October, 25th to 31st

Cardinal Paul Paupard Vatican City, 30 (NE) The XIII International Conference on the «Church and the elderly people» was inaugurated yesterday, with some words pronounced by Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture. «The elderly person in the Word of God» was the title of the opening speech delivered by Cardinal Poupard. During his intervention, the Cardinal remembered that «the elderly person is presented in the Bible as one who carries a rich patrimony of experience», which permits him to give a rich testimony of hope and charity. «Longevity is a sign of God's blessings» stated the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, indicating that it was also a «gift» for the others because it allowed the transmission of knowledge. To the Congress, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral of Sanitary Agents, are assisting nearly 400 specialists from many parts of the world. The event will conclude on October the 31st.

Vittorio Messori narrates an impressive Marian miracle of the XVII century

iL MIRACOLO Rome, 30 (NE) A few weeks ago, the whole world learned the story of a young man who, thanks to the scientific improvements, had managed to receive another person's hand in a transplantation. ¿Is this a unique case in history? Apparently it's not. In his last book, Vittorio Messori, the well-known catholic journalist and writer, tells the story of a man who had lost his right leg, which remained buried for over two years. When the leg was unburied, and discovering that it had remained incorrupt, it was miraculously implanted back to the man. ¿Is this a miracle of modern science? Certainly it's not. All this took place in the year 1640, over three centuries ago. «"The Miracle", Spain, 1640, a survey over the most impressive Marian prodigy» is the title for Messori's last book. The miraculous event, with a wide and detailed documentation, occurred to a young man called Miguel Juan Pellicer. He attributed the miracle to the intercession of «Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza», a Marian avocation to which he had a special devotion.

OCTOBER 30
Holy Father remembered Pope John XXIII during General Audience

Vatican, 29 (NE) «The Spirit “Giver of Life' and Victory over Death» of yesterday´s catecheses that the Holy Father offered during his weekly General Audience. In his catecheses, the Pope said that for believers «there is the certainty that their life-giving relationship with Christ cannot be destroyed by death, but rather that it lives on beyond that». The Holy Father remembered as well Pope John XXIII, on the 40th anniversary of his election to the See of Saint Peter. «I wish that the figure of the Pope of Goodnes, he said, whose memory is still alive in the christian people (…) makes people follow with enthusiasm the testimony which he left us».

«Final Communique» from symposium on Jerusalem asks for a special status for the Holy City

Vatican, 29 (NE) From the 26 to the 27 of October, Presidents and delegates from several bishops' conferences and from the unions of episcopal conferences of Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia, cardinals and members of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land met in Jerusalem, were invited by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, to reflect on the status of the city of Jerusalem. The symposium ended with the celebration of the Holy Mass commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Holy Father´s pontificate.

After the event, participants released a «Final Communique», made public yesterday. Among different issues, the communique states the necessity to give certain parts of the city a special status, that «guarantees the sacred character and the universal cultural heritage of the city». In a similar way, it affirms that free access to Jerusalem should also be «guaranteed to all, local people and pilgrims, friends and opponents. Finally, this special statute should be supported by international guarantees».

New «Theological Pastoral Institute» in La Habana

Miami, 30 (NE) A new «Theological Pastoral Institute» orientated to the formation of lays and pastoral agents will come into operation at the Cuban capital city of La Habana, on the first week of November. Since 1986 when the «Cuban National Eclesial Meeting» took place, the Archdiocese of La Habana had defined the formation of the laity as one of the principal necessities of the Church in Cuba, and has become, in these days, one of the main priorities of the new National Pastoral Plan. The Institute will become a formation center for the lay people, who have increased its action and apostolic work at the interior of the Church.

In a similar way, the new «Theological Pastoral Institute» expects to be an instance for the development of catholic thought, projecting it in actions, specially against the great challenges that the Church in Cuba passes through. The Institute’s program will be divided into three levels. The first level will give a basic theological course. The second one includes subjects of christology, eclesiology, anthropology, moral, Church’s social doctrine, and Sacraments. Finally the third and last level will be dedicated to the subjects of Theological- Pastoral reflection and research. Seminaries of apostolic work directed to catechism, works with the youth, health aid area, and Liturgy, will come together with the three levels of the program.

