Vatican News

POPE REPLIES TO SEMINARIANS' QUESTIONS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, the Holy Father visited Rome's Major Pontifical Seminary for the occasion of the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Trust. During the meeting, the Pope responded to six questions addressed to him by the seminarians. The text of their exchanges was made public yesterday afternoon.

Gregorpaolo Stano of the diocese of Oria, Italy asked how, "among the thousands of interior voices," to discern the voice of God speaking within,

"God speaks," Pope Benedict replied, "through other people, through friends, through our parents, ... through the priests who guide you," above all He speaks "in Sacred Scripture" which must be read "not as the word of a man or a document from the past, ... but as the Word of God which is always valid and speaks to me."

"It is important to remain attentive to the other voices of the Lord, to let ourselves be guided also by people who have, so to say, experience with God and help us along this path. ... In this way our discernment grows, our personal friendship with God grows, [as does] the capacity to perceive, in the thousands of voices we hear today, the voice of God, which is always present and always speaks to us."

Claudio Fabbri from the diocese of Rome wanted to know about the Holy Father's life during his own period of training for the priesthood at the seminary of Freising, Germany.

"I believe that our life in the seminary of Freising was structured very much like your own. ... I can say that Sacred Scripture was at the heart of our theological studies: we truly lived with Sacred Scripture and learned to love it, to communicate with it." Another "vital area for us was liturgical formation." The Pope also mentioned his interest in literature and his "great love for music."

Gianpiero Savino of the diocese of Taranto, Italy asked how, bearing in mind human weakness, it is possible to respond to a vocation "as demanding as that of being pastors of God's people."

"It is good to recognize one's own weakness," said the Pope, "because thus we know that we have need of the Lord's grace. ... I [also] believe it is important to recognize that we are in need of a permanent conversion." This is a journey with no lack of "joy and light from the Lord, but also no lack of dark valleys where we must walk with trust seeking support in the Lord's goodness. ... And therefore the Sacrament of Penance is also important, ... to convert us to a new beginning and thus grow and mature in the Lord, in our communion with Him."

The Holy Father also dwelt upon the necessity of not "isolating ourselves, not believing we can progress alone. We need the help of priest friends and lay friends to accompany and help us. ... The gift of perseverance brings us joy, it gives us the certainty that we are loved by the Lord, and this love sustains us, it helps us and does not abandon us in our weaknesses."

A Bulgarian seminarian, Dimov Koicio from the diocese of Nicopoli, asked a question concerning "corruption in the Church" to which the then Cardinal Ratzinger had alluded during the 2005 Way of the Cross, and the dangers of "seeking to advance one's career through the Church."

"The Lord knows," the Pope replied, "and knew from the beginning that sin also exists in the Church. And by our humility it is important to recognize this - not to see sin only in others, in institutions and in high office, but also in ourselves - so as, in this way, to be more humble and to learn that ecclesial standing does not count before the Lord, what counts is to remain in His love."

Francesco Annesi of the diocese of Rome wanted to know how "a priest can bear witness to the Christian meaning of suffering, and how he must behave before those who suffer without the risk of seeming rhetorical or pathetic."

"We must recognize that it is right to do everything possible to alleviate the afflictions of humanity, and help those who suffer ... to discover a life that is worthwhile and free from the evils which we ourselves provoke: hunger, epidemics, etc.," said the Holy Father in his reply. "But at the same time, recognizing this duty to combat the sufferings we have caused, we must also recognize and understand that suffering is an essential factor for our maturation. ... It is true that it is always problematic, if one is more or less in good health, to console someone else affected by a serious illness. ... Faced with these ills, which we all know and recognize, it is almost inevitable that everything seems rhetorical and pathetic. But if people feel ... that we want to carry the cross with them ... helping them in every way we can, they will believe in us."

Marco Ceccarelli, a deacon of Rome, soon to be ordained a priest asked the Holy Father's advice on how to approach the first years of priestly ministry.

In his reply, the Holy Father highlighted "the need to be with the Lord in the Eucharist every day, not as a professional obligation but as a true interior duty," and "to dedicate time to the Liturgy of the Hours" because "it helps us to be more open and to remain in profound contact with the Lord." It is also important "not to lose communion with other priests, your companions on the journey, or to lose personal contact with the Word of God, meditation."

"Never lose," he concluded, "friendship with priests, listening to the voice of the living Church, or, of course, a readiness toward the people entrusted to us because from them, with their sufferings, their experiences of faith, their doubts and difficulties, we too can learn, and seek and find God."

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CONSISTORY ON SEVERAL CAUSES OF CANONIZATION

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - At 11 a.m. on Friday, February 23, in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, an Ordinary Public Consistory will be held for the canonization of the following Blesseds:

- George Preca, Maltese, priest, founder of the "Societas Doctrinae Christianae" (M.U.S.E.U.M.).

- Szymon of Lipnica, Polish, priest of the Order of Friars Minor.

- Charles of St. Andrew (ne Johannes Andreas Houben), Dutch, priest of the Congregation of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

- Antonio de Santa Ana (ne Antonio Galvao de Franca), Brazilian, priest of the Order of Alcantarine or Discalced Friars Minor, and founder of the Convent of Conceptionist Sisters "Recolhimento da luz."

- Marie Eugenie de Jesus (nee Anne-Eugenie Milleret de Brou), French, foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

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CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - At 11.30 a.m. today in the Holy See Press Office, a press conference was held to present an international congress entitled "Christian conscience in support of the right to life," due to be held in the Vatican on February 23 and 24 under the auspices of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Participating in today's press conference were Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life; Bishop Anthony Fisher O.P., auxiliary of Sydney, Australia and professor of bioethics and moral theology at the John Paul II Institute in Sydney; Msgr. Jean Laffitte, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life and professor of anthropology and of conjugal spirituality at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family; Monica Lopez Barahona, biologist, professor of bioethics and director of the bioethical institute at the University of Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain.

In his comments, Bishop Sgreccia made it clear that the theme chosen for this year's congress reflects the urgent need to form Christian consciences "in the modern context, indicating the foundation, the specific nature and the duties of a conscience illuminated by faith, though not overlooking the need for dialogue with the lay world and the pluralism of cultures."

Going on to refer to the question of conscientious objection, which is due to be discussed on the second day of the congress, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life indicated that if such objection "is accompanied by love for truth and for all people it is not an avoidance of responsibility but, on the contrary, a testimony of support and assistance." Today, in the field of healthcare, "a whole series of new cases and situations arise in which doctors and other figures associated with their work are called to put this objection into effect."

Bishop Anthony Fisher, speaking English, began his comments by considering "the question of what conscience is and is not and what authority conscience has."

"The classical Christian conception of conscience," he said, "is of the natural perception of basic moral principles, their application in particular circumstances, and the final judgement about what is to be (or has been) done. ... But conscience must be both well-informed and well-formed."

The bishop mentioned "the authority of the Church as a moral teacher and former/informer of conscience, ... the ideas of the Magisterium, the unconditional assent of faith, religious assent and dissent. ... Can there be a conflict between the Church as teacher and the individual conscience and how is this to be resolved?"

Bishop Fisher also considered "the problematic of those who oppose conscience to Magisterium," identifying "two helpful strands of contemporary thought: the communitarian call to think with one's moral community and the 'practical reason' approaches to maturation of conscience. On these views the Magisterium is not some external source of moral thinking with which private conscience must grapple: it informs conscience much like a soul informs a body, giving it its shape and direction from within."

Msgr. Laffitte spoke of the concept of tolerance which, he said, has ceased "to be an expression of the classical virtue of prudence and, hence, a practical virtue," while "ideological tolerance has been raised to the rank of theoretical virtue."

"Ideological tolerance" he continued, "is always linked to an individualistic concept of moral conscience. ... And the norms received from moral authority, from social tradition and from the teaching of the religious authorities will, at best, be considered as interesting guidelines or stimulating opinions upon which to reflect, but in no case will such norms involve the individual as a moral subject."

Professor Lopez Barahona recalled that "man is a free being who establishes his behaviour and forges his will in a series of ethical and/or religious principles. Loyalty to these principles brings the right and the need of conscientious objection."

"We have," she said, "witnessed incessant concessions to scientific research by the legislator, justified with reasoning that may seek to present the consecration of bioethics by the law as the protection of the person, whereas these concessions actually involve creating new exemptions in favour of biomedical research even when this fails to take the dignity of human life into account."

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REPLY TO "TIMES" ARTICLE ON CATHOLIC-ANGLICAN RELATIONS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a note signed by Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby and Anglican Bishop David Beetge, co-presidents of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), regarding an article published yesterday in the British newspaper "The Times" on the IARCCUM document: "Growing Together in Unity and Mission."

"'Growing Together in Unity and Mission' has not yet been officially published," the English-language note reads. "It is unfortunate that is contents have been prematurely reported in a way which misrepresents its intentions and sensationalizes its conclusions. The first part of the document, which treats doctrinal matters, is an attempt to synthesize the work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) over the past 35 years. It identifies the level of agreement which has been reached by ARCIC, but is also very clear in identifying ongoing areas of disagreement, and in raising questions which still need to be addressed in dialogue. Those ongoing questions and areas of disagreement are highlighted in boxed sections interspersed throughout the text. It is a very honest document assessing the state of Anglican-Roman Catholic relations at the present moment."

The note continues: "The Times article speculates about the Catholic Church's response to a possible schism within the Anglican Communion. It should be pointed out that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has consistently spoken of the value of the Anglican Communion remaining a communion, rooted in the Apostolic faith, as indicated in this statement from 2004: 'It is our overwhelming desire that the Anglican Communion stays together, rooted in the historic faith which our dialogue and relations over four decades have led us to believe that we share to a large degree'."

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CARDINAL POUPARD MEETS THE GRAND IMAM OF AL-AZHAR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

"Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, president of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims, and president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, was received in Cairo, Egypt, today by Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, Grand Imam of al-Azhar.

"Welcomed in an atmosphere of great cordiality, Cardinal Poupard relayed to Sheikh Tantawi the greetings of His Holiness Benedict XVI, and the Pope's invitation to meet him in Rome, an invitation that was accepted with satisfaction.

"The meeting of the two men provided an opportunity to evaluate the work of the 'Joint Dialogue Commission' comprised of members of the 'Al-Azhar Permanent Committee for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions' and of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. The commission meets on February 24 every year - alternately in Cairo and Rome - in memory of Pope John Paul II's visit to al-Azhar on February 24, 2000. The two also discussed other aspects of relations between Christians and Muslims.

"Cardinal Poupard will also meet Hamdi Zaqzuq, the government minister for religion."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, Italy, as a member of the Congregation for Bishops.

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CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS A PRIMARY ROLE IN LATIN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 17, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican's Consistory Hall, Benedict XVI received pontifical representatives to Latin America, to whom he expressed his appreciation for their "important ecclesial service" which, he said, they carry out "often in the face of no small number of difficulties" due to the distance separating them from their homeland, "frequent travel and, sometimes, social and political tensions."

Nuncios are called, the Pope said, "to consolidate the bonds of communion between the particular Churches and Peter's Successor." They have "the responsibility to promote ... dialogue and collaboration with civil society in order to achieve the common good." Being a pontifical representative "is a ministry of ecclesial communion and a service to peace and harmony between peoples."

Recalling how John Paul II had defined Latin America as the "continent of hope," the Holy Father observed that the Fifth General Assembly of the Episcopate of Latin America - which is to be celebrated in Aparecida, Brazil in May and which he is due to attend - "aims to identify the great priorities and to inject fresh energy into the Church's mission at the service of the Latin American people in the real circumstances of the early 21st century." This is all part of "the catholicity which ... has left its mark on the cultural structure that up to now has characterized Latin American identity."

The nations that make up Latin America "consider themselves as 'sisters' and, indeed, seek to become a community, united in peace and in cultural and economic development. The Church ... is in natural concordance with all legitimate aspirations of peoples to greater harmony and cooperation," to which end "she makes her own special contribution, that of the Gospel."

Pope Benedict expressed the hope that "in those Latin American countries with Constitutions that limit themselves to 'conceding' freedom of belief and worship, but still fail to 'recognize' religious liberty," reciprocal relations may soon be defined on the basis of "principles of autonomy and of healthy and respectful collaboration."

The Church's role in Latin America, said the Pope, "continues to be of primary importance, thanks also to the fortuitous blending of the ancient and rich sensibility of the indigenous people" on the one hand, "with Christianity and modern culture" on the other. "The Catholic Church is the institution that enjoys the greatest degree of credit among the people of Latin America" for "the work she undertakes in the fields of education, healthcare and solidarity towards the needy. Help for the poor and the fight against poverty are and continue to be a fundamental priority" and "the Church is also active in mediation efforts which, not infrequently, are asked of her during moments of civil strife."

The Church today, however, must face "the proselytism of sects and the growing influence of secularism," while families "show signs of giving way under the pressure of lobbies," which have the power to "exercise a negative influence on legislative processes." For this reason it is necessary "to reaffirm that marriage and the family have their foundations in the most intimate nucleus of truth about man and his destiny."

The Holy Father also turned his attention to other themes due to be discussed during the Aparecida conference, such as "the phenomenon of migration, closely associated with [the question of] the family; the importance of schooling; ... and the need adequately to inform public opinion on the great ethical questions in accordance with the principles of the Church's Magisterium."

Finally Benedict XVI mentioned ecclesial movements which, he said, represent "a valid resource for the apostolate, but must be helped to remain ever faithful to the Gospel and to the teaching of the Church, also when they work in the social and political spheres. In particular, I feel I must reiterate that it is not for men of the Church to head social and political groupings, but for mature and professionally trained lay people."

"We ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary," the Pope concluded, "that the fruits ... of the forthcoming general assembly of the Latin American episcopate may be of benefit the entire Church."

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MEDICINE AT THE SERVICE OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SUFFERING

VATICAN CITY, FEB 17, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. to Giuseppe Mazzella, president of the "Medicine, Dialogue, Communion" association, for the occasion on an international congress on the theme: "Communication and relations in medicine. New perspectives for medical activity." The congress has been promoted by the association in collaboration with the Sacred Heart Catholic University.

Cardinal Bertone writes that the theme of the congress, held in Rome on February 16 and 17, "is particularly important for modern medicine, which is ever more subject to manipulation and to attempts to distort its specific nature, which is that of being a source of knowledge at the service of the sick and of their physical and spiritual suffering."

A vital element of this mission, the cardinal continues, is the "relationship between doctor and patient." This "also includes the entire medical staff, the healthcare structure and the domestic context, not forgetting the relatives of the sick."

"It would be wrong," the secretary of State says, "to identify human beings entirely in their capacity to relate and communicate, thus denying those who do not have this possibility the intrinsic and objective value they possess simply for being human. This - as the venerated John Paul II wrote in his Encyclical 'Evangelium vitae' - is 'the mentality which tends to equate personal dignity with the capacity for verbal and explicit, or at least perceptible, communication. It is clear that on the basis of these presuppositions there is no place in the world for anyone who, like the unborn or the dying, is a weak element in the social structure, or for anyone who appears completely at the mercy of others and radically dependent on them, and can only communicate through the silent language of a profound sharing of affection'."

Cardinal Bertone concludes his Letter by expressing the hope that the "new perspectives" of the congress may be considered from a point of view "that places the human being above those false values that are ever more relentlessly imposed by modern society: efficiency, productivity and autonomy."

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POPE VISITS ROME'S MAJOR PONTIFICAL SEMINARY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 17, 2007 (VIS) - This afternoon, the Pope visited Rome's Major Pontifical Seminary for the occasion of the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Trust, which always falls on the Saturday before the beginning of Lent.

During the meeting, the Pope replied to questions addressed to him by the seminarians. Later, having greeted the deacons and superiors, he dined with the community of the seminary before returning to the Vatican.

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CHRISTIAN NON-VIOLENCE: BREAK THE CHAIN OF INJUSTICE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 18, 2007 (VIS) - Shortly before midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Commenting on today's Gospel reading, the Pope pointed out how "it contains one of the most typical and powerful phrases of Jesus' teaching: 'love your enemies.' ... almost a 'manifesto' ... to which He asks His disciples to adhere, proposing His own model of life in radical terms."

"Why," Pope Benedict asked, "does Jesus propose love for one's enemies, in other words a love that exceeds human capacities?" And he went on: "In reality, Christ's proposal is realistic because it takes into account the fact that there is too much violence in the world, too much injustice, and that, therefore, this situation cannot be overcome without the counterbalance of extra love, extra goodness. This 'extra' comes from God: it is His mercy, which became flesh in Jesus and which alone can 'tip' the world from evil towards good."

"This evangelical episode is considered as the 'Magna Carta' of Christian non-violence, which does not consist in surrendering to evil ... but in responding to evil with good, thus breaking the chain of injustice. ... For Christians this is not merely a tactical form of behavior, but an individual way of life, the attitude of people who are so convinced by the love of God ... that they are not afraid to face evil only with the arms of love and truth.

"Love for one's enemies," he added, "is the nucleus of the 'Christian revolution,' a revolution that is not based on ... economic, political or media power, but that is a gift of God. ... This is the novelty of the Gospel, which noiselessly changes the world. This is the heroism of the 'little ones' who believe in God's love and disseminate it."

After praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI spoke of his "spiritual closeness" to Guinea. "The bishops of that country," he said, "have expressed to me their concern for the situation of social paralysis, general strikes and violent reactions that have caused numerous victims. In calling for human and civil rights to be respected, I give assurances of my prayers that a shared commitment to follow the path of dialogue may overcome the crisis."

Finally, the Holy Father turned his attention to Poland where the bishops have called "a special day of prayer and penance for the entire Polish clergy" to fall on Ash Wednesday. "May this prayer for the sanctity of priests," said the Pope, "fill all the faithful with a spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and mutual trust."

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REDISCOVER THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, the Pope received Cardinal James F. Stafford, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, prelates and officials of that tribunal, and father confessors of Roman basilicas.

In his address to them, the Pope pointed out how a confessor, "following the Church's Magisterium with gentle insistence, becomes a minister of the consoling mercy of God, he emphasizes the reality of sin, and at the same time reveals the limitless renovating power of divine love, the love that restores life."

"Experiencing the Lord's tenderness and forgiveness, penitents are more easily persuaded to recognize the gravity of sin, and more determined to avoid it in order to remain and grow in a renewed friendship with Him."

