A daily news service

June 28

During historic celebration, Pope beatified 28 Ukrainians

Rome, 28 (NE) More than one million faithful attended yesterday the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite, presided by Pope John Paul II, during which he beatified 28 Ukrainian faithful. During the Mass, celebrated at Lviv's hippodrome, the Pope beatified the Servants of God Mykola Carneckyj and 24 companions, martyrs (bishops, diocesan priests, religious and a lay person, killed between 1935 and 1973); Teodor Romza, bishop and martyr (1911 - 1947); Omeljan Kovc, priest and martyr (1884 - 1944) and Josaphata Hordashevska, co-founder of the Congregation of the servants of Mary Immaculate (1869 - 1919).

In his homily, the Pope recalled that most of the new blessed, "sons and daughters of this glorious Church of Lviv of the Ukrainians, ... were killed in hatred of the Christian faith." Among them were bishops, priests, monks, nuns and lay people. "They were tested in many ways by the followers of the infamous Nazi and Communist ideologies." "These brothers and sisters of ours," he said, "are the representatives that are known out of a multitude of anonymous heroes -men and women, husbands and wives, priests and consecrated men and women, young people and old- who in the course of the twentieth century, the 'century of martyrdom', underwent persecution, violence and death rather than renounce their faith."

The Holy Father also encouraged priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and students of theology to follow the example of "these heroic witnesses to the Gospel." In closing remarks, the Pope called "all the Church's sons and daughters to seek with constant commitment an ever more genuine and profound knowledge of Christ. May the clergy be always eager to give serious evangelical and ecclesial formation to the laity."

Following Mass, the Pope traveled to the archiepiscopal Palace of St. George in Lviv where he had lunch with the Ukrainian Catholic bishops and members of his entourage. In the afternoon, the Pope arrived to Lviv's international airport for the farewell ceremony, after which he returned to Rome.

Pope encourages Ukrainian youth to "choose the narrow path of the Lord"

Rome, 28 (NE) In the frame of his apostolic visit to Ukraine, Pope John Paul II gathered last Tuesday with young people Sykhiv esplanade in front of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church, outside of Lviv. The encounter, with 500,000 youth present, took the form of a Liturgy of the Word and included a homily by the Pope, the singing of that part of the Akathistos hymn which focuses on Christ, the prayer of the faithful in diverse languages and dances by young people. Before the final papal blessing several Polish and Ukrainian youth were recognized for their work in favor of reconciliation between their communities. "Today," the Pope said to the youth gathered for the celebration, "Christ asks you the same question that He asked the Apostles: 'Will you also go away?'. And you, young people of Ukraine, how do you reply? I am sure that with me you too will make your own the words of Peter: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life'." "Yes, dear young people," he emphasized, "Christ has the 'words of eternal life'. His words last for ever and above all they open for us the gates of eternal life. When God speaks, His words give life, they call things into existence, they direct our journey, they restore disappointed and broken hearts and pour fresh hope into them."

In his words, the Pope reflected over the Ten Commandments, saying they "have permanent value, because they are the fundamental law of humanity, written in the conscience of every person. They are the first step to freedom and eternal life. ... In today's world we see profound and rapid social changes and many moral points of reference have become shaky, throwing people into confusion and sometimes despair."

"Young people of Ukraine, Christ asks you to go against the current! He asks you to be defenders of His law and to put it into practice in proper behaviour in daily life." The Pope also invited the Ukrainian youth to "choose the narrow path that the Lord is showing you through His commandments. They are words of truth and life. The path that often seems wide and easy later shows itself to be deceptive and false. Do not go from the slavery of the communist regime to the slavery of consumerism, another form of materialism which, without explicitly rejecting God, actually does deny Him by excluding Him from life." "Before leaving you," said the Pope in closing, "I wish to add a final word: love the Church! She is your family and the spiritual building of which you are called to be the living stones."

At a certain point of the encounter with young people, with the rain becoming more persistent, the Holy Father had to leave the stage for about 20 minutes to change his rain-soaked clothes. Upon his return, he spontaneously broke into song, singing a Polish tune about rain, and improvising afterwards that "rain makes children grow." Reacting to the enthusiastic response of the young people, he then sang another Polish melody about the sun.

