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January 18

Pope stressed need for a "human ecology"

Vatican City, 18 (NE) "The commitment to avoid ecological catastrophe" was the theme of Pope John Paul II' catechesis yesterday, held at the Pope Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. During his catechesis, the Pope reflected on the rupture of man with creation because of sin, and stressed the need to develop a true "human ecology". The Pope affirmed that "the harmony of mankind with his fellow man, with Creation and with God is the design pursued by the Creator. This design was and is continually upset by man's sin which is motivated by another plan."

The Holy Father stressed that it is necessary "to stimulate and sustain 'ecological conversion' which in these last decades has made mankind more sensitive to the catastrophe towards which he has been heading". "What is necessary, then, is not only 'physical' ecology, which seeks to protect the habitat of all living creatures, but also 'human' ecology, which makes their existence more dignified, protecting the radical well-being of life in all its manifestations and preparing for future generations an environment which brings them closer to the design of the Creator." Only in this way, the Holy Father concluded, will man return "to walk in the garden of creation."

Sri Lanka: Bishops make urgent appeal for peace

Rome, 18 (NE) An urgent call to accelerate the peace process to end the country's ethnic war was made this week by Bishops in Sri Lanka. In a recent pastoral letter dated January 13, the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka appealed to the leaders to make "every effort without delay to end the ascending spiral of war and violence plaguing our country." The Bishops reaffirmed their "firm belief that war or violence can never achieve the sublime goals of permanent peace and justice," and stressed that because of the war, lack of respect for life has increased and a deadly culture of violence and corruption has emerged that is undermining democracy and trampling on basic human rights. The letter also expresses joy that a peace process has been initiated and recalls the apparent readiness of the two major political parties and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to seek a negotiated settlement. In closing, the Prelates stress that while peace is not easy to achieve, "there is no other viable or humanly and religiously justifiable alternative available."

Croatia: Bishops ask politicians to facilitate return of Catholic refugees

Rome, 18 (NE) The Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, and the Archbishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, have made a call to the authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina and of the Croatian Republic in order to encourage effective politics to allow the return to their homeland of hundreds of thousands of Catholic Croatian refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Prelates stressed that politicians, 6 years after the end of the war, must "assume the responsibility of correcting the injustices suffered by the victims of the war and of facilitating their return to home". According to a local Catholic news agency, over the last 5 years only 2.500 of the 200.000 refugees have been able to return to their homes. On occasion of the celebration of Christmas and the beginning of the new year, the Prelates met many Croatian Catholic refugees, after which they requested from the political authorities "concrete and definitive solutions."

Rome: Doctors urged to unite science and ethics

Rome, 18 (NE) "The medical option cannot be simply technical, based only on scientific knowledge: it must always be an ethical election", said this week the Director of the Bio-ethics Center of the Catholic University of Rome, Msgr. Elio Sgreccia, during a meeting developed under the theme: "The doctor: between science and conscience". Msgr. Sgreccia also encouraged doctors to adopt "a methodology that allow them to assume informed options that are at the same time ethically valid". On the other hand, he indicated that "relating the scientific data with the ethical data", making "a jump towards the reality of the human person, which is not at the same level" as the scientific dada, is a very important challenge for the doctors of the future.

January 17

Ukraine awaits Pope John Paul II' visit

Vatican City, 17 (NE) The Holy See confirmed yesterday Pope John Paul II' trip to Ukraine. Through a communique issued by the Press Office, the Pope's apostolic visit to the former soviet republic was confirmed to take place on June 23-27. A delegation headed by Fr. Roberto Tucci investigated from January 8-13 the places to be visited by the Holy Father in Ukraine, explained the Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

"In accord with the appropriate ecclesiastical authorities and with the Ukrainian government, the definitive dates of the Holy Father's visit were established. The visit starts June 23 and ends June 27," said Navarro-Valls. During his trip, Pope John Paul II will visit the country's capital city, Kiev, as well as Lvov, main city of Galitzia (western Ukraine), and centre of the Catholic Church that follows the Byzantine-Slavic rite, approximately 4 million faithful. In Kiev it is scheduled that the Pope will preside two Masses, one following the Latin rite and the other the Byantine-Slavik rite.