The confessor is "an active instrument of divine mercy," said the Holy Father. "Therefore, he must unite a highly-developed spiritual and pastoral sensitivity with serious theological, moral and educational training making him capable of understanding people's life experiences. Furthermore, it is good for him to know the social, cultural and professional background of those who come to the confessional, in order to be able to give appropriate advice and spiritual and practical guidance."

Priests must not forget that in the Sacrament of Penance they are "fathers, spiritual judges, teachers and educators," said the Pope, adding that "this calls for constant 'aggiornamento'." In this context, he also mentioned the advantages of "the courses of the so-called 'internal forum' promoted by the Apostolic Penitentiary."

"We cannot preach forgiveness and reconciliation to others if we do not experience these things personally. Although it is true that in our ministry there are various ways and instruments with which to communicate the merciful love of God to our brothers and sisters, it is nonetheless in the celebration of this Sacrament that we can do so in the most complete and exalted manner. Christ has chosen us, dear priests, to be the only ones with the power to pardon sins in His name. This then, is a specific ecclesial service to which we must give priority."

Many people in difficulty "seek the comfort and consolation of Christ," Pope Benedict concluded. "How many penitents find in confession the peace and joy they were seeking for so long! How can we not recognize, also in our own time marked by so many religious and social challenges, that this Sacrament must be rediscovered and presented anew?"

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Riccardo Fontana of Spoleto-Norcia.

- Bishop Giovanni Scanavino O.S.A., of Orvieto-Todi.

- Archbishop Giuseppe Chiaretti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve.

- Bishop Pellegrino Tomaso Ronchi O.F.M. Cap., of Citta di Castello.

- Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke O.S.B., of Eichstatt, Germany.

This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Adalberto Martinez Flores of San Lorenzo, Paraguay, as bishop of San Pedro (area 20,002, population 390,000, Catholics 358,000, priests 20, religious 30), Paraguay.

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CONGRESS OF ACADEMY FOR LIFE TO BE PRESENTED ON TUESDAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, a press conference will be held to present an international congress entitled "Christian conscience in support of the right to life." Promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, the congress is due to be held in the Vatican on February 23 and 24.

Participating in Tuesday's press conference will be Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life; Bishop Anthony Fisher O.P., auxiliary of Sydney, Australia and professor of bioethics and moral theology at the John Paul II Institute in Sydney; Msgr. Jean Laffitte, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life and professor of anthropology and of conjugal spirituality at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family; Monica Lopez Barahona, biologist, professor of bioethics and director of the bioethical institute at the University of Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Francesco Marinelli of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado.

    - Archbishop Pietro Coccia of Pesaro.

    - Bishop Gervasio Gestori of San Benedetto del Tronto-Ripatransone-Montalto.

    - Bishop Vittorio Tomassetti of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola

    - Msgr. Pietro Spernanzoni, apostolic administrator of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia.

    - Bishop Arduino Bertoldo of Foligno.

This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070216 (100)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Albert D'Souza of Lucknow, India, as archbishop of Agra (area 49,162, population 27,173,476, Catholics 12,750, priests 66, religious 269), India. The archbishop-elect was born in Moodubelle, India in 1945, he was ordained a priest in 1974, and consecrated a bishop in 1993.

NER/.../D'SOUZA                                                                           VIS 070216 (60)

COMMUNIQUE ON THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF KOREA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received in audience Roh Moo-hyun, president of the Republic of Korea, accompanied by his wife and an entourage, according to a communique released today by the Holy See Press Office.

"The president" the communique reads, "then went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. During their discussions, mention was made of the cordial relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Korea, as well as of the understanding and cooperation that exist between the Catholic Church and the civil authorities.

"Attention turned to the political and social situation of eastern Asia and, in particular, to the evolution of the process of reconciliation on the Korean peninsula and to the respect and promotion of human rights in that region."

OP/VISIT KOREAN PRESIDENT/...                                             VIS 070215 (150)

POPE PRAYS FOR REUNION OF FAMILIES IN KOREA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - During the course of his meeting today in the Vatican with Roh Moo-hyun, president of the Republic of Korea, the Pope gave his guest a Letter, written in English, in which he affirms that the visit "serves to strengthen the good relations that exist between [Korea] and the Holy See," and that it "is also a clear sign of [the president's] esteem for the Catholic Church.

"I would ask you," the Holy Father adds, "to convey my affectionate greetings to the people of Korea, and to assure them of my prayers for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and throughout the region.

"For over fifty years, the Korean people have suffered the consequences of division. Families have been split, close relatives have been separated from one another. ... I pray for a speedy solution to the problem which impedes so many from communicating with one another."

Pope Benedict's Letter continues: "Sadly, the modem world is marked by an increasing number of threats to the dignity of human life. I wish therefore to commend all those in your country who work to uphold and defend the sanctity of life, marriage and the family, areas in which, as you know, the Catholic Church in Korea is particularly active.

"The risk of a nuclear arms race in the region is a further source of concern, fully shared by the Holy See. I urge all interested parties to make every effort to resolve the present tensions through peaceful means and to refrain from any gesture or initiative that might endanger the negotiations, while ensuring that the most vulnerable part of the North Korean population has access to humanitarian aid."

"Your country," the Holy Father concludes, "has experienced remarkable economic growth in recent times. ... At the same time, I am conscious that not all citizens are yet able to benefit fully from this increased prosperity. I therefore urge your government to work in harmony with all those who seek to promote the common good and social justice."

AC/KOREA/MOO-HYUN                                                               VIS 070215 (350)

ASH WEDNESDAY: POPE TO PRESIDE AT MASS IN SANTA SABINA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - At 4.30 p.m. on February 21, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, Benedict XVI will preside at a moment of prayer in the church of St. Anselm on Rome's Aventine Hill. There will follow a penitential procession to the basilica of Santa Sabina attended by cardinals, archbishops, bishops, the Benedictine monks of St. Anselm, the Dominican Fathers of Santa Sabina and lay faithful.

Following the procession, the Pope will preside at a Eucharistic celebration in the basilica of Santa Sabina, with the traditional rite of blessing and the imposition of the ashes.

OP/ASH WEDNESDAY/SANTA SABINA                                  VIS 070215 (120)

MEETING OF PONTIFICAL REPRESENTATIVES TO LATIN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - From February 15 to 17, a meeting of pontifical representatives to Latin America will be held in the Vatican. The gathering has been called by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., in view of the Fifth General Assembly of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM), due to be celebrated in Aparecida, Brazil from May 13 to 31.

According to a communique made public today, following an introduction by Cardinal Bertone, the 20 pontifical representatives, together with Archbishops Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, and Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, will exchange information and reflect upon the social, religious and ecclesial situation in Latin America.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, will speak upon the fifth general assembly of CELAM. Cardinal Re is one of three cardinals appointed by the Pope to preside at the forthcoming CELAM meeting, the other two being Cardinals Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, and Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, who are also due to speak at the current meeting.

For his part Cardinal Claudio Hummes O.F.M., prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, will present some reflections on the situation of the clergy and sects. Moreover the pontifical representatives will have the opportunity to study materials prepared by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the Congregation for Catholic Education, and by the Pontifical Councils for the Family, "Justice and Peace," and for Promoting Christian Unity.

The meeting will come to an end on Saturday, when the participants will be received in audience by the Pope.

OP/LATIN AMERICA:CELAM/...                                                  VIS 070215 (310)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Three prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Luigi Conti of Fermo.

    - Archbishop Gianni Danzi, prelate of Loreto, pontifical delegate to the shrine of Loreto.

    - Bishop Silvano Montevecchi of Ascoli Piceno.

This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Archbishop Robert Sarah, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070215 (80)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Francesco Coccopalmerio, auxiliary of Milan, Italy, as president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in St. Giuliano Milanese, Italy in 1938, he was ordained a priest in 1962 and consecrated a bishop in 1993. He succeeds Cardinal Julian Herranz Casado, whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Bruno Bertagna, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and auditor general of the Apostolic Camera, as vice president of the same pontifical council, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Tiedoli di Borgo Val di Taro, Italy in 1935, he was ordained a priest in 1959 and consecrated a bishop in 1991.

- Appointed Msgr. Juan Igancio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru of the personal prelature of Opus Dei, as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

- Appointed Fr. Jean Claude Randrianarisoa of the clergy of the archdiocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar, rector of the inter-diocesan seminary of theology of Faliarivo, as bishop of Miarinarivo (area 18,000, population 445,284, Catholics 247,000, priests 43, religious 71), Madagascar. The bishop-elect was born in Nandihizana Carion, Madagascar in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1991. He succeeds Bishop Raymond Razakarinvony, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

NA:NER:RE/.../...                                                                             VIS 070215 (260)

WOMEN DID NOT ABANDON JESUS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 14, 2007 (VIS) - The role of women in the history of the Church was the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for his catechesis at today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 20,000 people.

"Jesus chose 12 men as fathers of the new Israel, 'to be with Him and to be sent out to proclaim the message'," said the Holy Father, "but ... among the disciples many women were also chosen. ... They played an active role within the context of Jesus mission. In the first place ... the Virgin Mary, who with her faith and her maternal care worked in a unique way for our redemption. ... Having become a disciple of her Son, ... she followed Him even to the foot of the cross where she received a maternal mission for all his disciples in all times."

After mentioning other women who appear in various parts of the Gospel - such as Susanna, and Lazarus' sisters Martha and Mary - the Pope pointed out that "the women, unlike the Twelve, did not abandon Jesus at the hour of His Passion. Outstanding among them was Mary Magdalene ... who was the first witness of the Resurrection and announced it to the others." Pope Benedict also recalled how St. Thomas Aquinas referred to Mary Magdalene as "the apostle of the apostles."

In the first Christian communities, Benedict XVI went on, "the female presence was anything but secondary." St. Paul "starts from the fundamental principle according to which among the baptized 'there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female'." Furthermore, "the Apostle admits that in the Christian community it is quite normal that there should be women who prophesy, in other words who pronounce openly under the influence of Holy Spirit for the edification of the community."

Therefore St. Paul's subsequent assertion that "women should be silent in the churches" must "be relativized," said the Pope, and he explained that "the problem ... of the relationship between these two apparently contradictory indications should be left to the exegetes."

"The history of Christianity would have developed quite differently without the generous contribution of many women," said the Pope and he recalled how John Paul II had written: "The Church gives thanks for each and every woman ... for all the manifestations of the feminine 'genius'."

"We share this appreciation, giving thanks to the Lord because He leads His Church, generation after generation, indiscriminately using men and women who know how to bring their faith to fruition ... for the good of the entire body of the Church.

After the audience, relatives of three Israeli soldiers - Ehud Goldwaser and Eldad Regev, held by the Lebanese group Hezbollah since July 2006, and Gilad Shalit, in the hands of the Palestinian group Hamas since June 25 - handed the Pope the copy of a letter in which they request the immediate and unconditional liberation of their loved ones.

Prior to the audience in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope had met in the Vatican Basilica with bishops from the Italian region of the Marches, who are currently undertaking their "ad limina" visit. The prelates were accompanied by civil authorities and faithful from their various dioceses.

The Holy Father also recalled that on September 1 and 2, he will participate in a national meeting of Italian youth at the shrine of Loreto, Italy, and he invited young people to attend in large numbers. In closing, he read a prayer to the Virgin Mary asking, among other things, that she watch over this pastoral initiative so that it may be "fertile soil for the Italian Church."

AG/WOMEN/...                                                                                VIS 070214 (630)

PAPAL CONDOLENCES FOR BOMB ATTACK NEAR BEIRUT

VATICAN CITY, FEB 14, 2007 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. sent a telegram of condolence, in the Pope's name, to His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon, for yesterday's bomb attack north of Beirut in which three people were killed and around 20 injured:

"Profoundly grieved by the terrible attack that struck Lebanon this morning, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI asks Your Beatitude to express his spiritual closeness to the injured and to the relatives of the victims, and give them assurances of his prayers. Entrusting to divine providence those who died so tragically, the Holy Father invokes the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary upon the entire Lebanese nation. He calls upon the Lebanese people and their representatives to unanimously reject violence and hopes that, in this dramatic event, they may find the motivation for a commitment in favor of national unity and the common good."

TGR/LEBANON ATTACK/SFEIR                                                 VIS 070214 (170)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 14, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. John Moolachira of the clergy of the diocese of Tezpur, India, former rector of the minor diocesan seminary and pastor of Udalguri, as bishop of Diphu (area 15,222, population 1,090,150, Catholics 44,840, priests 44, religious 136), India. The bishop-elect was born in Puthusserykadavu, India in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1978.

- Appointed Msgr. Daniel Fernandez Torres of the clergy of the diocese of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, pastor of the parish of "Nuestra Senora del Carmen," as auxiliary of the archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico (area 1,056, population 1,427,970, Catholics 1,063,808, priests 296, permanent deacons 225, religious 690), Puerto Rico. The bishop-elect was born in Chicago, U.S.A. in 1964 and ordained a priest in 1995.

NER:NEA/.../MOOLACHIRA:FERNANDEZ                                VIS 070214 (140

PROMOTE THE MATURATION OF MORAL CONSCIENCE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 13, 2007 (VIS) - Late yesterday morning, the Holy Father received in audience participants in an international congress on Natural Law, being promoted by the Pontifical Lateran University.

In his address, which was made public this morning, the Pope began by noting "the great advantages" of technological progress. He also mentioned, however, "the threats menacing the destruction of nature," and also noted "another danger, less visible but no less alarming: the method that enables us to have an ever greater understanding of the rational structures of matter, makes us ever less capable of seeing the source of this rationality: creative Reason."

For this reason, the Holy Father went on, "there is an urgent need to reflect upon the question of natural law and to rediscover its truth" which "is common to all mankind. ... This law has as its first and most general principle that of 'doing good and avoiding evil'," from which "derive all the other more specific principles that regulate ethical judgements on the rights and duties of everyone."

These include: "the principle of respect for human life from conception to natural end," because "life is not the property of man but a gratuitous gift of God;" and "the duty to seek the truth, a necessary supposition for all authentic human maturation." Another of the principles is human freedom, which since it "is always shared with others, ... can only be found in that which is common to everyone: the truth of human beings, the fundamental message of existence itself, in other words the 'lex naturalis'."

Pope Benedict also dwelt upon the need for justice and solidarity, values expressed in "obligatory norms that do not depend upon the will of the legislator, nor even upon the consensus that States may give them. They are, in fact, norms that precede any human law and as such they cannot be repealed by anyone."

"Natural law," he affirmed, "is the source from which, along with fundamental rights, flow ethical imperatives that must be honored. Modern legal ethics and philosophy reveal the widespread influence of the postulates of juridical positivism. As a consequence legislation often becomes a mere compromise between various interests; there is an attempt to transform into law private interests or desires that clash with the duties deriving from social responsibility.

"In this situation, it is well to recall that all legal systems, both internal and international, ultimately draw their legitimacy from their rooting in natural law, in the ethical message inscribed in human beings themselves. ... Knowledge of this law ... increases with the development of moral conscience. The primary concern for everyone, and especially for those charged with public responsibilities, must then be that of promoting the maturation of moral conscience."

"What we have said so far has very concrete applications if referred to the family," explained the Pope, "in other words 'the intimate partnership of married life and love established by the Creator and qualified by His laws.' ... Indeed, no law made by man can overturn the norms written by the Creator, without inflicting a dramatic injury to society in what constitutes its most basic foundation."

"Finally, I feel the need to reaffirm once again that not everything that is scientifically possible is also ethically legitimate. Technology, when it reduces the human being to an object of experimentation, ends up by abandoning the weak to the power of the strongest. Entrusting oneself blindly to technology as the only guarantee of progress, without at the same time presenting an ethical code, ... would be an act of violence against human nature, with devastating consequences for everyone."

"Scientists must also contribute in helping us to acquire a profound understanding of our responsibility for man, and for the nature entrusted to him. On this basis it is possible to develop a fruitful dialogue between believers and non believers, between theologians, philosophers, jurists and scientists, all of whom can also give legislators precious guidance for individual and social life."

The Pope concluded his talk by expressing the hope that the conference will "bring not only a greater sensitivity among scholars towards moral natural law, but also help to create the conditions ... for an ever greater awareness of the inalienable value of 'lex naturalis' for a real and coherent progress of individual life and of the social order."

AC/NATURAL LAW/...                                                                   VIS 070213 (730)

THE ABSENCE OF GOD IS WORSE THAN MATERIAL POVERTY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 13, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today in the Holy See Press Office, the presentation took place of Benedict XVI's Message for Lent 2007. Participating in the press conference were Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," Msgr. Karel Kasteel and Fr. Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the same dicastery, and Fr. Oreste Benzi, president of the John XXIII Foundation.

Until now the pontiffs' Lenten Messages have concentrated, said Archbishop Cordes, "on works of charity in the sense of the social commitment of Christians." However, Benedict XVI's Message this year "focuses forcefully upon God the Father of Jesus Christ and has, therefore, not an anthropocentric but a theocentric emphasis. ... This alteration is also discernable in the preaching of Benedict XVI in general. He seems to want us to address ourselves more intensely to the Father in heaven, to entrust ourselves to His Son, Jesus Christ."

"Of course, Benedict XVI is also aware that God seems to be the great missing presence of our time, whether man knows it or not. ... Clearly, the Pope cannot accept this impoverishment. The absence of God is worse than material poverty because it kills all sure hope and leaves man alone with his pain and grief."

The president of "Cor Unum" pointed out how in this year's Message, "the Pope resumes the reflections on 'eros and 'agape' he began in his Encyclical, and sees these two forms of love come together in all their fullness in the crucified Christ. He writes: 'only the love that unites the free gift of oneself with the impassioned desire for reciprocity instills a joy, which eases the greatest of sacrifices.'

"Thus," Archbishop Cordes added, "the Pope also uses his Lenten Message to go back to the pain that weighs upon our lives through our own or others' fault, and he invites us to raise our eyes from the depths to the heights, 'they shall look on Him whom they have pierced'." The Holy Father reveals "a sensitivity to the despair of the world, not exclusively, perhaps not even principally, to eliminate misery by one's own efforts, but to seek energy in the fountain of love against all forms of resignation."

Archbishop Cordes concluded by pointing out that no one, "by appealing for us to turn to Christ, seeks to substitute the service of man with service to God."

For his part Fr. Oreste Benzi indicated that Lent must be, for all Christians, "a renewed experience of the love of God, donated to us in Christ, a love that in our turn we must 're-donate' to our fellow man, especially to the needy and the suffering."

