POPE JOHN PAUL has met with the Palestinian leader to

discuss the latest peace prospects in the Middle East and hopes for an end-of-themillennium interfaith celebration in jenisalem. After the meeting with Yasser Arafat earlier this month, the Vatican issued a statement expressing hope that "both Palestinians and Israelis can soon enjoy the concrete fruits of peace."
Children's Day
THE USA's annual observance of "National Children's Day to Honour Our Lady" is to be held on 8 October. This year's theme is "Mary, the Perfect Woman", in connection with the UN conference in Beijing, according to the Fatima Family Apostolate based in Alexandria, Virginia.
Women's roles THE POPE LAST week said that, although the priesthood is reserved to males, women should be involved in Church consultation and decisionmaking "without discrimination". He also called on the Church to support women's participation in Church life through a variety of existing ecclesial activities, from serving at the altar, to pastoral care of parishes.
Nuns killed TWO EUROPEAN NUNS were shot dead in Algeria last week, probably by Muslim terrorists. Their deaths brings to ten the number of religious killed during the last two years in Algeria, where the nuns helped run a vocational school for women.
US visit
PRESIDENT BILL Clinton will personally welcome the Pope when he arrives in the US on 4 October for a four-day visit.The two leaders will then hold a private meeting at the airport.