Korea: catholic doctors criticize medical guidelines that encourage abortion

Rome, 28 (NE) Catholic doctors in South Korea have criticized the national medical association for drafting guidelines that could promote abortion, euthanasia and in vitro fertilization. According to a report from the Catholic news agency UCA News, in a statement released early this month the federation criticized the Korean Medical Association (KMA) over its resolution to ease ethical guidelines despite earlier protests from Church leaders last April. The Catholic doctors' statement noted the KMA draft was ambiguously written to allow abortion, as well as in vitro fertilization and euthanasia. "The Catholic Church has taught us that except for the case in which a mother's life is severely endangered abortion cannot be justified", stressed the secretary general of the National Federation of Catholic Physicians' Guilds of Korea, in declarations to UCA News. According to Kim, the guidelines though "reserved," has not been changed, prompting Catholic doctors to continue their fight for human dignity.

Restoration of the frescoes at the Basilica of Assisi finishes

Rome, 28 (NE) Almost 4 years after the earthquake that damaged the famous frescoes of the Saint Francis Basilica of Assisi, the restoration work is concluding. Last week the works to place the last panels of frescoes adjacent to the vault damaged on September 26, 1997, due to the two earthquakes that affected the whole region, were started. The three panels displaying two saints each will be put again in their original places completely restored before August. This has been a long work that has included more than 30 thousand fragments that fell during the earthquake. The Basilica, dating from the XIII century, was opened to the public in November 1999 with the celebration of a Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy See. Also present were Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and other authorities. The work of restoration included structure reinforcements to make the Basilica more resistant to other earthquakes, and also a detailed restoration of the works of art, among them, the famous frescoes created by Cimbaue and Giotto.

June 26

Pope presides beatification ceremony during first Mass at Lviv

Rome, 26 (NE) Pope John Paul II presided yesterday a Eucharist celebration in Lviv, western Ukraine, during which he beatified two Latin Rite Catholic clergymen, Archbishop Józef Bilczewski and Father Zygmunt Gorazdowski. The Pope was warmly welcomed at Lviv's Hippodrome, where the celebration was held. Together with Ukranian faithful, tens of thousands of pilgrims from Poland, Ukraine's western neighbor, poured into Lviv for the Mass. The relics of a Polish saint, John of Dukla, were brought from Poland and placed on the papal altar.

"Let our gaze rest upon two sons of this land whose devotion to the Blessed Virgin inspired them to follow a path of perfection, as today we are solemnly recognizing", said the Pope during his homily." "Their lives and their pastoral service were an unceasing response to her summons: 'Do whatever he tells you'. Heroically obedient to the Lord's teaching, they travelled the narrow path of holiness."

"Archbishop Józef Bilczewski invites us to be generous in living the love of God and neighbour. This was his supreme rule of life. From the early years of his priesthood he cultivated a burning passion for revealed Truth, and this led him to make theological research an original way of translating the command to love God into practical behaviour. Today his testimony shines among us as a source of encouragement and inspiration, so that our apostolic activity too, nourished by deep prayer and tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin, will be wholly dedicated to the glory of God and to the service of Holy Mother Church for the good of souls."

The Pope also recalled that "during the years of Archbishop Bilczewski's episcopal ministry, Father Zygmunt Gorazdowski, a true pearl of the Latin clergy of this Archdiocese, lived in Lviv the last part of his life. His extraordinary charity led him to dedicate himself unstintingly to the poor, despite his precarious health." The Pope stressed that Father Gorazdowski "had a burning passion for the Gospel, which led him into schools, into the field of publishing and various catechetical undertakings, especially on behalf of young people. His apostolic activity was bolstered by a commitment to charity which knew no pause." "It is my hope", he further said, "that you will be able, like him, to combine action and contemplation, strengthening your piety with an ardent devotion to the Passion of Christ, a tender love of Mary Immaculate and a very special veneration for Saint Joseph, whose faith, humility, prudence and courage Father Zygmunt strove to imitate."