In this context, Fr. Benzi enumerated the tasks facing the communities and movements recognized by the Church. These include: "the struggle to defend women from abortion, recognition of the true family, the fight against drugs, the commitment to show a real welcome to immigrants ... and gypsies, the commitment to help prisoners, ... the commitment not to be employees of charity but lovers of Christ, the commitment to be a [united] people, and the struggle for freedom from slavery and prostitution."

OP/LENTEN MESSAGE/CORDES                                   VIS 070213 (540)

HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE FOR LENT 2007

VATICAN CITY, FEB 13, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was The Message of Benedict XVI for Lent 2007. The text, dated November 21, 2006, has as its title a verse taken from the Gospel of St. John: "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced." The full English-language version of the document is given below:

"'They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.' This is the biblical theme that this year guides our Lenten reflection. Lent is a favorable time to learn to stay with Mary and John, the beloved disciple, close to Him Who on the Cross, consummated for all mankind the sacrifice of His life. With a more fervent participation let us direct our gaze, therefore, in this time of penance and prayer, at Christ crucified Who, dying on Calvary, revealed fully for us the love of God. In the Encyclical 'Deus caritas est,' I dwelt upon this theme of love, highlighting its two fundamental forms: 'agape' and 'eros.'

"The term 'agape', which appears many times in the New Testament, indicates the self-giving love of one who looks exclusively for the good of the other. The word 'eros,' on the other hand, denotes the love of one who desires to possess what one lacks and yearns for union with the beloved. The love with which God surrounds us is undoubtedly 'agape.' Indeed, can man give to God some good that He does not already possess? All that the human creature is and has is divine gift. It is the creature then, who is in need of God in everything. But God's love is also 'eros.' In the Old Testament, the Creator of the universe manifests toward the people whom He has chosen as His own a predilection that transcends every human motivation. The prophet Hosea expresses this divine passion with daring images such as the love of a man for an adulterous woman. For his part, Ezekiel, speaking of God's relationship with the people of Israel, is not afraid to use strong and passionate language. These biblical texts indicate that 'eros' is part of God's very heart: the Almighty awaits the 'yes' of His creatures as a young bridegroom that of his bride. Unfortunately, from its very origins, mankind, seduced by the lies of the Evil One, rejected God's love in the illusion of a self-sufficiency that is impossible. Turning in on himself, Adam withdrew from that source of life Who is God Himself, and became the first of 'those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.' God, however, did not give up. On the contrary, man's 'no' was the decisive impulse that moved Him to manifest His love in all of its redeeming strength.

"It is in the mystery of the Cross that the uncontainable power of the heavenly Father's mercy is revealed in all of its fullness. In order to win back the love of His creature, He accepted to pay a very high price: the blood of His only begotten Son. Death, which for the first Adam was an extreme sign of loneliness and powerlessness, was thus transformed in the supreme act of love and freedom of the new Adam. One could very well assert, therefore, together with Saint Maximus the Confessor, that Christ 'died, if one could say so, divinely, because He died freely.' On the Cross, God's 'eros' for us is made manifest. 'Eros' is indeed - as Pseudo-Dionysius expresses it - that force 'that does not allow the lover to remain in himself but moves him to become one with the beloved'. Is there a more 'mad eros' than that which led the Son of God to make Himself one with us even to the point of suffering as His own the consequences of our offences?

"Dear brothers and sisters, let us look at Christ pierced in the Cross! He is the unsurpassing revelation of God's love, a love in which 'eros' and 'agape,' far from being opposed, enlighten each other. On the Cross, it is God Himself Who begs the love of His creature: He is thirsty for the love of every one of us. The Apostle Thomas recognized Jesus as 'Lord and God' when he put his hand into the wound of His side. Not surprisingly, many of the saints found in the Heart of Jesus the deepest expression of this mystery of love. One could rightly say that the revelation of God's 'eros' toward man is, in reality, the supreme expression of His 'agape.' In all truth, only the love that unites the free gift of oneself with the impassioned desire for reciprocity instills a joy, which eases the greatest of sacrifices. Jesus said: 'When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.' The response the Lord ardently desires of us is above all that we welcome His love and allow ourselves to be drawn to Him. Accepting His love, however, is not enough. We need to respond to such love and dedicate ourselves to communicating it to others. Christ 'draws me to Himself' in order to unite Himself to me, so that I learn to love the brothers with His own love.

"'They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.' Let us look with trust at the pierced side of Jesus from which flow 'blood and water'! The Fathers of the Church considered these elements as symbols of the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. Through the water of Baptism, thanks to the action of the Holy Spirit, we are given access to the intimacy of Trinitarian love. In the Lenten journey, memorial of our Baptism, we are exhorted to come out of ourselves in order to open ourselves, in trustful abandonment, to the merciful embrace of the Father. Blood, symbol of the love of the Good Shepherd, flows into us especially in the Eucharistic mystery: 'The Eucharist draws us into Jesus' act of self-oblation ... we enter into the very dynamic of His self-giving.' Let us live Lent then, as a 'Eucharistic' time in which, welcoming the love of Jesus, we learn to spread it around us with every word and deed. Contemplating 'Him whom they have pierced' will move us in this way to open our hearts to others, recognizing the wounds inflicted upon the dignity of the human person; it will move us, in particular, to fight every form of contempt for life and human exploitation and to alleviate the tragedies of loneliness and abandonment of so many people. May Lent be for every Christian a renewed experience of God's love given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must 'regive' to our neighbor, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need. Only in this way shall we be able to participate fully in the joy of Easter. May Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic conversion to the love of Christ. I wish you, dear brothers and sisters, a fruitful Lenten journey, imparting with affection to all of you, a special Apostolic Blessing."

MESS/LENT 2007/...                                                            VIS 070213 (1200)

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.../.../...                                                                                               VIS 070213 (80)

COSTA RICA: PROMOTE JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, Benedict XVI received the Letters of Credence of Luis Paris Chaverri, the new ambassador of Costa Rica to the Holy See.

In opening his address to the diplomat, the Pope mentioned "the strong religious imprint" of Costa Rica, which "reflects the faith of the people following more than five centuries since the start of evangelization."

The Holy Father indicated how the various ecclesial communities "cooperate in such vital fields as education, aiding the disadvantaged, healthcare, and the promotion of people in their condition of citizens and children of God." Costa Rican bishops are concerned over "growing levels of poverty, public insecurity and domestic violence, as well as intense immigration from neighboring countries. Faced with such situations, at times conflictive, and in order to defend the common good, they seek to collaborate in initiatives that favor understanding and conciliation, and lead to the promotion of justice and solidarity, fomenting ... national dialogue between the leaders of public life."

"Social improvements are not achieved by applying only the necessary technical measures, but also by promoting reforms that uphold an ethical view of the person, of the family and of society. To this end, moral values such as honesty, austerity and responsibility must be cultivated for the common good. In this way it will be possible to prevent the individual and collective forms of selfishness and corruption, ... that prevent all forms of progress."

Benedict XVI praised government initiatives "to promote peace and human rights in the world," as well as the country's "traditional proximity to the positions held by the Holy See in various international organizations on important questions such as the defense of human life and the promotion of marriage and the family.

"All Costa Ricans," he added, "must be protagonists and architects of the country's progress," cooperating to create "a political stability that enables everyone to participate in public life." In this context, the Holy Father recalled that "the moral teachings of the Church offer values and guidelines which, when taken into consideration - especially by those who work in the service of the nation - are a great help in providing an adequate response to the needs and aspirations of citizens."

The Pope then went on to refer to "the painful and widespread problem of poverty," which has "serious consequences in the field of education, health and housing, and represents a pressing challenge for governments and heads of public administration."

This problem "requires a greater awareness, enabling the current situation to be faced in all its dimensions, cooperating in a real commitment for the common good. As in other areas, the poor lack basic essentials and have no access to the indispensable resources that would enable their promotion and integral development, This affects, above all, immigrants seeking a better standard of living. Faced with such a situation, the Church ... seeks to encourage and favor initiatives aimed at overcoming situations of marginalization."

CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/COSTA RICA:PARIS             VIS 070212 (510)

FORMATION OF CONSCIENCES IN FUNDAMENTAL VALUES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received a delegation from the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France, led by their secretary Michel Albert. During the course of the ceremony, the Pope received a medal commemorating his admittance to the academy as a foreign associate member.

Having expressed his thanks for the medal, the Holy Father recalled how the academy "is a center for exchange and debate, offering citizens and legislators the opportunity to reflect, and to discover forms of political organization more favorable to the common good and to individual development."

In the modern world, it is more urgent than ever "to call our contemporaries to pay heed to these two questions" said the Pope, observing that "the growth of subjectivism, which leads each individual to consider himself as the sole point of reference and to believe that what he thinks is true, must encourage us to form consciences in those fundamental values that cannot be disdained without endangering human beings and society itself."

Benedict XVI continued his address by evoking the figure of Andrei Sakharov, a member of the academy whose place on the academy he himself had taken following Sakharov's death, saying his example reminded us "of the need in personal and public life to have the courage to speak the truth and to follow it, to be free from one's environment which often tends to impose particular points of view and forms of behavior."

"One of the challenges facing our contemporaries, and particularly young people," he continued, "consists in not living merely for the exterior world, but in developing an interior life." This inner life is "the place that unifies being and action, the place to recognize our dignity as children of God called to freedom. ... What brings joy to the human heart is knowing oneself to be a child of God, this is a good and beautiful life, ... this is the victory over death and falsehood."

The Pope again returned to the example of Sakharov, saying: "If under the communist regime his exterior freedom was fettered, his interior freedom, which no one could take away from him, authorized him to speak out firmly to defend his compatriots in the name of the common good. Today too it is important that human beings do not let themselves be fettered by external chains such as relativism, the search for power and profit at all costs, drugs, disordered personal relationships, confusion over marriage, and the failure to recognize human beings at every stage of their existence from conception to natural death, as if it were thinkable that there could be stages [of life] in which a human being does not truly exist."

"We must have the courage to remind our contemporaries what human beings and humanity are," the Holy Father concluded, and he invited "civil authorities and people charged with the transmission of values to be courageous in affirming the truth about human beings."

AC/ACADEMY OF MORAL:POLITICAL SCIENCES/...                       VIS 070212 (510)

VOLUNTEER WORK CAN BE A SCHOOL OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received the National Confederation of "Misericordie" of Italy, an association of charitable groups that currently comprises 700 confraternities covering the entire national territory. They were accompanied by numerous groups of blood donors, known as "Fratres."

The confederation, "the oldest form of organized voluntary work in the world," has more than 100,000 volunteers, said the Pope, and he recalled how they are "permanently committed to social work and healthcare. ... With your presence and activities you contribute to spreading the Gospel of God's love to all mankind."

"Today too - indeed even more so in our own time marked by so many human and spiritual challenges - how necessary it is for Christians to proclaim with works the merciful love of God! ... So many people do not readily welcome Christ and His demanding teachings, yet they are not insensible to the witness of those who communicate His message through the concrete witness of charity. Love is a language that reaches directly to the heart and opens it to trust."

"Your association represents a typical example of the importance of conserving one's own 'Christian roots' in Italy and in Europe. Today, the 'Misericordie' are not an ecclesial group but their historical roots remain unmistakably Christian. The name 'Misericordie' itself express this, as does the fact that at your origins lies the initiative of a saint. And the roots, in order to continue to produce fruit, must remain healthy and strong."

The Pope went on to observe that for this reason the confederation offers its members "periods of training and formation to dedicate more profound study to the human and Christian motivations of your activities. The risk, in fact, is that voluntary work can be reduced to mere activism. If, on the other hand, the spiritual dimension is kept alive, [voluntary work] can communicate to others values well beyond what is materially necessary: it can offer people in difficulty the gaze of love of which they have need."

Finally, Benedict XVI praised the "important educational function" of the "Misericordie," which contribute to "maintaining an awareness of the most noble values such as fraternity and disinterested assistance to those in difficulty." He also highlighted how, especially for young people, volunteer work can be "a school of life that helps them to give meaning and a more exalted and fruitful value to their lives ."

The Pope concluded his address by recalling that tomorrow, February 11, is the 15th World Day of the Sick, dedicated this year to the terminally ill. And he called upon Mary, Mother of Mercy, to "watch over all your confraternities. ... May she help you to undertake your mission with genuine love, thus contributing to spreading throughout the world the love of God, source of life for all human beings."

AC/VOLUNTEER WORK/MISERICORDIE                                 VIS 070212 (490)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Speyer, Germany, presented by Bishop Anton Schlembach, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez of Santisimo Salvador de Bayamo y Manzanillo, Cuba, as metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Cuba (area 6,043, population 1,017,785, Catholics 242,378, priests 20, permanent deacons 3, religious 53), Cuba. The archbishop-elect was born in Guantanamo, Cuba in 1945, he was ordained a priest in 1985, and consecrated a bishop in 1996. He succeeds Archbishop Pedro Claro Meurice Estiu, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Elevated the apostolic prefecture of Nepal (area 147,181, population 23,700,000, Catholics 6,681, priests 51, religious 112), Nepal to the rank of apostolic vicariate, with the same name and territorial boundaries. He appointed Fr. Anthony Francis Sharma S.J., apostolic prefect of Nepal, as the first apostolic vicar of the new apostolic vicariate, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1968.

- Confirmed the election, carried out by the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, meeting on February 8, 2007, of Archbishop Issac Cleemis Thottunkal of Tiruvalla, India as major archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars (area 8,684, population 8,657,000, Catholics 270,000, priests 300, religious 1,056), India.

RE:NER:ECE/.../...                                                                          VIS 070212 (250)

HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR THE INCURABLY ILL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2007 (VIS) - The World Day of the Sick , which falls today Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was the main theme of Benedict XVI's brief reflections before praying the Angelus this morning with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled the fact that the Church today celebrates the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette, an event that took place on February 11, 1858 in the grotto of Massabielle near the French town of Lourdes. "For nearly 150 years, the Virgin's call to prayer and penance has rung out powerfully, almost like a permanent echo of the call with which Jesus inaugurated His preaching in Galilee."

The shrine of Lourdes, Pope Benedict went on, has attracted "many sick pilgrims who, in listening to Most Holy Mary, are encouraged to accept their sufferings and offer them for the salvation of the world, uniting them to those of the crucified Christ. Precisely because of this connection between Lourdes and human suffering, 15 years ago the beloved John Paul II called for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to mark the World Day of the Sick."

The Holy Father sent his greetings to Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Ministry, who is presiding over the celebrations for this year's World Day, being held in Seoul, Korea. He also extended his thoughts "to healthcare workers all over the world, well aware of the importance your service to the sick has in our society.

"Above all," he added, "I wish to express my spiritual closeness and affection to our brothers and sisters who are sick, with a special thought for those struck by the most serious and painful illnesses. To them in particular our concern is directed on this World Day. It is necessary to support the development of forms of palliative care that provide integral assistance, and offer the incurably ill that human support and spiritual accompaniment of which they have such great need."

ANG/WORLD DAY SICK/...                                                          VIS 070212 (350)

DO NOT ABANDON PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS ILLNESSES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2007 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 4.30 p.m. today, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the 15th World Day of the Sick, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, celebrated Mass for the sick and for pilgrims of UNITALSI (Italian National Union for Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines), and of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi. The theme of this year's World Day is: "Pastoral and spiritual attention to the incurably ill."

At the end of Mass, Benedict XVI arrived in the basilica where he blessed the sick and made some brief remarks.

"Mary," said the Pope, "who with her faith accompanied her Son even to the foot of the cross, she who was associated by mysterious design with the sufferings of Christ, never tires of exhorting us to live and to share with serene trust the experience of pain and illness, offering it faithfully to the Father and thus completing what is lacking in our flesh for the afflictions of Christ."

Going on to refer specifically to the seriously ill, the Holy Father called for them to be made aware "of the material and spiritual closeness of the entire Christian community. It is important not to leave them abandoned and alone as they find themselves facing such a delicate moment in their lives." In this context, Pope Benedict praised the work of doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, volunteers, religious and priests "who dedicate all their energy to the sick, concerned, like the Good Samaritan, not for their social status, the color of their skin or their religious belief, but only for their needs. In the face of each human being, and even more so if tried and disfigured by illness, shines forth the face of Christ."

In the grotto of Massabielle "human suffering and hope, fear and trust, come together. How many pilgrims, comforted by the gaze of the Mother, find in Lourdes the strength to put the will of God into effect more easily, even at the cost of sacrifice and pain. ... May no one, especially people undergoing harsh suffering, ever feel alone and abandoned."

AC/WORLD DAY SICK/...                                                             VIS 070212 (370)

PRESENTATION OF PONTIFICAL YEARBOOK 2007

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. presented the Holy Father with the 2007 edition of the "Annuario Pontificio," or pontifical yearbook. Also present were Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, and the officials responsible for compiling and printing the volume.

A communique regarding the presentation highlights some of the salient facts contained in the new yearbook. In 2006, 12 new episcopal sees were created, as well as nine metropolitan sees and one apostolic administration; 180 new bishops were also appointed.

Between 2004 and 2005, the number of Catholics in the world increased from 1,098 million to 1,115 million, a growth of 1.5 percent. However, because this growth is very similar to that of the population of the planet (1.2 percent), the percentage of Catholics in the world remained substantially unchanged at 17.2 percent.

A geographical analysis of these variations shows that over the period 2004-2005, the number of Catholics in Africa grew by 3.1 percent, while the population of the continent grew by 2.1 percent. In Asia and the Americas the number of Catholics also increased slightly with respect to the population (2.71 percent against 1.18 percent in Asia, 1.2 percent against 0.9 percent in the Americas). In Europe, the number of Catholics grew slightly while the population remained almost stationery.

In 2004-2005, the number of religious and diocesan priests passed from 405,891 to 406,411 (a growth of 0.13 percent). However, the distribution of priests differed from continent to continent, with their numbers growing in Africa and Asia (respectively, by 3.8 percent and 3.55 percent) and falling in Europe and America (by 0.5 percent), and in Oceania (by 1.8 percent).

Numbers of candidates to the priesthood, both diocesan and religious, increased overall, passing from 113,044 in 2004 to 114,439 in 2005 (an increase of 1.23 percent). Vocations are most numerous in Africa and Asia, they are falling in Europe and are stationary in Oceania.

AP/ANNUARIO PONTIFICIO 2007/BERTONE                           VIS 070212 (340)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli of Ancona-Osimo.

