ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* Pope Offers Mass for Deceased Prelates
* Religion Can Bring Peace, Says Cardinal
ANALYSIS
* The Scourge of Poverty
WORLD FEATURES
* Glendon Nominated U.S. Envoy to Holy See
* Fidelity to Christ Can Lead to Martyrdom, Says Cardinal
* Getting a Master's in Bethlehem Isn't Easy, Says Student
* Zeffirelli Recalls Paul VI's Help With "Jesus of Nazareth"
NEWS BRIEFS
* Divine Mercy Congress Planned at Vatican
* Asian Prelates Cite a Key to Vocations
* John Paul II Named Patron for Youth Day '08
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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Pope Offers Mass for Deceased Prelates
Prays for Souls of 8 Cardinals
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI concelebrated Mass with the College of Cardinals today, offering it for the souls of their brother bishops and cardinals.
At the beginning of the homily, the Pope mentioned the cardinals who had died in the past 12 months: Salvatore Pappalardo, Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi Bamungwabi, Antonio Javierre, Angelo Felici, Jean-Marie Lustiger, Edouard Gagnon, Adam Kozlowiecki and Rosalio José Castillo Lara.The Holy Father offered an invitation to give thanks to God "for the gift he has given the Church through them and for all the good achieved with their help. Likewise, we entrust the souls of the departed patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops to the eternal Father, also expressing our recognition of their work in the name of the entire Catholic community."
These men, our brothers, he continued, "were certainly men of distinct character, both for their personal trials as well as for the ministry they exercised. Nevertheless, they all had a great commonality: their friendship with the Lord Jesus."
"During their temporal existence," the Holy Father said, "Jesus led them to know the name of God, granting them participation in the love of the Most Holy Trinity, [...] an experience of divine communion that, by its nature, tends to envelop one's entire existence, transfiguring it and preparing it for the glory of eternal life."
Alluding to the responsorial psalm, the Pope emphasized that "this thirst [for God] holds a truth that does not betray, a hope that does not delude. It is a thirst that, even through the darkest night, illuminates that path toward the source of life."
Benedict XVI pointed out that the psalm acquires a tone of confidence at its heart as well as at its end: "Why are you discouraged, my soul, why do you worry me? Trust in God that I may praise him, my salvation and my God.
"In the light of Christ and his paschal mystery these words reveal a wonderful truth: Not even death can render a believer's hope worthless because Christ has entered the sanctuary of heaven for us and wants to lead us there where he has prepared us a place."
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Religion Can Bring Peace, Says Cardinal
Encourages Hindus in Path of Dialogue With Christians
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Far from being a cause of conflict, religions can promise the peace for which the world longs, affirmed a Vatican official.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council of Interreligious Dialogue, said this in a message sent to Hindus for their Nov. 9 celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. The message is titled "Christians and Hindus: Determined to Walk the Path of Dialogue.""Sensitive to your religious feelings and respectful of your ancient religious tradition," the cardinal wrote, "I sincerely hope that your search for the Divine, symbolized through the celebration of Diwali, will help you to overcome darkness with light, untruth with truth, and evil with goodness."
He continued: "The world around us is yearning for peace. Religions promise peace because they trace their origin to God who, according to Christian belief, is our peace. Can we, as believers of different religious traditions, not work together to receive God's gift of peace and to spread it around us so that the world becomes for all people a better place to live?
"Our respective communities must pay urgent attention to the education of believers, who can so easily be misled by deceitful and false propaganda.
"Belief and freedom always go together. There can be no coercion in religion: No one can be forced to believe; neither can anyone who wishes to believe be prevented from doing so."
Overcoming ignorance
Cardinal Tauran encouraged believers to educate themselves about their own faiths, and to learn about the beliefs of other religions.
"Let us not forget that ignorance is the first and, perhaps, the principal enemy in the life of believers," he said.
"Like all human relationships, those between people of different religions need to be nourished by regular meetings, patient listening, collaborative action, and above all, by an attitude of mutual respect," the cardinal continued. "Accordingly, we must work to build bonds of friendship.
