Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 7—The Georgia Bulletin, December 15,1983
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Pope May Meet His Assailant In
Christmas Visit
ROME (NC) - Vatican and Italian Justice Ministry
officials are preparing for a possible meeting between
Pope John Paul II and Mehmet Ali Agca, the man
convicted of trying to kill the pope in May 1981, said
an Italian Justice Ministry spokesman Dec. 9.
Agca is in Rome’s Rebibbia prison, serving a life
term.
“Vatican sources have told us that the meeting with
Agca is certainly the desire of the pope,” said Marco
Giudici, ministry press spokesman. “But to be sure it
will happen, it’s best to wait for a direct announcement
by the pope.”
“As far as the Justice Ministry is concerned, there
are no problems with such a meeting,” he added.
Giudici said the details being worked out include the
time of the prison visit and security precautions.
Father Romeo Panciroli, Vatican press spokesman,
characterized as “speculation by the press” reports of a
planned papal meeting with Agca. He said he “would
not rule anything out,” but added that details of the
prison visit, including time and place, had not yet been
decided upon.
Speculation about a papal meeting with Agca began
after the Vatican announced Dec. 6 that Pope John
Paul will make a Christmas visit to a Rome prison to
celebrate a Holy Year Mass. The announcement did not
mention the prison to be visited nor the date of the
visit.
The announcement was made by Archbishop Mario
Schierano, head of the Vatican’s Holy Year committee,
who said the pope will give inmates a special
indulgence granted during the Holy Year.
Two of Pope John Paul’s recent predecessors had
made Christmas visits to prisons.
Pope John XXIII visited Rome’s Regina Coeli
(Queen of Heaven) jail on Dec. 26, 1958, and Pope
Paul VI said Mass there on April 9,1964.
“Pope John Paul will probably visit Rebibbia prison
rather than Regina Coeli because Rebibbia is larger and
houses both men and women,” Archbishop Schierano
said.
“We hope the visit will be televised so the large
number of prison inmates around the world can share
indirectly in the event,” he added.
The Italian television network RAI often films
special papal events and offers worldwide distribution
via satellite.
The Rebibbia prison holds some of Italy’s toughest
criminals, as well as 51 people awaiting trial in January
on charges of armed insurrection, attempted murder,
kidnapping and robbery.
Agca was brought early last summer from a top
security prison in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, to Rebibbia for
questioning in the continuing investigation into the
papal shooting.
Magistrates from Italy and Bulgaria have investigated
Agca’s claim that there was a plot carried out with the
help of Bulgarians and with the knowledge of the KGB,
the Soviet secret service.
On Dec. 6, two Bulgarian investigators arrived in
Rome for another round of intensive questioning of
Agca and examination of his past testimony.
U.S.-Vatican Tie Raises Questions, New NCC President Says
BY TRACY EARLY
NEW YORK (NC) -
The question of
establishing U.S.
diplomatic relations with
the Vatican raises
church-state issues that
require further
examination, the new
president of the National
Council of Churches said
Dec. 9.
African Methodist
Episcopal Bishop Philip
Cousin of Birmingham,
Ala., indicated that he had
no intention of launching
a campaign against
proposals of the Reagan
administration to upgrade
relations with the Holy
See. But reflecting
traditional NCC
opposition, he said the
possible dangers to
church-state separation
should receive further
discussion before action is
taken.
The NCC includes 31
Protestant and Orthodox
churches with 40 million
members. The Catholic
Church has membership
on the NCC Faith and
Order Commission, and
various Catholic groups
cooperate with other NCC
units.
As first vice president of
the NCC, Bishop Cousin
succeeded United
Methodist Bishop James
Armstrong when the latter
abruptly resigned as NCC
president on Nov. 15,
citing personal reasons.
Bishop Cousin, who will
complete the term ending
Dec. 31, 1984, said he had
received no advance
indication that Bishop
Armstrong might resign,
and had learned of his
decision only when NCC
General Secretary Claire
Randall called to tell him.
He said that he had not
had any subsequent
conversation with Bishop
Armstrong, who has been
reported to be entering the
Menninger Clinic in
Topeka, Kan.
Bishop Cousin said that
he wished to continue
Bishop Armstrong’s efforts
in strengthening
relationships with Roman
Catholics and Jews. He
said the NCC should work
together with “all who
seek a better world.”
Bishop Cousin, who has
long been active in the
Southern Christian
Leadership Conference
founded by Martin Luther
King Jr., said Jesse
Jackson was a personal
friend of his, but that as
NCC president he would
not make any political
endorsements.
Within the NCC, he said
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that the organization had
emerged from its Nov.
9-11 governing board
meeting in a “very
wholesome and healthy”
condition.
Concerning the
controversial new
“Inclusive Language
Lectionary” produced by
the NCC’s Division of
Education and Ministry,
the NCC president said he
was not using it himself,
but that pastors under his
supervision were free to
use it if they wished. He
said he was trying to rid
himself of “sexist
language” but that shifting
to the style of the
lectionary would be
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age.”
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If He came today
would you
turn Him away?
Today
Jesus asks us
to make room for
“the least”
of His brothers
and sisters,
welcoming
the world’s poor
through
the mission Church.
When you open the door
to them, you open
the door to Christ.
The Society for
THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
The central organization for the support of
the Church's worldwide mission work.
Yesl I want to open the door to Christ through a genuine sacrifice
for the mission Church. Enclosed is my gift of:
□ $2,400 □ $1,200 □ $600 □ $300 □ $150 □ $50 □ $25 □ $10 □ Other $
□ I will send a monthly donation when possible.
Name —— —
Address ——
City State Zip
Please ask the missionaries to remember the following intentions at Mass: _
Send your gift to:
Photo: Maryknoll 12/83
The Society for
THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH [
The. Reverend E. Peter Ludden
680 W. Peachtree Street, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308