Papal envoy's visit to E. Timor pastoral<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A special envoy of Pope John Paul II said
\nyesterday that his planned visit to East Timor tomorrow is not
\npolitical in nature.<\/p>\n
"My trip is a pastoral visit, it is not a political visit,"
\nsaid Cardinal Roger Etchegary, who has been head of the
\nPontifical Council for Justice and Peace for ten years.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after paying a courtesy call on
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Cardinal Etchegary said
\nhe would go to the diocese in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The Roman Catholic church in East Timor, lead by Bishop Carlos
\nFelipe Ximenes Belo, is administered directly by the Vatican and
\nnot by the Archbishop in Jakarta like other parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The Vatican, following the United Nations line, does not
\nrecognize the integration of East Timor, a predominantly Catholic
\nterritory, into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"I will visit the Catholic church which is there in East
\nTimor," Cardinal Etchegary said. His translator was the Holy
\nSee's representative here Monsigneur Pierto Sambi.<\/p>\n
His visit highlights the continued concern the Holy See has
\ntowards East Timor. Pope John Paul II made a brief stopover in
\nthe territory when he visited Indonesia in 1989.<\/p>\n
The cardinal arrived on Thursday for a week-long stay that
\nwill also include a one-day stop in Yogyakarta. He will leave for
\nDili tomorrow to open a chapel.<\/p>\n
On Monday he will travel to the city of Bakau as well as hold
\nmeetings with Bishop Belo, Governor Abilio Soares and the
\nregional military commander on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Tonight, he will attend a concelebration at the Cathedral of
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Monsigneur Sambi told The Jakarta Post that the cardinal will
\nreturn to Jakarta on Wednesday to meet with President Soeharto,
\nMinister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and members of the
\nNational Human Rights Commission.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Cardinal Etchegary told a meeting with Catholic
\nscholars and intellectuals at the Atmajaya University that they
\nshould strive to maintain peace and harmony with people from
\nother faiths.<\/p>\n
He cited Indonesia as a good example of a country that has
\nmanaged to forge peace and unity in spite of the diversity of its
\npeople's ethnic and religious backgrounds. (mds\/16)<\/p>",
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