    - Bishop Giancarlo Vecerrica of Fabriano-Matelica, and apostolic administrator of Camerino-San Severino Marche.

  - Bishop Gerardo Rocconi of Jesi.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Orlandoni of Senigallia.

- Participants in an international congress on Natural Law, being promoted by the Pontifical Lateran University.

On Saturday, February 10, he received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop emeritus of Paris, France.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

THE CHURCH WAS BORN IN BELIEVERS' HOUSES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2007 (VIS) - Benedict XVI's catechesis during this morning's general audience was dedicated to the Roman couple Priscilla and Aquila, who collaborated with St. Paul in Corinth. Having been expelled from Rome by the emperor Claudius following disturbances involving followers of Christ, they arrived in Corinth about the year 50 and there met Paul who, like them, was a tentmaker.

Priscilla was very active in the Christian community in Rome, she and her husband Aquila played a vital role in the early Church, said the Pope, "welcoming into their house the groups of local Christians when they came together to hear the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist. This kind of meeting is called in Greek 'ecclesia.' ... Thus it was the Church that gathered in Priscilla and Aquila's house to celebrate Christ in the holy mysteries. So we see that the Church came into being in the houses of the believers.

"Until the third century," the Holy Father added, "Christians did not have their own specific places of worship," and so during the first and second centuries "the houses of Christians became true 'churches.' ... Thanks to the faith and the apostolic commitment of lay faithful, of families, and of couples like Priscilla and Aquila, Christianity has reached our own generation. It did not grow only thanks to the announcement of the Apostles. To put down roots in the people, to develop, ... it needed the commitment of these families, ... who provided the 'humus' for the growth of the faith.

"And still, it is only in this way that the Church grows. In particular, this couple showed how important the actions of Christian married couples are! ... All houses can be transformed into little churches."

"It is not by chance that in his Letter to the Ephesians, Paul compares the marriage bond to the communion that exists between Christ and the Church. We could even say that the Apostle indirectly models the entire life of the Church upon that of the family. The Church is, in truth, the family of God."

Benedict XVI concluded: "So we render homage to Aquila and Priscilla as models of a married life responsibly committed to the service of the entire Christian community. And in them we see the model of the Church, family of God for all times."

AG/PRISCILLA:AQUILA/... VIS 070207 (400)

THE VARIETY OF CHARISMS IS INSEPARABLE FROM LIFE OF CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 8, 2007 (VIS) - The Pope today received participants in the annual meeting of bishops, friends of the "Focolare" movement, who are considering the theme: "Christ crucified and abandoned, light in the cultural night," and participants in the ninth congress of bishops, friends of the Sant'Egidio Community, who are studying the question: "The globalization of love."

The Pope told the bishops that their closeness to these movements "highlights the vitality of new groupings of the faithful, and expresses the communion between charisms that constitutes a typical 'sign of the times'."

This "multiplicity and unity of charisms and of ministries is inseparable from the life of the Church," said the Holy Father. "The Holy Spirit wants the variety of the movements [to be] at the service of the one Body which is, of course, the Church, and He brings this about through the ministry of the people He has placed to run the Church of God: the bishops in communion with Peter's Successor."

"In the wealthy Western world where, although cultural relativism does exist, there is no lack of a widespread desire for spirituality, your movements testify to the joy of the faith and the beauty of being Christian. In the vast deprived areas of the earth, they communicate the message of solidarity and stand alongside the poor and weak with that love, human and divine, that I sought to bring to everyone's attention with my Encyclical 'Deus caritas est'."

"The Focolare movement," he continued, "highlights the charism and service of unity, which it puts into effect in various social and cultural fields ... and through ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. The Sant'Egidio Community, placing prayer and liturgy at the core of its own existence, wishes to be close to those suffering distress and social marginalization."

"Together we can face with greater fortitude the pressing challenges that call our attention at the beginning of this third millennium," such as "the search for justice and peace, and the urgent need to construct a more fraternal and united world, starting with the countries from which a number of you come, wracked by bloody conflicts."

Benedict XVI made particular mention of Africa "a continent," he said, "that I carry in my heart and that I hope may finally see a period of stable peace and real development. The forthcoming synod of African bishops will surely be an appropriate moment to show the great love that God reserves for the beloved people of Africa."

AC/FOCOLARE:SANT'EGIDIO/...                                                VIS 070208 (430)

DECLARATION BY THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 8, 2007 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., released the following declaration this morning:

"Regarding news published this morning in an important Italian daily, I deny that a meeting has recently taken place between Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and the Italian prime minister, Romano Prodi, or that a letter has arrived in the Vatican from bishops of Piedmont concerning the presidency of the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference)."

OP/.../LOMBARDI                                                                           VIS 070208 (90)

PRESENTATION OF POPE'S LENTEN MESSAGE 2007

VATICAN CITY, FEB 8, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press office at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13, the presentation will take place of Benedict XVI's Message for Lent 2007. Participating in the press conference will be Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," Msgr. Karel Kasteel and Fr. Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the same dicastery, and Fr. Oreste Benzi, president of the John XXIII Foundation.

OP/PRESENTATION LENTEN MESSAGE/CORDES             VIS 070208 (90)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 8, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Michele Giordano, archbishop emeritus of Naples, Italy.

- Three prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Egidio Caporello of Mantova.

    - Bishop Giovanni Giudici of Pavia.

    - Bishop Claudio Baggini of Vigevano.

- His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxony, accompanied by Princess Elmira.

PROMOTE AND DEFEND A CULTURE OF LIFE AND LEGALITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2007 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica this morning, the Pope met with prelates from the Italian region of Lombardy, who are currently in the course of their "ad limina" visit. The bishops were accompanied by groups of faithful from their various dioceses.

The Church, the Pope told them, "has an important role she must continue to play in Lombard society: announcing and bearing witness to the Gospel in all areas, especially where there exist the negative traits of hedonistic consumer culture, of secularism and individualism, where old and new forms of poverty appear with worrying signs of youth alienation and phenomena of violence and criminality. Although public institutions and various educational organizations at times seem to suffer moments of difficulty there is, however, no lack of ... moral resources in your people, so rich in noble family and religious traditions.

"Your field of activity is thus truly immense," the Holy Father added. "On the one hand you must defend and promote the culture of human life and legality, on the other, an ever more coherent conversion to Christ is needed, at both an individual and community level. Indeed, in order for our faith in man, made in God's image, to increase, we must penetrate more deeply and coherently into the mystery of Christ and proclaim His message of salvation. We must do everything possible to gain an ever better understanding of the figure of Jesus, so that our knowledge of him is not just 'second hand,' but cones through prayer, liturgy and love for others. This is clearly a difficult commitment, but there is comfort in the words of the Lord: 'Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age'."

The Holy Father called for "an intensification of your evangelical witness so that Christians in all fields, guided by the Holy Spirit that dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple, may become living signs of supernatural hope. I encourage you, dear bishops," he concluded, "to guide the dynamic people of Lombardy along this path, relying in all situations on never-failing divine assistance."

AG/CULTURE LIFE:LEGALITY/LOMBARD BISHOPS VIS 070207 (370)

HOLY SEE SUPPORTS INITIATIVES AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a declaration of the Holy See delivered during the course of a world congress on the death penalty, held in Paris, France from February 1 to 3.

"The Paris congress," reads the French-language text, "is being celebrated at a time in which, because of recent executions, the campaign against the death penalty is facing new and disquieting challenges. Public opinion has become sensitized and has expressed its concern for a more effective recognition of the inalienable dignity of human beings, and of the universality and integrity of human rights, beginning with the right to life."

As in previous meetings on the same subject, "the Holy See takes this opportunity to welcome and affirm once more its support for all initiatives that aim to defend the inherent value and inviolability of all human life, from conception to natural end. In this perspective, it is worth noting that the use of the death penalty is not just a negation of the right to life, but also an affront to human dignity."

"The Catholic Church continues to maintain that the legitimate authorities of State have the duty to protect society from aggressors," but "some States traditionally include the death penalty among the means used to achieve this end," an option "that is difficult to justify today." States now have new ways "of preserving public order and people's safety," which include "offering the accused stimuli and encouragement" to mend their ways. Such non-lethal means of prevention and punishment "correspond better to the ... the common good and conform more to the dignity of the human person."

"Any decision to use the death penalty involves many dangers," such as "that of punishing the innocent, and the temptation to foment violent forms of revenge rather than true social justice." It is also "a clear offense against the inviolability of human life ... and, for Christians, an affront to the evangelical teaching of forgiveness."

"The Holy See," the text concludes, "reiterates its appreciation to the organizers of the congress, to governments, ... and to everyone who works ... to abolish the death penalty or to impose a universal moratorium on its use."

DELSS/DEATH PENALTY/PARIS VIS 070207 (380)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Jose Alberto Moura C.S.S., of Uberlandia, Brazil, as metropolitan archbishop of Montes Claros (area 45,520, population 732,679, Catholics 549,509, priests 62, permanent deacons 9, religious 122), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Ituiutaba, Brazil in 1943, he was ordained a priest in 1971, and consecrated a bishop in 1990. He succeeds Archbishop Geraldo Majela de Castro O. Praem., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Chacko Aerath O.I.C., master of novices for the province of Navajyothy of the Order of the Imitation of Christ, as apostolic visitor for Syro-Malankar faithful living outside their "territorium proprium," elevating him at the same time to the dignity of bishop. The bishop elect was born in Karikulam Kerala, India in 1960, and ordained a priest in 1986.

NER:RE:NA/.../MOURA:MAJELA:AERATH VIS 070207 (160)

INDULGENCES FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2007 (VIS) - Late yesterday afternoon, the Apostolic Penitentiary published a decree announcing the concession of indulgences to the faithful for the World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated every year on February 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year, the Day will be celebrated in Seoul, Korea.

"We must," the text of the decree reads, "reflect deeply upon the fact that human remedies have a limit and that, therefore, there will inevitably come a time when man reaches the end of his journey on this earth. To the sick who are in that condition we must offer the most attentive care and the greatest charity, so that their transit from this world to the Father is comforted by divine consolation and so that, as the Church's prayer for the dying implores, they may see the gentle face of Jesus Christ and clearly hear the voice calling them to eternal glory and joy."

"With this awareness, the Holy Mother Church hopes that the annual celebration of the World Day of the Sick may become an effective catechesis of the teaching ... of the treasure of Revelation, concerning the value and function of suffering."

For this reason, Plenary Indulgence will be granted "to the faithful who, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Holy Father), and with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, participate on February 11 in the city of Seoul, or at any other place decided by the ecclesiastical authorities, in a sacred ceremony held to beseech God to grant the goals of the World Day of the Sick."

The decree continues: "The faithful who, in public hospitals or in private houses, like 'Good Samaritans' charitably assist the sick - especially those suffering incurable and terminal diseases - and who, because of the service they provide, cannot participate in the aforementioned ceremony, will obtain the same gift of Plenary Indulgence if on that day they generously provide, at least for a few hours, their charitable assistance to the sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required for obtaining the Plenary Indulgence.

"The faithful who, through sickness, old age or similar reason, are prevented from participating in the aforementioned ceremony, may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required, they spiritually participate together with the Holy Father in the aforesaid ceremony, pray devotedly for the sick, and offer - through the Virgin Mary 'Health of the Sick' - their physical and spiritual sufferings to God."

Partial Indulgence, the text of the decree concludes, will be conceded to "all the faithful whenever, between February 9 and 11, with a contrite heart they raise devout prayers to the merciful Lord calling for these aspirations to be met in order to help the sick, especially those suffering incurable and terminal disease."

PENT/INDULGENCES:SICK/...                                                    VIS 070206 (540)

ACTIVITIES OF COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2007 (VIS) - Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is currently participating is a seminar for Asian bishops and theologians on the theme of Pentecostalism, which is being held in Manila, Philippines from February 5 to 11. This is the last meeting of its type and on this theme following early seminars organized in 2005 and 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya; Dakar, Senegal; Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Seoul, Korea.

On February 19, Cardinal Kasper is due to deliver a lecture on spiritual ecumenism in the context of an ecumenical seminar for priests and pastoral care workers, organized by the archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain. At the meeting, the cardinal will present a new manual entitled: "A Handbook of Spiritual Ecumenism, guidelines for its implementation."

The drafting committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox will meet in Rome from February 28 to March 3, to draw up amendments to the study text being prepared for the forthcoming plenary assembly of the commission, scheduled to be held in Ravenna, Italy, in October 2007.

CON-UC/ACTIVITIES/KASPER                                                   VIS 070206 (200)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Reinhard Pappenberger of the clergy of the diocese of Regensburg, Germany, canon of the cathedral chapter and director of the diocesan curia's departments for marriage and the family, for liturgy and sacred music, and for pastoral care of youth and associations, as auxiliary of the same diocese (area 14,665, population 1,627,958, Catholics 1,329,393, priests 1,064, permanent deacons 88, religious 1,868). The bishop-elect was born in Grafenwohr, Germany in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1985.

- As members of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses: Archbishop Robert Sarah, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples; Bishop Brian Farrell L.C., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; and Fr. Real Tremblay C.SS.R., consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

NEA:NA/.../...                                                                                   VIS 070206 (150)

___________________________________________________________

CONSECRATED PEOPLE PROCLAIM THAT GOD IS THE LORD OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 3, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father met with members of congregations, institutes, societies of apostolic life, and new forms of consecrated life, for the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, an annual celebration instituted by John Paul II.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration presided by Cardinal Franc Rode C.M., prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Benedict XVI entered the basilica and greeted those present. Opening his address he affirmed that the Day "is an appropriate opportunity to ask the Lord together for the gift of an ever more incisive presence of male and female religious, and of consecrated people, in the Church on her journey in the world."

The Pope reminded his audience that "your evangelical witness, in order to be truly effective, must arise from an unreserved response to the initiative of God, Who consecrated you for Him through a special act of love."

"In our time there exists, especially among the young, a widespread need to meet God. Those who are chosen by God for consecrated life make this spiritual longing definitively their own. ... With their example, they proclaim to the world - which is often disoriented but in reality searching for meaning - that God is the Lord of existence."

Consecrated men and women, "by choosing obedience, poverty and chastity for the Kingdom of Heaven, show that all ties of love to things and to people are incapable of definitively satisfying the heart." Their lives "constitute a total and definitive, unconditional and passionate response to God."

"When they renounce everything to follow Christ," the Pope added, "consecrated people ... necessarily become a 'sign of contradiction,' because their way of life and thought often contrasts with the logic of the world. ... When faced with such courage, many people who thirst for truth are inspired and attracted by those who do not hesitate to give their lives for that which they believe."

The Pope encouraged those present never to forget that "consecrated life is a divine gift and that it is, in the first instance, the Lord who brings it to success. ... This certainty must be a comfort to you, keeping you from temptation and discouragement in the face of the inevitable difficulties of life and the many challenges of the modern age."

The Pope concluded his remarks by recalling how that day's liturgy of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple is characterized by the symbol of light, "indicating Christ, the true light of the world, which shines forth in the night of history and illuminates all searchers after truth. Dear consecrated men and women, burn with this flame and make it shine in your own lives, so that everywhere may be lit by a fragment of the brilliance irradiated by Jesus, splendor of truth."

AC/CONSECRATED LIFE/RODE                                                          VIS 070205 (500)

TO SECULAR INSTITUTES: ANNOUNCE THE BEAUTY OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, FEB 3, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Pope received a large group of representatives from secular institutes in various countries, who are in Rome for the occasion of an international symposium being held to mark the anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution "Provida Mater Ecclesia."

Recalling that six decades have passed since February 2 1947, when Pope Pius XII promulgated the Apostolic Constitution, Benedict XVI said: "That juridical act was not an end but the starting point of a process that aimed to define a new form of consecration: that of lay faithful and diocesan priests, called to live with evangelical radicalism the secular state in which, by virtue of their life condition or pastoral ministry, they are immersed."

The Holy Father went on to enumerate the characteristics of the secular mission: "bearing witness to human virtues, ... an 'honorable conduct of life' as mentioned by Peter in his first Letter, ... and commitment to building a society that recognizes in all its various aspects the dignity of human beings and the values essential for their full realization, from politics to economics, from education to commitment to public health, from providing services to scientific research."

"All the circumstances in which man lives and dies," the Pope told his audience, "are an opportunity for you to bear witness to the salvific work of God. This is your mission."

The Holy Father told the members of the secular institutes that "the secular nature of your consecration highlights, on the one hand, the means you use to put it into practice, ... and on the other, the way in which it develops: through a profound relationship with the signs of the times, which you are called to discern, individually and as a group, in the light of the Gospel."

"The place of your apostolate is, then, the entire human sphere, not only in the Christian community, ... but also and above all in the civil community with which you relate in the search for the common good and in dialogue with everyone, called to bear witness to Christian anthropology, which proposes meaning to a society disoriented and confused by the multi-cultural and multi-religious atmosphere that characterizes it."

Benedict XVI concluded with an exhortation to announce "the beauty of God and of His Creation. Following the example of Christ, remain obedient to love and be men and women of humbleness and mercy, capable of following the paths of the world doing only good. ... The Church also needs you to give completeness to her mission. Be seed of sanctity ... in the furrow of history."

AC/.../SECULAR INSTITUTES                                                     VIS 070205 (450)

SPECIAL ENVOY TO WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 3, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Pope, written in Latin and dated January 2, in which he appoints Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the 15th World Day of the Sick, due to take place in Seoul, Korea, on February 11.

The cardinal will be accompanied on his mission by Fr. Kyung Sang Paul Lee, secretary general for Catholic education in the archdiocese of Seoul, and by Fr. Young Man Steven Han, administrative director of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.

BXVI-LETTER/SPECIAL ENVOY/KOREA:LOZANO                VIS 070205 (120)

COLOMBIA: CONTINUE EFFORTS TOWARDS PEACE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the Letters of Credence of Juan Gomez Martinez, the new ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See.

The Holy Father observed in his talk that the diplomat represents a nation "which throughout its history has been distinguished by its Catholic identity," a characteristic also apparent "in the appreciation shown by the faithful to bishops and their collaborators as they seek to uphold the traditions and virtues inherited from their forebears."

Benedict XVI commended Colombia's efforts "in search of peace and reconciliation, and its commitment to encourage progress and more solid democratic institutions." He also had words of praise for objectives attained in the field of "greater security and social stability, and in the fight against poverty," and highlighted the advances made in education, which have favored "access by all citizens to school and university programs, because education is the cement of a more human and cohesive society."