On occasion of the closing of the Jubilee and the Pope's visit, the Bishops in Ukraine have issued a pastoral letter expressing their joy for the Holy Father's trip. This visit, they say, will be occasion "to express to the Holy Father our fidelity, our thankfulness for his presence, the attention he has dedicated to all the Slavic people".

Evangelizing mission calls for clear Christian identity, says Cardinal Tomko

Rome, 17 (NE) "I have lived several Holy Years in Rome but the Jubilee of 2000 beat them all for the numbers of pilgrims and the serious preparation locally", said Cardinal Josef Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the evangelization of peoples, in recent declarations to Fides news agency. Making a balance of the Jubilee, Cardinal Tomko stressed that during the Jubilee year, "guided by the Pope we expressed our 'jubilation' we celebrated Jesus Christ, living 'yesterday, today and forever'."

The Vatican Cardinal highlighted that the dimension of "mission" has been present "in an intense and prepared way" during the Holy Year, especially as it has been celebrated in all the places where the Church is present. "We were surprised to see the vitality of China where the Bull of Indiction was published as well as a number of Pastoral Letters on the Jubilee." Nevertheless, "the Jubilee was also a time of suffering," a year during which many have " paid with their life, with their blood, for imitating Christ" in places where the Church is persecuted. "These too are signs of the Jubilee of the 2000th anniversary since the birth of Christ, who was crucified and died before Rising again."

Before the third millennium, Cardinal Tomko continued, "there is new fervour of interest for the person of Jesus Christ, not as a Holy Image of the past but as a Living Reality. This is what brought 2 million young people to Rome." The evangelizing mission, he finally said, "calls for a new discovery of the person of the living Christ and a clear Christian identity."

Sanctity of life and families are a priority, say Missouri Bishops

St. Louis, 17 (NE) Honoring the sacredness of life and strengthening families are two major parts of the Missouri Catholic Conference's public policy agenda for the year 2001. According to a recent report in the "The Catholic Key", in the frame on the effort in favor of life, opposition to abortion and the death penalty will be to main issues. Meanwhile, in order to strengthen the family the MCC will ask the legislature to create state policies that provide necessary assistance to all families, as well as encourage and make adoption easier, provide adequate funding for foster care, juvenile treatment, and domestic violence programs. It also plans to lobby against same-sex marriages and television programming that does not uphold basic moral values. Among other themes, investing in the quality education of all, reconciling offenders, victims and the community and welcoming the immigrant and refugee are also issues to be encouraged during the year.

January 16

Vatican Television Centre begins transmissions in American continent

Rome, 16 (NE) The Vatican Television Centre CTV will begin this week transmissions in the American continent, reported yesterday Fides news agency. With the motto "CTV to America", the project begins the post-Jubilee era with an important technological innovation which extends link-ups between Vatican City and the world.

"The project is important - says CTV Director General Mgr Ugo Moretto - CTV is always seeking new ways to fulfil its duty, to evangelise, and to promote the presence of the Apostolic See in the television and audio visual field throughout the world." CTV is also examining the possibility of receiving programmes on the life of the local Church.

A new CTV up-link earth station is ready and able to telecast through inter-Atlantic Ku-band satellites which can be easily received over all of North-America's eastern side and over many countries in Central and South America. As from 17 January almost every television network in North and South America will be able to receive free of charge and diffuse the Pope's teaching at the weekly Wednesday General Audiences and the Angelus prayer at midday on Sundays.

The new link-up system was used for the first time on Sunday January 7, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, to broadcast the celebration of Mass and administration of Baptism to 18 little babies from various countries, presided by Pope John Paul II in the Sistine Chapel. This was followed by the Pope's midday recitation of the Angelus' Prayer.

