VATICAN CITY, FEB 20 (ZENIT).- The Jubilee of the Roman Curia is the next in a series of back-to-back Jubilees for special groups within the Church. The Jubilee of Permanent Deacons followed on the heels of the Jubilee of the Sick, and in the same Angelus message, the Holy Father Sunday closed that Jubilee and announced the Jubilee of his closest collaborators -- climaxing Tuesday.

    The Apostolic Constitution "Pastor Bonus," promulgated by John Paul II on June 28, 1988, explained that the Roman Curia is the ensemble of organizations that assist the Pontiff in the exercise of his pastoral work for the good of the universal Church and the local Churches. In addition to the Secretariat of State, which has particular characteristics in its assistance to the Bishop of Rome, the organizations of the Roman Curia are classified into Congregations, Tribunals, Pontifical Councils, Administrative Offices, the Pontifical Household, and the Office of Liturgical Celebrations.

    As the Holy Father pointed out today, the Jubilee of the Roman Curia was "preceded by meetings of reflection and prayer, through which those who make up the Curia have prepared themselves to live this moment of grace, which invites them to a conversion of heart, with special intensity."

    Those who give their services to the Holy See represent all states of life in the Church: "Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, men and women religious and the laity. Together they will cross the Holy Door, which is a symbol of mercy and a call to the renewal of life," the Pope explained.

    The Roman Curia's Jubilee will begin this afternoon with a penitential service led by Capuchin Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the Papal Household preacher, and on Tuesday, in the Vatican Basilica, there will be a Jubilee Mass presided by John Paul II.

    "A very close tie links the family of the Curia to Peter's Successor, who makes use of its service in the exercise of the ministry entrusted to him by Christ for the benefit of the entire ecclesial community," John Paul II explained. "Therefore, in addition to the capacity and efficiency of his collaborators, it is important that he be able to count on their communion in a love so profound so as to make of the Curia, as Pope Paul VI often said, 'a permanent Cenacle,' totally consecrated to the good of the Church. The purification that the Jubilee experience looks to will not fail to make its positive contribution in this respect." ZE00022006

    VATICAN CITY, FEB 20 (ZENIT).- Sunday morning John Paul II bid farewell to over 2,000 Permanent Deacons, who came to Rome this past weekend to participate in their special Jubilee, and reminded them of the words they heard on the day of their ordination: "Believe in what you read, teach what you believe, live what you teach."

    In addition, addressing the 25,000 Permanent Deacons throughout the world (married and celibate), the Pontiff summarized their mission: "to embrace the Gospel, to go deeper in faith into the message, to love it and give witness to it in words and works."

    In this way, these men become decisive protagonists, according to the Holy Father, of the "new evangelization," thanks to their contribution "made with coherence and dedication, courage and generosity, in the daily service of the liturgy, the word, and charity." Prior to this final meeting of the Deacons' Jubilee with the Pope, there was a Mass presided by Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, in which he ordained 18 new Deacons in St. Peter's Basilica.

    Servants of the Word, the Eucharist and their Brothers "Mature men, called to the service of the Word, the Eucharist, and charity," were the words chosen by Cardinal Castrillon to paint the profile that characterizes a Deacon.

    Above all, the Deacon is a servant of the Word who explains the meaning of life to individuals and society, as "the dominant cultures cannot be erected as criteria for reading and understanding." This belongs to the message of God. "It is truth that judges events, and not vice-versa, as so often tragically happens," the Cardinal said during his homily.

    In the second place, the Deacon is a servant of the Eucharist, with which he enters a new dimension, different from the "rest of the ways of living and of human friendships," explained Cardinal Castrillón.

    And, finally, the Deacon is a servant of the needy, becoming a "live and operative expression of the Church's charity, which is, simultaneously, bread for the hungry, light and cooperation for social development and progress, word and action of justice,... privileged vehicle of the social doctrine of the Church." But, as the prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy explained, the deacon will not be able to live any of these dimensions without prayer, thanks to which he can "see the world with God's eyes" and "love his brothers with God's heart."

