June 15 - 21

SATURDAY

John Paul II met this morning with the fourth group of prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, who have just completed their “ad limina” visit, and encouraged them to “take on with audacity and generosity” the mission of “proclaiming Christ the Redeemer of man.”

The Holy Father addressed the prelates present—from the archdiocese of Cali and the apostolic vicariates and prefectures of Colombia— and told them: “Both the mission ‘ad gentes’ and the new evangelization to which I have been calling the whole Church spring from the certainty that in Christ there is an ‘unfathomable wealth’ that does not annul the culture of any period and to which men can always have recourse in order to enrich themselves spiritually. This wealth is, above all, Christ himself, His person, because He himself is our salvation.”

“For this reason,” continued the Holy Father, “it is urgent that the name of Jesus Christ resound with renewed energy in Colombia, and to the ends of the earth.… It is necessary for the Church today, at the doors of the Third Millennium of Christianity, to take a great step forward in her evangelization, entering into a new historical phase of her missionary dynamism.”

On this missionary work “will depend to a great extent that priests … work with genuine pastoral zeal, and even offer themselves voluntarily to be sent to evangelize outside their own region. Likewise, it will help men and women religious, called to carry out an important mission at this moment in the Church … and it will favor the effective participation of the laity in evangelizing work.”

John Paul II observed that “with the advance of sects and the proselytizing action by pseudo-religious groups who imbue Colombian society with false proposals of salvation, … a continued effort to revitalize formation and catechesis at all levels becomes urgent. The work of catechesis must be centered on the person of Jesus Christ, using as a most useful instrument the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

He also encouraged them to “take advantage responsibly of the space dedicated to religious teaching in your nation's schools.”

“Another important issue in the face of the new evangelization to which you are generously committed is the creation of small Christian communities where the faithful can profess their faith with joy and coherence, congregate assiduously for prayer and mutually encourage each other in the witness of the Gospel.”

•••

Today the Holy Father received the National Confederation of “Misericordie” (mercy workers), of Italy, and representatives of that association from various European countries, and told them that “it is time to commit oneself vigorously to promoting the culture of life and of authentic solidarity.”

“This,” the Pope added, “is central to that authentic Christian humanism which finds in the apostolate of charity its most genuine and eloquent expression,” John Paul said to the 7,000 participants. He then spoke about “the role of the ‘misericordie’ in the Church and society. Right from the year 1244, they have been involved, through generous forms of voluntary work, in the welfare field at the service of the weakest and most needy, bringing together ordinary citizens from every social class and age, determined to honor God through works of mercy.”

•••

This morning the Pope received in audience Dr. Giorgio Giacomelli, under-secretary general and executive director of the United Nations International Drug Control Program, to whom he handed over a message to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to be held June 26.

“The Holy See is concerned at the ever growing spread of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances which public opinion seems at times to accept with widespread indifference and often with the apparent belief that protection from this scourge can be had by marginalizing and abandoning its victims, but without addressing its devastating causes.”

The message goes on: “the Holy See attaches great importance to both preventive and therapeutic medical treatment which seeks to help the victims of drug abuse to rediscover their own dignity as human beings by reactivating the personal resources which have been buried. Equally important is the commitment of individuals, families, society and institutions to the struggle against the despicable illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs.”

•••

The Holy Father made the following nominations:

Archbishop Dario Castrillon Hoyos of Bucaramanga, Colombia, as pro-prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

Archbishop Adriano Bernardini, apostolic nuncio in Bangladesh, as apostolic nuncio in Madagascar, in Mauritius and in the Seychelles.

Bishop Francisco Robles Ortega, auxiliary of Toluca, as bishop of Toluca, Mexico.

•••

The Holy Father received in separate audiences today:

Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy with Bishop Pierre Duprey and Msgr. Eleuterio Francesco Fortino, respectively president, secretary and undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Cardinal Simon Ignatius Pimenta, archbishop of Bombay, India.

Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon.

Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic pro-nuncio in Sudan, apostolic delegate in Somalia.

Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in Georgia, in Armenia and in Azerbaijan; apostolic administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the apostolic administration of Caucasus.

SUNDAY

At 7:30 this morning, the Pope celebrated Mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens for a group from the “Communaute des Beatitudes,” to whom he spoke about the Lord's invitation “to embrace the Kingdom that he began among us.”

“He proposes to us that we follow Jesus, be his genuine witnesses in our brothers' midst, be signs of the presence of God's salvation in their midst.” And he added: “Go out to proclaim the Good News to all those who find themselves discouraged, tired, abandoned at the side of the path.”

John Paul II urged that their “personal and community prayer take on concern for the universal mission of the Church. May it implore God so that ever more numerous ‘disciples’ will accept serving his plan of reconciliation and salvation for all men.”

•••

At today's Angelus the Holy Father referred to the just-concluded U.N. conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Habitat II, and said that the “unanimous affirmation of the right to a house for every person with their own family is a result to be greeted with satisfaction.”

John Paul II highlighted “the drama of so many persons and of entire families forced to live in the street or be content with hazardous or inhospitable refuge.” He said it was sad that young people, because of lack of housing, had to delay marriage or the start of a family. “Welcome indeed is this renewed expression of the international juridical and ethical conscience which, while insisting on the right to a house for everyone, underlines the close link with the right to build a family and to have adequately paid work.”