With solemn Mass, Cardinal Gantin celebrates 50 years as priest

Rome, 16 (NE) With a message made public this weekend, Pope John Paul II greeted Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrating the his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination. The Cardinal commemorated the anniversary with a solemn Eucharist celebration in St. Peter's Basilica. The Mass was attended by several Cardinals, including Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and Lucas Moreira Neves, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops.

Cardinal Ganting was born in 1922 in Benin. He was ordained a priest on January 14, 1951 and consecrated a bishop on February 3, 1957. In 1971 he was called into service in the Roman Curia by Pope Paul VI, working at Congregation for Evangelisation. In December 1976 he was named president of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, and in June 1977 elevated to the College of Cardinals. In 1984 Pope John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Council for Latin America, where he served until his retirement in 1998.

As Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Gantin has the responsibility, when the Pope dies, of summoning the other cardinals into conclave and presiding over their discussions and votes until a new pontiff is elected.

Symposium celebrates 10th anniversary of Redemptoris missio

Rome, 16 (NE) Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the encyclical 'Redemptoris Missio,' signed by Pope John Paul II on the 7th of December, 1990, and published a month later, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the Urbanian Pontifical University have organised a Symposium to be held on January 19 and 20. Among the various expositors that will take part of the Symposium are Cardinal Jan Schotte, General Secretary for the Synod of Bishops, who will talk about Redemptoris Missio's influence on documents of pontiffs, synods and Roman Dicasteries, as well as Cardinal Joseph Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. It was announced that the Symposium will be closed with a message from Pope John Paul II.

"Renaissance" of sacred architecture in Slovakia

Rome, 16 (NE) According to sources from Slovakia Bishop's Conference, on the last decade over 600 Catholic churches have been built in this country. After years in which it was considered almost impossible to even get permission for a simple restoration of an old church, the former soviet republic is living a "renaissance" in sacred architecture. Before the independence, under the communist regime, it was legally prohibited to study sacred architecture at a university level. Today there are approximately 3.200 Catholic churches in Slovakia. The years 1994-95 registered the largest number of constructions. Only throughout those two years over 100 new churches were constructed. Most of the churches built over the last years have been constructed using resources from the Church and contributions from faithful, the Bishop's Conference informed.

January 12

Holiness in everyday life must be a fruit of the Holy Year, says Pope

Vatican City, 12 (NE) "At the start of the 21st century and the third millennium, the Jubilee indicated Christ, humanity's only hope and salvation, as a fixed point from which to set out anew", said Pope John Paul II, as he gathered yesterday with members of the Presidential Council and the Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, as well as civil and military authorities and their collaborators, all of whom cooperated in the organization and celebration of the Holy Year.

During the audience, the Pope thanked those present and the organizations they represent because, "with your effective collaboration, you have contributed to the success of each stage of the jubilee journey." "I also ask," he went on, "those who generously offered their own spiritual contribution through prayer and suffering - the elderly, the sick, male and female religious of the contemplative life - to continue in this precious mission so that the seeds sown during the Jubilee may continue to produce abundant fruit in the coming years."

The Pope stressed that with the closure of the Jubilee Year on January 6, "we have been left a precious legacy that must be passed on to future generations, following two principal directions: First of all, continuing to keep Christ at the center of personal and social life. If we genuinely lived the Jubilee, this will be seen in the fruits of sanctity we bring to everyday life. In the second place, to all places we must bring the witness of a charity that is expressed through forgiveness, service, willingness and sharing."

Armenia celebrates 1700 years of evangelization

Rome, 12 (NE) Armenia will celebrate this year the 1700th anniversary of its conversion to Christianity, which took place in the year 301, recalled this week the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholics Nerses Bedros XIX. In a message sent to Armenian faithful in Lebanon and in other parts of the world, the Patriarch stressed that the celebration must be an occasion of deep inner renewal, both in the spiritual and daily life. Meanwhile, it was announced that the Holy See will prepare a series of special medals to commemorate the event. Also, as part of the celebrations, Pope John Paul II will preside a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on February 18, attended by Armenian Catholics from all over the world headed by Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX. Armenia became in the year 301 the first kingdom to convert to the Catholic faith, with the baptism of the king. Much of the evangelization was encouraged by St. Gregory the Illuminator, and it became a base for the evangelization of several regions in the Caucasus.