"In situations of misunderstanding, people need to come together and communicate with one another, in order to clarify, in a fraternal and friendly spirit, their respective beliefs, aspirations and convictions.
"Only through dialogue, avoiding all forms of prejudice and stereotyped ideas about others and by faithful witness to our religious precepts and teaching, can we truly overcome conflicts. Dialogue between followers of different religions is the necessary path today, indeed it is the only appropriate path for us as believers."
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ANALYSIS
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The Scourge of Poverty
Many Countries Left Behind in Economic Development
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The poorest countries need help, and the more developed countries need to come to their aid, the Vatican has been insisting of late. Almost 10 million children below 5 years of age die each year from preventable illnesses, denounced Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
The archbishop's Oct. 9 speech to the U.N. General Assembly examined progress toward meeting a series of targets for development, known as the Millennium Development Goals.
"The global community seems to have been losing focus on the need to ensure the right to basic health care for all," he added.
Archbishop Migliore recognized that some countries have made gains, but a number of states are trailing the rest of the developing world. He called for greater attention to these states, and the encouragement of more investment and the creation of a favorable economic and social climate, along with the establishment of peace and security and the rule of law.
On Oct. 19 Archbishop Migliore returned to the question of economic development, in a speech to the General Assembly on the project New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Africa has started to benefit from this initiative, he noted, in part because of favorable international economic conditions. "Nevertheless, these positive signs stand in stark contrast with situations of conflict and the reality of extreme forms of poverty difficult to uproot," the Holy See representative added.
He called for renewed efforts in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa. Fairer access to world markets, more investment, transfer of technology, and better educational and health systems were among other points made by Archbishop Migliore.
Poverty trap
An analysis of why many poor countries are failing to develop came from Paul Collier, an economics professor at Oxford University. His book, published earlier this year, was titled: "The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It," (Oxford University Press).
A group of nations concentrated in Africa and Central Asia, accounting for around 1 billion of the world's population, face seemingly intractable problems in their attempt to achieve economic growth. The answer, argues Collier, is unfortunately not as simple as just giving them more money. In fact, with some exceptions, aid has not worked well in these countries and change must come predominantly from within.
Collier acknowledged that the various traps that countries fall into, which contribute to keeping them poor, are indeed complex. His book, however, concentrates on four of the most important.
-- The conflict trap. No fewer than 73% of the people in the societies in the bottom billion have either recently been through a civil war or are still in one. Not only are civil wars bloody and economically disruptive, but they also tend to last a lot longer than international conflicts.
-- The natural resources trap. Many countries that rely on exporting natural resources fail to develop other sectors of their economies and they tend to experience a cycle of boom and bust, as commodity prices fluctuate. As well, the easy money from exports, particularly in the case of oil, tends to encourage corruption and a bloated government sector.
-- The trap of being landlocked with bad neighbors. A country with no direct access to the sea faces higher transport costs for imports and exports. If in addition to this factor the neighboring countries have a poor transport infrastructure, or are in the midst of conflicts, then costs quickly escalate.
-- The trap of bad governance in a small country. Bad government and erroneous economic policies quickly destroy an economy. Collier observes, many of the politicians and senior officials live a life privilege and riches, immune to the poverty and chaos their policies inflict on the rest of the population.
Finding remedies to overcome these traps is far from easy. Collier suggested a variety of measures, ranging from greater international efforts to end conflicts and civil wars, to renewed efforts against corruption and the adoption of sound economic policies. The establishment of the rule of law and greater transparency by governments, plus reforms in the way aid is administered were among other recommendations.
Investing more
Some good news came in the "World Investment Report 2007," published Oct. 16 by the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
For the third consecutive year, global foreign direct investment rose in 2006. It rose by 38% to reach $1.306 billion. This was close to the record level of $1.411 billion reached in 2000, the report observed. Moreover, the growth of investment occurred in all three groups of economies: developed countries, developing countries and the transition economies of Southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
A significant cause of the increase was due to increasing corporate profits and higher stock prices, along with the higher value of cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Nevertheless, UNCTAD commented that new investment in developing countries also increased.
