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Pope has pulled out all stops in trying to achieve a truce in war-torn Balkans

      Nobody can blame the Holy See for feeling frustrated after all the work and countless hours the Pope and his select representatives including his top foreign-official Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran have put in trying to mediate a truce between Yugoslav head Slobodan Milosevic and the NATO forces. Even meeting face to face with the former, plus the Serbian Patriarch has been of little avail. For more, click on Balking in the Balkans.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran returned to Rome late on the evening of Holy Thursday, after an urgent diplomatic mission to Belgrade during which he met with Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle.

      The Vatican's top foreign-affairs official carried a personal message from Pope John Paul II, begging for an "Easter truce" to stop the warfare over Kosovo and allow time for negotiations. Milosevic has not formally responded to that appeal, but the NATO powers have rejected a similar plea from the Holy Father. US President Bill Clinton said that an Easter truce "would not serve to honor the occasion."

      Archbishop Tauran noted that the appeal for an Easter truce-- to extend at least through the Orthodox observance of Easter on April 11-- had the support of many religious leaders, including especially the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle. He acknowledged that a truce would have to be enforced "on the ground," so that military forces could not "take advantage of the situation." But he added that the truce would give humanitarian agencies opportunities to begin providing help to the thousands of people who have already been left homeless by the fighting in and around Kosovo.

      In a related initiative, the eight cardinals of the United States wrote to both Clinton and Milosevic, asking both leaders to join in a truce agreement. "We have called upon President Slobodan Milosevic to order the immediate cessation of Serbian military and police operations against the population of Kosovo," the American prelates wrote to Clinton, "and in turn we call upon you, Mr. President, for a cessation of NATO bombing."

      After speaking for an hour with Milosevic, Archbishop Tauran told reporters that he had offered any permanent solution to the Kosovo crisis, but had conveyed "the profound concern of the Pope over this dramatic situation, which is causing enormous suffering for innumerable people." The talk took place at the residence of the papal nuncio in Belgrade.

      The archbishop said that Pope John Paul "is close to all those who are suffering, without distinctions of race, religion, or ideology." He added that the Pontiff maintains his desire "that all people be respected, with equal dignity," and that the "history and rights" of all groups be respected. The Holy See espouses no political cause, he elaborated; but every day the Pope receives an overwhelming number of appeals from people who are suffering from abuses.

      "The Pope is convinced that diplomacy is useful," Archbishop Tauran continued. He pointed to the cooperation between the Holy See and the Serbian Orthodox Church as an example of effective ecumenical work, and productive diplomacy by Church leaders.

      "I think that, right now, there are neither victors nor vanquished," Archbishop Tauran concluded; "I hope and pray that my visit might have helped in the appeal to the heart, and to the voice of conscience." During his day-long trip the Vatican diplomat also met with Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Jovanovic, and Serbian President Milan Milutinovic.

Veritable valley of vocations in South Korea producing fruits of missionary zeal

      The faith was brought to Korea by missionaries who planted the seeds which today have sprouted into a flourishing Church where South Korea is now preparing to send their own out to others as missionaries, giving back what they have received and targeting their missions to those who are in most need of the Light of Christ. For more, click on Korean fervor.

      ROME, 1 (NE) The Catholic Church in South Korea has shown a great growth in the last years in the number of baptized as well as in a rise in vocations to priestly and consecrated life. Due to this it has been able to sent missionary help to neighboring countries, some of which - as North Korea, China, and Vietnam- have adopted a hostile attitude if not open persecution against the Church.

      Last week 33 Korean missionaries concluded a course of preparation under the name "Education for Mission Abroad Programme." As Fides agency informed, the course is the first in its kind and aims to ensure the doctrinal and pastorals aspects that all missionaries should manage in order to be witnesses of Christ and evangelize people of several languages, cultures and religions.

Brazil to prepare for Cinquitennial celebration during the Jubilee year 2000 with Bishops Conference this month

      In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the faith coming to the shores of Brazil by the Portuguese, the Brazilian Episcopal conference will be held this month with the emphasis on evangelization in the new millennium. Sixteen bishops will be presented by their Portuguese peers with authentic replicas of the crosses originally used in the first Mass celebrated in Brazil. The sixteen replica crosses were recently blessed in Rome by the Holy Father. For more, click on Brazil General Assembly .

      SAO PAULO, 1 (NE) Between the 14th and the 23rd of April the 37th General Assembly of the Brazilian National Bishops' Conference (CNBB) will be carried out. Among other themes, the bishops will specially reflect on the evangelizing effort of the Church in Brazil for the next four years.

      "Missions and lay Ministries and lay Christians," the calendar for year 2000 and celebrations for the 500 anniversary of evangelization in Brazil, will also be among the most important topics to be discussed during the assembly.

      One of the most significant moments of the event will be the presentation of 16 crosses blessed by Pope John Paul II. The crosses are replicas of the cross present in the first Eucharistic celebration in Brazilian lands held April 26, 1500. The president of the Bishop's Conference will give them to the bishops presidents of the 16 episcopal regions. The crosses were donated by the Portuguese Bishops' conference.

The real joy of the Gospel happens on the other side of Calvary

      That was what Denver's Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap. emphasized to his flock during Holy Week in preparation for the Pascal season and reiterating that we cannot celebrate the resurrection without the crucifixion in the time honored tradition of nothing worth while is attained without sacrifice. For more, click on Paschal message

      Denver, 1 (NE) "For Christians, Holy Week is the most sacred time of year. It's a time to reflect on what the 'good news' of Jesus Christ really means," said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Conv. in a recent message given to faithful in Denver. The prelate highlighted the importance to welcome the Good News in one's own life.

      The Bishop added, "The real joy of the Gospel doesn't happen at Christmas. It happens on the other side of Calvary. The cross is the way Christ accomplishes our redemption. Only in being nailed to the wood with Him, can we rise with Him on Easter. In other words, there's no resurrection without the crucifixion."

      "In offering God the personal sorrows and sufferings which each of us daily face, we join ourselves to Jesus and share in His sacrifice for the world. But we also share in the reward, for He draws us with Him out of death into new life on Easter" said the Archbishop, expressing his hope that during Easter celebrations "may God grant us all the gift of encountering Jesus Christ as savior . . . in the Eucharist, at the cross and beyond the empty tomb."

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales. Both CWN and NE are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

     In honor of Divine Mercy Novena week we present this week sites dedicated to the devotion of Divine Mercy. The first we feature is the INSTITUTE OF DIVINE MERCY at www.divinemercy.org . It the official site for the newly-approved religious congregation of contemplative, cloistered nuns dedicated to calling down Divine Mercy on the world. It is a fulfillment of what Our Lord asked of Blessed Faustina and later of the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in helping this become a reality in 1985 in Dallas and Puerto Rico. The site is also a past recipient of our Golden Chalice Award.

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April 5, 1999 volume 10, no. 66   DAILY CATHOLIC