However, alongside such achievements, Benedict XVI also recalled the persistence in the country of problems threatening "the dignity of people and the unity of families, evenly balanced economic development and an appropriate quality of life." And he encouraged "all Colombians to continue in their efforts to achieve agreement and the harmonious growth of the nation."

The Holy Father expressed his appreciation for the emphasis given in the ambassador's talk to "the important work of the Catholic Church towards national reconciliation." He also mentioned "the direct participation in activities aimed at rebuilding the country of certain bishops, priests and religious" who remind people of "the indispensable foundations of true human progress and peaceful coexistence."

Pope Benedict then went on to express his concern "over laws involving such delicate questions as the transmission and defense of life, illness, the identity of the family and respect for marriage. On these themes, ... the Catholic Church will ceaselessly continue to proclaim the inalienable greatness of human dignity. It is also necessary to appeal to the sense of responsibility of lay people in legislative bodies ... to ensure that laws always reflect principles and values in keeping with natural law, and that they promote the genuine common good."

"It is my ardent wish that in your country the cruel scourge of kidnapping, which so seriously affects the dignity and rights of individuals, may come to an end. I accompany in prayer all those who are unjustly denied their freedom and express my closeness to the families, trusting in their imminent release.

"On this subject," he added, "the numerous charitable institutions, following the pastoral plans of the episcopal conference and of the dioceses, are called to offer humanitarian assistance to the most needy - and especially to internally displaced peoples who are so numerous in Colombia - and to victims of violence. In this way, they also bear witness to the efforts of the Church which, ever within the limits of her own mission and of the circumstances being experienced by the nation, is architect of communion and hope."

CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/COLOMBIA:GOMEZ              VIS 070209 (520)

NEW PROJECT TO COMBAT PANDEMIC DISEASES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2007 (VIS) - The Pope today received finance ministers from Italy, United Kingdom, Canada and Russia, for the presentation of the "Advance Market Commitment" project. The ministers were accompanied by Queen Rania of Jordan and by Paul Wolfowitz, president of the World Bank.

Addressing them in English, the Holy Father said that the new project aims "at developing and producing vaccines against pandemic diseases, and making them available to poorer countries. ... [It] is meant to help resolve one of the most pressing challenges in preventative healthcare, one which particularly affects nations already suffering from poverty and serious needs."

"I wholeheartedly encourage your efforts for this new program and its goal of advancing scientific research directed to the discovery of new vaccines. Such vaccines are urgently needed to prevent millions of human beings, including countless children, from dying each year of infectious diseases, especially in those areas of our world at greatest risk.

"In this era of globalized markets," Benedict XVI added, "we are all concerned about the growing gap between the standard of living in countries enjoying great wealth and a high level of technological development, and that of underdeveloped countries where poverty persists and is even increasing."

"I assure you of the Holy See's full support of this humanitarian project, which is inspired by that spirit of human solidarity which our world needs in order to overcome every form of selfishness and to foster the peaceful coexistence of peoples. As I said in my Message for this year's World Day of Peace, every service rendered to the poor is a service rendered to peace, for 'at the origin of many tensions that threaten peace are surely the many unjust inequalities still tragically present in our world'."

AC/MARKET PROJECT/...                                                                       VIS 070209 (300)

PROMOTING FULL EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2007 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, delivered a talk before the 45th session of the Commission for Social Development of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, on "Item 3 (a): Priority Theme: promoting full employment and decent work for all."

In his English-language address, Archbishop Migliore expressed the view that "it falls to the international community and governments to ensure both an enabling economic environment and the availability of work which is decent and properly remunerated."

"The equality of women and men should be evident also in their treatment in the workplace, in salaries and in the acquisition of pensions. ... It is also important that men and women with families receive adequate and fair wages that are sufficient to meet ordinary family needs, especially in view of their responsibilities towards their children."

The permanent observer stressed that "the extreme poor should ... be the particular concern of every government and every civilized society."

On the subject of the elderly, Archbishop Migliore called for "greater flexibility in pension systems and job markets so as to encourage the aged to contribute what they can to society for as long as they are willing and able."

Concluding his address by considering the question of migrants, the archbishop pointed out how "they are often motivated by the simple wish to work in order to support their families. They too deserve equal pay and equal protection under the law, not least because the jobs they do are often the ones that no one else wants. ... Too often a lack of normal family life leads to evils such as human trafficking and prostitution on the margins of migrant communities.

DELSS/WORK/UN:MIGLIORE                                                     VIS 070209 (300)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

- Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain.

- Archbishop Vincenzo Pelvi, military ordinary for Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.

- Msgr. Michael W. Banach, Holy See permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA), to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and to the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations Organization for Industrial Development (ONUDI), and to the Office of the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AP:AL/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070209 (140)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Luis Tineo Rivera of the clergy of the archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela, pastor of the parish of "la Anunciacion del Senor" and director of the diocesan weekly "la Iglesia Ahora," as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 790, population 4,760,000, Catholics 3,465,000, priests 545, permanent deacons 13, religious 1,941). The bishop-elect was born in Cumana, Venezuela in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1980.

NEA/.../TINEO                                                                                 VIS 070209 (80)

SUPPORT THE FAMILY WITH PASTORAL AND POLITICAL INITIATIVES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2007 (VIS) - The Day for Life, an initiative promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference which is celebrated in Italy today, provided the theme for Benedict XVI's remarks before praying the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The theme of this year's Day is: "Love and desire life."

  The Pope echoed the Italian bishops' call "for men and women of good will ... to welcome the great and mysterious gift of life. Life, which is the work of God, must not be denied to anyone, not even to the small and defenseless unborn, and especially so when the baby has grave disabilities.

"At the same time," he added, "I invite everyone not to fall into the trap of thinking they can dispose of human life at will, to the point of legitimizing ... euthanasia, perhaps even masking it under a veil of human pity."

The Week for Life and the Family being celebrated in the diocese of Rome, he continued, represents "an important occasion to pray and reflect upon the family, which is the 'cradle' of life and of all vocations." The Pope recalled that the family founded upon marriage "is the natural environment for the birth and education of children and, therefore, for ensuring the future of the entire human family."

However, the family is suffering "a profound crisis and today has to face many challenges. Hence it must be defended, helped, protected and cherished in its unrepeatable uniqueness. Although this is, in the first place, the responsibility of husband and wife, the Church and all public institutions also have a priority duty to support the family through pastoral and political initiatives that take account of the real needs of the couple, of the elderly and of the new generations."

The Holy Father concluded his reflections by calling, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, "for more respect for the sacred nature of life, greater awareness of the true needs of the family, and an increase in the number of people who contribute to creating a civilization of love in the world."

ANG/DAY FOR LIFE/...                                                                  VIS 070205 (370)

MESSAGE FOR TWENTY-SECOND WORLD YOUTH DAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was the Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World for the Occasion of the 22nd World Youth Day, which is to be celebrated in all dioceses on Palm Sunday, April 1, and has as its theme this year Jesus' words from the Gospel of John: "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." The Message is dated January 27, 2007. Ample extracts from the English-language version are given below:

"Love is possible, and the purpose of my message is to help reawaken in each one of you - you who are the future and hope of humanity-, trust in a love that is true, faithful and strong; a love that generates peace and joy; a love that binds people together and allows them to feel free in respect for one another."

"How is God-Love revealed to us? ... In Christ, true God and true Man, we have come to know love in all its magnitude. ... The manifestation of divine love is total and perfect in the Cross. ... Redeemed by His blood, no human life is useless or of little value, because each of us is loved personally by Him with a passionate and faithful love, a love without limits."

"Moreover, the Crucifix, which after the Resurrection would carry forever the marks of His passion, exposes the 'distortions' and lies about God that underlie violence, vengeance and exclusion. Christ is the Lamb of God Who takes upon Himself the sins of the world and eradicates hatred from the heart of humankind. This is the true 'revolution' that He brings about: love."

"Christ cried out from the Cross: 'I am thirsty.' This shows us His burning thirst to love and to be loved by each one of us. It is only by coming to perceive the depth and intensity of such a mystery that we can realize the need and urgency to love Him as He has loved us. ... To love as He loves us means loving everyone without distinction, even our enemies, 'to the end'."

"I would like to linger for a moment on three areas of daily life where you, my dear young friends, are particularly called to demonstrate the love of God. The first area is the Church, our spiritual family. ... You should stimulate, with your enthusiasm and charity, the activities of the parishes, the communities, the ecclesial movements and the youth groups to which you belong. Be attentive in your concern for the welfare of others, faithful to the commitments you have made. Do not hesitate to joyfully abstain from some of your entertainments; cheerfully accept the necessary sacrifices; testify to your faithful love for Jesus by proclaiming His Gospel, especially among young people of your age."

"The second area ... is your preparation for the future that awaits you. If you are engaged to be married, God has a project of love for your future as a couple and as a family. Therefore, it is essential that you discover it with the help of the Church, free from the common prejudice that says that Christianity with its commandments and prohibitions places obstacles to the joy of love and impedes you from fully enjoying the happiness that a man and woman seek in their reciprocal love."

"The period of engagement, very necessary in order to form a couple, is a time of expectation and preparation that needs to be lived in purity of gesture and words. It allows you to mature in love, in concern and in attention for each other; it helps you to practise self-control and to develop your respect for each other. These are the characteristics of true love that does not place emphasis on seeking its own satisfaction or its own welfare. In your prayer together, ask the Lord to watch over and increase your love and to purify it of all selfishness.

"Do not hesitate to respond generously to the Lord's call, for Christian matrimony is truly and wholly a vocation in the Church. Likewise, dear young men and women, be ready to say 'yes' if God should call you to follow the path of ministerial priesthood or the consecrated life. Your example will be one of encouragement for many of your peers who are seeking true happiness."

"The third area of commitment that comes with love is that of daily life with its multiple relationships. I am particularly referring to family, studies, work and free time. ... Develop your capacities, not only in order to become more 'competitive' and 'productive,' but to be 'witnesses of charity.' In addition to your professional training, also make an effort to acquire religious knowledge that will help you to carry out your mission in a responsible way. In particular, I invite you to carefully study the social doctrine of the Church so that its principles may inspire and guide your action in the world."

"My dear young friends, I want to invite you to 'dare to love.' Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters. ... Love is the only force capable of changing the heart of the human person and of all humanity, by making fruitful the relations between men and women, between rich and poor, between cultures and civilizations. This is shown to us in the lives of the saints. ... Try to know them better, entrust yourselves to their intercession, and strive to live as they did. I shall just mention Mother Teresa. ... The only desire of her life was to quench the thirst of love felt by Jesus, not with words, but with concrete action by recognizing His disfigured countenance thirsting for love in the faces of the poorest of the poor."

"Only the Lord's help will allow us to keep away from resignation when faced with the enormity of the task to be undertaken. It instills in us the courage to accomplish that which is humanly inconceivable. Contact with the Lord in prayer grounds us in humility."

"Above all, the Eucharist is the great school of love. When we participate regularly and with devotion in Holy Mass, when we spend a sustained time of adoration in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it is easier to understand the length, breadth, height and depth of His love that goes beyond all knowledge. By sharing the Eucharistic Bread with our brothers and sisters of the Church community, we feel compelled, like Our Lady with Elizabeth, to render 'in haste' the love of Christ into generous service towards our brothers and sisters."

"The next World Youth Day ... will be an important stage on the way to the meeting in Sydney where the theme will be: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.' May Mary, the Mother of Christ and of the Church, help you to let that cry ring out everywhere, the cry that has changed the world: 'God is love!' I am together with you all in prayer and extend to you my heartfelt blessing."

MESS/WORLD YOUTH DAY/...                                                    VIS 070205 (1240)

POPE DEPLORES VIOLENCE THAT DISFIGURES WORLD OF FOOTBALL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., to Archbishop Salvatore Gristina of Catania, Italy, for the killing there of police inspector Filippo Raciti during disturbances following a football match on February 2 between the teams of Catania and Palermo. Today in Catania, Archbishop Gristina will preside at the late inspector's funeral.

"Informed of the tragic killing of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti, the Supreme Pontiff expresses his spiritual closeness to the wife and children of the victim, as well as to the injured and the police who, with other law enforcement forces, work to safeguard the security of citizens.

"In reiterating his firm condemnation of all forms of violence that disfigure the world of football, the Holy Father exhorts its protagonists to promote respect for legality with greater determination, favoring loyalty, solidarity and healthy competitiveness. In this hope, His Holiness raises fervent prayers for the soul of the faithful servant of the State and, while invoking heavenly consolation upon the relatives and colleagues and all those stricken by such dramatic loss, he sends a comforting apostolic blessing, which may also be extended to those present at the funeral rites."

TGR/FOOTBALL VIOLENCE/GRISTINA:RACITI                       VIS 070205 (220)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Fifteen prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli, Francesco Coccopalmerio, Marco Ferrari, Erminio De Scalzi and Luigi Stucchi, and former Auxiliary Bishop Angelo Mascheroni

    - Bishop Roberto Amadei of Bergamo, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Lino Bortolo Belotti.

    - Bishop Giulio Sanguineti of Brescia, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Francesco Beschi.

    - Bishop Diego Coletti of Como.

    - Bishop Oscar Cantoni of Crema.

    - Bishop Dante Lafranconi of Cremona.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Merisi of Lodi.

On Saturday, February 3, he received in separate audiences:

- Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, accompanied by Princess Maria and their family.

- Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

- Cardinal Georges Cottier, O.P. pro-theologian emeritus of the Pontifical Household.

- Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070205 (170)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted:

- The resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Chur, Switzerland, presented by Bishop Amedee Grab O.S.B., upon having reached the age limit.

- The resignation from the office of auxiliary of Chur, Switzerland, presented by Bishop Peter Henrici S.J., upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday, February 3, it was made public that he appointed:

- As members of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See: Cardinals Wilfrid Fox Napier O.F.M., archbishop of Durban, South Africa; Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, Peru; Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, archbishop of Lagos, Nigeria; Eusebio Oscar Scheid S.C.I., archbishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, Australia; Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada; Gaudencio B. Rosales, archbishop of Manila, Philippines; Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul, Korea.

- Cardinal Franc Rode C.M., prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as a member of the pontifical commission "Ecclesia Dei."

- Msgr. Jose Maria Serrano Ruiz as president of the Court of Appeal of Vatican City State.

NER:NA/.../...                                                                                   VIS 070205 (210)

CARDINAL JAVIERRE SERVED THE CHURCH FAITHFULLY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today, at the altar of the Cathedra in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope presided at the funeral of Cardinal Antonio Maria Javierre Ortas S.D.B., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, who died yesterday in Rome a few weeks before his 86th birthday.

In his homily, the Holy Father affirmed that the late Spanish cardinal, following the example of Don Bosco, would have wanted to live his Salesian vocation in direct contact with young people, in the mission lands, but Providence called him to other duties. Thus he became an apostle in the universities and in the Roman Curia, although without missing an occasion to continue his intense spiritual activity ... in the field of theology and in the wider field of culture, especially by animating groups of teachers and religious, and as chaplain to university students. His service to the Church was faithful and generous, always willing and cordial."

"Cardinal Javierre Ortas," he continued, "wanted his personal life and his ecclesial mission to be a message of hope. Through his apostolate, following the example of St. John Bosco, he strove to communicate to everyone that Christ is always with us. How often did he - son of the land of St. Theresa and of St. John of the Cross - pray in his heart: 'Nada te turbe, / nada te espante. / Quien a Dios tiene / nada le falta / ... / Solo Dios basta'."

"As a worthy son of Don Bosco," the cardinal "was profoundly devoted to the Virgin Mary, whom he loved and venerated as Our Lady of Help. He sought to imitate the manner of discreet and generous service of the Madonna, 'Ancilla Domini.' He left his functions as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 'on tiptoe,' in order to dedicate himself to another function, one that must never be abandoned: that of prayer."

HML/FUNERAL/JAVIERRE                                                          VIS 070202 (340)

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY-APRIL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided over by the Holy Father between the months of February and April.

FEBRUARY

- Wednesday 21, Ash Wednesday. In the basilica of Santa Sabina at 5 p.m., blessing and imposition of the ashes.

- Sunday 25, first Sunday of Lent At 6 p.m. in the Apostolic Palace's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, beginning of the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

MARCH

- Saturday 3. At 9 a.m. in the Apostolic Palace's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

- Sunday, 25, fifth Sunday of Lent. Pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Felicity and her martyr children. At 9.30 a.m., celebration of the Eucharist.

- Thursday 29. At 5.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential celebration with young people from the diocese of Rome.

APRIL

- Sunday 1, Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, blessing of palms, procession and Mass.

- Monday 2. In the Vatican Basilica at 5.30 p.m., Mass for Pope John Paul II.

- Thursday 5, Holy Thursday. In the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m., Chrism Mass. In the Basilica of St. John Lateran at 5.30 p.m., the beginning of the Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.

- Friday 6, Good Friday. In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m., celebration of the Lord's Passion. Way of the Cross at the Colosseum at 9.15 p.m.

- Saturday 7, Holy Saturday. Easter vigil at 10 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica.

- Sunday 8, Easter Sunday. Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10.30 a.m. At midday, from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

- Sunday 15, second Sunday of Easter. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Mass for the 80th birthday of Benedict XVI (born on April 16, 1927).

- Saturday 21 - Sunday 22, pastoral visit to Vigevano and Pavia, Italy.

- Sunday 29, fourth Sunday of Easter. At 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordination of deacons from the diocese of Rome.

RITES OF BEATIFICATION APPROVED BY THE HOLY FATHER (APRIL)

- Saturday 14. At 3.30 p.m. in the church of the Holy Countenance in Turin, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Luigi Boccardo.

- Sunday 15, second Sunday of Easter. At 10.30 a.m. in the cathedral of Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Maria Maddalena della Passione (nee Costanza Starace).

- Sunday 29, fourth Sunday of Easter. At 10.30 a.m. in the cathedral of Rimini, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Maria Rosa Pellesi.

OCL/CALENDAR:FEBRUARY-APRIL/...                                    VIS 070202 (450)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 070202 (40)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Munchen und Freising, Germany, presented by Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, upon having reached the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Limburg, Germany, presented by Bishop Franz Kamphaus, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Abraham Escudero Montoya of Espinal, Colombia, as bishop of Palmira (area 4,796, population 711,000, Catholics 610,000, priests 71, religious 144), Colombia.

