She Deserves to Know Planning Keeps Papal Trips Well Run
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1 EDITORIAL/OFFICIAL FRIDAY, APRIL 7,2000 • PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC Cuest editorial The traveling papacy: Advance She deserves to know planning keeps papal trips well run . The following editorial appeared appeared in fetal development at several stages, describes VATICAN CITY — The traveling papacy white-haired Buzzonetti was a few steps •the March 23 issue of The Catholic Messenger, adoption and pregnancy assistance services passed a milestone with Pope John Paul behind, talking on his cellphone. newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa: and how to contact helping agencies, ITs March visit to the Holy Land — the The cost of a papal visit is typically describes the medical risks of abortion and 100th trip outside Italy by a modem split between the host country and the After a contentious struggle, the Iowa House the liability of the father for child support. pope. host church, with the Vatican paying finally passed a bill last week requiring that Then a 24-hour waiting period would be Pope Paul VI made nine foreign visits, the travel and lodging expenses of the certain information be given to women seeking required before an abortion could be per and Pope John Paul has made 91 so far. pope and his entourage. Israel spent an abortion. The bill, called ‘Woman's Right to formed. Nos. 1 and 100 were to the Holy Land, $3.6 million in infrastructure for the latí Know Act," has already been reported out of For someone who wants to approach an and the 36 years that separates them est papal visit, but Third World coum committee in the Senate and awaits action. abortion with as little discomfort as possible, has seen a revolution in papal travel. tries try to keep costs to a bare minií It faces strong opposition. Why? Because this is a great bother. It demands confronta Pope Paul Vi’s trips were mostly brief, mum. In almost every country, the popé 'proponents of legal abortion on demand con tion with realities one might wish to ignore. It whirlwind affairs. Nowadays, papal trips stays in the local nunciature or archl tinue to interpret any regulation or restriction can place a great weight on one’s conscience. are smooth-running operations in which bishop’s residence: he’s never checked Of abortion as a wedge intended to bring down The fact that women alone must too often bear almost every step is planned in advance. into a hotel. a “fundamental" right possessed by women. that weight is one tragic aspect of our struggle When Pope Paul VI announced he was To help pay for a papal visit, the local The bill in the Iowa Legislature is being over abortion. Women do not become pregnant going to the Holy Land in 1964, the world was church sometimes turns to sponsors, a contro attacked as unnecessary and unfair. We are alone, but when they do find themselves preg shocked. No pope had left Italian territory since versial practice. In Mexico City in 1999, the con told that women who plan an abortion have nant and unprepared for motherhood, far too 1812, the year Napoleon took Pope Pius VII in tributions of 20 ‘official collaborators" — includ !thought long and hard about it. Many abor often the man takes no responsibility — or is forced exile to his French palace in Fontainebleu. ing Pepsi Cola, Federal Express and a local pota tions are indeed undergone after serious con the first to propose abortion. Since the law is The first papal trips were learning experiences. to chip company — helped defray the $1.3 million sideration of all issues. Whether this includes unable to force equal responsibility here, it is When Pope Paul VI appeared in Jerusalem’s Via cost of a five-day papal visit. most abortions is debatable. But even if that unfair that women are left lone decision-mak Dolorosa, for example, he and his entourage were When the pope jets around the world, his out were the reality, this is not a mere matter of ers in the life or death issue of abortion. mobbed by well-wishers. U.S. Archbishop Paul bound flight is always a chartered Alitalia “Volo medical procedures. The issue is the termina But that is no reason for the state not to Marcinkus, a big guy who served as papal Papale,” and getting a seat on this exclusive plane tion of life that everyone must acknowledge is help with good and balanced information for advance man for the trip, had to help fight off the is no easy task. ■ human at least potentially. The state ought to women. In fact, it is a reason why there should crush of people around the pontiff. The back of the plane seats the approximately tfeat an approach to such a decision with be emphasis on all the help available to a When Pope John Paul visited the old quarter of 50 journalists who manage to receive accredita extra seriousness. pregnant woman from both private and public Jerusalem this March, almost the entire city had tion for the flight. They not only are treated to the • The bill requires “voluntary