Africa attracted $36 billion in investment in 2006, twice the 2004 level. According to the report, this was due to increased interest in natural resources, improved prospects for corporate profits and a more favorable business climate.
The geographical pattern of investment is also changing, the report observed. There is an increase in the flow of funds from developing and transition economies, instead of the traditional pattern of investment from richer nations to poorer countries. China consolidated its position as a major investor, and India is rapidly catching up, UNCTAD noted.
A closer look at the economic situation of Africa came in another UNCTAD report, "Economic development in Africa," released Oct. 11. It noted that recent economic performance in Africa has been strong, with a growth rate of 5.7%.
These rates are insufficient, however, for African countries to reach the first Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015. Achieving this target requires growth rates of 7% to 8%.
Among the factors holding back economic growth, the report commented on the lack of legal protection for investors and high tax rates. African countries have also suffered from a lack of diversification in their exports.
In addition, the report urged that each country requires an appropriate set of policies, tailored to the specific situation, rather than the imposition of a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development.
A moral task
The fight against poverty is a moral duty, stated Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, permanent observer of the Holy See to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva, to a July 4 session of the U.N. Economic and Social Council.
In several regions of Africa and Asia, life expectancy is almost half of that in rich countries and illiteracy reaches high levels, he pointed out.
The improvements sought through aid and debt cancellation have not yielded all the results expected, he observed. The archbishop suggested that greater concentration on projects that will create jobs could be one way to reduce poverty. "Work is the only possibility for a community to generate its own value added that pays the way out of poverty," he said.
The Holy See, Archbishop Tomasi emphasized, has repeatedly insisted on the responsibility of poorer countries to strive for good governance and do all they can to eliminate poverty. No less vital is help by other countries that are better off. Such assistance he urged, is a grave moral responsibility.
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WORLD FEATURES
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Glendon Nominated U.S. Envoy to Holy See
Bush Taps Harvard Law Professor for Post
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Mary Ann Glendon, who has served in key Vatican posts for years, may soon represent her native country before the Holy See.U.S. President George Bush announced today his intention to nominate Glendon, Harvard law professor and president of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, as ambassador of the United States to the Holy See.
If the nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Glendon will succeed Francis Rooney, who has held the post since 2005.Catholic author and former U.S. ambassador Michael Novak, a longtime friend and colleague of Glendon, told ZENIT that her appointment is "providential, and a great blessing for all of us."
He called Glendon an "outstanding Catholic and an outstanding American," and added that she is "one of the most distinguished women in the United States. Well-known and much admired in the legal profession and among her peers at Harvard, she has been a cherished adviser to leaders both in Church and state."
Glendon began her work with the Vatican in 1994 when Pope John Paul II appointed her to lead the Holy See delegation to the U.N. 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing.
The Pope, who Novak said "counted her as a friend," then appointed Glendon that same year to the newly formed Pontifical Academy of Social Science. She was named the academy's first female president in 2004, the second woman to be appointed to lead a Vatican council.
"She is not new to Rome," the author said, who added that she's not a stranger to Washington either. "Her record has been well-known to President Bush for some time, and she is much admired by him."
Pia di Solenni, a moral theologian who was presented the 2001 Pontifical Academies Award by John Paul II for her work on developing an authentic feminism, said "Glendon's appointment as ambassador to the Holy See is a wonderful recognition of the Catholic Church's teaching that women have a role in every aspect of society. We are fortunate that someone of her abilities is able to serve in this leadership position."
Double benefit
Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, told ZENIT that he is "grateful to President Bush for appointing professor Glendon to this position and grateful as well to Professor Glendon for accepting it."
The appointment, he said, "will benefit both our country and the Church."
Citing Glendon's knowledge of comparative law, family law, bioethics and international human rights, Cardinal George added that the new ambassador will not only make a contribution to the U.S.-Vatican relations, but will also "help the United States and the Holy See cooperate in advancing the causes of peace, justice and human rights."