RE:NER/.../WETTER:KAMPHAUS:ESCUDERO                         VIS 070202 (90)

INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: A VITAL NEED OF OUR TIME

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received a delegation from the Foundation for Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Research and Dialogue, led by their president, Metropolitan Archbishop Damskinos of Adrianoupoli. One of the members of the delegation was His Royal Highness Prince Hassan of Jordan.

In his address to the group the Pope, who as Cardinal Ratzinger was one of the foundation's founding members, thanked Metropolitan Damaskinos for his gift of the first fruit of their labors: a joint edition of the three sacred texts of the three monotheistic religions, in chronological order and in the original languages. "It was our first project," the Pope recalled, "to make a specific and positive contribution to dialogue between cultures and religions."

"Jews, Christians and Muslims," he went on, "are called to recognize and strengthen the ties that bind us together. It was this idea that brought us to create the foundation, the objective of which is to discover 'the most essential and most authentic message that the three monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - can communicate to the 21st century world,' with the aim of giving a fresh impulse to inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue through the joint discovery and communication of the elements in our respective spiritual legacies that contribute to reinforcing the fraternal bonds between our communities of believers."

"The rereading - for some people the discovery - of texts that are sacred to so many people enforces our mutual respect," said the Holy Father. "Men and women today await from us a message of harmony and tranquillity, and the concrete expression of our shared will to help them realize their legitimate aspirations to live in justice and peace."

"The work of the foundation will contribute to raising ever greater awareness of all the aspects of the various cultures of our time that correspond to divine wisdom and serve the dignity of man. This will lead to greater discernment, and to a rejection of all usurpation of the name of God and denaturalization of man's humanity."

"Our respective religious traditions," Pope Benedict concluded, "underline the sacred nature of life and the dignity of the human person. ... We, with all men and women of good will, long for peace. For this reason I reiterate that inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and research are not an option, but a vital necessity of our time."

AC/INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE/HASSAN:DAMASKINOSVIS 070201 (410)

POPE RECALLS DIFFICULTIES FACED BY CHRISTIANS IN MIDDLE EAST

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, the Pope received members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, which is currently holding its fourth plenary meeting.

Addressing the group in English, the Holy Father said: "Your meeting concerning the constitution and the mission of the Church is of great importance for our common journey towards the restoration of full communion. The Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches share an ecclesial patrimony stemming from apostolic times and the first centuries of Christianity. This 'heritage of experience' should shape our future 'guiding our common path towards the re-establishment of full communion'."

"Many people today are still waiting for the truth of the Gospel to be brought to them," said Pope Benedict. "May their thirst for the Good News strengthen our resolve to work and pray diligently for that unity required for the Church to exercise her mission in the world."

"Many of you come from countries of the Middle East," the Holy Father observed, and he recalled how Christian minorities may face difficulties in surviving "in the midst of such a volatile geopolitical panorama" and how they "are often tempted to emigrate. In these circumstances, Christians of all traditions and communities in the Middle East are called to be courageous and steadfast in the power of the Spirit of Christ.

"May the intercession and example of the many martyrs and saints, who have given courageous witness to Christ in these lands, sustain and strengthen the Christian communities in their faith!"

AC/.../THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE COMMISSION                    VIS 070201 (270)

HOLY SEE WILL NOT SIGN U.N. CONVENTION ON DISABLED PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a talk delivered by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, concerning a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, approved by the U.N. General Assembly on December 13, 2006 and due to be signed by member States on March 30.

In a note accompanying the talk, the archbishop recalls that, "since the beginning of work in July 2002, the Holy See has participated actively in the preparation of the document, collaborating in the insertion of explicit references to respect for the right to life and the recognition of the role of the family in the lives of disabled people. Nonetheless, in the final stage of the work, unacceptable references to 'reproductive health' have been introduced into articles 23 and 25 and, for that reason, the Holy See has decided not to adhere to the new convention."

In his English-language talk, Archbishop Migliore highlighted how "the Holy See has consistently called for disabled individuals to be completely and compassionately integrated into society, convinced that they possess full and inalienable human rights."

With reference to article 23 of the convention, he indicated that his delegation "interprets all the terms and phrases regarding family planning services, regulation of fertility and marriage in article 23, as well as the word 'gender,' as it did in its reservations and statements of interpretation at the Cairo and Beijing International Conferences," held respectively 1994 and 1995.

"Finally, and most importantly, regarding article 25 on health, and specifically the reference to sexual and reproductive health, the Holy See understands access to reproductive health as being a holistic concept that does not consider abortion or access to abortion as a dimension of those terms. ... We opposed the inclusion of such a phrase in this article, because in some countries reproductive health services include abortion, thus denying the inherent right to life of every human being, also affirmed by article 10 of the Convention. It is surely tragic that ... the same Convention created to protect persons with disabilities from all discrimination in the exercise of their rights, may be used to deny the very basic right to life of disabled unborn persons.

"For this reason," he concluded, "and despite the many helpful articles this convention contains, the Holy See is unable to sign it."

DELSS/DISABLED PEOPLE/UN:MIGLIORE                            VIS 070201 (410)

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for February is: "That the goods of the earth, given by God for all men, may be used wisely and according to criteria of justice and solidarity."

His mission intention is: "That the fight against diseases and great epidemics in the Third World may find, in the spirit of solidarity, ever more generous collaboration on the part of the governments of all nations."

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/FEBRUARY/...                              VIS 070201 (90)

THE POPE WILL PRESIDE AT FUNERAL OF CARDINAL JAVIERRE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today released a communique announcing that in St. Peter's Basilica at midday tomorrow, February 2, the Holy Father will preside at a funeral Mass for Cardinal Antonio Maria Javierre Ortas S.D.B., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, who died in Rome this morning at the age of 85.

OCL/FUNERAL/JAVIERRE                                                          VIS 070201 (90)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences three prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Domencio Calcagno of Savona-Noli.

    - Bishop Martino Canessa of Tortona.

    - Bishop Alberto Maria Careggio of Ventimiglia-San Remo

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Archbishop Robert Sarah, emeritus of Conakry, Guinea, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070201 (80)

ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TASKS IN THE FIELD OF THE LORD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2007 (VIS) - In today's general audience Benedict XVI resumed his catechesis on outstanding figures of early Christianity, concentrating on the three principal collaborators of St. Paul: Barnabas, Silas and Apollos. The audience was held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of six thousand people.

"We must recognize," he began, "that the Apostle was an eloquent example of a man open to collaboration: in the Church he did not want to do everything by himself, but made use of many different colleagues."

Barnabas "was one of the first to embrace Christianity," the Pope explained, "and it was he who guaranteed the sincerity of Paul's conversion before the Christian community of Jerusalem, which still distrusted its one-time persecutor". The Holy Father also recalled how Barnabas had participated in the Council of Jerusalem, at which it was decided "to distinguish the practice of circumcision from Christian identity." However, Paul and Barnabas "fell into disagreement at the beginning of the second missionary journey because Barnabas wanted to bring along the young John Mark, and Paul did not."

"Even among saints differences, discord and controversies arise," commented the Holy Father. "And I find this a consolation because we see that saints have not 'come down from heaven.' They are people like us, with problems, even complicated problems. Sanctity does not consist in never having made mistakes or sinned,. Sanctity grows in the capacity for conversion and penance, of willingness to start again and, above all, in the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness."

Silas, also known as Silvanus, communicated the decisions of the Council of Jerusalem to the Christians of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. "Evidently he was held to be capable of mediating between ... Jewish Christians and Christians of pagan origin, thus serving the unity of the Church in the diversity of her rites and origins."

Apollos was a "cultured man well-versed in the Scriptures," the Pope continued. He preached in Ephesus and also in Corinth where, however, his success "had problematic overtones because some members of the Church there, fascinated by his oratory, in his name set themselves against the others."

"Paul ... expresses appreciation for Apollos activities but reprimands the Corinthians for being divided. ... He draws an important lesson from the whole affair: Both I and Apollos, he writes, are no more ... than simple ministers, through whom you have come to the faith. ... All have different tasks in the field of the Lord."

The Holy Father concluded: "These words are still valid for everyone today, for Popes, for cardinals, bishops, priests and lay people. We are all humble ministers of Jesus. We serve the Gospel to the extent that we can, according to our gifts, and we pray to God that He may make His Gospel and His Church grow today."

AG/BARNABAS:SILAS:APOLLOS/...                                         VIS 070131 (480)

ITALIAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR DIALOGUE AND RESPECT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., made the following declaration concerning comments by Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, on the need to bear in mind the Church's position when preparing a law on de facto couples. President Napolitano had made his remarks on Monday, during the course of an official visit to Spain.

"The comments of President Giorgio Napolitano are certainly highly appreciable, an expression of the great concern for the views of the Holy Father that he has shown on many occasions, and an encouragement to an attitude of dialogue and respect that is not always present in current political debate. He invites us to seek a broad vision of the problems of society, showing great sensitivity towards the concerns expressed by the Church authorities, recognizing their legitimacy and the fact that they are deeply motivated and animated by the search for the common good of society and, in this specific case, of Italian society.

"It remains to be seen how the desired synthesis may be found in dialogue, involving the various components of the Italian political and social community, in such a way that the positions expressed by the authorities of the Church in Italy are taken into due consideration."

OP/DECLARATION NAPOLITANO/LOMBARDI                        VIS 070131 (230)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Sergio da Rocha, auxiliary of Fortaleza, Brazil, as coadjutor archbishop of Teresina (area 26,495, population 1,052,564, Catholics 958,197, priests 91, permanent deacons 2, religious 196), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Dobrada, Brazil in 1959, he was ordained a priest in 1984, and consecrated a bishop in 2001.

NEC/.../DA ROCHA                                                                       VIS 070131 (70)

TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF FLOODS IN ANGOLA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarciso Bertone S.D.B., to Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, apostolic nuncio to Angola, for the victims of floods that have struck that country in the course of recent days. The complete text of the telegram is given below:

"The Supreme Pontiff has followed with dismay the drama of the Angolan people affected by the torrential rains that have brought mourning and devastation, and provoked serious damage. He gives assurances of his closeness to those people, entrusting the victims to the mercy of God and appealing for consolation and support for their families and for those who have lost their worldly goods. Benedict XVI implores divine blessings upon everyone affected by this drama, not forgetting those who participate in the immense aid and reconstruction operations."

TGR/FLOODS ANGLOA/BECCIU                                                           VIS 070130 (160)

MEETING OF THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 2007 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity this morning released a communique announcing that the annual meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox is being held in Rome from January 30, to February 3.

The meeting is to be presided by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the pontifical council, and by Metropolitan Anba Bishoy of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Orthodox delegation includes representatives from seven local Churches that are part of the family of the Eastern Orthodox Churches: the Coptic Orthodox, the Syrian Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic (represented by the two catholicosates of Etchmiadzin and Cilicia), the Ethiopian Orthodox, the Eritrean Orthodox and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian.

The Catholic delegation includes representatives of the Latin tradition and from the various Eastern Catholic traditions (Coptic Catholic, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Maronite, Syro-Malabarese, and Ethiopian).

Since its creation in 2003, the commission has concentrated its attention above all on two ecclesiological questions: structures of communion, and the exercise of apostolic ministry in the Church.

CON-UC/COMMISSION CATHOLIC ORTHODOX DIALOGUE/...VIS 070130 (190)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 070130 (40)

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE "TRUTH OF MARRIAGE"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the dean, judges, promoters of justice, defenders of the bond, officials and lawyers of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, for the occasion of the inauguration of the judicial year.

At the beginning of his address to them, the Holy Father pointed out that "the expression 'truth of marriage' loses all existential significance in a cultural context marked by the relativism and juridical positivism that consider marriage as a mere social formalization of the ties of affection. Thus, marriage not only becomes contingent, as human affections can be contingent, but appears as a superimposed legal structure which human will can manipulate at will, even denying its heterosexual character."

The Pope warned against those who believe that "the conciliar doctrine on marriage - and in particular the description of that institution as 'intima communitas vitae et amoris' - necessarily leads to denying the existence of an indissoluble conjugal bond," on the grounds that this is "an 'ideal' which not all 'normal Christians' can be 'obliged' to follow."

"The anthropological and salvific truth of marriage - also in its juridical dimension - is already present in Holy Scripture," said the Pope, and he quoted: "[He] made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one. ... What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." The Book of Genesis, he continued, also "presents the truth of marriage at the 'beginning'," a truth that achieves fullness "in the union of Christ with the Church."

"Each marriage is certainly the fruit of the free will of a man and a woman, but their freedom puts into effect the natural capacity inherent to their masculinity and femininity. ... The indissolubility of marriage does not derive from the definitive commitment of the two parties involved; rather it is intrinsic to the nature of the 'potent bond established by the Creator.' The contracting parties must make a definitive commitment because such is the nature of marriage in the plan of creation and redemption."

"Against the subjective and libertarian realization of sexual experience," said Benedict XVI, "the tradition of the Church clearly affirms the naturally juridical nature of marriage, in other words the fact that, by its very character, it pertains to the field of justice in interpersonal relationships." In this context, he went on, "the law interweaves with life and love. ... Love [between husband and wife] is the fruit of their freely seeking the good of the other and of the children."

Referring to the danger of the erroneous interpretation of current canonical norms, the Holy Father encouraged his audience to react "with courage and trust, ... without allowing yourselves to be seduced by interpretations that entail a break with the tradition of the Church."

"The contribution of ecclesial tribunals to overcoming the crisis in the significance of marriage, both in the Church and in civil society, may seem to be some somewhat secondary," he said. However, "precisely because marriage has an intrinsically juridical dimension," it is of fundamental importance to be "wise and convinced servants of justice in this delicate and important field. ... You, dear prelate auditors, are committed to a task in which responsibility for truth is especially felt. ... Remaining faithful to that task, seek to ensure that your activities become a harmonious part of a global rediscovery of the beauty of the 'truth of marriage' - the truth of the 'beginning' - that Jesus taught us, and of which the Holy Spirit reminds us continually in the Church today."

AC/.../ROMAN ROTA                                                                     VIS 070129 (630)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father gave his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church meeting on October 11, 2006, of Fr. Elie Haddad B.S., president of the court of appeal of the Melkite Church in Lebanon, to the office of archbishop of Saida of the Greek-Melkites (Catholics 27,000, priests 44, religious 94), Lebanon. The archbishop-elect was born in Ablah, Lebanon in 1960.

NER/.../HADDAD                                                                           VIS 070129 (80)

THOMAS AQUINAS, A MASTER OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN CULTURES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2007 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus this morning, Benedict XVI dedicated some remarks to the figure of St. Thomas Aquinas, whose feast day falls today.

Addressing the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that the saint presents a "valid model for harmony between reason and faith, dimensions of the human spirit that that are fully realized in the meeting and dialogue between them."

For St. Thomas, human reason "moves on a broad open horizon where it can express the best of itself. When, however, man limits his thought only to material objects that can be subject to experimentation ... he becomes impoverished. The relationship between faith and reason is a serious challenge for the culture that currently dominates in the Western world."

The Holy Father recognized the "innumerable positive effects" of modern science, but he also warned that "the tendency to consider as true only that which can be subject to experimentation represents a limitation to human reason." For this reason, "it is vital to rediscover ... a human reason open to the light of the divine 'Logos.' ... When Christian faith is authentic," he went on, "it does not degrade freedom and human reason. ... Faith implies reason and perfects it. And reason, illuminated by faith, finds the strength to raise itself to a knowledge of God and of spiritual truths."

The Holy Father continued: "St. Thomas Aquinas managed to establish a fruitful confrontation with the Arab and Jewish thought of his time, such that he is still considered as a valid master of dialogue with other cultures and religions. He created that magnificent Christian synthesis between reason and faith, which is a precious heritage for Western civilization and from which, even today, we can draw in order to maintain an effective dialogue with the great cultural and religious traditions of the East and South of the world."

After praying the Angelus, the Pope referred to the World Day of Leprosy which is also being celebrated today. He gave assurances of recollection in his prayers "for all the people suffering from this disease, ... which is not only an illness but a social scourge." Pope Benedict also recalled the people who, "in Christ's name, have dedicated themselves to this cause," such as, "Raoul Follereau and Blessed Damian de Veuster, apostle of the lepers of Molokai."

Finally, Benedict XVI dedicated some words to young people from Catholic Action in Rome who had come to St. Peter's Square to celebrate the closure of their annual "month of peace." As is traditional, a boy and a girl from Catholic Action freed two white doves, symbols of peace, from the window of the papal apartments: "may they be a harbinger of peace for the whole world," the Pope concluded.

ANG/THOMAS AQUINAS:LEPROSY:PEACE/...                                  VIS 070129 (480)

APPEAL FOR PEACE IN LEBANON AND THE GAZA STRIP

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2007 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope launched an appeal for peace in Lebanon and in Gaza.

"Over the last few days, Lebanon has again been bloodied by violence," he said. "It is unacceptable to use such methods to support a political position. I feel immense sadness for that dear people, and I know that many Lebanese feel the temptation to abandon all hope and are disoriented by what is happening.

"I make my own the powerful words pronounced by His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, denouncing those fratricidal clashes. Together with him and with other religious leaders, I invoke God's help so that all Lebanese without distinction may be able to, and want to, live together to make their country a real common home, overcoming all those self-seeking attitudes that are an impediment to true concern for the nation."

"To Christians in Lebanon," he concluded, "I repeat the exhortation to be promoters of real dialogue between the various communities, and upon everyone I invoke the protection of Our Lady of Lebanon."

Pope Benedict went on to call for an end to violence in the Gaza Strip. He expressed his "spiritual closeness to all the population," and gave assurances of his prayers "so that, in everyone, the will to work together for the common good may prevail, starting down peaceful paths to resolve differences and tensions."

ANG/PEACE LEBANON: GAZA/...                                              VIS 070129 (260)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York.

- Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo, Italy.

- Five prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Luigi Ernesto Palletti.

    - Bishop Mario Oliveri of Albenga-Imperia.

    - Bishop Alberto Tanasini of Chiavari.

    - Bishop Bassano Staffieri of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato.

On Saturday, January 27, he received in separate audiences:

- Three prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Lino Pizzi of Forli-Bertinoro.

    - Bishop Mariano De Nicolo of Rimini.

    - Bishop Luigi Negri of San Marino-Montefeltro.