"Martyrdom of Incomprehension"

Apostles of the Culture of Life

Iraqi Chaldeans enthused over Holy Father's acknowledgment of Chaldean culture and Abraham for his spiritual pilgrimage in spirit tomorrow in Rome

   Iraqi Catholics of the Chaldean rite are enthusiastic about joining the Holy Father in spirit in his "in spirit" pilgrimage of walking in the footsteps of Abraham. The Chaldean Patriarchal Vicar and professor of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome told the faithful that the Pope's spiritual pilgrimage does not rule out the possibility of a physical pilgrimage either later this year or next. He also reminded them that the Chaldeans will have their Jubilee Celebration in Rome on March 16th, thereby celebrating twice with the Pope. continued inside.

    VATICAN CITY, FEB 20 (ZENIT).- The news that the Holy Father will make a "spiritual" pilgrimage to Ur of the Chaldeans this Wednesday was received by Iraq's Catholic community with great rejoicing, according to Msgr. Youssif Habbi, the Chaldean Patriarchal Vicar and Professor at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He explained that Catholics in Iraq are very enthusiastic and will join the Pontiff during this celebration, which will take place in the Vatican, following in Abraham's "footsteps."

    Msgr. Habbi made these statements after presiding at a Mass for the closing of the "Ba 'utha Ninawa" feast,- the Rogation of Nineveh, attended by thousands of Iraqi faithful who observed three days of fasting and prayer, which the Eastern Church established to commemorate a famine that occurred in that area in the 6th century, which has become the most popular and solemn festivity of Iraqi Catholics.

    The feast ended with the above-mentioned papal surprise. "It could not have happened at a better time. The Lord does everything well, and this is a further sign of grace and blessing that will undoubtedly bear fruit. The Holy Father gives constant proof of a totally paternal love for the people and Church of Iraq," Msgr. Habbi said.

    The Vicar gave the faithful the news during the Mass. "I read the joy in everyone's eyes the joy. They almost began to shout in Church. In spite of the sad situation and the consequences of the embargo, fortunately, we still have room for joy. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was right when she said that if the gift of ourselves doesn't make us suffer, it means that we are not living love as it must be lived. It has been a happy coincidence that the news came when the feast was being held to celebrate the Lord's love for his people, which our people organize with magnificent songs composed by St. Ephraim and other Fathers of the Church."

    "The Chaldean Church has chosen this year, precisely on the feast of Rogation, to call the faithful to the conversion, renewal and prayer to which the Jubilee invites us, and many of my parishioners -- 20,000 in total -- broke the fast they kept over these days at the end of today's celebration. You can imagine, then, the effect of my announcement," Msgr. Habbi explained.

    The Vicar said that "Patriarch Bidawid will undoubtedly celebrate a solemn Mass and this afternoon (February 16) and there will be a discussion on the possibility of extending the celebrations to all the dioceses of the country, given that in the near future, on March 18, the Jubilee of the Chaldeans will be held, which is included in the Holy Year's official calendar."

    Msgr. Habbi indicated that this "spiritual" pilgrimage does not rule out a "physical" pilgrimage some time later in the year. "I wouldn't go so far. I remind everyone with whom I speak that the year 2000 is only beginning. We must hope against all hope, as St. Paul says. Moreover, one of the Jubilee's objectives is, precisely, hope," the Bishop emphasized.

    There are those in Rome who feel the need to launch a Christian campaign against the embargo that lacerates the Iraqi people. "This could be a duty of Christians before the end of the Jubilee. Tell me, of what use is this embargo, in whose name has it continued for the past ten years and, above all, against whom? We will never tire of repeating that it is a foolish and inhuman scandal, and that its damaging consequences only punish the poor. It is an act against justice and against the cause of human peace throughout the world." ZE00022003

Bush refutes nasty accusation that he's anti-Catholic in trying to win Catholic vote in Michigan

   The Governor of Michigan John Engler has come to the defense of presidential candidate George W. Bush on the eve of the GOP Primary in his state over accusations by Bush's opponent John McCain that the Texas Governor is anti-Catholic because he graced Bob Jones University, a known bigoted establishment. Yet it was pointed out Alan Keyes, a staunch Catholic himself, also made an appearance at the University and Bush asked how he could ever be anti-Catholic, especially after encouraging his brother Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, to convert to Catholicism. Bush himself is Episcopalian like his father. continued inside.