There must be a global strategy, he went on, “to reduce the differences between rich and poor countries and to eliminate the inequity in the very nations which have the highest income.” And he appealed to leaders “to better harmonize development and economic progress with solidarity.”

“Assuring a suitable ‘habitat’ to everyone,” concluded the Holy Father, “is a measure of civilization and a condition of peaceful and fraternal coexistence.”

At the end of the Angelus and after the greetings, the Pope said: “I see a banner in the square wishing me a good trip. They are right. I commend myself to your prayers, to the prayers of all of you, during my upcoming visit to Germany.”

MONDAY

Members of the Holy See delegation to the U.N. Conference on Human Habitat, which concluded June 14 in Istanbul, Turkey, were received this morning by the Pope, who thanked them for their “dedication and sensitivity to the real needs of people as regards housing and living conditions.”

“Your principal concern at the conference,” he told them in English, “has been to put the inalienable dignity of the human person at the center of everyone's attention, and to draw out the consequences for the international community of that dignity in relation to something as fundamental to people's well-being as the human habitat, the physical and social environment in which individuals and families work out their earthly destiny.”

“Through your skill and commitment,” concluded the Holy Father, “you have made public opinion more clearly aware of the fact that the human habitat will not be truly human unless it also promotes the spiritual and moral development of the human person, and is open to the fraternal solidarity which springs from the social dimension of human life.”

•••

The Holy Father received in separate audiences this morning:

Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano, apostolic nuncio in Tanzania.

Rodrigo Pardo Garcia-Pena, minister of foreign affairs of Colombia, with his wife and entourage.

Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision and Amendment of the Vulgate.

Members of the General Council of the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

WEDNESDAY

At today's general audience, Pope John Paul continued his catechesis on Mary, recalling that the Church holds, in the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, that she was preserved from original sin at the first moment of her existence and, as well, that “Mary was free from personal sin and moral imperfection throughout her life.”

The Holy Father went on to say that “the possibility of sinning does not spare even a Christian who is transformed or renewed by grace … unless, as the Council of Trent stated, a special privilege assures such immunity from sin. This is what happened to Mary.” The council, stating that the Church “firmly holds this (privilege of Mary), … confirms its solid doctrinal character.”

John Paul II observed that some Fathers of the Church in early centuries, and even some recent authors, “have attributed to Mary some imperfections or moral defects.” But, he said, Gospel texts “do not allow in any case for the attribution of a sin, or even of only a moral imperfection, to the Mother of the Redeemer.”

According to St. Luke, when Jesus was told: “Your Mother and brothers are outside and wish to see you,” he replied: “My Mother and my brothers are those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice.”

“Jesus’ words,” John Paul II said, “exalt Mary's fidelity to the will of God and the greatness of her maternity, lived by her not only physically but also spiritually.”

He remarked that “in weaving this indirect praise (of Mary), Jesus … better showed the solidarity and closeness of the Virgin to mankind on the difficult path of holiness.”

Pope John Paul concluded: “The special privilege given by God to the ‘all holy’ … reminds us that Mary has been always and entirely the Lord's, and that no imperfection cracked the perfect harmony between her and God.”

The pope first met with 4,000 pilgrims in St. Peter's Basilica, then with 9,000 faithful in the Paul VI Hall.

THURSDAY

Made public today was the Holy Father's letter to Cardinal Pierre Eyt, archbishop of Bordeaux, France, written in Latin and dated May 2, in which he named him his special envoy to the June 23 celebrations for the 9th centenary of the erection of the cathedral of Nimes. Msgr. Robert Dalverny, pastor of the cathedral of Nimes, and Jacques Cannat are also part of this pontifical mission.

•••

The Holy Father received the following today in separate audiences:

Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, archbishop of Bologna, Italy.

Cardinal Bernardino Echeverria Ruiz, archbishop emeritus of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

Archbishop Blasco Francisco Collaco, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.

Father Tiburcio Ferrao, superior general of the Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier of Pilar (Goa).

Madina Ly-Tall, ambassadress of Mali, on a farewell visit.

Torsten Orn, ambassador of Sweden, with his wife, on a farewell visit.

FRIDAY

Pope John Paul II left for Germany this afternoon at 4:45 p.m. on his 72nd foreign pastoral visit.

He prepared a video-taped message, transmitted on the vigil of his departure, in which he said he was looking to this pastoral visit “with great hope and expectations.”

•••

The Holy Father this morning received a group of 80 French athletes from the archdiocese of Toulouse, about to undertake a 1,000 kilometer relay, and told them: “You wanted to make this event not only a sporting exploit, but also a true spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Jubilee year 2000.”

John Paul II referred to the Apostle Paul, who compared his life to a race, and added: “I hope you run with ardor and intelligence, and that you aim, beyond the exploit, at the true goal to which we all tend: … that the Lord Jesus Christ came among us two millennia ago and that he is by now he to whom all our lives must be oriented.”

•••

The Holy Father made the following nomination:

Msgr. Gervasio Gestori, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference, as bishop of San Benedetto del Tronto-Ripatransone-Montalto, Italy.

(VIS)