the Angels, Patroness of Costa Rica, is found in Cartago. To this place, year after year, many faithful from various parts of the country go on pilgrimages.

September 15

Pope highlights witness of faith of Armenian Catholics

Vatican City, 15 (NE) Pope John Paul II received yesterday 350 participants in the Jubilee Year pilgrimage of Armenian Catholics, including His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, patriarch of Cilicia of Catholic Armenians. "The Armenian people," the Pope pointed out, "know the Cross well: they have carried it engraved in their hearts. It is the symbol of their identity, of the tragedies of their history and of the glory of their renewal after each adverse event".

In the Clementine Hall in the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father recalled the Armenian pilgrims several aspects of their history, during which "entire generations of Armenians have not hesitated to offer their lives in order not to deny their faith which, as one of your historians said, belongs to them like color does to skin".

Afterwards, in declaration to Vatican Radio, Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX declared that Armenian Catholics -members of a nation that embraced the faith seventeen centuries ago-, "have been always persecuted because of their faith". "The most recent persecution was back in 1915, when we had 1.5 million martyrs. One of them will be beatified next year by the Holy Father: Archbishop Ignace Maloyan, who was martyred by the Turkish because of his faith".

Jubilee of Pontifical Representatives takes place in Rome

Rome, 15 (NE) With a ceremony presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, the Jubilee of Pontifical Representatives started yesterday afternoon in the basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The Jubilee of apostolic nuncios will culminate today with Mass for the papal ambassadors in St. Peter's Basilica, over which Cardinal Sodano will preside, followed by an audience with Pope John Paul II.

The world's oldest diplomatic service is that of the Holy See, and it origins can be traced to the very first centuries of the Catholic Church when papal legates were sent by the Popes to represent them at important councils. Though the mission of the early papal representatives was primarily spiritual in nature, changes began to occur between the fifth and eighth centuries when Popes sent temporary emissaries to special civil ceremonies as well as to religious events. In the mid-15th century, permanent papal representation began to appear and by the 16th century, history records the establishment of apostolic nunciatures in different countries. The very first apostolic nunciature was established in Venice in 1500.

Today the Holy See exchanges representatives with 184 nations. This includes Missions of a special nature such as the Russian Federation and the Office of the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine. The Holy See is represented at international governmental organizations including, among others, the United Nations, headquartered in New York, and has permanent representation to 10 international NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).

Future Holy See diplomats receive training at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, founded by Pope Clement XI in 1701. Pius XI, on September 8, 1937, established the cardinal secretary of state as the academy's protector "pro tempore." Candidates to the academy must first have received an academic degree, as well as one in canon law. Their studies, which include languages, last between three and four years. On average there are 35 students from at least 20 countries at the academy.

US Cardinal encourages legal reform in favor of religious education

Detroit, 15 (NE) "As the Lord Jesus told his disciples, we have the potential to be salt and light to our world," affirmed Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, in a recent conference during which he encouraged a reform to a law rooted in 19th century anti-Catholicism that prevents any public aid to religious schools. Cardinal Maida, in his keynote address Sept. 2 at the fifth annual Missouri Catholic Conference Assembly, said that Michigan voters can begin a movement that will sweep across the nation to change the so-called "Blaine Amendment" written into 38 state constitutions -including those of Michigan and Missouri - during a wave of anti-Catholic-immigrant bigotry during the mid-1800s.

"Under very difficult circumstances, Catholic schools have consistently been successful in educating students to the highest standards of intellectual, moral and social development. We have reason to be proud and we can work from a position of strength as partners in a dialogue for educating students for the common good," Cardinal Maida stressed. "There is no way out of the ghettoes of Detroit except an education rooted in a value system," Cardinal Maida said. "No matter how rich or poor you are, parents should have the right to send their children to the school they choose." "Educational reform and broadening educational choice is a matter of justice, especially for those who do not have equal access to educational opportunities," he said.

"It doesn't belong in Michigan's constitution and it doesn't belong in yours. If the Blaine Amendment can be defeated in Michigan, it can be defeated in Missouri," he affirmed. Cardinal Maida said he expected that the same coalition that scored a stunning victory over assisted suicide two years ago would hold together to wipe the Blaine Amendment off the books in Michigan.