Chinese Bishop named by Pope Pius XII dies at 92

Rome, 12 (NE) The last Chinese Bishop appointed by the Holy See, Bishop Matthias Duan Yinming of Wanxian, died on January 10 at the age of 92. As Fides news agency reported, there have many expressions of thanks and recognition for the Prelate's long ministry in China.

"I pray for the Pope every day, for his mission, his health and I ask the Holy Spirit to sustain the Pope's service to humanity. I would also like to express to him my profound loyalty. On behalf of Chinese Catholics: I can say that they love him deeply, they pray daily for him and join me in this message of congratulations." Bishop Duan voiced in this way his loyalty to the universal Church and the Bishop of Rome, during an interview with Fides, the last, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's election to the Chair of Peter, October 16, 1998.

Bishop Duan was also one of the two Chinese Bishops who were unable to attend the Special Synod for Asia held in Rome in 1998, because the Chinese government refused to grant them visas. On that occasion, risking punishment for keeping relations with a foreign state, Bishop Duan sent a fax message to Cardinal Schotte, President of the Synod, expressing his dismay, but also his profound faith.

Born on February 22, 1908 in Daxian diocese, Sichuan Province, Matthias Duan Yinming studied for the priesthood in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University and was ordained a priest on March 27, 1937. On returning to China the following year he was appointed rector of the major seminary at Wanxian. On June 9, 1949, Pope Pius XII appointed him Bishop of Wanxian.

Plenary council of Venezuela to foster new evangelization

Caracas, 12 (NE) The next session of the Plenary Council of Venezuela constitutes "a concrete and patent example of what our Church tries to renew, in the sight of new evangelization" affirmed Bishop Ovidio Pérez Morales of Los Teques, reflecting on the Plenary Council of Venezuela, which started last November 26. The Bishop highlighted that such meeting will try to encourage new evangelization, fostering the announce of the Gospel, the formation of faithful, ecclesiastic communion, as well as the Church's contribution to the creation of a 'new society'. The second session will take place in July and August.

"The Council constitutes a fundamental, dynamic and renovating process. A living encounter with Jesus Christ, path of personal conversion, ecclesiastic communion and fraternal solidarity," highlighted Bishop Morales, who reminded that the event also looks for "a renovation in profundity, looking, from the closest times, to long ones, and placing itself before vast horizons."

"In the face of the religious identity of Venezuela, the Plenary Council acquires a big importance not only to the Catholic Church but rather to the whole country," he said. "The year 2001 is a conciliar one -finished the Prelate-. And the Church in Venezuela defines itself in the very beginning of this century and millennium as a 'Church in Council'."

Italy: investigations on images in eyes of Virgin of Guadalupe presented

Rome, 12 (NE) For the first time will be presented in Italy, in the city of Rome, a series of results taken from an investigation on the eyes of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, done with the latest computer techniques. According to a recent note from the Informative Religious Service (SIR), the investigation analyzes the series of pictures that can be found in both eyes of the Marian image, impressed on Blessed Juan Diego's 'tilma', after the Virgin's apparition at the Tepeyac Mountain. At least thirteen people can be seen reproduced in the eyes of the Virgin, being the characters present at the moment in which Blessed Juan Diego extended his cloak before Archbishop Zumarraga. The investigation that will be presented this week has been in charge of the members of the Guadalupan Studies Center of Mexico. A digital process that allowed the amplification of the image to over 2500 times the original size has been used. Techniques to filter and improve the photograph and various computers have been used to a more exact analysis of the pictures in the eyes of the Marian image.

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