Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, May 15, 1996

Calls on His Holiness Pope John Paul II and Meets Politicans and Trade Unionist

Geneva, 15 may - His holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan's spiritual and political leader will visit Italy, from 16 to 21 May, 1996. During this visit, the Tibetan leader will be received in Palermo, Pisa, Pomaia and Rome. In 1994 visit to Italy, His Holiness was received among others by both the President and the Prime Minister of the country. This will be the seventh visit to Italy by the Tibetan leader, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

Undertaking the first foreign visit in 1996, His Holiness the Dalai lama will visit Denmark, Italy and Norway. "This visit to Italy is of special significance because His Holiness will meet with politicians, religious leaders, educators, students, trade unionists, civil servants and the press," said Mrs Chungdak Koren, Representative of H. H. the Dalai Lama, Central and Southern Europe Affairs.

On the morning of 20 May, for instance, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will arrive in Vatican to have a meeting with His Holiness Pope Paul II. This will be the fourth meeting between the religious leaders. The last meeting took place in June 1990.

During this visit, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be received by several Mayors of Italian cities, wishing to host His Holiness and confer Him their city's Honourary Citizenship. On 17 May, as the Guest of Mayor Orlando of Palermo City, His Holiness will participate in a round table conference on the them, "Communication and Human Rights. This will be followed by a joint function at Pisa where His Holiness will be conferred the Honourary Citizenship of the cities of Lavorno, Pisa, Florence and S Luce.

During a short stop-over in Pisa, His Holiness will visit Pisa University to address the faculty members and students of the University. In another educational programme on 19 may, His Holiness will deliver a lecture on "Ethics and Environment in XXI Century" at La Sabienza University in Rome.

In Pomaia, His Holiness will give a Teaching on Jhe Tsong Khapa's Three Principles Aspect of the Path"; an Initiation of Cheresig "Who Liberates >From the Lower Realms"; and the Transmission of "Opening Eye of New Awareness." This event called "The Essence of Buddhism" will be held at Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre established in 1976.

Concluding the Italy visit in Rome, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will join an Interfaith Prayer Service at St. Anselmo Monastery on 20 May. On the same day, visiting a Tibetan Exhibition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will bless the construction of "Sand Mandala". He will also release a new pictorial publication on Tibetan Buddhist Paintings, "Kalachakra Deities", by Editalia Publication House. The Tibetan leader will also release a Souvenir Set of Tibetan Coins manufactured by the Government Mint of Italy during the above function.

In Rome, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also meet with the leaders of major political parties of Italy at the Parliament building. The leaders of the three major trade union in Italy, the CGIL;CISL; and the UIL; will call on the Tibetan leader. Together for Peace Foundation, a well-known humanitarian organisation in Rome, will be present an award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the stay in the city.

His holiness the Dalai Lama will also receive members of the press at several press conferences, the first of which will take place on the afternoon of 16 May, at Palermo City Hall. RAI, the Italian National Television will interview His Holiness the Dalai Lama on two of its programmes, "Il Fatto (The Fact)" and "La Storth" (The story)."

"We are deeply concerned that the Chinese authorities have been making various attempts to sabotage this visit to Italy," said Mrs Chungdak Koren, in reaction to various reports concerning the activities of the Chinese Embassy in Rome. In recent weeks, the Chinese Embassy has been issuing statements to all the hosts of the Tibetan leader, asking them not to receive His Holiness. One of the hosts received such a statement for the second time which said: "The Dalai is very different from what he pretends to be, he is just a religious leader, but then he has evolved into political leader, and he has engaged in activities aimed to divide the motherland."

On 21 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will leave for Stockholm before turning to New Delhi from Oslo on 29 May, 1996.