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Colombia's rising star is Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo who has aided the Holy Father greatly in promoting the culture of life as President of the Pontifical Council for the Family

     We continue with this new series that debuted the beginning of the year, bringing you on a regular basis three times a week the Princes of the Church. Our sixty-sev red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, Archbishop-emeritus of Medellin and current President of the vital Pontifical Council for the Family playing a key role in the laity's welfare spiritually, psychologically and physically. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in the Consistory of February 2, 1983. For more on Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

70.   Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo

      Coming from a committed Catholic family whose father was high up in the State General's office of Colombia, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo was born on November 8, 1935 in Villahermosa, Colombia in the Archdiocese of Ibaque. Urged by his uncle who was a bishop, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in Rome on November 13, 1960 while obtaining degrees at the Angelicum and Teresianum in the eternal city. He returned to Colombia where he became a faculty member at the major seminary there. In 1968 he became pastoral coordinator for the 1968 International Eucharistic Congress held in Bogota where two years later he was appointed Vicar General of that diocese. On February 25, 1971 Pope Paul VI named him a the titular Bishop of Boseta and a month later he was installed as auxiliary Bishop of Bogota on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. In 1972 he was appointed Secretary-General of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Conference), a position he held until 1978 when on May 22, 1978 he was elevated to coadjutor Archbishop of Medelin. A year later he became permanent archbishop of Medellin.

      As archbishop he established thirty-seven new parishes in the archdiocese as well as creating a faculty for Theology and Philosophy at the major seminary there. In 1979 he was elected President of CELAM and played a major role in organizing the Puebla Conference in which His Holiness Pope John Paul II officiated. He caught the Holy Father's attention and four years later was named in the Consistory of February 3, 1983 at which time he received his red-hat in Rome and the titular church of St. Prisca. The Pope was so impressed with Cardinal Lopez Trujillo that he named him President of the Pontifical Council for the Family on November 8, 1990. The position, a very important and crucial one in carrying out the Supreme Pontiff's culture of life campaign, was full time and thus Cardinal Lopez Trujillo resigned as Archbishop on January 9, 1991 in order to devote all his energies to his curial post and relocate in Vatican City where he resides today at Piazza San Calisto 16 in Rome. For more on this Pontifical Council, we recommend going to the Vatican's web site for Pontifical Council for the Family.

      Since being appointed head of this pivotal Council Cardinal has been responsible "for the promotion of the pastoral ministry of and apostolate to the family, through the application of the teachings and orientation of the ecclesiastical Magisterium, to help Christian families fulfill their educational and apostolic mission." In addition, he oversees the Council's management of issues on sexuality and procreation, thus intertwining with many other curial offices and always remaining a favorite of the Pope's who is so staunchly pro-life in promoting the sanctity of life which begins with the family. He has presided over ceremonies globally celebrating the family including the most recent one held in Rome last October and is a main promoter of the Pope's encyclical Evangelium Vitae - the "Gospel of Life." Because of his curial experience and immersion in all aspects of the Holy See's day to day operations and because of his age, he is definitely a possible candidate for Pope in the next conclave. His candidacy would definitely be a plus for the Americas and would assure of carrying on the same conservative stance and policies of John Paul II.

SIMPLY SHEEN: God doesn't want to hear excuses!

   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"Psychoanalysis does a world of good when it skims off the superficial justification for actions and discovers the real reason beneath. But there is no field in which more excuses are given than in the realm of the spiritual and the moral."

All systems go for the "little shepherds" of Fatima to be beatified in the Jubilee Year

     On Monday the Vatican will officially announce the pending beatification of deceased Fatima visionaries Francisco and his sister Jacinta Marto. The other Fatima seer is still alive. Sister Lucia dos Santos is a contemplative, cloistered Carmelite nun. Speculation is that the Holy Father will be invited to beatify them at Fatima on the 83rd anniversary of the final apparition on October 13th of the Jubilee Year if schedules can be juggled; otherwise it will be in Rome. It is not known if Sr. Lucia would be able to attend both for cloister purposes and health reasons. The final hurdle was cleared this past week when their cause was brought before the Sacred Conclave of Cardinals and passed with flying colors. For more, click on Fatima Blesseds

      LISBON, JUN 24 (ZENIT).- The necessary preparatory phases have now been completed to allow the beatification of Jacinta and Francisco, two of the visionaries of the Fatima apparitions. This week, the causes were taken to the College of Cardinals, which voted in favor of the beatification.

      According to "Radio Renascença" of Portugal, the Cardinals' judgment brings the beatification process to an end. The decrees will be read on June 28 in the Vatican.

      Fr. Luis Kondor, vice-postulator of Francisco's and Jacinta's beatification cause, and Bishop Serafim Ferreira e Silva of Leiria-Fatima, have expressed their joy at receiving the news from the Holy See.

Where and When

      At this point in time, all that remains are decisions on the date and place of the beatification. Carried away by enthusiasm, Bishop Ferreia said the ceremony "could take place this year in Fatima... I would like it to be in Fatima and I know the Pope would also like that."

      Nonetheless, the Bishop realizes his reaction is somewhat unrealistic, as the Pope already has a very tight schedule for the end of this year. It is more likely that the beatification will be celebrated in Rome during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

      Fr. Kondor would also like to receive the Holy Father in Portugal for the event. If this were the case, the ideal date would be October 13 of this year. This is virtually impossible, given that the Synod for Europe is scheduled for that time. The priest recalled John Paul II's interest in this cause and revealed that on one occasion the Pope asked Sr. Lucia, the surviving visionary, to pray for him "so that he would be the Pope who would beatify the little shepherds."

