PERTH, WA: October 12, 1989
Of Marcos, Masses and meddling
Number 2657
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• Page 6
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Quote
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' SUMATRA
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PHILIPPINES
MALAYSIA
SINGAPORE
The pope does not go to visit political entities, nor a nationality. He goes to visit a Church. It would be an offence to the Catholics of East Timor if the pope did not visit them.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
IRIAN JAYA
INDONESIA
Jakarta
JAVA Indian Ocean
• • Aboard the papal flight to Seoul, South Korea (CNS): Pope John Paul II said it was "false" to interpret his visit to East Timor as recognition of Indonesian sovereignty over the territory. The trip was planned as a religious visit to Catholics and not a political
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statement, the pope said as he headed for Asia and the controversial East Timor stop. "Leave politics to the politicians," he said. "Let the pope do his religious tasks." It would be "an offence" to the predominantly Catholic population if the pope did not visit
Pacific Ocean
East Timor, he said on October 6 on his way to
Seoul. He said interpretations that his trip signified recognition of Indonesian sovereignty are false. The pope "cannot do anything to change other people's wrong interpretations", he added. The Vatican has main-
twirled a neutral position regarding sovereignty over East Timor, saying this was an issue to be resolved by international negotiations. In East Timor, there are 566,000 Catholics out of a total population of 710,000.
"The pope does not go to visit political entities, nor
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• tiNOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS
a nationality," the pope The Vatican has diplosaid. matic relations with "He goes to visit a Indonesia, but under the Vatican policy, the DioChurch," he said. "It would be an offence cese of Dili, East Timor's to the Catholics of East only ecclesial jurisdicTimor if the pope did not tion, is not part of the visit them," the pope said. Indonesian bishops' conference. "I cannot change the At the same time, the situation in which the Church finds itself," he Vatican has distanced itself from calls for added.
selfpolitical determination by Catholic leaders in East Timor. The United Nations does not recognise the Indonesian annexation of East Timor.
• More stories on page 7
South Indonesia, to visit pope's Special on the
Korea
Reminder on human rights fundamental human rights in a misguided search for political unity based on military or economic power alone," the pope said at a state reception in his honour. He also praised the integration of Catholics, a tiny minority, into national life. "Strive to become "At times nations are strong sons and daughtempted to disregard ters and true citizens of
JAKARTA (CNS): Indonesia deserves praise for forging a nation out of hundreds of ethnic groups, but the government must respect human rights if it is to continue promoting national unity, said Pope John Paul ll on his first day in Indonesia.
'Work to heal those wounds'
the Indonesian nation," he said at an afternoon Mass preceding the state reception. "The creation of a unified and interdependent society from such a number of diverse groups stands out as one of Indonesia's great achievements in her 44year history as a nation," he said at a reception by President Suharto.
SEOUL: In a farewell address Pope John Paul urged South Koreans to "work together to heal wounds that have remained open too long and to ensure a better, more humane and free life for your children." Pope John Paul's visit to South Korea, his second in less than six years, centered on closing ceremonies for the 44th International Eucharistic
betterment of Indonesian society.
easily be dissolved," he said. "The most secure basis for lasting unity and development as a nation is a profound respect for human life, for the inalienable rights of the human person, and for the freedom of responsible citizens to determine their destiny as a people," the pope said.
"In respecting the human and political rights of all citizens, and in encouraging the growth of national unity based on tolerance and respect for others, you lay the foundations for that just and peaceful society which all Indonesians wish," he said. The pope also encouraged Catholics to continue contributing to the
Congress in Seoul. The highlight was an open-air Mass for world peace, celebrated in front of an estimated 750,000 people at a huge plaza beside the Han River, built to double as a military airstrip in time of war. He used the occasion to express his sorrow at the continuing division of the Korean peninsula, split into communist
North and capitalist respect," the pope said in South at the close of an Angelus blessing. World War IL In his farewell speech to "The Korean nation is the South Korean people symbolic of a world on October 9 in the divided and not yet able presence of Catholic to become one in peace Prime Minister Kang and justice," he said. Young-hoon, the pope "May Jesus, through the said: "I urge all of you, intercession of his especially the young, the Blessed Mother; the students, parents and Queen of Peace, hasten educators, and all those the day when all Koreans who are responsible for will be reconciled in the political and moral mutual trust and life of the nation, to
"But such unity can
"I was pleased to learn of the contributions Indonesia's which Catholics, from the very beginning of the republic, have made and are continuing to make toward the advancement of their nation," he said. It was a theme the pope began developing earlier
in his afternoon Mass homily. There is "a distinction but not a separation" between moral and political values, the pope said to a nearly overflow crowd in Jakarta's 100,000 capacity Istora Senayan sports stadium. "Political authority and the duties of citizens have to do with the moral order," he said. combine zeal for the country's renewal and progress with the wisdom that comes from a pure heart. "With sensitivity for the complexity of human and political issues, and respect for the dignity of every human being, may you be artisans of justice and peace within the ranks of your people," the pope said.