"Duc in altum! Cast your nets into the deep, Church of Lviv of the Latins! The Lord is with you! Do not be afraid when you face the difficulties which even today threaten your journey. With Christ you will be victorious. Bravely choose holiness: therein lies the sure foundation of true peace and lasting progress", said the Pope in closing. "Dear Brothers and Sisters, I entrust you to the protection of Mary, the loving Mother of God, who for centuries you have venerated in the image which it will be my joy to crown today. I am happy to be able to bow before this image which recalls the vows of King Jan Casimir. May the 'Gracious Star of Lviv' be your support and bring you the fullness of grace."

Cardinal Rivera calls politicians to "project the values of the Gospel in society"

Mexico City, 26 (NE) Members of different political parties of Mexico participated last week in a historic Mass presided over by Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico. Lawmakers, municipal presidents and deputies of provinces attended the celebration at the Basilica of Guadeloupe. The Mass took place on the feast of Saint Thomas More, who was named last year patron of politicians and presidents by Pope John Paul II.

"Politics in Mexico cannot be separated either from God or from morals," for every public activity at the service of man, particularly the poor or the weak, is the light that gives a sense of equality, justice and peace to social controversies, stated Cardinal Rivera during his homily. The Cardinal also called every person who serves the people to follow the example of Saint Thomas More, "who fought for the respect of the principles of equality, such as justice, respect, love and loyalty, upon which man depends".

The Cardinal also stated that Saint Thomas More, who was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1886, was noted for his constant fidelity to legitimate authorities and institutions, for he didn't want to serve power but the supreme ideal of Justice. "Give to Caesar, that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God." These words, added the Archbishop of Mexico, "oblige the conscience of the Christian to project the values of the Gospel over the civil sphere, rejecting all compromises that harm human rights and the rights of God."

Peru: Two new consecrated women in the Marian Community of Reconciliation

Lima, 26 (NE) With great joy two members of the Marian Community of Reconciliation made last Saturday their perpetual profession, consecrating themselves for life to the service of the Lord. The ceremony was held in the church of Our Lady of Reconciliation in Lima, Peru. Hundreds of faithful took part in the Eucharistic celebration, among them Luis Fernando Figari, Founder of the Marian Community of Reconciliation, as well as many members of the Sodalite Family, relatives and friends of the two newly consecrated.

The celebration was presided over by the Bishop of Cajamarca, Francisco Simon Piorno, who commented in his homily that "to follow Jesus Christ is a grace offered to everybody, is a demand to all Christians." "To follow Jesus Christ," explained the pastor, "is something more than binding to Him, it means assuming as our own project that of Jesus Christ, the Lord's mission." Further on, Bishop Piorno affirmed that the saints, the true Christians, "condense all their energies around the mission. They are followers who have discovered the hidden treasure and have not doubted about giving up everything towards getting it." "You also, dear sisters," he said to the two newly consecrated to the Marian Community of Reconciliation, "today are giving up everything because you have found the treasure. It means Jesus, and you are ready to live with Him for the rest of your lives."

The Marian Community of Reconciliation was founded in Lima by D. Luis Fernando Figari, when the Archbishop of Lima was Cardinal Augusto Vargas Alzamora, S.J., who gave the canonical approval. Their labor extends to young people, poor people and the evangelization of the culture. Today, the Marian Community of Reconciliation has communities working apostolically in Peru, Colombia, the United States and Italy.

Colombia: Bishops reject partial legalization of abortion

Bogotá, 26 (NE) The Bishops Conference of Colombia issued a communique showing its strong rejection of the recent decision of the Constitutional Court of Colombia in which abortion has been partially legalized. "By not punishing, the State abstains from formulating a judgment rejecting the legality of abortion, making it legitimate", points out the Bishops Conference. The decision of the Constitutional Court considers abortion legal in some cases. "Neither rape, nor extraordinary motivating conditions , or any other circumstances, no finality, could ever make abortion, which is an intrinsically evil act, legitimate", affirms the Colombian Bishops' statement.

June 21

Bishop calls North Korea to allow permanent presence of priests

Rome, 21 (NE) Auxiliary Bishop Peter Kang Woo-il of Seoul asked the North Korean government to allow priests coming from the south to reside in North Korea and do pastoral work. "We urge the North Korean authorities to permit the permanent presence of Catholic priests in North Korea, to allow Bishops to visit North Korean Catholics and confer the sacraments on them," said the Bishop, in his message on occasion of the 2001 Prayer Day for Reconciliation. The Prelate, who is also president of the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People, also asked for greater religious freedom in North Korea and regular visits by Bishops. "Such measures will offer North Korea a good opportunity to be welcomed as a mature member of the international community", he said. Bishop Kang also appealed to South Korean Catholics to continue to be active in providing relief to North Koreans suffering from food shortage. A genuine peace in this land, the Prelate stressed, "can only be achieved by healing the wounds of divisions and making every effort for unity and reconciliation."