Born in 1938 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Glendon is married and has three daughters. She has taught law at Boston University and was a visiting professor at the University of Chicago and at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Regina Apostolorum university in Rome.
She has been the Learned Hand professor of law at Harvard since 1993. Her areas of expertise include human rights, comparative law, constitutional law and legal theory.
Glendon is the author of numerous books, including "Abortion and Divorce in Western Law," "Rights Talk: The Impoverishment of Political Discourse," and "A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
She serves on the U.S. President's Council on Bioethics, and is also a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
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Fidelity to Christ Can Lead to Martyrdom, Says Cardinal
Notes Faith and Love Are Needed to Protect Church
MEXICO CITY, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Church needs people who are willing to be faithful, even if their fidelity requires martyrdom, the archbishop of Mexico City told a group of converts to the Church.
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera said this upon opening the XII International Path to Rome Congress, celebrated in the sprawling capital city of Mexico last Friday through Sunday. The congress series seeks the unity of Christians. It is sponsored by the ecclesial movement Milles Jesu.
Cardinal Rivera said that the Church is living a moment of great strength, "even though in some parts of the world the Catholic Church is persecuted."
"It is a fact as well that the Church grows with persecutions," he affirmed.
He said that "the Path to Rome congress is an occasion to contemplate the Church's mission, especially touching on the fact of recognizing Christ as the center of the Church."
Our Lady's land
The 65-year-old cardinal affirmed that "Mexico is a place formed by Our Lady of Guadalupe, who looks for the unity of all those who inhabit these lands."
"At the same time," he continued, "the encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe is and will be an encounter with Christ, the living God."
The Path to Rome congress brought together converts to share their experiences and the importance of an encounter with the Church founded by Christ and led by the Successor of Peter.
Among the participants were Archduchess Alexandra of Austria; Miles Jesu priest Victor Claveau, who reconciled with the Church after being in an evangelical denomination; Kristine and Martin Franklin, former Protestant missionaries in Latin America, Hanzel Carlos Cardoso Luna, a convert from an evangelical denomination, and Miguel Rivera and Constantino Raúl Vargas Alvares, former Jehovah's Witnesses.
Cardinal Rivera recognized that the Church has characteristic teachings that can be difficult to live in today's world, such as the defense of marriage and life.
"That's why we need Catholics guided by the presence of the Risen Christ. We need Catholics who are ready to be faithful, with a fidelity that can even lead to martyrdom."
Finally, the cardinal said, "to construct a path to Rome, it is necessary to have faith and the strength of love; faith and love are the paths that protect the Church."
A Catholic queen
Archduchess Alexandra, descendant of Blessed Charles of Austria and the Servant of God Isabella the Catholic of Spain, spoke of the queen's reign and the black legends about the Church of her time.
She said Isabella "learned to pray to God with depth; she was surrounded by a group of religious and laypeople who forged her culture."
Once married to Fernando, her marriage was happy, despite taking on the rule of a country with problems and chaos like Spain of that time, the archduchess said.
"Isabella worked to establish hospitals for the underprivileged and those with mental illness, and above all, in founding educational institutions for women, who in that time, were not much taken into account. Her policies were direct and open," she continued. "Queen Isabella suffered for the problems of the Church, and that is why she began a reformation of the clergy."
Archduchess Alexandra spoke about the black legends that surround the Church of Isabella's time, adding that "even today, thanks to the press, they continue being spread, distorting the understanding of the way the Church acted in that epoch."
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Getting a Master's in Bethlehem Isn't Easy, Says Student
Valedictorian Notes Willpower Needed in West Bank
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The valedictorian of Bethlehem University's first master's-degree class said it took a lot of willpower to make it through the daily humiliation of passing through checkpoints in the occupied territory to finish her degree.
The first graduates of Bethlehem University's only master's program walked across the stage Oct. 27 in traditional caps and gowns, sparking hope that these alumni will aid in improving the situation in the Holy Land.
The degree is in international cooperation and development.
