Pope thanks prayers and congratulations for 25th anniversary

Rome, 28 (NE) Pope John Paul II expressed his gratitude for the prayers and congratulations received on occasion of his 25th anniversary of pontificate, during his brief address to pilgrims before the Angelus prayer last Sunday. Appearing at his study window, overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Pope said that "still very much alive in my heart," he told the pilgrims, "are the intense emotions I have felt these days, during which so many people gathered close to me on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of my pontificate".

" I renew my thanks above all to God, rich in mercy, for these 25 years of ministry in service to the Church. I wish above all to express my deep gratitude to my brother cardinals, patriarchs and bishops who wished to participate in such great numbers in this silver jubilee, witnessing in this way to their deep communion with the See of Peter."

"I would also like to thank the heads of State and the government leaders from so many countries, who extended their congratulations to me. "And lastly, I extend a heartfelt thank you to priests, to consecrated persons and to all the faithful who spiritually joined me with their wishes and with the precious gift of prayer. I am thinking in a special way of the sick who have been very close to me by offering their sufferings. There were also testimonials from Christians of other denominations, as well as from the followers of other religions. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

"I ask the Lord," concluded the Holy Father, "to reward you, dear brothers and sisters, for the affection and the support you have shown me. I entrust once again my life and my ministry to the Virgin Mary, mother of the Redeemer and mother of the Church. To her I repeat with filial abandonment: 'Totus tuus!"

Holy See calls to ban human embryonic cloning

Rome, 28 (NE) The Holy See expressed its rejection to any type of human cloning and asked the United Nations to "uphold the rights of all human beings". This was stressed by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, during his intervention on Item 172 of the agenda of the 58th General Assembly: "International Convention Against the Cloning of Human Beings".

"My delegation," he stated, "wishes to reaffirm its view that the matter before us can be resolved through the earliest ban on human embryonic cloning. It must be clear that the position my delegation takes is not, in the first instance, a religious one. It is a position informed by the process of reason that is in turn informed by scientific knowledge."

"We have heard," the nuncio continued, "a number of statements from a variety of delegations that this is a 'complex' issue. ... The science may be complex, but the issue for us is simple and straightforward. The matter of human cloning that involves the creation of human embryos is the story of the beginning of human life ... (and is) a universal issue because an embryo is a human being regardless of its geography. If reproductive cloning of human beings contravenes the law of nature - a principle with which all delegations appear to agree - so does the cloning of the human embryo that is slated for research purposes. A cloned embryo (for this purpose) ... is destined for pre-programmed destruction."

"In closing," affirmed Archbishop Migliore, "my delegation wants to remind this distinguished assembly that one of the fundamental missions of the United Nations is to uphold the rights of all human beings. If the United Nations were to ban reproductive cloning without banning cloning for research, this would, for the first time, involve this body in legitimizing something extraordinary: the creation of human beings for the express purpose of destroying them."

Mexico: catholics prayed for the Pope in Shrine of Guadalupe

Ciudad de Mexico, 28 (NE -eclesiales.org) Thousands of Mexican Catholics gathered last weekend in the Shrine of Guadalupe to pray for Pope John Paul II, on occasion of his 25th anniversary of pontificate. Approximately five thousand Catholics met in the Marian Shrine to participate in the Eucharist presided by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello. The Nuncio read in his homily a speech prepared by Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico, who could not preside the celebration

"The Holy Father has been and still is a beautiful letter of God for the world. He has taken his trips to find multitudes and also to find small groups, he has traveled to places of easy access and also to places with many difficulties, where many securities can be taken and also all the risks", indicated the Nuncio during his homily.

Archbishop Bertello emphasized that the Bishop of Rome has been brave to announce the Gospel, applying it to concrete situations. "The Church in Mexico will yield the best of the homages to the Holy Father if She remains and walks in the path of the permanent mission he has entrusted Her", affirmed the Nuncio.

Abortion by partial birth would be prohibited in the United States

Washington, 28 (NE - eclesiales.org) Partial birth abortion could be prohibited in the United States, after long years of debates and even two vetoes by former President Bill Clinton. The Senate geve congressional approval to a bill that would impose the first federal ban on an abortion procedure in 30 years. The bill now waits for the signature of President George W. Bush, who has declared himself favorably to eliminate this brutal practice. "This is very important legislation that will end an abhorrent practice and continue to build a culture of life in America," he said in a statement. "I look forward to signing it into law." The Senate voted 64-34 for a bill that prohibits a controversial procedure that critics call "partial birth" abortion, sending the measure to President Bush for his promised signature.

