NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      MEXICO CITY (CWNews.com) - Officials in Mexico's Catholic Church said on Tuesday that Pope John Paul II will discuss human rights in the country during his visit January 22-26, but he is not expected to specifically address individual conflicts including Chiapas.

      The main thrust of the Holy Father's visit is to present a document based on the 1997 Synod for Americas, but local officials said they expect him to touch on Mexican troubles, which have included the conflict in Chiapas state between Zapatista Indian rebels and the government. "It's obvious that Chiapas has taken on not only a national, but also an international dimension," Bishop Avelardo Alvarado, secretary-general of the Mexican bishops' conference, said at a news conference. "Even if he doesn't mention it by name, it will be implicit."

      The Holy See's representative to Mexico cautioned observers not to expect too much emphasis on Mexico's internal problems or a condemnation of any group. "The Pope is not a judicial authority in any country of the world," Apostolic Nuncio Justo Mullor said. "The Pope is not coming to bring you an encyclopedia in which he talks about the problems each of you have."