US Bishops appeal for peace in Holy Land

Washington, 21 (NE) In a message to be made public soon, the Catholic Bishops in the United States urge Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiation table in order to secure peace in the Middle East. The resolution also condemns all forms of violence and stresses that the rights of both sides must be understood and respected. Regarding this, the US Bishops say that Palestinians "rightly insist" on an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and the practice of establishing and expanding settlements in the territories.

The resolution was issued after Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah called for constant support from the Catholic world for a solution to the Middle East crisis. The Bishops also express their solidarity and support for the small Christian population that lives in Holy Land. "The native born Christian presence in Israel and the occupied territories, less than 2 percent of the total, risks shrinking into insignificance, in no small part due to the present troubles and their human and economic consequences", the Bishops say.

"We believe - the message stresses - this is a moment that requires that more Israeli leaders and supporters of the State of Israel not only defend Israel and her people, but also advocate for the legitimate aspiration of Palestinians to live in their own homeland with dignity". At the same time they add "this moment also requires that more Palestinian leaders and supporters of the Palestinian cause not simply advocate a state of their own, but also be unambiguously clear about Israel's right to peace and security, and the imperative to end all violence".

Rome: Preparation encounter for World Youth Day 2002

Rome, 21 (NE) Last week the city of Rome inaugurated the first encounter to prepare the World Youth Day that will take place in Toronto on July of year 2002. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic of Toronto were present at the event. The encounter gathered representatives of Bishop's Conferences, and also of movements, associations, and international youth communities. The Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Canadian Committee for the World Youth Day 2002 organized this encounter to inform about the most important initiatives to prepare and organize the World Youth Day. Even though inscriptions haven't been open yet, there are already 400 thousand reservations, and the organizers expect to welcome a million participants. Information and the logo of the World Youth Encounter 2002 are already available at the official web site at http://www.wyd2002.org

Church in Cuba urges to put into practice a "theology of reconciliation"

Miami, 21 (NE) It is necessary to put into practice a "theology of reconciliation" in order to face "divisions and conflicts" that afflict society, stated last week the Cuban Catholic magazine "New World". The article, signed by the head of publications of the Archdiocese of La Havana, states that it is a "necessary" step that the Church in Cuba must make.

"But the greatest challenge will not be to elaborate a "theology of reconciliation" but to put it into practice," because "the Church may stay alone before the intransigence of Cubans that occupy solid positions of historical confrontations that are already worn out." "The problem cannot be reduced to the temporal reality, that is why the Church proposes reconciliation and dialogue as a solution to a long conflict of ideological resentments that belongs to a past millennium. And we are already in the third millennium," underlines the publication.

Among the problems that afflict society, the magazine notes "family ruptures, deteriorated interpersonal relationships, subjacent racial problems, ideological and religious conflicts, and relationship with the Cubans of the Diaspora".

June 20

"God invites us into communion of life with himself", says Pope during catechesis

Rome, 20 (NE) Pope John Paul II gathered today with faithful from different parts of the world, during the weekly general audience held in St. Peter's Square. Continuing his reflections about the psalms, the Pope spoke on this occasion about psalm 23. "Psalm 23 unfolds in three successive scenes. The first is a profession of faith in God the Creator, to whom the world and all its peoples belong," explained the Pope to pilgrims gathered for the audience.

"In the second, attention switches to Jerusalem, God's holy mountain. The faithful are waiting to enter the Temple in a liturgical procession. They can only do so provided that they are pure in heart, faithful to true religion and diligent in observing the moral law. In the third scene, the faithful enter the Temple where they meet God who reveals himself to them. Christians see this final scene as an evocation of Christ's victory over death, his descent into the underworld and his glorious ascension into heaven."

