Patriarch Accepts Apology for Constantinople

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, April 15 — Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, on April 13 formally accepted Pope John Paul II's apology for Roman Catholic involvement in the sacking of Constantinople 800 years ago.

During a visit to Greece in 2001, the Pope apologized for the attack on the city by Catholic Crusaders. The patriarch accepted it now in the spirit of the Easter season, the wire service reported.

“The spirit of reconciliation is stronger than hatred,” Patriarch Bartholomew said during a liturgy attended by Philippe Barbarin, the Archbishop of Lyon, France. “We receive with gratitude and respect your cordial gesture for the tragic events of the Fourth Crusade.”

Pope Makes Rare Visit to Countryside

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, April 15 — A day after skipping the reading of his weekly general audience April 14 on the advice of doctors, Pope John Paul II went to the countryside outside Rome to “breathe the spring air,” the news agency reported.

Police in the Lazio mountain town of Piglio confirmed the Holy Father was there. Surprised locals lined the roads to catch a glimpse of John Paul, whose trips to the countryside have been rare in recent years due to his health.

The mayor of Piglio tried to meet with the Pope, Agence France-Presse reported, but he was unable to pass through security. The Vatican neither confirmed nor denied that report.

John Paul Appeals for Release of Hostages in Iraq

REUTERS, April 18 — Pope John Paul II in his weekly address April 18 in St. Peter's Square called for the release of hostages in Iraq, asking captors to “have a sense of humanity.”

“I beg them to return the people they are holding to their families,” the Pope said. “I am particularly close in my thoughts and prayers to the families of those fearing for the fate of their loved ones, especially those who have been taken hostage.”

More than 40 hostages have been taken since the beginning of April, the wire service reported, but many have been released. A group is still holding three Italian security guards captive. A fourth Italian was killed April 14.

“I am following with great sadness the tragic news that is coming out of the Holy Land and Iraq,” John Paul said. “End this blood-letting amongst brothers. Such inhuman acts are against the will of God.”

Vatican Declares Hawaii Nun Venerable

HONOLULU ADVERTISER, April 20 — Mother Marianne Cope, a German-born nun who worked with leprosy patients in Hawaii, moved one step closer to sainthood April 19 when the Vatican approved designation of her as venerable.

Mother Cope came to Hawaii in 1883 to help care for the children of leprosy patients, the paper reported. She cared for patients in Oahu for five years then volunteered to supervise a home for girls on Molokai at Kalaupapa, where she stayed until her death in 1918 at age 80.

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Syracuse, N.Y., are leading the canonization cause. The next step for Mother Cope is beatification, for which a miracle is required.