PAGE 12 JANUARY 13,2001
WORLD
......... J
BY BENEDICTA DPOLLA
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CHY-- At Christmas celebra-
dons leading the Catholic Church into the
final phase of Holy Year 2000, Pope .John
Paul II focused on hopes for peace in the
Middle East.
At the open-air midnight Mass and in his
traditional Christmas message, the pope
expressed concern over the future of the
region, where three months of violence
between lsraelis and Palestinians has left
more than 340 people dead•
During the Christmas Eve Mass, held out-
side for the first time during his pontificate to
accommodate the large number ofjubilee pil-
grims, Pope John Paul looked "back on his
March pilgrimage to the Holy "Iand and
recalled his moments in prayer in Bethlehem.
Usually a Christmas Christian mecca, this
year the town of Christ's birth lay silent as
tourists feared getting caught in Israeli-
Palestinian clashes.
message on
"Tonight," said the pope, "I would like
the Christian communities in (the Holy CNS/aEUTERS
Land) to feel that the whole Church is very Pope John Paul greets a child who brought up an offertory gift during the Christmas midnight
close to them." Mass in St. Peter's Square Dec. 24. In his homily, the pope urged believers not to lose sight of the
"We share your anxiety for the destiny of true meaning of Christmas.
the entire region of the Middle East," he said
to some 50,000 pilgrims who braved down- and unforttmately so tormented, finally will the city and to the world), delivered this year
pours to attend the Mass. find peace." from the steps of St. Peter's Basilica rather
In his annual Christmas message toOn Dec. 25, the pope's thoughts again than from the basilica's balcony, also includ-
Vadcan officials Dec. 21, the pope said that tttmed to the Holy Land, 'Where violence ed a plea for peace in Indonesia, where a
his trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian continues to stain with blood the difficult series of Christmas Eve church bombings
territories offered a foretaste of the "joy that path to peace." killed at least 13 people.
all people will feel ... when that land, so holy His twice-yearly blessing "urbi et orbi" (to In today's society, said the pope, the "cul-
ture of death" takes many forms, from vi , Hex
~.larluar
!ence against women and children to, ~Boo
endless streams of exiles and refugees. ': k t
Referring to abortion and euthanasia, __
said, 'Shadows of death threaten people{ Marc
lives at every stage of life and are especi 1.
menacing at its earliest beginning and its r~ da~
ural end.' 2.
But despite the darkiless of death, tht 3
pope stud he found hope m people s w0 (Sk
around the world to defend human right 4. ":I[
end tragic conflicts among warring countrie (De
and relieve the debt of developing nations. 5 "Wh
The pope underlined the jubilee theme " (Pk
charity Christmas Eve, spurring people
engage in "charity in action, showing itselfi
and sisters sorely tried by want and
Closing the tbur-day holiday
some 30,000 pilgrims thronged St. Peter'!,
Square Dec. 26 for the pope's AngelO;
prayer marking the feast of St.
Taking the martyr of the early Church as
example for all Christians, the said t
faithful must spread the
cost of life."
Looking out over the crowd, the
said he was moved by the multitude of
pie who were waiting to pass through
Peter's Holy Door during the final days
the jubilee.
On Dec. 27, preferring to remain
Rome rather than spend a few days at
vacation residence, the
appearance at his window --- to
of pilgrims in the square below.
TODAY, SHE'S HELPING DORIS MOYER BATTLE CANCER.
Loraine Bennett remembered St. Vincent in her will. Because of
generous gifts like hers, we are able to establish programs such as New
: Outlook--The Women's Cancer Recovery Center. This program helps
Doffs Moyer women, such as Doris Moyer of Heber Springs, deal with the effects of
Loraine Bennett
cancer by providing dietary and fitness referrals and consultations, cosmetic makeovers,
wigs and hair styling, breast prostheses and support groups. You, too, can help those in
need for years to come by including the St. Vincent Foundation in your estate planning. For
information, contact Carolyn McCone at (501) 660-2384 or fill out and mail the coupon.
Jr CATHOLIC HEALTH
INITIATIVES
St.Vincent Foundation
INTENSIVE CARING.
[21 Please send me more information on the
St. Vincent Foundation.
[21 Please send me information on making a
provision for St. Vincent through
my will life insurance policy
a trust arrangement
Name
Address
City State __ Zip.
Phone ( ____. )
Return to Carolyn McCone, St. ~ncent Foundation,
#2 St. Vincent Circle, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Telephone: (501)660-2384
L ............ "~ .................................................................... a