China: Another Bishop faithful to the Pope arrested

Rome, 15 (NE) Italian news agency ANSA reported today that police in China has arrested again a Bishop of the "clandestine" Catholic Church, faithful to the authority of the Holy Father. According to ANSA, Bishop Tommaso Zeng Jingmu was arrested yesterday in a village in the region of Jiangxi, in central China. Also arrested together with the eighty-year-old Bishop was his Auxiliary Bishop Deng Hui and a priest. Bishop Tommaso Zeng Jingmu has spent 32 of his 80 years in prison. He was arrested again yesterday afternoon and his whereabouts were still unknown at the moment of the report. A few days ago, Fides agency confirmed the kidnapping of another Chinese Bishop faithful to the Pope, Bishop Jiang Ming Yuan, arrested on August 26. "The arrest of Bishop Jiang", reported Fides on that occasion, "is another chapter in the campaign launched by the Chinese government at least six years ago to completely eliminate the underground Church".

September 14

Pope recalls presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church

Vatican City, 14 (NE) The life the Church "is pervaded by the presence and activity of the Spirit, donated 'without measure' to believers in Christ," stated Pope John Paul II, during his weekly Wednesday catechesis held in St. Peter's Square. Meeting with pilgrims from all over the world, the Holy Father spoke yesterday about "The Christian, animated by the Spirit".

"The Holy Spirit," he said, "lies at the root of the experience of faith. ... The breath of the Spirit is present at the very source of Christian life - when we are born as new creatures - making us sons in the Son and causing us 'walk' along the paths of justice and salvation." The Holy Father affirmed that "the whole Christian experience must, then, develop under the influence of the Spirit... The Spirit is near us at the moment of trial, becoming our defender and our support."

"The Spirit," the Pope further said, "lies at the root of Christian liberty, which is the removal of the yoke of sin. ... Moral life - as St. Paul reminds us - precisely because it is irradiated by the Spirit, produces fruits of 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control'." The Holy Father recalled as well during his catechesis that "the Spirit animates the whole community of believers in Christ," ensuring "the unity of the Church as the work of the Holy Spirit" and confers "the various charisms, in other words the particular gifts offered to members of the Church."

Cardinal Sodano recalls role of Blessed John XXIII as Papal delegate

Rome, 14 (NE) Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, recalled this week the work of Pope John XXIII as Papal delegate in Bulgaria, stressing that he could be now considered one of the "Patron saints of Papal delegates". During a ceremony in which he conferred the episcopal ordination to Msgr. Antonio Mennini, named by Pope John Paul II Apostolic Nuncio in Bulgaria, Cardinal Sodano highlighted the role of Pope John XXIII -recently beatified together with another Pope, Pius IX- as Papal delegate.

"The permanent pontifical mission in Bulgarian land was sanctified by the presence of the unforgettable Archbishop Angelo Roncalli", Cardinal Sodano said in his homily during the celebration held in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The Secretary of State said that after his beatification on September 3, "he can thus be invoked as one of the Patron saints of Papal delegates". Before being named Successor of the Apostle Peter, Pope John XXIII was Apostolic Delegate in Sofia (Bulgaria) from 1925 to 1934, and afterwards in Turkey and Greece, from 1934 to 1944. He was also sent in a similar responsibility to France, from 1944 to 1953.

The Vatican Cardinal encouraged the new Nuncio to "perform your mission with the spirit of Blessed Angelo Roncalli". "In his diary, published after his death", Cardinal Sodano stressed, "we can read profound meditations, which let us see the supernatural spirit that moved him". "To him, the task of every Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church tended to the same aim: continue in the world the ministry of the Apostles".

Panama: Doctors call to respect life and dignity of people

Panama, 14 (NE) The Association for Catholic Doctors of Panama encouraged the "search for the enhancement of the human life and the respect for the dignity of the man as such", in a recent message to doctors and the general public. The message was issued during a recent forum held last week with the theme: "The Body of Christ and Bio-Ethics", which was carried out in the framework of the National Eucharistic Congress, recently held in this country. Members of the Association called Panamanian people to "avoid problems which increasingly derive in family disintegration, such as abortion, euthanasia, and other problems that science itself is raising". The message of the Catholic Doctors also referred to the ethical challenges and problems generated by the new scientific discoveries, such as the human genome, remarking that facing the scientific developments, a proposal from a Christian perspective is to "guide and give it the value it requires". "We have to make it conscious, humane and responsible", they emphasized.