"The Psalm", explained the Holy Father, "thus speaks of the transcendent God who comes to meet us and invites us into communion of life with himself. In the liturgy, we enter into this communion through faith, dialogue and love."

"Faith must convert culture", says Cardinal Poupard

Rome, 20 (NE) "We must come back to this great courageousness of Paul the Apostle: to announce Christ, the glory of Christ", recently said Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in an interview published by Madrid's archdiocesan weekly "Alfa y Omega". Among other things, Cardinal Poupard shared his impressions concerning the Consistory recently held in Rome. He highlighted the strong insistence of the Pope and Cardinals on holiness and apostolate. "There is also," he affirmed, "an invitation to holiness: to leave this minimalist pastoral and present Christ and the Beatitudes, with the consciousness that we are going against the current of the dominant culture, that is rather in opposition to the Beatitudes."

At another moment, talking about the evangelization of culture, Cardinal Poupard indicated that "we are immersed in a culture that depreciates the truth." "It's curious," he pointed out, "people always ask you why you believe. And why don't Christians ever ask the nonbelievers: And you, why don't you believe? Nobody could ever prove to me that God doesn't exist. We have to overcome this difficult time that supposed the contestation of all, and that has left us this inferiority complex. Culture cannot be made without this joyful, radiant consciousness of the truth."

Continuing the theme of the problems that the culture of today suffers, Cardinal Poupard denounced the marked "dualism between life and faith" and the phenomenon of "the reclusion of the faith to a private environment. During the Second Vatican Council, the priests of the Council have already discussed the problem, that this reclusion of the faith to a private environment was the big temptation. But faith is called to make a new dimension to man's whole life. A faith which is not converted into culture is a faith that is not totally thought nor lived."

Denver: "Justice cannot be served by more violence", stresses Archbishop

Denver, 20 (NE) "Killing is a seed that bears fruit in more killing. Justice cannot be served by more violence." This was the message given by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, after the recent execution of Timothy McVeigh in Oklahoma. In his statement, the Archbishop rejected the use of death penalty, which is an "answer to violence with violence" and "compromises our own human dignity". "As a people, we can never allow ourselves the luxury of forgetting the injustice done to victims of murder and terrorism. We have the duty to bring the guilty to full accounting." But "executing Mr. McVeigh", said the Prelate, "did not honor the dead. It did not ennoble the living. Only a reverence for the sanctity of life can do that." In his message, the Archbishop highlighted that "the same needle that kills the condemned murderer poisons us with the habit of violence. May God grant us the conversion to see that -- for our own sake, and for the sake of our children." "Capital punishment can never, by its nature, strike at murder's root. Only love can do that."

Puerto Rico: Archbishop asks parents to give "testimony of Christian life"

San Juan, 20 (NE) Recalling the traditional celebration of Father's Day in Puerto Rico, the Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, highlighted the responsibility of parents in the formation and education of their children. The Prelate also asked parents to make an effort to convert their homes into a place of love where respect and comprehension abound. "Recall that love for wife and children is for you the natural path to the comprehension and realization of your parenthood and that it is in matrimonial life where this is lived and fully enjoyed", affirmed the Archbishop. In the same way, Archbishop González recalled to parents that "the Church expects from you a solicitous, loving educative commitment shared equally by both parents, the promotion of an environment which promotes coherence, dialogue, mutual respect, family stability and, above all, the testimony of adult Christian life to introduce more effectively your sons and daughters into the live and personal experience with Christ."

June 13

"God protects those who follow His ways", says Pope during catechesis

Rome, 13 (NE) Psalm 28 was the theme of Pope John Paul II' catechesis today morning, during the weekly general audience celebrated in St. Peter's Square. This psalm, said the Pope to the thousands of pilgrims from all over the world attending the audience, "invites us to an attitude of profound and trusting adoration of the divine Majesty."

The Holy Father explained that "Psalm 28 is dominated by the image of a thunderstorm, seen as a powerful symbol of the voice of God. The storm rises from the sea and its unstoppable and destructive power is felt throughout the land. ... The Psalm goes on to speak of the adoration of God in the Temple at Jerusalem. There the terror of the storm is replaced by the certainty of God's protection."