Pope created 30 news Cardinals during consistory in St. Peter's Square

Rome, 21 (NE - eclesiales.org) During a ceremony celebrated in St. Peter's Square last Sunday, Pope John Paul II created 30 new cardinals from 23 countries in what was the ninth such consistory of his pontificate. At the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope read the formula for the creation of the new cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Then newly created Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran thanked the Pope on behalf of all the cardinals. Later the liturgy of the Word was celebrated and the homily was read by Archbishop Leonardi Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. The Holy Father began by noting that in this consistory he will impose the beret upon 30 "worthy churchmen, keeping 'in pectore' the name of another."

"Enriched by its new members, the College of Cardinals reflects the diversity of races and cultures that characterizes the Christian people, and highlights once again the unity of every part of the flock of Christ with the Seat of the Bishop of Rome." The Pope affirmed that "in carrying out his ministry, the Successor of the Fisherman of Galilee counts on your faithful cooperation; he asks you to accompany him in prayer, while he invokes the Holy Spirit so that the communion among those whom the Lord 'has elected vicars of His son and has made pastors' may never be broken."

"The deep red of the cardinal's robe evokes the color of blood and recalls the heroism of the martyrs. It is the symbol of love for Jesus and for His Church, a love which knows no limits: love even to the point of sacrificing one's life, 'usque ad sanguinis effusionem'."

"For this reason, the gift that you receive is great, as is the responsibility that it comes with it." After underscoring the duty of "preaching with word and example," the Pope added that "this applies to every pastor, but especially to you, dear and venerated members of the College of Cardinals." Pointing to the example of Jesus Christ Who became the servant of those around him, the Holy Father emphasized that this "logic" of service is "in clear contrast with that of the world: to die unto oneself in order to become humble and detached servants of your brothers and sisters, rejecting ever temptation to advance your career or benefit personally."

"Only if you become servants to all around you will you fulfill your mission and help the Successor of Peter to be the 'servant of the servants of God,' as my beloved predecessor Gregory the Great loved to call himself."

At the end of the homily, the Pope invited the new cardinals to make a profession of faith and to swear fidelity and obedience to the Holy Father and his successors. Then each cardinal, according to the order of creation, approached the Pope who imposed the biretta on him and handed him the Bull of Creation as cardinal and assignment of the title or diaconate church in Rome, as a sign of participation in the pastoral solicitude of the Pope in the city. After exchanging a sign of peace with the Pope, each new cardinal greeted all the others.

Prayers were offered for the Holy Father, the Church, the new cardinals and for peace during the universal prayer. John Paul II imparted the apostolic blessing upon all and at the end sang the Marian antiphon "Sub tuum praesidium."

Pope John Paul II, "tireless" evangelizer, says Cardinal Ratzinger

Rome, 21 (NE - eclesiales.org) Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of the College of Cardinals and Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, thanked Pope John Paul II for his tireless work as Successor of Peter and affirmed that "You, Holy Father, have kindled in us the happiness of the Lord".

In his words last week during the conclusion of a congress organized by the Cardinals on occasion of the 25th pontifical anniversary of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ratzinger addressed the Holy Father affirming that "You have announced tirelessly the Gospel, and from his light, have recalled all the fundamental human values: respect for man's dignity, defense of life and the promotion of Peace".

"Holy Father, the College of Cardinals, upon finishing this meeting, that has recalled only some aspects of the 25 years of Your Pontificate, desires unanimously to reaffirm its adhesion to Your person and the faithful and total adhesion to Your high teachings as the Shepherd of the Universal Church. You, Holy Father, have kindled in us the happiness of the Lord. For this we are grateful to you", he concluded.

Impressive statistics of Pope's John Paul II pontificate

Rome, 21 (NE - eclesiales.org) For the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul's election, the Vatican Information Service published some statistics on his pontificate. The note recalls that on October 14th,1978 at 16.45 o'clock, ten days after Pope's John Paul I funeral, 110 voting cardinals and 88 selected persons to attend them entered in conclave, apart from the world, to elect to their successor.

On October 16th at 18.18 o'clock there was white smoke coming out of the small chimney upon the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the voting cardinals had elected a new Roman Pontiff. Twenty-seven minutes later, Cardinal Pericle Felici appeared in the central lodge of Saint Peter's basilica and announced the election of John Paul II to Peter's See with the words: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam Carolum Wojtyla, qui sibi nomen imposuit Ioannem Paulum II".