- Bishop Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070129 (150)

THE WORLD AWAITS THE JOINT TESTIMONY OF CHRISTIANS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, the Pope presided at the celebration of the second Vespers of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The ceremony, which marked the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was attended by representatives from other Churches and ecclesial communities.

In his homily, the Holy Father recalled how the theme of this year's Week of Prayer, taken from the Gospel of St. Mark - "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" - had been proposed by Christian communities in South Africa. "These words," he said, "are good news announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God and the healing of the incapacity to communicate."

"Listening to the Word of God ... is a priority in our ecumenical efforts. Indeed, it is not we who organize the unity of the Church; the Church does not create herself and does not live by herself, but by the Word that comes from the mouth of God."

"Whoever undertakes to listen to the word of God can and must then speak out and transmit it to others, to those who have never heard it, or to those who have forgotten it and buried it under the 'thorns' of the cares and illusions of the world.

"We Christians must ask ourselves," the Pope added, "whether we have not become too silent. Whether we do not lack the courage to speak out and bear witness. ... Our world has need of such witness, it awaits above all the joint testimony of Christians. Unity can clearly not be imposed; it must be shared, and founded on a joint participation in a single faith. Listening and speaking, understanding others and communicating one's faith are, then, essential dimensions of ecumenical practice. Honest and faithful dialogue is the ... indispensable instrument of unity."

"It is crucial," he continued, "that 'doctrine should be clearly presented in its entirety,' for a dialogue that confronts, discusses and overcomes the differences that still exist between Christians. Yet, at the same time, 'the way and method in which the Catholic faith is expressed should never become an obstacle to dialogue with our brethren'."

The Pope highlighted the fact that "ecumenical dialogue ... leads to reciprocal spiritual enrichment in the sharing of true experiences of faith and Christian life. For this to happen, we must tirelessly implore the assistance of God's grace and the illumination of the Holy Spirit."

At the end of his homily, the Holy Father entrusted to St. Paul, "indefatigable builder of unity in the Church, the fruits of the dialogue and shared testimony we have experienced in many fraternal meetings ... during the course of 2006."

Benedict XVI closed by thanking all those people who "have contributed to intensifying ecumenical dialogue through prayer, and the offer of their suffering and their tireless activities."

HNL/VESPERS:ECUMENISM/ST. PAUL                                              VIS 070126 (500)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada.

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Silvio Cesare Bonicelli of Parma.

    - Bishop Luciano Monari of Piacenza-Bobbio.

    - Bishop Adriano Caprioli of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Lorenzo Ghizzoni.

    - Archbishop Giuseppe Verucchi of Ravenna-Cervia

    - Bishop Antonio Lanfranchi of Cesena-Sarsina.

- Prayitno Bambang, ambassador of Indonesia, on his farewell visit.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AP:AL/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070126 (110)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial prelature of Cafayate, Argentina, presented by Bishop Cipriano Garcia Fernandez O.S.A., upon having reached the age limit.

- Erected the new diocese of Ensenada (area 52,646, population 658,899, Catholics 621,346, priests 43, religious 72) Mexico, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Tijuana, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Fr. Sigifredo Noriega Baracelo, vicar general of the diocese of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, as first bishop of the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Granados, Mexico in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1976.

- Gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod of Bishops of the Armenian-Catholic Church meeting at Bzommar, Lebanon, from September 4 to 13 2006 of Fr. Emmanuel Dabbaghian, syncellus for Georgia of the Ordinariate for Armenians of Eastern Europe, as archbishop of Baghdad of the Armenians, (Catholics 2,000, priests 2, religious 2), Iraq. The bishop-elect was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1933 and ordained a priest in 1967.

RE:ECE:NER/.../GARCIA:NORIEGA:DABBAGHIAN                VIS 070126 (190)

WORD OF GOD CALLS FOR SPECIAL VENERATION AND OBEDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father received members of the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops. The council is currently preparing the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, due to be held in October 2008 on the theme: "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church."

In his talk, the Pope referred to the importance of the theme, "because," he said, "the spiritual activity which expresses and nourishes the life and mission of the Church is necessarily based on the Word of God." That Word, moreover, "being destined for all the Lord's disciples - as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminded us - calls for special veneration and obedience, in order for it to be recognized also as an urgent call to full union between all believers in Christ."

Benedict XVI indicated that the members of the ordinary council are about to complete the preparation of the "Lineamenta" (draft guidelines) and pointed out how these "will serve as a valuable tool enabling the entire Church to study the theme of the forthcoming assembly."

The Holy Father concluded with the hope that synodal assembly "may help to rediscover the importance of the Word of God in the lives of all Christians, and of all ecclesial and civil communities."

AC/SYNOD:WORD OF GOD/...                                                               VIS 070125 (220)

VIETNAMESE PRIME MINISTER MEETS THE POPE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy See Press office released the following communique at midday today:

"This morning, Thursday January 25, 2007, Nguyen Tan Dang, prime minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was received in audience by the Holy Father Benedict XVI. He subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

"The Holy See expressed its satisfaction for the visit, which marks a new and important step towards the normalization of bilateral relations. Those relations have, over the last few years, made concrete progress opening new spaces of religious freedom for the Catholic Church in Vietnam.

"In the course of the discussions, attention turned to the problems that remain which, it is hoped, will be faced and resolved through existing channels of dialogue and will lead to a fruitful cooperation between Church and State, so that Catholics can, ever more effectively, make a positive contribution to the common good of the country, to promoting moral values, in particular among the young, to spreading a culture of solidarity and to charitable assistance in favor of the weaker sectors of the population.

"Furthermore, opinions were exchanged on the current international situation, with a view to a joint commitment in favor of peace and of negotiated solutions to the serious problems of the present time.



"This was the first time that a prime minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has met the Holy Father and the highest authorities of the Secretariat of State."

OP/PRIME MINISTER/VIETNAM                                                             VIS 070125 (210)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, Australia.

- Three prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Benito Cocchi of Modena-Nonantola.

    .- Bishop Maurizio Galli of Fidenza.

    - Msgr. Dugles Regattieri, vicar general of Carpi.

AP:AL/.../...                                                                                        VIS 070125 (55)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop David Motiuk, auxiliary of the archieparchy of Winnipeg of the Ukrainians, Canada, as bishop of the eparchy of Edmonton of the Ukrainians (Catholics 28,750, priests 42, permanent deacons 5, religious 57), Canada.

- Archbishop Angelo Mottola, apostolic nuncio to Iran, as apostolic nuncio to Montenegro.

NER:NN/.../MOTIUK:MOTTOLA                                                 VIS 070125 (55)

BENEDICT XVI RELIVES ECUMENICAL MILESTONES OF LAST YEAR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2007 (VIS) - During today's general audience, held in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Benedict XVI again dedicated his catechesis to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is due to end tomorrow with the celebration of Vespers in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

Unity is something "that concerns the whole Church," said the Pope. By praying together "Christians become more aware of their status as brothers, though still divided."

"Looking back over the journey of these last 40 years, it is surprising how the Lord has reawoken us from the torpor of self-satisfaction and indifference, how He makes us ever more capable of 'listening' to one another, and not just of 'hearing' one another."

"Ecumenism," the Holy Father went on, "is a slow process, a long uphill journey, like all journeys of penance." Yet, despite the difficulties, "it also leaves ample space for joy, revitalizing pauses, and it enables us, from time to time, to breath the pure air of full communion with both lungs."

Experience has shown that the search for unity takes place "under many circumstances," said Pope Benedict, and he mentioned parishes, hospitals and local communities, especially "in regions where a gesture of good will towards a brother or sister requires great effort and a purification of memory.

"In this context of hope," he added, "we must place the meetings and events that constantly characterize my own ministry, the ministry of the bishop of Rome, pastor of the Universal Church." And he went on to recall the ecumenical milestones of the past year such as "the official visit of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, ... and of delegations from the World Baptist Alliance and from the Evangelical Lutheran Church."

The Holy Father also mentioned his meetings with "leaders of the Orthodox Church of Georgia," and the summit meeting of religious leaders in Moscow, Russia, in July 2006 at which Alexis II, patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias, "with a special message, requested the presence of the Holy See."

After recalling the official visit of the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, The Holy Father went on to speak of his "unforgettable" trip to Turkey and his meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul, underlining his "commitment to ensure that the embrace of peace we exchanged during the divine liturgy in the church of St. George in Fanar," translates into practical consequences.

"These moments," he concluded, "highlight the commitment - often silent, but deep - that unites us in the search for unity. They encourage us to make every effort to continue this slow but important uphill journey."

AG/CHRISTIAN UNITY/...                                                               VIS 070124 (450)

CHILDREN AND THE MEDIA: A CHALLENGE FOR EDUCATION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today, Feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists, was Benedict XVI's Message for the World Day of Social Communications, which this year is due to be celebrated on May 20, on the theme: "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education."

The Holy Father's Message has been published in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Extracts from the English language version are given below:

"The theme of the Forty-first World Communications Day," the Holy Father's Message begins, "invites us to reflect on two related topics of immense importance. The formation of children is one. The other, perhaps less obvious but no less important, is the formation of the media.

"The complex challenges facing education today are often linked to the pervasive influence of the media in our world. ... Indeed, some claim that the formative influence of the media rivals that of the school, the Church, and maybe even the home. 'Reality, for many, is what the media recognize as real.'

"The relationship of children, media, and education can be considered from two perspectives: the formation of children by the media; and the formation of children to respond appropriately to the media. ... Within this framework, training in the proper use of the media is essential for the cultural, moral and spiritual development of children."

"Educating children to be discriminating in their use of the media is a responsibility of parents, Church, and school. The role of parents is of primary importance. They have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programs available. In doing so, parents should have the encouragement and assistance of schools and parishes in ensuring that this difficult, though satisfying, aspect of parenting is supported by the wider community.

"Media education should be positive. Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment. Here it is important to recognize the fundamental value of parents' example and the benefits of introducing young people to children's classics in literature, to the fine arts and to uplifting music. While popular literature will always have its place in culture, the temptation to sensationalize should not be passively accepted in places of learning."

"Like education in general, media education requires formation in the exercise of freedom. This is a demanding task. So often freedom is presented as a relentless search for pleasure or new experiences. Yet this is a condemnation not a liberation! True freedom could never condemn the individual - especially a child - to an insatiable quest for novelty. In the light of truth, authentic freedom is experienced as a definitive response to God's 'yes' to humanity, calling us to choose, not indiscriminately but deliberately, all that is good, true and beautiful. Parents, then, as the guardians of that freedom, while gradually giving their children greater freedom, introduce them to the profound joy of life.

"This heartfelt wish of parents and teachers to educate children in the ways of beauty, truth and goodness can be supported by the media industry only to the extent that it promotes fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity. Thus, the need for the media to be committed to effective formation and ethical standards is viewed with particular interest and even urgency not only by parents and teachers but by all who have a sense of civic responsibility.

"While affirming the belief that many people involved in social communications want to do what is right, we must also recognize that those who work in this field confront 'special psychological pressures and ethical dilemmas' which at times see commercial competitiveness compelling communicators to lower standards.

"Any trend to produce programs and products - including animated films and video games - which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programs are directed at children and adolescents. How could one explain this 'entertainment' to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse?"

"Again I appeal to the leaders of the media industry to educate and encourage producers to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity and promote respect for the needs of the family.

"The Church herself, in the light of the message of salvation entrusted to her, is also a teacher of humanity and welcomes the opportunity to offer assistance to parents, educators, communicators, and young people. Her own parish and school programs should be in the forefront of media education today."

MESS/WORLD DAY COMMUNICATIONS/...                             VIS 070124 (820)

AGREEMENT ON TEACHING THEOLOGY IN BAVARIAN UNIVERSITIES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2007 (VIS) - On Friday, January 19, at the Prince Charles Palace in Munich, Germany, the signing ceremony took place of an additional protocol to the Concordat with Bavaria of March 29, 1924. The new protocol regulates a number of questions concerning the teaching of theology at faculties of Catholic theology in State universities and in other educational centers in Bavaria.

Signing on the part of the Holy See, as plenipotentiary, was Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio to Germany and, for the Free State of Bavaria, Edmund Stoiber, minister president.

According to a communique, the protocol "lays down new norms for faculties of Catholic theology in the Universities of Bamberg and Passau; for 15 years after the signing of the current accord, those norms will remain quiescent, and during that period both institutions will continue to exist as institutes of Catholic theology."

.../THEOLOGY TEACHING AGREEMENT/BAVARIA VIS 070123 (160)

TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF ABBE PIERRE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2007 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a telegram sent by the Holy Father, via Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., to Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux, France, for the death on Monday at the age of 94, of Abbe Pierre, founder of the Community of Emmaus.

"Informed of the death of Abbe Pierre, the Holy Father gives thanks for his activity in favor of the poorest, by which he bore witness to the charity that comes from Christ. Entrusting to divine mercy this priest whose whole life was dedicated to fighting poverty, he asks the Lord to welcome him into the peace of His kingdom. By way of comfort and hope, His Holiness sends you a heartfelt apostolic blessing, which he extends to the family of the departed, to members of the communities of Emmaus, and to everyone gathering for the funeral."

TGR/DEATH ABBE PIERRE/RICARD VIS 070123 (160)

SPIRITUAL ECUMENISM, A TASK FOR EVERYONE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2007 (VIS) - Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, today held a briefing for journalists on the current state of ecumenism. The event was timed to coincide with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, being held from January 18 to 25.

The meeting, held in the Holy See Press Office, was also attended by Bishop Brian Farrell L.C. and Msgr, Eleuterio F. Fortino, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

Cardinal Kasper affirmed that last year had been particularly fruitful in ecumenical terms, with the Pope's trip to Turkey, during which he signed a joint declaration with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople; and the resumption of work of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox.

Currently, one of the main themes is the primacy of Peter, with all the theological, canonical and even emotional problems it brings. "It is necessary to continue to pray and be patient to ensure progress in this area," said the cardinal. "For now, replies have been received from various Churches, and these are being analyzed and discussed."

On the subject of a possible meeting between Benedict XVI and Alexis II, patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias, Cardinal Kasper indicated that "for the moment nothing concrete has been decided." Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church are improving, close collaboration also exists with various dicasteries of the Roman Curia and various dioceses.

The president of the pontifical council denied that the Holy See has abandoned relations with Protestant communities, describing such rumors as "groundless insinuations." Various ecumenical delegations have been received by the Holy Father and have participated in the Wednesday general audiences.

As for forthcoming ecumenical events, the cardinal mentioned the European ecumenical meeting, due to be held at Sibiu, Romania in September; the plenary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, due to be held in Ravenna, Italy in 2007, at which it is possible the Pope may be present; and the second ecumenical congress of communities and movements, "Together for Europe," to be held in Stuttgart, Germany.

At the end of his press briefing, Cardinal Kasper presented his new book entitled "A Handbook of Spiritual Ecumenism, guidelines for its implementation," which has just been published in Italian, English and French. It contains practical and pastoral suggestions to strengthen spiritual ecumenism, "which is," the introduction reads, "the soul of the entire ecumenical movement." The book is addressed to everyone involved in ecumenical activities in various dioceses and parishes, although each and every member of the Church is called to make their own contribution, above all through prayer.

OP/ECUMENISM/KASPER VIS 070123 (460)

LETTERS OF CREDENCE OF NEW ROMANIAN AMBASSADOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received the Letters of Credence of Marius Gabriel Lazurca, the new Romanian ambassador to the Holy See.

Speaking to the diplomat in French, the Pope highlighted the Holy See's satisfaction at Romania's recent entry into the European Union. He dwelt on the "long Christian tradition" of the country and voiced the hope that it will make "an original contribution to the European edifice, helping it to be not just an economic force and a market of consumer goods," but also giving it "a new political, cultural and spiritual impulse, capable of building a prosperous future for new generations."

"For many years," Pope Benedict continued, "your country has been making great efforts towards the renewal of society, with the aim of healing the wounds of the past and enabling everyone to enjoy fundamental freedoms and to benefit from social and economic progress. ... It is just as important to ensure that everyone has equal access to independent and transparent justice." In this context, the Pope also called for "renewed attention to the poorest families, to help them educate their children with dignity."

The Pope expressed his satisfaction at "the progress made by the government in its delicate handling of the return of property confiscated from religious communities. ... I also hope," he went on, "that the laws ruling religious freedom, which is a fundamental freedom, be fully respected, especially as concerns the Greek-Catholic Church."

After giving assurances of the Catholic Church's readiness to meet the authorities in order to study ways to overcome any difficulties, the Holy Father made clear his "concern" over plans to build a 19-storey building next to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest. The archbishop of Bucharest has appealed to the State authorities, said the Pope, "to conserve this historical patrimony and the values of faith it represents, not only for the Catholic community but for all the Romanian people."

The Pope sent greetings, via the ambassador, to His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and voiced the hope "that Catholic and Orthodox faithful continue to form ever more fraternal relationships in their daily lives, and that dialogue continues to progress at all levels. I particularly hope that the European ecumenical meeting, due to be held at Sibiu, Romania in September, will prove to be an important stage on our shared journey towards unity."

In closing, the Pope sent a special greeting to the Catholic community in Romania, saying: "I know that the Catholic faithful take an active part in the life of the country, especially in the spiritual and social fields, and I heartily encourage them to bear courageous witness to the irreplaceable position of the family in society."

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GREAT CHALLENGES FACING THE CHURCH IN LATIN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the 50 participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America which is presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. The theme of the plenary is: "The Family and Christian Education in Latin America."

"The Church in Latin America," said the Holy Father, "is facing enormous challenges: cultural changes generated by social communications media that influence the thoughts and habits of millions of people; migration, that has so many repercussions on family life and on religious practice in new environments; the re-emergence of questions regarding how peoples must approach their historical memories and their democratic future; globalization, secularism, growing poverty and environmental degradation, especially in big cities, as well as violence and drug trafficking."

For these reasons, Latin America has urgent need "of a new evangelization that stimulates us to enter more deeply into the values of our faith, that they may become the vital sap that forms the identity of those beloved peoples."

"The men and women of South America have great thirst for God," the Pope affirmed. "When a feeling of being orphaned from God the Father arises in the life of communities, the work of bishops, priests and other pastoral care agents becomes vital. They, like Christ, must bear witness that the Father is always provident Love, revealed in His Son.