A survey made in Italy reveals that two out of three italians recognizes that the embryo is a human being

Rome, 30 (NE) The Italian Episcopal Conference’s newspaper «Avvenire» stated in its front-page that two out of each three Italians recognize the embryo as a human being. This same percentage considers that the embryo, as any human being, has a right for life. 76% of the surveyed women think like this, and 78% of the adult youth (less than 24 years old) recognize the human quality of the unborn fetus. Nevertheless, still 22% reduce in one way or another the human embryo to a «thing». This survey took place in a country with a catholic majority and identified with the Church’s faith. Anyway, an increase of 4% in the number of people that recognize the human nature and dignity of the embryo is significant, in relation to a previous survey done in Italy. It’s a significant increase but it still leaves an important 22% with an impressive «closed mind» vision, unable to recognize what science has already demonstrated clearly.

OCTOBER 29
The Holy Father will pray the Rosary on the same path were the Blessed Juan Diego walked

Mexico City, 29 (NE) The activities that the Holy Father will be doing in his next visit to Mexico have been announced. Together with the presentation of the post-sinodal apostolic exhortation -the principal motive of his new journey to the american continent- the Pope will bless the Cross of the Evangelization, 22 meters high. He will also participate in a «via crucis», and will pray the rosary in the path of «The Mysteries».

This «path of the Mysteries», is a beloved street for mexican people, as it is said that on 1531, Blessed Juan Diego and Fray Juan de Zumárraga carried through this path up to the Tepeyac, the cloak were the image of our Lady of Guadalupe was printed. During the colonial times, fifteen «mysteries» were constructed along the way. As years passed, these deteriorated. For the Pope’s next visit, eight of them are being restored. The Cross of the Evangelization will be placed at the entrance of the path, as the symbol of this pilgrimage of the Holy Father to Mexico, which has continental implications.

Archbishop Antonio Moreno remarks the role of Saint Mary in God’s Plan

Lima, 29 (NE) Archbishop Antonio Moreno of Concepción (Chile), remarked yesterday, during his intervention in the «Theological week on the Holy Spirit» taking place in Lima, the role of the Virgin Mary in God’s Plan of salvation, as well as her profound relation with the Holy Spirit. Msgr. Moreno indicated that «in the same way as the Holy Spirit, fluttering over the waters, made life come out in the creation, the same Spirit in the new creation, makes life come out from Mary’s womb». Due to the insistence of nearly two thousand people present at the event, Archbishop Moreno stated that «God wanted Mary to have a fundamental role in Christ’s birth (…), therefore the union between Jesus and Mary is more profound than merely a biological one, is one pure and perfect spiritual communion».

OCTOBER 27
Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of an integral formation for persons

Vatican, 27 (NE) In a private audience held yesterday with participants in a plenary session of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Pope John Paul II underlined the importance that the Church gives to education, emphasizing the necessity of an «integral formation» for the person. «The challenge (for the Church)» said the Pope, «is that of forming complete persons, harmoniously developed in all their faculties and dimensions, persons who are capable of raising themselves with the two wings of faith and reason towards the contemplation of the truth». «The Church is called (…) to propose a model of a unified and complete human person», he said.

During the speech he delivered, the Holy Father analyzed the possibilities and challenges offered today by New Technologies. «Application of new technologies of information to the different spheres of life (…) has caused and will continue to cause even more notable changes in a person's learning processes, interpersonal relationships and maturing of their personality». «There are positive effects», he stated, «but there is no lack of negative consequences».

The Holy Father recalled later the unity that there must be between human and spiritual formation. He talked as well about the integral formation that must be offered in catholic universities, stating the necessity of «teaching the Church’s sensibility towards the promotion of a global knowledge, open to all dimensions of human being». The role that catholic universities must perform cannot be achieved without an adequate expression of its catholic identity and its bond with the Church, said the Pope.