Message for Our Time

      Quite apart from the date and place, Jacinta's and Francisco's beatification will contribute to give impetus to the message of Our Lady's apparitions. "The pictures of the little shepherds will appear in churches, Masses will be celebrated in their honor, and the voice of the Church will be heard speaking about these servants of God," Fr. Kondor said.

      The two little shepherds have much to say to the world. According to the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, "the official recognition of the great event experienced by these pre-adolescents could give points of reference to people today, who are disenchanted because of the lack of values and certainties."

      This appreciation that is shared by Fr. Kondor, who said that these youngsters highlight for modern man Jesus' words: "Unless you become like little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

      The vice-postulator took a document signed by John Paul II to Portugal which reads: "A blessing on all those who in these more than forty years have prayed and sacrificed so that this process would come to a happy end." ZE99062401

Colombian hostages holding up under stress through Faith, Hope and Charity according to Red Cross officials

   Taken forcefully from Mass on Pentecost Sunday, many of the hostages being held for ransom are surviving because of their faith, realizing that only by hoping in the Lord and praying they will survive the ordeal. They have been held prisoners by the Cuban-backed rebel guerillas known as the National Liberation Army since May 30th. The rebels allowed an international contingent of Red Cross workers to survey the situation and talk to the hostages to assure all that they were not being harmed. Still, the Archbishop of Cali and President of Colombia have both called for their immediate release. For more, click on Holding up under stress.

      CALI, Colombia (CWNews.com) - The hostages kidnapped on May 30 by the Colombian rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) from La Maria Catholic Church in Cali are "in very good spirits due to their religious faith," said a spokesman for the Red Cross on Wednesday.

      The international organization also delivered 13 letters addressed by the remaining hostages to their relatives. Some of the letters, reproduced by El Tiempo newspaper, confirm the high spirits and the deep faith sustaining the hostages.

      "In these days, try to keep a normal rhythm of life, even though I know it is hard," said the letter of Andres Felipe Gomez to his wife. "I keep my faith high despite knowing this is going to be long. Please pray harder so we can face this situation with faith and hope," he added.

      "My love, take care of the kids, and when you see Paola, Federico, and Luis, tell them to remember the days in which we prayed together for peace in Colombia," wrote Luis Fernando Mejia Velasquez, another hostage. His wife, Maria del Socorro, also kidnapped by the ELN and released on June 15, said that "Luis Fernando is in great spiritual shape thanks to his faith, but I am concerned for his health."

      German Guerrero, the son of kidnapped entrepreneur Efrain Guerrero Villota, said that his father conveyed in his letter "a great deal of faith." "Paradoxically we are the ones who are being strengthened by the faith they convey in their messages," added Guerrero, who leads one of the groups demanding the release of their relatives without ransom.

Vatican preparing for onslaught of pilgrims with reinforcements with well over 27,000 strong!

     If anyone had any doubts that the Holy See was not going to be able to handle the influx of pilgrims and tourists expected to flock to Rome and specifically the Vatican for the symbolic Jubilee Year 2000, they can set aside their fears for the Vatican has announced that 27,500 volunteers have signed on to handle all the vast responsibilities inherent with such a monumental year-long task. But it is well-organized and on schedule and officials are expecting things to run smoother than many anticipated, especially in handling senior citizens and the handicapped. For more, click on Getting a jump on the Jubilee.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- From the city of Rome, 27,520 volunteers will be available to assist pilgrims visiting during the Jubilee Year.

      That figure was furnished on June 24 by the center for volunteer work connected with the Jubilee celebrations, an office which has now been in existence for four months, under the aegis of the central planning committee chaired by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray. In February, the Italian government furnished the volunteer center with documentation as a welcoming center for visitors; that measure made it possible for the volunteer corps to enlist young men who would otherwise be eligible for military service.

      The volunteer corps is organized along hierarchical lines, with 300 "experts" coordinating 6,000 team leaders, each of whom will in turn be responsible for 20 volunteers. The volunteers have been recruited from different cities and dioceses, so that they will have the expertise necessary to help visitors who are headed for other parts of the country. In fact, while the majority of volunteers are Italian, some are from other countries, and altogether there are 23 countries represented in the corps.

      The volunteer service is dedicated to filling "the most immediate needs" of the Jubilee organizers, said Professor Donato Mosella, the director of the volunteers' welcoming center. Among the special projects to be handled by volunteers are the service to aged and handicapped pilgrims.

Saint Isidore of Seville didn't have Windows 98 or a Mac but he's still odds-on favorite to be declared "Patron saint of the Web"

   The printing press had not been invented, very few could handle a quill pen, yet a saint born during the sixth century is the odds-on favorite to be named the "Saint of the Internet" according to Archbishop John Patrick Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications- the organization which sent out the survey to determine what saint would be most appropriate as the patron saint of internet users and webmasters. The odds-on choice is Saint Isidore of Seville who was one of the most learned men of his time and admired for his work with liturgy and the laws of the Church, as well as writing numerous books. If only he had had a laptop think of how much more he would have accomplished! He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1722 by Pope Benedict XIV. For more, click on Saint Isidore.

      ROME, JUN 24 (ZENIT).- The "Sunday Times" has joined the proposal of the Internet Observation Service that St. Isidore of Seville, the first recorded author of a database, should be Internet's patron. The British publication states that a spokesman for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications confirmed the reception of many petitions in favor of this Spanish saint and Doctor of the Church, who was born in 560. St. Isidore was a publisher of scientific topics and very influential in Medieval culture. He was also the author of many books on human learning, ranging from agriculture to medicine, from theology to domestic science. St. Isidore succeeded his elder brother, St. Leander, in the government of the diocese of Seville. ZE99062410

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and ZENIT International News Agency. These news services are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

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June 25-27, 1999 volume 10, no. 123   DAILY CATHOLIC