Among those who graduated were the regional director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, a number of the staff members from Catholic Relief Services, and staff members from other Church groups, nongovernmental organizations and governmental development agencies.
In Lubna Iskander's valedictorian address, she reflected on what the degree meant for her personally.
"Before the intifada started," she said, "I spent two years looking for a scholarship to continue my education abroad. I got accepted at the University of London among other 15 students from all over the world. But as the intifada started I could not go. Later I had children and it was impossible for me to leave my kids and follow my dreams. So, when I heard about the MICAD [Masters of International Cooperation and Development] program, I thought that it was God's gift to me from the sky.
"Seeing the wall every time, getting humiliated at checkpoints and reaching home sometimes late at night were so frustrating. I wished sometimes to have a magic stick that makes the wall and checkpoints disappear.
"Eventually, it turned out that the magic stick in the fairy tales exists in real life. It is called the will. The will to survive, continue and succeed no matter what the obstacles are. The occupation did not succeed in letting us bend or in shattering our dreams. It just made us stronger."
The university was founded in 1973 through the joint efforts of the Vatican, the international religious order of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, local Palestinian educators, and Church and civil leaders.
Bethlehem University is a Catholic co-educational institution open to students of all faiths. Some 2,788 students are enrolled in its undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma programs. An additional 1,200 students are in continuing education and professional diploma programs through the Institute for Community Partnership.
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Zeffirelli Recalls Paul VI's Help With "Jesus of Nazareth"
Pope Thanked Director for Work
ROME, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- When the television miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" was released 30 years ago, Pope Paul VI personally thanked Franco Zeffirelli for his work; but the series was a success only because of the Pontiff's help, the director said.
At an Oct. 25 lecture marking the new academic year at the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome, Zeffirelli recalled some of what went on behind the scenes during the filming of the more than six hours of "Jesus of Nazareth."
As a youth, Zeffirelli studied at St. Mark's Convent in Florence. There, Cardinal Giovanni Montini, then archbishop of Milan and the future Paul VI, visited a group of Christian university youth involved with Catholic Action. It was at the school that Zeffirelli got to know the future Pope.
Cardinal Montini went there frequently, the director recalled, to spend what the cardinal called "the most happy hours of his day."
The 84-year-old director related how the cardinal, who knew of the youth's aspirations to the theater, told him jokingly, "In a different era, they would have kept you from being buried in consecrated land, but now the Church has changed, so much so that we welcome you as an instrument for spreading good ideas and good hope."
"Later," Zeffirelli said, it was the Pope who, "with his discreet network of influence, brought 'Jesus of Nazareth' forward through some difficulties. In the end, this order was given: 'Zeffirelli or no one.'"
A career
As the Italian director embarked upon his career and advanced in it, he said he realized "the weapon I had in my hands and how it could be decisive for the lives of thousands of people, as much for good as for evil."
"When you have the possibility of encouraging men who suffer and of broadening their horizons of hope, you feel a responsibility that is too big for the poor man that you are," he said.
"Jesus of Nazareth" is just one of the some two dozen productions that Zeffirelli directed.
Since its debut, he affirmed, letters of thanks and affection have been nonstop. And a few notes have even recounted a decision to follow a religious vocation, thanks to the inspiration received through the film.
"I only did what I could do as the Christian that I am in the depths of my spirit," the director said.
Falling in place
According to Zeffirelli, "Jesus of Nazareth" progressed as if "it had wind in its sails."
He recalled that Elizabeth Taylor was to play the part of Mary Magdalene. But when she fell ill, Anne Bancroft replaced her. Bancroft accepted less pay than what she was accustomed to, thus saving the production money.
The director also remembered the role of Monsignor Peter Rossano, former rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, who acted as consultant during the preparation and filming in Morocco.
Zeffirelli said his own faith was invigorated with the film. He described one moment, in particular: "During the scene of the Last Supper, there was a climate of absolute silence and deep spirituality in the room, while outside, a sandstorm raged. The moment was broken by the sobbing of my co-workers.
