Pope encourages work of Christian Radios

Rome, 16 (NE - eclesiales.org) Pope John Paul II encourage the work of Christian radios, during an audience to 400 participants in a meeting held in Rome to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the European Conference of Christian Radios. In his address, the Pope thanked the "numerous European Radios, from the Atlantic to the Urals" for having worked over the years "to consolidate, among listeners, the awareness of their common Christian roots and to stimulate in them a commitment to serve peace."

By your work, the Holy Father said, "you have thus given a precious contribution to building Europe on ethical and spiritual foundations, promoting understanding and bringing the people of our continent closer to each other." He exhorted his guests "to persevere with generosity in this important mission .May your voices, in the variety of your respective programs, continue to give witness to Christ, salvation of the world, and to announce His Gospel of peace to everyone."

The ECCR was founded in Brussels in 1994 by four radio organizations: COPE in Spain , RCF in France, CORALLO in Italy and RR, Radio Renascenca in Portugal . Its aims are to promote human rights, democracy and a "European conscience" among peoples and to share experiences among Christian radios. ECCR has NGO (Non-governmental organization) status and is comprised of 14 members and 2 "friends," including Vatican Radio and Radio Suisse Romande.

More than 1.5 million people received in audiences by the Pope in 2004

Rome , 16 (NE - eclesiales.org) More than1.5 million people have attended Papal audiences during the year 2004. As it customarily does just before the anniversary of the Holy Father's election to the papacy, the Prefecture of the Papal Household has published figures relative to papal audiences. October 16 the Pope celebrates the 26th anniversary of his pontificate, having been elected as the 264th Roman Pontiff on that day in 1978.

Up to today, Pope John Paul II has welcomed 1,512,300 people in 2004: 387,100 in the weekly general audiences, 140,200 for special audiences, 368,000 for liturgical celebrations and 617,000 for the Sunday Angelus.

From October 16, 1978 to October 16, 2004 , the Holy Father has welcomed 426 heads of State, kings and queens, 187 prime ministers, 190 foreign ministers, and he has received the Letters of Credence of 642 new ambassadors to the Holy See.

These figures do not take into account the myriad numbers of people whom the Pope welcomes at the end of liturgical functions in the Vatican , in Italy or abroad.

We were created to be saints out of love, recalls Pope

Rome , 16 (NE - eclesiales.org) Last Wednesday, during the weekly general audience, Pope John Paul II spoke about the canticle that opens the Letter to the Ephesians, "God my Savior," during the catechesis of the general audience which was held in St. Peter's Square.

The Holy Father told the crowd of 16,000 that through this hymn "the faithful can contemplate and savor this great icon of Christ, heart of spirituality and Christian worship, but also the principle of unity and meaning of the universe and of all of history."

Referring to "the salvific work of the Son," he said this "starts from the eternal divine design that Christ is called to fulfill. In this design shines forth, above all, our being chosen (by God) to be 'holy and blameless people' ... in love. It is therefore, a holiness and a moral, existential and interior purity."

God our Father, he continued, "through Christ, destines us to accept the gift of filial dignity, becoming children in the Son and brothers of Jesus. ... Through this path, the Father realizes a radical transformation in us: a complete liberation from evil, 'redemption through the blood' of Christ, the 'remission of sins' through the 'riches of His grace'. ... We are transfigured creatures: our sin has been erased and we fully know the Lord," and this knowledge "introduces us to the 'mystery' of the divine will."

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