Sudanese Bishop's meeting held in Italy

Rome, 14 (NE) This week has begun in the city of Pesaro, Italy, the "Assembly 2000" of the Episcopal Conference of Sudan. The meeting is being held with the presence of the 12 Bishops of the African country, a nation struck since 1983 by a violent and long lasting internal conflict between the government and rebel forces groups. The activities of the Sudanese Bishops Meeting were inaugurated in the Italian city by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sudan, Archbishop Marco Dino Brogi, and will last until next Sunday. According to the information given, during the meeting the Bishops will reflect over difficult reality of the country and will draft a common declaration about its present situation. During the opening ceremony, the Nuncio encouraged the apostolic work and ministry of the Church in this country, which is performed in "extremely difficult" circumstances. The last meeting of the Sudanese episcopate was carried out in Nairobi, in 1999.

September 13

Rome awaits pilgrimage of image of Virgin of Fatima

Rome, 13 (NE) The image of the Virgin of Fatima, to which hundreds of thousands of pilgrims pay homage every year, will be in Rome from October 6 to 8, in the frame of the Jubilee of Bishops to take place in the Eternal City. As a communique of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee informed, the image of the Virgin will arrive at Ciampino airport in Rome on Friday, October 6. The act of consecration to Blessed Mary will take place on October 8.

This pilgrimage, the communique says, "puts a Marian seal to all the Holy Year". "The act of consecration to Mary, to take place on Sunday October 8 according to the Jubilee calendar, will thus have a especially significant character, almost as a coronation of the Great Jubilee". The pilgrimage of the image of the Virgin of Fatima to Rome had already been announced some months ago. On June, Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva of Leiria-Fátima traveled to Rome to set the necessary arrangements.

The Marian image will be first taken to the Papal quarters in the Vatican. On Saturday, October 7, it will be placed inside St. Peter's Basilica, and in the afternoon will be moved to the "sagrato" of the Vatican Basilica, where the Pope, together with all the Bishops present, will pray the Rosary. The next day, Sunday morning, the Pope will preside Mass and the act of consecration to Mary, together with Prelates from all over the world. After the celebration the image will be taken to the Pope's private chapel. It will return to Portugal on Monday morning.

Scientific advances must promote culture of life, recalls Dominican Cardinal

Santo Domingo, 13 (NE) Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, called this weekend for scientific and technological advances not to be used to promote "the culture of death", but instead promote human life and integrity. "We must rejoice that the Creator has given to humanity this capacity of investigation", the Cardinal said, warning as well that the crisis of philosophic values that the world suffers menaces the use of scientific knowledge.

"We are before two totally different thoughts: the culture of life and the culture of death", said the Archbishop in his weekly TV program, pointing out that the culture of death, which does not respect the integrity and moral of the human being, has been wrongly linked to science and technology. But "there can not be contradiction between science and faith, as the formal object of both is the truth", the Archbishop explained.

Cardinal López Rodríguez stressed that scientific development and its new discoveries must be translated not only into medical advances, but also into an ethical defense of life and its integrity. "Any concept that goes against the integrity of human life we consider it inadmissible from the moral point of view", said the Dominican Archbishop.

Philippines: Catechists and educators together in Jubilee celebration

Manila, 13 (NE) How can catechesis and Catholic education contribute to the realization of a Filipino civilization of life and love? This is the challenge that the Church in the Philippines, and most especially catechists and Catholic educators, sought to confront and respond to during their three-day Jubilee Congress which ends today at the Philippine International Convention Center. The Jubilee Congress has gathered some 3,500 delegates from Catholic educational institutions and the catechetical ministry. During their activities, participants have examined how catechists and Catholic educators can best fulfill the thrusts of the Great Jubilee - renewal and strengthening of the faith and witnessing of Christian life - and how they can work together towards this goal.