and informed sources. At a time when a woman may feel too been closed down by Israeli security. His dramat occasional flying news conferences conducted by ’-consent" for an abortion. To insure that a much alone, the community has both physical ic prayer at the Western Wall was accomplished in the pontiff, but they receive special treatment woman is informed, the Department of Public and emotional resources ready for her. She front of a handful of spectators — but was carried throughout the trip: papal speeches in advance, Health would provide material which shows deserves to know. live on international TV. greater access to papal events and regular briefin Most papal trips today are envisioned a year or gs by Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. two ahead of time, and the logistical details are In the front of the plane sits a select group of ironed out by an advance team of two Vatican about 30 Vatican officials, who usually include ‘Burma law’: Court case spotlights Radio officials, Jesuit Father Roberto Tucci and the Vatican secretary of state. Cardinal Angelo Alberto Gasbarri. Working on instructions from Sodano: the prefect of the pontifical household, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, they iron out U.S. Bishop Jam es Harvey; the master of pontifi corporations and humain rights details of the papal program with officials of the cal ceremonies. Bishop Piero Marini: the pope’s • WASHINGTON — For Maryknoll and Texaco, have left, following stock host country. Then they inspect the sites of personal secretary. Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz; his Father Joseph La Mar, a Supreme Court holder resolutions and product boycotts. events, with special attention to security, motor valet, Angelo Gugel; his spokesman, Navarro- 'ease involving states' rights, U.S. foreign The basic idea of the campaign is to cade routes, and the sacristies where the pope Valls: the Osservatore Romano photographer, 'policy, a World Trade Organization weaken the government’s influence by vests and rests. Arturo Mari; and an international assortment of agreement and human rights in Myan depriving its leaders of hard currency It was Pope John Paul who started the tradition other aides, security and media personnel. m ar/Burma really boils down to corpo and political respectability, he said. of riding in a glass-walled popemobile, and these Vatican officials can think of only one person rate social responsibility. He said selective purchasing legislation Vatican-owned vehicles are now shipped ahead to who has made all 100 trips: Commandant Camil- • As justices heard oral arguments also adopted in 20 cities is “another tool many of the places the pope visits. lo Cibin, who heads Vatican security operations. March 22 for and against Massachu that would suggest to corporations The Vatican's advance team also makes sure an He was there when Pope Paul VI had to fight off setts' so-called “Burma law,” the assis ’maybe you don’t really want to go there ambulance is on hand at all papal events, and the crowds in the Via Dolorosa in 1964. When tant treasurer and corporate responsibil under the current situation."’ that local hospitals store an ample supply of plas Pope John Paul walked up to pray at the Western ity officer of the U.S. missionary society Father La Mar said the Massachusetts ma of the pope’s blood type, A-negative. Wall in March, Cibin was standing a few steps took part in a rally and interfaith prayer ancy law has been “much more effective” than The pope, who suffers from what is believed to away — wearing, for the first time on a papal jour ■ service on the court’s front sidewalk. NHartnagel he thought it would be, with more than be Parkinson’s disease, now travels with two ney, a black yarmulke. ' ' Said Father La Mar: “I wish that corpo 300 companies on a restricted list and physicians, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti and Dr. rations would take a look at themselves and say, another dozen deciding to leave Burma rather Patrizio Polisca. When the pope walked slowly up Thavis is Vatican editor for Catholic News ‘My God, why are we always on the side of profit, than relinquish participation in Massachusetts' to the altar near the Sea of Galilee March 24, the Service. and human rights goes by the wayside.”’ $2 billion-plus annual purchasing business. The priest told Catholic News Service that the Addressing the rally. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., 150 demonstrators, including members of a said the Massachusetts law “only represents an Bishop Wuerl announces the ' broad-based Free Burma Coalition, still refer to allocation by a sovereign state of its own funds." f f ld a l ‘ the Southeast Asian nation as Burma, not Myan- The Catholic legislator commended Massachu following clergy appointment: '* friar, “because we don’t recognize the government setts, and said, “hopefully the other 49 states will o who named it (Myanmar).” follow suit.” Massachusetts enacted the Burma law in 1996.