THE VATICAN

VATICAN CITY—A senior Vatican figure has attacked the sale of weapons to Africa. Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said that conflicts all over Africa were heightened by a decades-old weapons trade between developed countries and Africa.
Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano: "The brutality of the violence that has exploded in numerous African countries... again highlights the immense problem of the sale and transfer of weapons, which is unscrupulously carried out across the continent."
The archbishop called on the international community to adopt a new alliance with African nations, rejecting existing relations based solely on economic and personal interests. At the same time, he said, African political leaders must assume their responsibilities and provide generous service to their people, especially the young.
VATICAN CITY—Cardinal Francis Arinze has sent a message of goodwill to the Muslim world to mark the end of Ramadan.
Noting that the final day of Ramadan, 'Id al-Fitr, is an occasion for almsgiving, Cardinal Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, said: "Our two religions both stress the importance of charity towards our neighbours. Isn't there a vast field of collaboration waiting to be opened up between Christians and Muslims?
"I write this message fully aware that Christians and Muslims do not always show each other the love and respect that God demands.
"Sadly this mutual lack of love is not just found in history, but also today. All the same, it is important to remember the numerous situations where Christians and Muslims live together peacefully and fruitfully."
He said that followers of both religions should become what God calls them to be: "Witnesses of his goodness and mercy, especially to the weakest in our society."—(L'Osservatore Romano) VATICAN CITY—Pope John Paul II had a "cordial" meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister last week.
On January 6, the Pope received Keizo Obuchi in a private audience in his library lasting 25 minutes. The Japanese leader gave the Pope a 19th century porcelain vase.
Casting formality aside, the Japanese leader said: "Holy Father, take care of yourself so that you can take care of the world."
According to the Pope's spokesman Dr Joaquin Navarro Valls, the two men spoke about Church-State relations in Japan and the current difficulties faced by several Asian countries.
Special attention was given to preparations for the 450th anniversary of the arrival of Saint Francis Xavier in Japan, who landed in the city of Kagoshima on August 15, 1549. It is a celebration of great significance to many Japanese, as the Jesuit missionary was the first Westerner to give Europe a concrete appreciation of Japan. Until then, Japan was virtually unknown to Europe.
Later Vatican officials accompanied Obuchi on a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, recently restored with financial help from the Japanese company Nippon TV.—(Zenit) VATICAN CITY—The Pontifical Council for Laity has published a document on the role of the aged in the Church and society, intended to encourage lay people to look to the needs of the elderly and infirm.
The Dignity and Mission of Old Persons in the Church and Society laments the modern tendency to ignore the dignity of old people and increasingly to accept euthanasia. It calls for a renewed appreciation of the wisdom of old people and their role as witnesses to the truths of the faith.
According to a spokesman for the Council, the document, written initially in French, incorporates the conclusion of the international conference on old age held in the Vatican in October 1998.
The UN estimates that there are 66m people over 80 years of age in the world.
This will increase to 370m by the 2050. This year is the UN International Year of Older Persons.—(aci)