The Congress commenced just after the celebration of the Jubilee of Schools, Colleges and Universities, held last Sunday, September 10, and climaxes the Jubilee celebrations for all individuals and institutions linked to education and formation. Among the delegates to the Congress are diocesan catechetical directors, coordinators, formators and catechists; and presidents, directors, principals, superintendents, deans, religious education coordinators, campus ministers, and faculty; non-teaching, parent and student representatives from CEAP schools.

The Congress opened on Monday with a Holy Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Jaime L. Cardinal Sin and a message from the Holy Father. This was followed by the keynote address of Archbishop Quevedo on "The Challenges of the Great Jubilee to Catechists and Catholic Education". Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal will preside the Eucharistic celebration at the closing of the Congress.

Brazil: Missionary families, hope of the new millennium

São Paulo, 13 (NE) Last Sunday the IXth National Congress of Family Pastoral, held with the theme "Missionary Family, Hope of the New Millennium" in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, reach to its end after three days of intense prayer and reflection. Since Friday almost a thousand participants were gathered in different workgroups to reflect over the reality of family in today's world and its evangelizing mission. Faithful attending the congress celebrated on Saturday the day of Our Lady of the Light, Patroness of Curitiba. At mid morning hundreds of Brazilian faithful participated in the Holy Mass leaded by Archbishop Pedro Fedalto of Curitiba, and concelebrated by 12 bishops and many priests. At the end of the day a candlelight procession through the streets of Curitiba was carried out with the image of the Virgin of the Light. According to event organizers, the conclusions of each workgroup will be copied in a document of general guidelines and recommendations for Brazilian dioceses.

September 12

Pope calls Polish university to "generous service to truth"

Vatican City, 12 (NE) Pope John Paul II received yesterday 500 teachers and students from his alma mater, the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland, who came to Rome for the concluding ceremonies of the Jubilee of Universities. During the audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope reflected on the "role and duties of this university, which has always set the tone to the development of Polish science and culture".

The Holy Father greeted the rector, teachers and students of this university present in Rome, and stressed that "the duty of an academic institution is in a certain sense to form souls for wisdom and knowledge, for the formation of minds and hearts." "Such a task", he further emphasized, "cannot be achieved otherwise than with a generous service to truth, discovering it and transmitting it to others".

In closing, Pope John Paul II said that "Poland needs enlightened patriots, capable of sacrifice for love of country, and at the same time prepared for a creative exchange of spiritual patrimony with the nations of Europe who are being unified." "I pray to God so that your stay in the Eternal City be a special time of consolidation of your faith. May His light guide you always and inspire you in the search for truth", the Pope concluded.

US Bishops welcome declaration "Dominus Iesus"

Washington, 12 (NE) In a recent statement welcoming the presentation of "Dominus Iesus", the recent document made public by the Congregation of the Faith on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston- Houston, President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that the document is "a valuable service in summarizing and clarifying the teaching of the Church".

"The Church of Christ uniquely contains the means of continuing Christ's saving mission. The Church of Christ is one, and subsists, or is found, in the Catholic Church where the fullness of the means of grace and salvation are present", Bishop Fiorenza said in his statement.

Meanwhile, in response to questions regarding the document, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said he was "grateful" for this declaration, stressing that it "opposes religious relativism, which bases truth in personal experience rather than in God's self revelation in history." The Cardinal recalled that "theories of a salvific action of God beyond the unique mediation of Jesus Christ and without reference to his Body the Church are, however, inconsistent with the Catholic faith."

Similarly, as the Arlington Catholic Herald reported, Bishop Paul S. Loverde said he "welcomes the publication of this Declaration." Over the last thirty years, the Prelate commented, "a number of Catholics have often, through no fault of their own, acquired an understanding of the Church (Ecclesiology) and of Christ (Christology) that is inaccurate and therefore misleading. Obviously such misinterpretations have significant implications for the living out of faith within the Church." "This Declaration will assist us all in understanding more fully and more accurately the role of Jesus Christ and of His Church", Bishop Loverde further emphasized.

