JOHN PAUL II
Sunday 9 July 2000
Jubilee in Prisons
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. This morning I had the joy of meeting the inmates of
"Regina Caeli" Prison for the celebration of the Great Jubilee. It
was a touching moment of prayer and humanity. Looking into their eyes, I tried
to glimpse the sufferings, anxieties and hopes of each one. I knew that in them
I was meeting Christ, who identified with them in the Gospel to the point of
saying: "I was in prison and you came to me" (Mt 25: 36).
Precisely with their hard situation in mind, I asked in my
Message for the Jubilee in Prisons that on the occasion of the Holy Year they
would be offered a gesture of clemency. I especially asked lawmakers throughout
the world to rethink the prison system and the penal system itself, in order to
make it more respectful of human dignity in accord with a justice that redeems
the offender and not only repairs the disorder caused by crime. Those who have
made mistakes must be helped to begin a process of moral redemption and
personal and community growth for their effective return to society.
2. Today in Baltimore the Joint International Commission for
the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches
is meeting in plenary session to study, on the threshold of the third
millennium, several topics regarding the future of our mutual relations.
I invite everyone to pray to the Lord that he will instill in
hearts the gifts of his Spirit, so that this meeting can foster an ever greater
understanding between Catholics and Orthodox and thus contribute to further
progress towards the desired goal of full ecclesial communion.
3. I feel obliged, now, to mention the well-known
demonstrations held in Rome in the past few days.
In the name of the Church of Rome I can only express my deep
sadness at the affront to the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and the offence to
the Christian values of a city that is so dear to the hearts of Catholics
throughout the world.
The Church cannot be silent about the truth, because she
would fail in her fidelity to God the Creator and would not help to distinguish
good from evil.
In this regard, I wish merely to read what is said in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, which, after noting that homosexual acts are
contrary to the natural law, then states: "The number of men and women who
have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination,
which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They
must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust
discrimination in their regard should be avoided.
These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives
and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the
difficulties they may encounter from their condition" (CCC, n. 2358).
May the heavenly Mother assist us with her protection.
After leading the Angelus and giving his Blessing, the Holy
Father greeted Italian and Mexican pilgrim groups and then said:
Tomorrow, God willing, I will go to the mountains of Valle
d'Aosta for a time of rest. I would like to greet those who are already at
various holiday spots and those who are still in town. In a special way I offer
my best wishes to the young people taking examinations at the end of the school
year.
I also greet those who cannot go on holiday. I am thinking
of the sick, those alone and all who are obliged to remain at home for various
reasons. May they receive our solidarity.
I promise to remember you all and give you a special
Blessing.
© Copyright 2000 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