"Before these two antithetical pictures, the one praying is invited to ... discover that the
mystery of God, expressed in the symbol of the storm, cannot be captured or dominated by man." The Pope affirmed as well that the Psalm "presents, however, another aspect of the face of God, that which is discovered in the intimacy of prayer and in the celebration of the liturgy." It is "the 'fascinosum' of God, that is the charm which emanates from His grace, the mystery of the love which is poured out on the faithful one, the serene security of the blessing reserved for the just man."

"Even in the face of the chaos of evil, the storms of history, and the anger of divine justice itself," he concluded, "the one praying feels at peace, wrapped in the mantle of protection which Providence offers to those who praise God and follow His ways. Through prayer one recognizes that the true desire of the Lord consists in giving peace."

Pope donates medical equipment for pediatric hospital in Kiev

Rome, 13 (NE) Pope John Paul II has donated to Kiev's Municipal Pediatric Hospital No.2 the equipment for a children's operating room and a resuscitator for new-borns. The announcement was made yesterday by the Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who stressed that "with this gesture the Pope desires to show his closeness to the Ukrainian children who are sick and, in particular, to those who suffer from the consequences of the catastrophe of Chernobyl." The presentation of the Pope's gift took place on Monday, June 11, at 11 a.m., at Kiev's Pediatric Hospital. Present at the ceremony were various figures from the ecclesiastical and civic community, including members of the administration of the hospital and of the city of Kiev, along with numerous representatives of the mass media. Also participating was the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petro Sardachuk. "Hospital directors", said Navarro-Valls, "have confirmed that the equipment is already working and that it will contribute to saving the lives of numerous sick children."

Bishop encourages laity to coherence in everyday life

Asuncion, 13 (NE) The Auxiliary Bishop of Asuncion, Ricardo Valenzuela, made a call to Paraguayan lay people to change society, at the closing of the "Week of the Laity", held in the Paraguayan capital. In his homily, the Prelate pointed out the necessity of a bigger commitment of lay men and women for the construction of a better society. He also highlighted the urgency of greater coherence in the life of Christians.

"This is a simple sin, but a big and permanent one. I think the transformation of Paraguayan society from the dramatic situation of today, where the incoherence of life can be seen everywhere, can be achieved with the effort of ten laymen who do and tell what they think," pointed out Bishop Valenzuela.

In addition, he encouraged a better formation in the faith of the Paraguayan lay people. The Week of the Laity included an exposition called Expo Layman, with the objective of showing that in the Church there are people who silently assume the commitment of working for the common welfare. The week also included a series of panels, expositions and celebrations in which the lay movements of this city took part.

Barcelona: Work in the Holy Family Cathedral advances

Barcelona, 13 (NE) The thousands of faithful that year after year visit the "Holy Family Cathedral", the unfinished masterpiece of the famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí y Cornet, in Barcelona, will be able to see the vaults of the imposing temple concluded in the year 2007. According to Jordi Bonet, the architect responsible for the work, once the vaults are finished, people on the inside will have the sensation that the whole Church is already finished, since then all the walls and windows will be ready. This will allow the celebration of the Holy Mass inside the church, whose construction started over 120 years ago. However, it's estimated that the total construction could still last several decades more. Gaudi, who gave a rich theological background to the whole design, died at the age of 74 in 1926. Last year, the Holy See authorized the opening of the process of Antonio Gaudí's beatification.

June 11

Pope renews call for peace in the Mid East during canonization

Roma, 11 (NE) In a solemn Mass held in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II canonized yesterday five Blessed -four Italians and the first Lebanese woman ever to be canonized-. Celebrating the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Father recalled that in this "true feast of holiness" we can see "that the Lord does not cease to donate to his Church and to the world admirable examples of men and women in which his Trinitarian glory is reflected". "These witnesses", he said, "must encourage us to long for Heaven and untiringly search the Kingdom of God and his justice".

Among the newly canonized, the Pope recalled Luigi Scrosoppi, a 19th-century Italian priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Beatified in 1981, he is credited with the miraculous cure of a seminarian of the same religious order, who was in the terminal stages of AIDS when he was healed in 1996.

Attending the Eucharist were also many faithful from the Lebanon to celebrate de canonization of the first Lebanese women to be canonized, Rafqa (Rebecca) Al-Rayes de Himlaya, a Maronite nun who lived just south of Beirut and who died in 1914. Referring to the peoples in the Middle East, "which face the destructive and sterile spiral of violence", the Pope asked the intercession of the new saint "to open the hearts to the patient search of new paths for peace".