Panama consecrated to Immaculate Heart of Mary

Panama, 12 (NE) With great joy and religious fervor, Panamanian Catholics received this weekend the proclamation of Holy Mary of La Antigua as the official patroness of their country. In the frame of the National Eucharistic Congress and with a solemn ceremony, the country was also consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The celebration was presided over by the Archbishop of Panama, Jose Dimas Cedeño. Archbishop Carlos Amigo Vallejo of Seville (Spain) was also present, together with all the members of the Bishop's Conference.

The devotion to the Virgin of La Antigua (The Old) dates back to the first years of the evangelization of this country and thus of the American continent. In 1510, Spanish sailors brought the first image of the Virgin to reach the mainland. It was an image of the Virgin of La Antigua, to whom the Spanish sailors had a special devotion because it was very popular in Seville, home of many of them.

In 1513, Pope Leo X created in the place where a small village had been built the first Diocese on the mainland, with the name Blessed Mary of La Antigua. Archbishop Cedeño explained that, although the first city to be the Diocese's See has disappeared, the Diocese of Blessed Mary of La Antigua has not. The Prelate recalled that in 1524 both the Headquarters of the civil government and the See of the Diocese were moved to the City of Panama, and afterwards to the New City of Panama, in January 1673.

In both cases, he explained, the Diocese did not disappear nor was destroyed nor a new one was created, but only the place was changed. Archbishop Cedeño pointed out that nowadays the Archdiocese of Panama has the honor of being the same Diocese of Blessed Mary of La Antigua, therefore being the Mother Church of the Republic of Panama and the first one in the continent.

Argentinean Catholics renew commitment to announce the Gospel

Cordoba, 12 (NE) Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country attended last Sunday the closing Mass of the National Eucharistic Congress, that took place on September 8, 9 and 10 in the city of Cordoba, Argentina. In the final event of the congress, before over 150 thousand people, the Bishops made a call to explore deeply the spirit of reconciliation in the country and encourage solidarity among people. Over 80 Bishops and hundreds of priests concelebrated the ceremony, with the presence of the Vice-President of the Nation, as well as several members of the cabinet.

The closing Mass was presided over by Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara, Papal Envoy, who recalled during his homily that "to Christians, the new millennium represents a great challenge: to make Christ more present in society, more known, more loved, more followed." Christians, he emphasized, must "make the values of the Gospel impregnate society; increase honesty, rightness, justice, peace."

Cardinal Castillo Lara pointed out as well that people must have "self readiness to sacrifice themselves for others, as Jesus did. Our society urges for this witness, the youth more than never needs it, they, who are tried many times by the illusions of an easy and comfortable life, by drug and hedonism, which afterwards drive to a spiral of desperation, nonsense and violence."

Upon concluding the Eucharist, faithful present accepted the "renewal of Christian commitment", presided by the Archbishop of Parana and President of the Episcopate, Estanislao Karlic. The Prelate committed Argentine Catholics to "announce the presence of the Kingdom of God that grows in the culture of life and denounce the culture of death which wants to be imposed among us."

September 11

Universities need witnesses of Christ, says Pope

Vatican City, 11 (NE) Pope John Paul II presided yesterday the Closing Mass of the Jubilee of Universities, calling the approximately 10.000 rectors, teachers, administrators and Chaplains, as well as students from universities all over the world present in Rome to be witnesses of Christ in their academic centers. During his homily, the Pope reflected on the Gospel and the word "Ephphatha, be opened!", recalling the healing of the deaf and dumb.

"Yes, Christ opens man to a knowledge of both God and himself. He who is truth opens man to the truth, touching him from within and thus healing 'from within' every human faculty." "For you, dear Brothers and Sisters engaged in research and study, these words are an appeal to open your spirit to the truth which sets free! At the same time, Christ's words summon you to become this 'Ephphatha' for countless hosts of young people, to become this word which opens the spirit to every aspect of truth in the different fields of learning. Seen in this light, your daily commitment becomes a following of Christ on the path of service to your brothers and sisters in the truth of love."

Recalling the situation of today's world, marked by profound transformations, the Pope stressed that the "humanistic character of culture sometimes seems relegated to the periphery, while there is an increased tendency to reduce the horizon of knowledge to what can be measured and to ignore any question touching on the ultimate meaning of reality." "To meet the challenge of creating a new authentic and integral humanism, the University needs people attentive to the word of the only Teacher; it needs qualified professionals and credible witnesses to Christ".