At 19.15 o'clock, the new Pontiff covered with the traditional white papal vests, appeared in the same balcony and said in Italian the words which are now so familiar to millions of persons everywhere: "¡Praised be Jesus Christ!"

"Dear brothers and sisters -continued- we are all still sad for the death of our dear Pope John Paul I. And now the most eminent cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a distant country... Distant, but always very close by the communion in faith and in Christian tradition. I was afraid of receiving such assignment, but I have accepted it with spirit of obedience to Our Lord and with total confidence in his Mother, the most Holy Virgin ".

John Paul II, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Cracovia, was elected as the 264th Pope in the second voting of the second day in the second conclave of 1978, just five months after becoming 58. Six days later, on October 22nd, 1978 his pastoral ministry was inaugurated. On October 16th 2003, he accomplished 9.125 days of his pontificate.

Up to now, this is the fourth longest pontificate in the history of papacy. The longest one was Saint Peter's (the precise number of days is still unknown), followed by Pope Pius IX (1846-78: 31 years, 7 months and 17 days) and the second was that of his successor, Leo XIII (1878-1903: 25 years, four months and 17 days).

From the beginning of his pontificate to our days, the Holy Father has named more than 3.300 of the more than 4.200 bishops of the world. He has written 14 encyclicals, 14 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 42 apostolic letters and 28 motu proprio, among hundreds of messages and letters.

Over the years, the Holy Father has realized 102 pastoral visits out of Italy; the last one took place last September to Slovakia. He has taken 143 trips inside Italy and almost 700 in the city and the diocese of Rome, among them the visits to 301 of the 325 parishes in the diocese of which he is the bishop, besides the religious institutes, universities, seminars, hospitals, houses of rest, prisons and schools.

With his 245 pastoral trips outside and inside Italy, Pope John Paul II has traveled through 1.163.865 kilometers, which is, more than 28 times the circumference of the planet or 3 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

When in Rome, the Pope receives an average of one million pilgrims every year, including some 400-500.000 who attend the weekly general audiences, besides the ones who go to the special liturgical functions as Masses of Christmas and Easter, beatifications and the canonizations. .

With the general audience of 15 October of 2003, John Paul II will be celebrate 1.106 general audiences in which have participated more than 17 million persons from the whole world. Other audiences, among them the ones granted to leaders of state and of government, surpass the 1.500.

Cardinal Stafford stresses Pope's labor in favor of the laity

Rome, 21 (NE - eclesiales.org) In a recent interview, Cardinal James Francis Stafford, recently named by the Holy Father Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, stressed Pope John Paul's concern for the laity, encouraging them to "acquire a renewed self-consciousness of their proper vocation and mission".

The Cardinal, who has been for many years President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, declared that with this aim, during these 25 years of pontificate, "Pope John Paul II has strongly stressed the universal vocation to holiness, proposing great witnesses of holiness among the laity, exhorting young people 'not to be afraid of being saints', calling every layperson in the Church to live holiness in the World".

Further on, he affirmed that Pope John Paul II "has considered 'providential' the new associative phase of faithful, manifested through the traditional renewal of associations and through the pedagogical, charismatic and missionary impulse of ecclesial movements and new communities".

Pope stresses confidence in youth

Rome, 14 (NE) Pope John Paul II expressed his faith in youth, during the Angelus prayer he presided last Sunday in St. Peter's Square. Addressing an estimated 30,000 pilgrims, the Pope referred to the 25th anniversary of his pontificate this coming Thursday and had special words for the young of the world with whom he has had, he said, "a preferential dialogue."

The Holy Father noted that "next Thursday, October 16, marks the 25th year of my pontificate. At 6 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, I will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving. As of now I would like to thank everyone who joins me through prayer, giving thanks to God for His continual and provident assistance."

"I remember well the days of October 1978," he went on. "In a special way I recall today the first Angelus that I prayed from this window on October 22. In the mystery of the Incarnation, that this prayer helps us contemplate, I sought then to 'embrace the entire future of my pontificate, of the People of God and the entire human family because - as I said - the family gets its start from the will of the Father, but is always conceived in the heart of the Mother'."