"I want to think there was an energy outside of us, which was invoked in order to make that sublime moment. And in effect, it is one of the most beautiful and spine-tingling moments of the film."
"We suspected the intrusion of a supreme force guiding us," he added, and because of this, "everyone knew that we were doing something very important."
Thank you
Zeffirelli spoke of the moment when the Pope expressed his gratitude for the movie: "When Paul VI received me in a private audience after viewing the film in 1977, he thanked me and asked me what the Church could do for me. I told him: 'I would like this work to be brought to Russia as well.'"
"He looked at me and told me prophetically: 'Have faith; soon the flag of Our Lady will wave above the Kremlin, in place of the red one.'
"On Dec. 8, 1991, the feast of the Immaculate Conception," Zeffirelli recalled, "the red flag with the sickle and hammer that waved above the Kremlin for decades was replaced with the Russian Federation flag."
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Divine Mercy Congress Planned at Vatican
ROME, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The first world congress on Divine Mercy will have ecumenical and interreligious overtones, according to the secretary-general of the event.
Father Patrice Chocholski said this as he announced that online registration for the 1st World Apostolic Congress on Mercy is now open on its Web page www.worldapostoliccongressonmercy.org.
The congress on Divine Mercy will held April 2-6, in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. The date was chosen to coincide with the third anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, as Divine Mercy was a major theme of his pontificate.
Father Chocholski told ZENIT that the agenda for the congress will include more than talks, but also activities organized in conjunction with the Diocese of Rome. Activities will include workshops, adoration, a procession of light throughout the city and the Mercy Festival in which participants will go out to the churches and squares of Rome to host concerts and prayer vigils.
The motive by which they will include other religions is that "mercy is important to build new bridges between civilizations and religions," added Father Chocholski.
He added that the congress is "for the entire Church," and that "no one has a monopoly on Divine Mercy."
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Asian Prelates Cite a Key to Vocations
HONG KONG, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The quality of family life can either make or break a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, say bishops in Asia.
About 150 bishops, priests and religious gathered Oct. 22-27 in Sampran, Thailand, for the 1st Asian Vocation Symposium held by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.
In their final statement, the bishops said that it was in families that the mystery of a vocation is born, encouraged and guided, and "the quality of family life [] either nourishes and fosters vocation or weakens and destroys" it.
The bishops said an emerging global culture that fosters individualism, self-assertion and ambition brought a negative influence to Asian families and vocations as well.
Vocation directors should regularly visit the families of candidates to the priesthood or religious life, they said, to know the family and to explain the mystery of the vocation and the necessity of encouragement and support for the candidate.
The bishops said that family-related laity groups, such as Couples for Christ and the Marriage Encounter Movement, could have a positive influence on parish vocation ministry. They encouraged family renewal programs, catechesis, prayer groups, and special Masses, as well as the organization of youth groups.
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John Paul II Named Patron for Youth Day '08
9 Others Chosen, Including Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
SYDNEY, Australia, NOV. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- World Youth Day organizers say that Servant of God Pope John Paul II was a natural choice as one of the event's 10 patrons, since the Polish Pontiff invented the gatherings.
L'Osservatore Romano published the list of patrons chosen for WYD '08, to be held in Sydney in July.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a student and athlete who worked with Catholic Action of Italy, also made the list. Blessed Pier died at age 24 in 1925.
The Polish woman religious who inspired the future John Paul II, Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), was also chosen.
Another patron is a native of WYD's host country. Blessed Mary McKillop, the first Australian woman to be canonized, was also the first to found a religious order Down Under, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Cross.
Also included are St. Peter Chanel and St. Therese of Lisieux. Another Oceanian is Blessed Peter To Rot, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea, the son of a tribal chief, who was martyred in a Japanese concentration camp at the end of World War II.St. Maria Goretti and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta were also chosen. And finally, the Virgin Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians," protector of Australia, is being counted as one of the event's patrons.
The organizers are encouraging youth to consecrate themselves to the Virgin of the Southern Cross with the spirit of John Paul II's motto, "Totus Tuus."
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