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November 28

Only God can free humanity from evil, says Pope John Paul II

Rome, 28 (NE) Psalm 98, "Holy is the Lord, Our God," was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during the general audience held yesterday in the Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father explained that Psalm 98 "is a hymn raised by the people of God to the Lord Who governs the world and history as transcendent and supreme sovereign."

"The faithful, at the beginning of the day," the Pope said, "know that they will not be abandoned to the mercy of a blind and dark fate, or destined to uncertainty as to their freedom, or left to the decisions of others, or dominated by the events of history. They know that the Creator and Savior rises in His grandeur, holiness and mercy above of all earthly realities."

The Holy Father affirmed that "God is superior to us and He is infinitely above all creatures. However, this transcendence does not make Him a strange and impassive God: when He is invoked, He responds. God is the One Who saves, the only one who can free humanity from evil and death." After underscoring the profound link between "'holiness' and God's closeness", the Psalmist recalls that "God was continually in contact with His people" and that "He spoke and was listened to, punished wrongs, but also forgave."

"God came in our midst," he ended, "through His Son Who became one of us in order to instill His life and His holiness in us. For this reason, we approach God not with terror but with trust. In Christ we have the supreme holy priest, innocent, undefiled. ... Thus, our hymn is filled with serenity and joy: it exalts the Lord king who dwells among us, wiping away every tear from our eyes."

November 22

Pope renews call for peace in Holy Land

Rome, 22 (NE) Pope John Paul II received this week participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. In his speech, the Pope renewed his call to peace in Holy Land. Speaking also about the state of the Eastern Churches and their prospects for pastoral renewal, the Pope affirmed that he was familiar with the difficulties that the Eastern communities encounter in many places: "Few people, lack of means, isolation, and being a minority frequently impede serene and effective educational and charitable pastoral care. In addition, there is an incessant emigration of the most prepared members of your Churches to the West."

"And what is there to say," he asked, "of the suffering endured in the Holy Land and other Eastern countries, dragged into a dangerous spiral that seems humanly unstoppable? May God end this vortex of violence as soon as possible!" John Paul II appealed for peace through the intercession of Blessed John XXIII who "lived for many years in the East, and loved the Eastern Churches so much. ... May he also intercede so that these Churches do not close themselves off to the ways of the past and so that they open up to that healthy revision that he himself desired in line with the sapient harmony between 'nova et vetera'."

The Holy Father concluded by invoking Our Lady's protection for the members of the communities that extend from the Middle East to Africa and from Europe to India, "in particular for those in the Holy Land and Iraq who are going through difficult moments of great suffering."

Pontifical Council for the Laity begins Plenary Assembly

Rome, 22 (NE) The Pontifical Council for the Laity started last Thursday its three-day plenary assembly with a welcoming speech by Cardinal James Francis Stafford, council president. The 62 members and consultors, including those recently named by Pope John Paul to a five-year term, will study the theme "We Need to Continue to Walk, Departing from Christ, that is, from the Eucharist."

A communique from the council noted that of the 37 members, 24 are lay people, nine are cardinals and four are bishops. Of the 25 consultors, there are 13 lay people, four bishops and 8 priests. Given the presence of new members at this assembly, the opening day of the program will include an introduction to the history, nature and activity of this pontifical council.

Among those present are among others Luis Fernando Figari, founder of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae and the Christian Life Movement, Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolari movement, and Kiko Arguello, founder of the Camino Neocatecumenal. Msgr. Luigi Giussani, founder of Communion and Liberation, has not attended the meeting due to his health.

The work will be divided into three sessions aimed at listening, study and reflection. The first day will include "an exchange of experiences and reflections on the vocation and mission of lay faithful in the life of the Church and in the world in order to try and delineate the prospects and priorities to bear in mind in the present context."

Tomorrow will be dedicated "to studying more deeply the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the lay faithful; this will be followed by reflections on the sacraments of Christian initiation set in motion during the plenary assemblies dedicated to Baptism and Confirmation. ... Three aspects of the Eucharistic mystery linked to the vocation of lay Christians, their life and their mission will be studied."

On the third and last day, says the communique, "the council's future programs and projects will be presented and the new members and consultors will be called upon to contribute to these topics. The culmination will be an audience with the Holy Father late Saturday morning."

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