"Now, while I think with gratitude of the past, my thoughts turn to young people, with whom I established, right from the start of my petrine ministry a preferential dialogue. I remember that, at the end of that first Angelus, I added a special greeting for them, saying: 'You are the future of the world, you are the hope of the Church, you are my hope." "I must recognize," John Paul II said in conclusion, "that the response by young people has been truly encouraging. Today I wish to thank them for always having been close to me during these years and I would like them to know that I continue to count on them."

It is a time of hope and boldness for the laypersons, says Pope John Paul II

Rome, 14 (NE - eclesiales.org) "For the laity, this is a time of hope and courage!". These were the words of Pope John Paul II, during a letter to the participants in the First Congress for Eastern European Lay Catholics which took place from October 8 to 12 in Kiev, Ukraine. The meeting was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The Church -affirms the Pope- needs you and knows that she can entrust great responsibilities to you." After asking them not to get discouraged in the face of the "challenges of our day," the Holy Father says: "Make your families true domestic Churches and your parishes true schools of prayer and Christian life. You have regained freedom at the price of great suffering; do not ever let it turn into the pursuit of false ideals suggested by the utilarianism, individualistic hedonism or unrestrained consumerism that characterize so much of modern culture".

"Preserve your rich Christian traditions, resisting the insidious temptation to exclude God from your lives or to reduce faith to gestures and sporadic, superficial occurrences."

Media have exaggerated scandal of priests in USA, says Cardinal Sodano

Rome, 14 (NE) In an interview to Reuters news agency, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, current Secretary of State, affirmed that the way in which mass media kept focusing the scandals regarding catholic priests in the USA has been exaggerated. In his statements, the Prelate recalled that in the United States there are 48.000 priests. "The great majority are generous shepherds. Why should there be such aggressiveness against them, and so many unjust generalizations?" "It grieves me to see how stupendous missionaries, who have dedicated their lives to Christ, are ridiculed after fifty years of work", he added. "The scandals in the United States have received a disproportionate attention by mass media", underlined Cardinal Sodano. "It is fair to condemn what is wrong, but one must keep the proportions", he clarified.

Archbishop asks UN to promote a "culture of peace"

Rome, 14 (NE - eclesiales.org) Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, has emphasized the need to build a "culture of peace", during his intervention in New York at the general debate of the first committee on Agenda Item 74: General and Complete Disarmament.. " "If we are to aspire to general and complete disarmament," he affirmed, "we must first of all show a respect for life and the dignity and human rights of individuals, reject violence, promote freedom, justice, solidarity, tolerance and the acceptance of differences, and develop better understanding and harmony between ethnic, religious, cultural and social groups".

Argentina: thousands of youths pilgrim to Marian shrine of Lujan

Buenos Aires, 6 (NE - eclesiales.org) Thousands of young Argentineans, in spite of the hot weather and the distance, reached last Sunday the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lujan. During the journey, the youths offered their prayers for the Pope and the needs of millions of Argentieans.

In the Marian shrinie Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, presided the Mass. During his homily, the Cardinal called the pilgrims to be specially aware of those most in need. "We ask her that we may never pass indifferently by so many brothers who suffer today in our country, that we may carry their lives upon ourselves", he said.

The Archbishop also implored Our Lady of Lujan -reflecting on the meaning of the motto: "Mother, thanks for remaining with us, we want to take care of each other like brothers"- that She might help the argentine people being "in silence, and close to each other" and give them strength for "being there, near the most lone and needed ones".

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins: John Paul II will be recalled as "the Pope of holiness"

Rome, 6 (NE - eclesiales.org) Stressing the call of every Christian to achieve holiness is a decisive characteristic of Pope John Paul II. Thus affirmed Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, in an interview granted to Vatican Radio. "As Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints -indicated the Cardinal-, I am able to say that an essential aspect of Pope John Paul's pontificate has been and still is holiness". Likewise, he affirmed that "the appraisal for holiness, whether at theological or pastoral levels has always been, since the beginning of his pontificate one of the capital points for his Pope ministry". "The Pope has said constantly -he added- that the shepherds' first duty is to stir up holiness in the faithful, therefore, I think that deservedly this Pope will pass to history also as the Pope of holiness".

Holy Father asks to pray for the youths to follow closely the Lord Jesus

Rome, 6 (NE - eclesiales.org) During October, youths from all over the world will be especially present in Pope John Paul's intentions. Thus is the Pope's general intention for the Apostleship of Prayer for October: "Pray for the youths, so they follow Christ who is the Path, the Truth and the Life with generous enthusiasm and give testimony of Him in all the environments they live in". On the other hand, the Holy Father's missionary intention for this month is: "for the Church, so that God don't permit the lack of Shepherds rich in wisdom and holiness ready to extend the light of the Gospel to the last confines of the Earth".