Also canonized yesterday were Agostino Roscelli, a priest from Genoa whose life spanned most of the 19th century, renowned for his work with orphans, abandoned children, and prisoners and beatified in 1995; Bernardo da Corleone, a famous swordsman in his youth, engaged in a series of duels in his native Sicily before finally-- after seriously wounding one adversary-- abandoning that life to become a third-order Capuchin and an ardent proponent of peace. He was beatified by Pope Clement XIII in 1768; and Teresa Eustochio Verzeri lived in Bergamo in the first half of the 19th century, and founded the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to work with young people. She was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

With yesterday's ceremony, the number of saints canonized by Pope John Paul II during his pontificate reaches 451.

Philippines: Archbishop Tauran calls faithful for more commitment in evangelization

Rome, 11 (NE) Visiting the Philippines to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the relations between this state and the Holy See, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran encouraged the Church in the Philippines to go on with its evangelizing labor in society. Archbishop Tauran, Vatican Secretary for relations with states, presided over a Eucharistic celebration last June 3 in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Manila. The Church in the Philippines, affirmed the Prelate, "has always played an important role" in the life of the nation. "She, as the Second Vatican Council teaches, ´is like a sacrament or sign of close relation to God and of the unity of all of humanity´".

At the same time, Archbishop Tauran said to the hundreds of faithful present in the Basilica that when he was back in Rome he would tell the Holy Father that the Church in the Philippines "has taken the decision of doing everything to be loyal Catholics." Concerning this, as homage to the Holy Father, the Archbishop asked the faithful to give "an ever increasing testimony of the Gospel", just like the first Christians did, "fearlessly and through the language of love, that everybody knows."

The Apostolic Nuncio, Antonio Franco, Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, and 30 other Bishops and priests were also present. Almost 2.500 people filled the Cathedral. At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, Cardinal Sin paid homage to the Pope expressing the loyalty of the Philippinean people to the Holy Father.

Pro-life committee urges signing of stem cell petition to President Bush

St. Louis, 11 (NE) The Archdiocesan Pro-Life Committee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis is promoting the signing of a petition to President George W. Bush opposing destructive embryo stem cell research. According to the St. Louis Review, the petition asks Bush to revoke the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines that encourage killing human embryos for their stem cells. According to the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment Inc., an organization of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops based in Washington, D.C., the Bush administration is expected to rule sometime this summer on NIH guidelines for embryonic stem cell research. "We must be aware that a human embryo is a human being," said Molly Corcoran Kertz, pro-life committee director. "This means that human embryo research involves the taking of a human life for the sake of research." In addition to opposing embryo stem cell research, the petition "also stresses the importance and value of adult stem cell research and other morally acceptable alternatives," Kertz said.

Catholic Church continues to promote reconciliation in East Timor

Rome, 11 (NE) The Catholic Church in East Timor continues performing an intense labor in the promotion of reconciliation in the country, after the crisis that took place after the independence process. The Bishop of Bacau, Basilio do Nascimento, visited West Timor to have a dialogue with East Timor refugees that have still not returned to their homes in the eastern side of the island.

The Prelate, during a press conference on the west side of the island, which belongs to Indonesia, pointed out that his visit had "a humanitarian aim", with the goal of "opening the doors of reconciliation among East Timor's people." The visit of Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, during which he visited refugee camps, took place from May 28 to 31.

Approximately 280 thousand refugees escaped from their houses in East Timor and marched towards West Timor during the campaign of violence and destruction led by military forces favorable to the Indonesian government, after the referendum that gave independence to the east side of the island. At present, two thirds of all the refugees have returned to East Timor.

Some days before, Bishop do Nascimento had highlighted the commitment of the Church to "foster reconciliation and peace among all the people of East Timor." In addition, he encouraged Timor's people to participate actively in the process of reconciliation in order to reach unity in the newly formed country.

«Church News» authorizes the complete or partial reproduction of the information offered to our readers in this page, quoting the source (NE). Publication of the information in this page does not imply any compromise.

All rights reserved (©) Noticias Eclesiales