    DETROIT (CWNews.com) - Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush campaign in Michigan Monday, ahead of Tuesday's party primary, playing down charges that he offended Catholics by visiting a fundamentalist university in South Carolina.

    Bush spoke at Bob Jones University during the primary campaign in South Carolina, after which some reporters and other campaigns highlighted anti-Catholic comments made by the university's namesake in the past.

    Michigan Gov. John Engler, a Catholic, defended Bush and said Catholics in his state could confidently support the candidate. Bush added that his own brother, Jeb, the governor of Florida, converted to Catholicism several years ago, a decision for which he supported him. Catholics constitute a major voting bloc in Michigan, making up about 35 percent of those expected to vote in the GOP primary.

Luciano Pavarotti hits the high notes with announcement he will campaign for forgiving immense debts accrued by third world countries

   In harmony with the Holy Father's call for forgiving debts this Jubilee Year, famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti will be a spokesman in asking advanced nations to forgive nearly three hundred billion in debts of poorer third world countries in the spirit of reconciliation. He is donating his time in calling for relief and speaking for the Jubilee 2000 Relief Debt Group. The amply girthed Italian singer has started a trend with Irish rock star Bono also doing the same. continued inside.

    ROME (CWNews.com) - Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti will call for industrialized nations to write off $300 billion in Third World debt during his appearance at Italy's largest music festival, according to the debt relief group Jubilee 2000.

    "Pavarotti has been quite clear -- he's doing the San Remo festival to support Jubilee 2000," spokesman Jamie Drummond said today. The festival begins today. Other musical stars have said they will also use their appearance to call for debt relief, but Irish rock musician Bono said he will only appear at San Remo if Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema made a pledge to increase Italy's debt relief.

    Drummond said Italy's pledges to date, in the form of a bill expected to go before parliament soon, would only write off some three trillion lire ($1.53 billion) in debts from the poorest countries.

    The debt relief movement stems from Pope John Paul II's 1997 call for a Jubilee Year to be called in 2000, including the forgiveness of debts, including debts owed by the poorest nations to the wealthiest.

    Last year, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said he would propose to the G7 group of seven-most industrialized nations that they speed up debt relief and wipe out $50 billion of debt. The G7 agreed last June to cancel about $70 billion in loans to help 36 nations emerge from debt. Last September, US President Bill Clinton pledged to cancel all debts.

    LONDON (CWNews.com) - The newly elected archbishop-elect of Westminster has called for an end to the law which bars the heir to the British throne from marrying a Catholic.

    Speaking on BBC television's breakfast show yesterday, Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said he hoped to continue the work of his predecessor Cardinal Basil Hume which has given the Catholic community a higher profile in British life.

    He said: "I think that, inasmuch as the Catholic community is part of this country, there is a strong part of me that would say that an heir to the crown should be free to marry whoever he wishes, whatever denomination, and there must be freedom here. I think that this is a question that needs to be looked at."

    Bishop Murphy-O'Connor said that, while he was "compassionate" to people who got into difficulties in life, he upheld the Vatican's teaching on contraception, priestly celibacy, and abortion which was "always an evil."

    Meanwhile, the leader of Britain's Anglicans yesterday called on politicians to remember that their private lives do impinge on their roles as decision makers.

    Archbishop George Carey of Canterbury said, "Anybody who thinks that morality can be viewed as purely a private affair, a matter of individual opinion, a matter of what feels right for me is, in my opinion, deluded. That view is untrue and hugely destructive."

    He added: "The question reasonably arises in the public mind, why should we have confidence in someone in public life who cannot be trusted not to cheat in their private life?"

    The archbishop's words were welcomed by Bishop Murphy-O'Connor, who said that "the moral life of any person affects his or her integrity."

    But Catholic MP Ann Widdecombe -- a convert from the Church of England -- said it was unfair to pick solely on politicians.

    She told today's Daily Telegraph: "It is all very well to see the Church of England at last speaking out about moral anarchy but it is not good enough to just mention political figures. The archbishop should be sending this message to all his flock and have the courage to say this to everybody in the country, not just pick on politicians. It's not just public figures getting it wrong."

For more NEWS & VIEWS articles, see SECTION THREE

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February 22, 2000     volume 11, no. 37
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