Encyclical «Fides et ratio» raises echoes in Italy

Rome, 27 (NE) While articles and commentaries in relation to the Holy Father's last encyclical «Fides et ratio» continue to multiply throughout the world, in Bologne, the Institute «Veritatis splendor» is planning a series of activities in relation to the new encyclical. In Rome, fifty teachers of philosophy and rectors from different universities of the city, pontifical, private catholic and secular, have signed a document thanking Pope John Paul II for writing the encyclical «Fides et ratio». In the document they compromise themselves to deepen in the interdisciplinary experience of philosophy and theology, promoting an intense project of collaboration that may overcome differences, in a climate of harmonious collaboration and respect for the characteristics of each discipline.

Sao Paulo, 27 (NE) The presidents of Ecuador, Jamil Mahuad, and Alberto Fujimori of Peru, signed yesterday in Brasilia a historic document which ends many years of territorial conflicts. Before the act took place, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, and Special Delegate of Pope John Paul II for the peace treaty ceremony at the Itamaratí Palace, read a significative message, sent by the Holy Father. Pope John Paul II expressed in his letter the blessings of God for the nations of Peru, Ecuador and the «guarantee countries» of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the United States, showing his approval for the final treaty that had been accounted.

The Holy Father showed his satisfaction for the opportunity he had of making himself present in a spiritual sense in an act which reinforced the links of two sister nations united by their religion, history and culture. Pope John Paul II declared also that he was united to the joy of Ecuador and Peru, nations «beloved by me and united by Christian faith and culture links, which now see how a painful chapter of their relation concludes, while long life peace perspectives open up». He emphasized also the crucial importance that the Peace treaty has for the international community, congratulating the presidents of Peru and Ecuador for the benefit achieved. He also gave his blessing to the chiefs of the «guarantee countries», who had demonstrated «a continuous effort for helping both parts, which was fundamental to achieve the objective».

OCTOBER 26
Pope John Paul II beatified four founders of religious institutions

Antonio de Sant' Anna Galvão Vatican, 26 (NE) In Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II beatified yesterday four founders of religious institutions. One of them was Antonio de Sant´Anna Galvão, who became the first catholic born in Brazil to be beatified. Together with him, the Pope elevated to the altars Mother Mother Theodore Guerin, a French nun of the Sisters of Providence who founded a new branch of her religious institution in the United States; Rev. Zefirino Agostini, an Italian priest, who founded a school for poor girls and several other institutions during Italy's war of independence; and the Rev. Faustino Miguez, member of the Order of the Pious Schools who founded the Calasanzian Institute of Daughters of the Divine Shepherdess.

«These newly beatified are examples for us to imitate and follow», said the Pope yesterday during his homily. «Their existence demonstrates the power of “little” people and of prayer». Remembering Blessed Galvao, the Holy Father said that he was a «man of peace and of charity», and a «zealous worshiper of the Blessed Sacrament». Fray Galvao was born in Guaratingueta in 1739, and entered the Franciscan order in 1760, distinguishing himself as a preacher and confessor. Much of his apostolate was done inside the Franciscan order.

OCTOBER 25
Congress in Medellin on New Technologies and New Evangelization

Eduardo Regal Medellin, 25 (NE) Yesterday, in the Archdiocese of Medellin, took place the congress «New Technologies at the service of evangelization towards the third millennium». The important meeting was organized by the «Instituto Vida y Espiritualidad» (VE - Colombia) and the «Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana». During the event, participants shared their views on how new technologies help the life and mission of the Church.

One of the speakers, Eduardo Regal, Director of VE Multimedia, spoke about the possibilities and challenges offered by New Technologies in the labor of evangelization, stating the importance of correctly discerning their use. «The adequate relation between human beings and technique is broken when the latter is not orientated towards the ultimate significance of human beings», said Regal, calling for a greater presence of the Church in the new spheres created by new technologies, such as the Internet.

The Holy Father’s Nuncio in Colombia, Msgr. Paolo Romeo, delivered a speech about «New Technologies at the service of the New Evangelization», in which he recalled the Holy Father’s invitation for a renewed evangelization. «Consciousness of the urgent necessity to announce the Gospel moves us to use any valid means in order to increase the efficiency of our apostolate», said the Apostolic Nuncio during his talk.

The Congress ended with the celebration of a Mass, presided by Msgr. Romeo. During his homily, Msgr. Romeo underlined the necessity to change our hearts, giving testimony of the Lord Jesus. He indicated as well the great responsibility that Catholics have when announcing the Gospel of the Lord.