During the celebration, the Pope gave to participants an image of the Blessed Mary, Sedes Sapientiae, to pilgrim through the different dioceses in the world where there are universities. May she "be welcomed as a teacher and a pilgrim in the university campuses of the world.", the Pope said in closing, stressing that "Mary supported the Apostles with her prayer at the dawn of evangelization; may she also help you to invigorate the university world with a Christian spirit".

Cardinal Sodano calls UN to help build "civilization of love"

Vatican City, 11 (NE) "It is the fervent hope of the Holy See that at the dawn of the third millennium the UN will contribute to the building of a new civilization for the benefit of all mankind, a civilization which has been called the 'civilization of love'". These were the words of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Holy See State Secretary, during his intervention at the Millennium Summit recently held in New York. In his words before the Presidents of the approximately 150 nations present in the summit, Cardinal Sodano stressed that "the first duty of the United Nations is to preserve and promote peace throughout the world".

The Vatican Cardinal stressed as well the UN's duty to promote development, recalling that "development is a global notion, the aim of which is the promotion of people's dignity and well-being, considered in its fullest sense." "Programs should be launched to ensure that social progress goes hand in hand with economic growth", he further emphasized.

The promotion of human rights, above all of them the right to life, was stressed by Cardinal Sodano as the third duty of the United Nations. "Human rights must be affirmed by giving them a solid ethical basis, for otherwise they will remain fragile and without foundations. In this regard, it is necessary to reaffirm that no one creates or concedes human rights; rather, they are inherent in human nature." Finally, the fourth duty of the UN is that of guaranteeing the equality of all its members, he said.

"Christians, who this year have been commemorating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem", Cardinal Sodano said in closing, "feel solidarity for the efforts which the international community is undertaking so that the world of the future may be freed from violence, injustice and selfishness." "The Catholic Church proposes to contribute to this work above all through her proclamation of the Gospel of Christ since, without spiritual progress, the material progress of nations will be vain and illusive. This conviction has guided the Church throughout her history and it is also her commitment for the third millennium."

Miami: Cuban faithful celebrate the Patroness of Cuba

Miami, 11 (NE) Numerous groups of Catholic Cubans gathered last week in the city of Miami to celebrate with great devotion the day of the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre", Patroness of Cuba. Amid a sea of white handkerchiefs and over 12 thousand people, the image of the Virgin was carried by Cuban faithful as a sign of love and devotion to the Mother of God.

Some moments before, the image had left the Hermitage of the "Caridad del Cobre", in Coconut Grave, and taken to downtown Miami. "I join you to celebrate our Virgin of the Charity, whom we honor as the Mother of Jesus and ours," pointed out during the Eucharist the Archbishop of Miami, John Favalora, who presided over the celebration. "Our prayers and thoughts go towards those who arrive to our beaches escaping from unfair systems. Let's pray that we all, soon, may return to a free Cuba. Meanwhile, we may stand united in faith and hope," he further said.

"This is the Mass of the Holy Year of the Jubilee, in which the Holy Father and the Church call all our brothers to go to the Church and open their hearts to Christ," recalled Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman of Miami, during the celebration.

Spanish faithful pay homage to Virgin of Guadalupe

Madrid, 11 (NE) The day of the Virgin of Guadalupe -Patroness of Extremadura, Spain- was celebrated last week, gathering once more faithful from all over this region. This year celebrations began on August 31 with a novena, during which several Bishops presided Eucharist celebrations. The feast was celebrated on August 8, beginning early in the morning with the prayer of the Rosary. Afterwards, the Apostolic Nuncio in Spain, Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro, presided over the Mass that precedes the traditional procession through the church and the Mudejar-styled Cloister.

The devotion to this Marian invocation goes back to the 13th century, when according to tradition the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd near the Guadalupe River. Ancient codices point out that the Virgin spoke to the shepherd, saying: "Don't be afraid because I am the Mother of God, Savior of the human race." As well, they indicate that the Virgin left an image of herself and told the shepherd "not to change nor take it from the place where it is now, but rather make a stall to put it inside. It shall come the time when this place will become a very notable church and house many people."

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