Pope to preside canonization ceremony on Sunday

Rome, 1 (NE) On Sunday, October 5, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square Pope John Paul will celebrate the Eucharist during which he will canonize Blesseds Daniele Comboni, Arnold Janssen and Josef Freinademetz.

Blessed Comboni (1831-1881), bishop, founded the Congregation of Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Combonian Missionary Sisters Pious Mothers of Nigrizia. Blessed Janssen (1837-1909), a priest, was the founder of the Society of the Divine Word, the Congregation of Missionary Sisters Servants of the Spirit and the Congregation of Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. Blessed Freinademetz (1852-1908) was a priest of the Society of the Divine Word.

"In proximity to World Mission Day," says a note from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, "the Church gives the faithful three new Saints who dedicated their lives to proclaiming the Gospel of salvation to the four corners of the globe."

Bishop denounces hostility towards Catholic Church by the BBC

London, 1 (NE - eclesiales.org) Bishop Vincent Nichols of Birminghan, denounced the BBC of hostility and aggressiveness against the Catholic Church, during a press conference held in London. The Prelate protested in a special way for three programs that will be transmitted soon, accusing the British corporation of hostility and antagonism toward Catholics. Bishop Nichols denounced particularly two documentaries "Kenyon Confronts" and "Sex and The Holy City", dedicated to the scandal of pedophile priests and a cartoon named "Popetown", which ironically refers to the Pope.

"Certainly the Catholic community is fed up seeing a public service broadcaster using the licence fee to pay unscrupulous reporters trying to recirculate old news and to broadcast programmes that are so biased and hostile". "Enough is enough", said the Bishop. "BBC is a very big reality and my accusations are not directed to the institution itself", indicated likewise the Bishop during the press conference, clarifying that inside the British radio station there are some who consider the Catholic Church with great hostility.

Three future cardinals for Latin America

Rome, 30 (NE - eclesiales.org) Among the future cardinals announced by Pope John Paul II, three of them are from Latin America. They are Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragán, President of the Pontifical Counsel for Health, Archbishop Eusébio Oscar Scheid, SCI of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); and Archbishop Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, of Guatemala (Guatemala).

Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragán was born in Toluca on January 26, 1933. He was ordained a priest at age 22, after graduating in the Zamora seminary. In 1979 he received the Episcopal consecration, after being named auxiliary bishop of Ciudad de Mexico. He has a PHD in Dogmatic theology by the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome. In 1984 he was named by Pope John Paul II Bishop of Zacatecas. In 1997 he became the first Mexican to occupy a high post in the Roman Curia, as president of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.

Archbishop Eusebio Oscar Scheid, of Rio of Janeiro, was born on December 8, 1932, being ordained as a priest on July 3, 1960. On February 18, 1981 was named Bishop of São José dos Campos. In January 1991 he was named Archbishop of Florianópolis, and on July 2001 the Pope named him Archbishop of Rio of Janeiro.

The Current Archbishop of Guatemala, Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, was born in March 1932. He was ordained a priest in 1956, and a Bishop in May of 1972, after being named coadjutor Bishop of Zacapa. In 1980 he assumed this diocese, until 1986, when the current Pope named him Bishop of Zacapa and Santo Cristo de Esquipulas. He has been the President of the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala from 1988 to 1992. In June 2001 he was named Archbishop of Guatemala.

Cardinal Poupard: "the Church in Latin America stands before a great challenge"

Rome, 1 (NE - eclesiales.org) Concluding his trip to Chile, where he presided the Congress for Catholic Cultural Centers sponsors of Latin America South Cone, Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, gave an interview on the challenges of the Church in that continent. "The Church in Latin America -explained Cardinal to the Vatican Radio- lies before an enormous challenge, before a new generation who privilege emotions and feelings instead of intellectual severity", and where "lack of coherence" increases.

"But standing before this -he added-, I have found many, not only cardinals and bishops, but laypeople that above all have a clear consciousness of all this and who have the wish to face the situation renewing their consciousness as part of the catholic network of teaching". "The path to follow -he concluded- is that of reinforcing the living fabric of the Church and to encourage every catholic in his mission".

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

All rights reserved (©) Church News