"When faith is not nourished by prayer and the divine Word," he added, "when sacramental life languishes, then sects and new pseudo-religious groups prosper, causing many Catholics to move away from the Church. As these people receive no answers to their deepest aspirations - answers which could be found in a shared life of faith - situations of spiritual emptiness are also created. ... For this reason it is important to foster a sense of belonging to the Church, where Christians can grow and mature in communion with their fellows."

"For the future of the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean it is important that Christians adopt and intensify the lifestyle of Jesus' disciples," announcing "Christ and His Gospel in all places. ... In a special way, the widespread phenomena of exploitation and injustice, of corruption and violence, are an urgent call for Christians to live their faith coherently and to strive to receive a sound doctrinal and spiritual formation, thus contributing to the construction of a more just, humane and Christian society."

On this subject, the Pope recalled how Christian families are "the main place for the experience and transmission of faith and virtue. The legacy of the faith is safeguarded in the home," where family members "learn the values" that will help them to live as children of God.

Benedict XVI concluded his address by calling upon the Virgin Mary to guide the participants in the forthcoming fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, that they may find "the most appropriate ways to ensure their peoples have life in Christ, and build, in the so-called 'continent of hope,' a future worthy of all men and women."

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POPE TO WRITE A LETTER TO CHINESE CATHOLICS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following communique at the close of a meeting held in the Vatican from January 19 to 20, on the situation of the Catholic Church in China.

"Pope Benedict XVI, in the desire to deepen his knowledge of the situation of the Catholic Church in China, called a special meeting which took place in the Vatican Apostolic Palace on January 19 and 20, 2007.

"The meeting was presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and attended by representatives of the Chinese episcopate (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and by the people who, for the Holy See, follow the Chinese question most closely. The wide-ranging and intricate debate was characterized by a frank and fraternal cordiality.

"In the light of the troubled history of the Church in China and of the principal events of recent years, consideration was given to the most serious and urgent ecclesial problems. Problems which call for adequate solutions based on the fundamental principles of the Church's divine constitution and religious freedom. The inspiring witness of the bishops, priests and lay faithful was recognized with profound appreciation; without giving way to compromise they have maintained their loyalty to the See of Peter, sometimes at the cost of grave suffering. It was noted with particular joy that today almost all of the bishops and priests are in communion with the Supreme Pontiff.

"There has, moreover, been a surprising numerical growth of the ecclesial community which, in China as elsewhere, is called to bear witness to Christ, to look ahead with hope and, in announcing the Gospel, to measure itself against the new challenges that society is facing.

"From the multiplicity of the participants' contributions, what emerged was the will to continue along the path of respectful and constructive dialogue with the governing authorities, in order to overcome the misunderstandings of the past. The hope was also expressed that a normalization of relations at all levels could be achieved so as to facilitate a peaceful and fruitful life of faith in the Church, and to work together for the good of the Chinese people and for peace in the world.

"The Holy Father, who was fully informed of the proposals reached in the course of the meeting, has benevolently decided to address a Letter to Catholics in China."

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ECUMENISM, A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE OF DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 21, 2007 (VIS) - Shortly before midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's Square in order to pray the Angelus with the pilgrims gathered below.

The Pope recalled the fact that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is taking place from January 18 to 25, and that its theme this year - "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" - is "taken from the Gospel of St. Mark and refers to the people's amazement at Jesus' healing of the deaf man."

"The original project for the Week," he continued, "was prepared by faithful in Umlazi, South Africa, a poor city where AIDS has assumed the proportions of a pandemic and where human hopes are very few. But the Risen Christ brings hope to everyone, especially to Christians. Heirs to the divisions of the past, they now wish to launch this appeal: Christ can do anything, He "even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." In other words, He is capable of infusing Christians with the ardent desire to listen to others, to communicate with others and, with Him, to talk the language of mutual love."

"Ecumenism is a profound experience of dialogue, an act of listening and talking to one another, ... a task that everyone can undertake, especially as regards 'spiritual ecumenism' based on the prayer and experiences that Christians are currently able to share."

The Pope expressed the hope that "the desire for unity, translated into prayer and fraternal collaboration to alleviate man's suffering, may become ever more widespread." He also thanked all the people who, "all over the world, pray and work for unity with conviction and constancy."

After praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI mentioned the Day of Catholic Schools, which is being celebrated today in the diocese of Rome, and he recalled how Catholic educational institutions serve "the integral growth of the person: heart, mind and freedom."

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MONTENEGRO AND THE HOLY SEE: CENTURIES OF MUTUAL RESPECT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of Antun Sbutega, the first ambassador of Montenegro to the Holy See.

In his address, Benedict XVI sent his greetings, via the ambassador, to all of Montenegrin society which, "in its ethnic plurality, has wished to establish a direct and cordial dialogue with the Holy See. ... Over the centuries," he went on, "the peoples of the current Crna Gora have always maintained dynamic and cordial relationships with neighboring peoples, making interesting contributions to the life of European nations."

The Pope went on to refer to Prince Nicholas of Montenegro, who in 1886 signed a convention that aimed to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics in that country. "When the evangelical message of salvation reached the lands of Montenegro," said the Holy Father, "by embracing the eastern and western traditions together," the country "came to be characterized as a privileged place for the ecumenical encounter that everyone longs for. The meeting between Christians and Muslims also took on compelling forms in Montenegro.

"It is necessary," he added, "to continue this journey, on which the Church hopes that everyone will make a joint commitment to unite forces in the service of the inborn nobility of human beings. The Church, in fact, sees this as a significant part of her mission, ... while maintaining respect for the traditions that give a land its identity."

After voicing his conviction that, in Europe, Montenegro "will not fail to give its active support in the civil, political, social, cultural and religious spheres," the Pope identified one of the country's priorities as "reinforcing the state of law in the various sectors of public life" in order to promote "an increase in citizens' trust in society," both "as individuals and as a community."

Turning to consider the position of Catholics in the country, Benedict XVI noted that "the full recognition, dating to more than a century ago, of the life and goals of the Catholic community in the context of Montenegrin society has turned out to be useful to the sovereignty of the State and ... to the specific mission of the Church." He also recalled "the respectful attitude of the Orthodox Church of the time, which did not oppose the agreement with the Apostolic See," but considered it "a useful instrument for meeting people's spiritual needs."

The Pope concluded his address by reiterating his great esteem for Montenegro and expressing hopes in the continuance of "fraternal dialogue with the Orthodox, so present and active in the country," and of "millennia of mutual respect."

CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/MONTENEGRO:STUBEGA VIS 070122 (450)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Ernesto Vecchi.

- Bishop Claudio Stagni of Faenza-Modigliana.

- Archbishop Paolo Rabitti of Ferrara-Comacchio.

- Bishop Tommaso Ghirelli of Imola.

- Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi S.J., of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, accompanied by an entourage, for the presentation of the Bodmer Papyrus.

On Saturday, January 20, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Trappist Fathers of the Abbey of the Three Fountains in Rome for the occasion of the Feast of St. Agnes.

- The presidents of the forthcoming fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile, and president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM); and Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, and president of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Michael W. Banach, nunciature counsellor at the Secretariat of State, as Holy See permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA), to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and to the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and as Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations Organization for Industrial Development (ONUDI), and to the Office of the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the consent of the permanent synod and in conformity with canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archieparchy of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars, India, presented by Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph Powathil.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the consent of the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church and in conformity with canon 85, para. 2.2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, transferred Bishop Joseph Perumthottam, auxiliary of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars, India, to the office of metropolitan archbishop of the same archieparchy (area 24,595, population 9,300,000, Catholics 382,086, priests 555, religious 3,101). The archbishop-elect was born in Punnathura, India in 1948, he was ordained a priest in 1974, and consecrated a bishop in 2002.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the consent of the permanent synod and in conformity with canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archieparchy of Trichur of the Syro-Malabars, India, presented by Metropolitan Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the consent of the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church and in conformity with canon 85, para. 2.2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, transferred Bishop Andrews Thazhath, auxiliary of Trichur of the Syro-Malabars, India, to the office of metropolitan archbishop of the same archieparchy (area 2,000, population 2,611,548, Catholics 460,728, priests 394, religious 3,172). The archbishop-elect was born in Pudukad, India in 1951, he was ordained a priest in 1977, and consecrated a bishop in 2004.

On Saturday, January 20, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Angelus Kujur S.J., director of Chotparua retreat center at Raiganj, as bishop of Purnea (area 15,733, population 8,349,215, Catholics 24,923, priests 44, religious 69), India. The bishop-elect was born in Muldantoli, India in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1980.

- Fr. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, rector of the minor seminary of the diocese of Awka, Nigeria, as auxiliary of the same diocese (area 1,551, population 1,265,779, Catholics 623,874, priests 277, religious 136). The bishop-elect was born in Nanka, Nigeria in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1984.

- Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto, Italy, as a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

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CATHOLICS COMMITTED TO THE COMMON GOOD IN TURKEY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 19, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the Letters of Credence of Muammer Dogan Akdur, the new Turkish ambassador to the Holy See. In his French-language address to the diplomat, the Holy Father reiterated his gratitude to the authorities and the people of Turkey for the welcome they showed him during his apostolic visit to the country in December last year.

Pointing out that his trip had led him in the footsteps of his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, Benedict XVI noted that it had also given him the opportunity "to witness the good relations" between Turkey and the Holy See. And he recalled how, in his meetings with political leaders in Turkey, he had sought to reaffirm "the presence of the Catholic Church in Turkish society, thanks to the important heritage of the first Christian communities of Asia Minor" and the "existence of today's Christian communities, clearly minorities but dedicated to the country and to the common good of all society, and desirous of making their contribution to the construction of the nation."

"While enjoying the religious freedom guaranteed to all believers by the Turkish Constitution, the Catholic Church wishes to benefit from a recognized juridical statute, and to see the start of official dialogue between the episcopal conference and the State authorities in order to resolve any problems that may arise and maintain good relations between both sides. I do not doubt that the government will do everything in its power to progress in this direction."

The Holy Father then went on to underline how during his "memorable visit" to Turkey he had repeatedly expressed "the Catholic Church's respect for Islam, and the esteem in which the Pope and the faithful hold Muslim believers."

   "In the modern world, in which tensions seem to be increasing," he observed, "the Holy See is convinced ... that believers from different religions must make every effort to work towards peace, beginning with the rejection of violence, which in the past was often used on religious pretexts, and learning to understand and respect one another. ... Furthermore, religions can unite their forces to promote respect for human beings ... and for the fundamental rights that rule the lives of individuals and societies."

"The Holy See recognizes Turkey's specific role, and its geographical and historical status of being a bridge between the continents of Europe and Asia and a crossroads of cultures and religions," said the Holy Father. He also expressed the Holy See's appreciation for Turkey's commitment "in favor of peace at the heart of the international community," and particularly "its efforts towards the resumption of negotiations in the Middle East" and its aid in Lebanon "for the reconstruction of a country devastated by war and for the furtherance of constructive dialogue between all sides of Lebanese society."

In this context the Pope reaffirmed the Holy See's interest in "efforts being made by nations to regulate, ... sometimes with the help of other countries and of regional and international authorities, situations of conflicts inherited from the past," and in initiatives in favor of bringing countries closer together. "The universalization of exchanges, already evident in the economic and financial field, must obviously be accompanied by joint political commitments in order to guarantee organized and lasting development that excludes no one and ensures all peoples a harmonious future."

Benedict XVI concluded his address by asking the ambassador to pass on his greetings to the Catholic communities in Turkey, as well as to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the faithful of the Orthodox Church "to whom," he said, "we are bound by so many fraternal ties."

CD/CREDENTIALS/TURKEY:AKDUR                                        VIS 070119 (620)

CONVINCING TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 19, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received an ecumenical delegation from Finland for the occasion of the Feast of St. Henry, patron saint of that country, which is celebrated today.

Addressing the delegates in English, the Pope noted how "in recent times relations between Christians in Finland have developed in a way that offers much hope for the future of ecumenism. Readily they pray and work together, bearing common public witness to the Word of God.

"It is precisely this convincing testimony to the guiding and saving truths of the Gospel that all men and women seek or need to hear," he added. "On the part of Christians this demands courage."

"In the Joint Declaration on Justification, Lutherans and Catholics have covered a considerable distance theologically. Further work remains and so it is encouraging that the Nordic Lutheran-Catholic dialogue in Finland and Sweden is examining the topic of 'Justification in the Life of the Church'."

The Holy Father concluded by expressing the hope "that these conversations will effectively contribute to the quest for full and visible unity of the Church, while at the same time offering an ever clearer response to the fundamental questions affecting life and society."

AC/.../FINNISH ECUMENICAL DELEGATION                           VIS 070119 (220)

ROME'S "ALMO COLLEGIO CAPRANICA" CELEBRATES 550 YEARS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 19, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received the superiors and students of the diocesan seminary of Rome, the "Almo Collegio Capranica," on the eve of the feast day of their patroness, St Agnes. The "Almo Collegio" forms students to the priesthood for Rome, other Italian dioceses and the rest of the world.

The Pope recalled that 550 years have passed since the college was founded by Cardinal Domenico Capranica, whose wish, said the Pope, was that the seminary "should be exclusively dedicated to the formation of future priests, with preference shown to candidates from less privileged backgrounds."

The cardinal's main reason for founding the institution was "his conviction that the quality of the clergy depends on the seriousness of their formation," said Pope Benedict. Indeed, Cardinal Capranica ensured that all students were taught Aristotelian ethics, that students of theology dedicated particular attention to St. Thomas Aquinas and that students of law studied the doctrine of Pope Innocent III.

Benedict XVI also recalled how the study program "was incorporated within a framework of integral formation, focussing on the spiritual dimension and having as its pillars the Sacraments of the Eucharist (every day) and of Penance (at least once a month), and supported by the devout practices prescribed or encouraged by the Church. Great importance was also given to education in charity, both in everyday fraternal life and in helping the sick, and in what today we call 'pastoral experience'."

The Pope expressed the hope that the " Almo Collegio Capranica" may continue along this path "faithful to is long tradition and to the teachings of Vatican Council II." He concluded by calling on the students to renew their "offer to God and to the Holy Church, conforming yourselves ever more to Christ the Good Shepherd, Who has called You to follow Him and to work in His vineyard."

AC/.../ALMO COLLEGIO CAPRANICA                                       VIS 070119 (330)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 19, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the pontifical basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

- Fr. Beda Paluzzi O.S.B., apostolic administrator of the abbey of Montevergine, on his "ad limina" visit.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AP:AL/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070119 (80)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 19, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Venice, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John J. Nevins, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Frank J. Dewane.

RE/.../NEVINS:DEWANE                                                              VIS 070119 (50)

MEETING ON THE SITUATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. has made it known that on Friday January 19 and Saturday January 20, a meeting will be held in the Vatican to consider the situation of the Catholic Church in China. The event will be presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.

OP/MEETING CHURCH CHINA/BERTONE                               VIS 070118 (80)

BRIEFING ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF ECUMENISM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - During a meeting due to be held in the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on January 23, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will hold a briefing for journalists on the current state of ecumenism, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Also participating in the event will be Bishop Brian Farrell and Msgr, Eleuterio F. Fortino, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

OP/ECUMENISM/KASPER                                                                     VIS 070118 (100)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Lawrence Gonzi, prime minister of Malta, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Orazio Soricelli of Amalfi-Cava ce' Tirreni.

    - Bishop Gioacchino Illiano of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.

    - Bishop Angelo Spinillo of Teggiano-Policastro.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Rocco Favale of Vallo della Lucania.

    - Bishop Carlo Liberati, prelate of Pompei and pontifical delegate for the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary.

    - Dom Benedetto Maria Salvatore Chianetta O.S.B., abbot of Holy Trinity Abbey of Cava de'Tirreni.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches.

AP:AL/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070118 (140)

FOLLOW PATH TO CHRISTIAN UNITY WITHOUT DISCOURAGEMENT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2007 (VIS) - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins tomorrow, was the focus of Benedict XVI's catechesis during his general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of more than 6,000 people.

"Unity," said the Pope, "is a gift from God and the fruit of the action of His Spirit. For this reason it is important to pray. The closer we draw to Christ, converting ourselves to His love, the closer we also draw to one another."

The Holy Father recalled the theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, taken from the Gospel of St. Mark: "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." This phrase, he explained "by highlighting two aspects of the mission of each Christian community - announcing the Gospel and giving witness of charity - also underlines how important it is to translate Christ's message into real initiatives of solidarity. This advances the journey towards unity because ... all relief Christians together bring to their fellows, however small, also contributes to making their communion more visible."

"The road to unity remains long and difficult, but we must not be discouraged, and continue our journey, relying on the sure support of Christ" said the Pope. He also noted how he had had the opportunity to note, over years of meetings with representatives from other Churches and ecclesial communities, "and in a particularly moving way, during my recent visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul, how deeply felt the desire for unity is. ... That experience and others like it, have brought hope to my heart."

The Pope mentioned the fact that today, in some countries, is the Day for Dialogue between Jews and Christians, and he recalled some high points in the "mutual friendship" between the two communities, such as Vatican Council II and John Paul II's visit to the synagogue of Rome in April 1986.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will come to an end on January 25 with the celebration of Vespers presided by the Holy Father in the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, in the presence of representatives from other Churches and Christian communities.

AG/CHRISTIAN UNITY/...                                                               VIS 070117 (390)

FINAL DOCUMENT OF MEETING ON PASTORAL CARE OF THE ROAD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2007 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples has recently published the final document of the 2nd International Meeting on the Pastoral Care of the Road, which was held in the Vatican on December 1 and 2, 2006.

The document, published in Italian and English, makes various recommendations, among them that "there be a more thorough examination of pastoral attention for a secure and sustainable mobility that respects life, human persons, their dignity, rights and destiny."

Also, that "contacts with the social communications media be intensified, in order to invite them to analyze with greater care the messages they transmit daily and to become our allies in the work of education, including road education."

The document also proposes that "places and occasions of meeting with professionals of the road be created, since, differently from those who use a car for personal or family reasons, they are more sensitive to the feeling of solitude and distance from their family."

Such meetings, the document suggests, should "be held in places considered by the people involved as 'their own,' like big parking areas and highway stops," so as to create "moments of a more intense spiritual life, with the possibility of growing in the faith."

CON-SM/ROAD PASTORAL CARE/...                                       VIS 070117 (230)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Ivo Sanader, prime minister of the Republic of Croatia accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 070117 (40)

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 16, 2007 (VIS) - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, traditionally celebrated every year from January 18 to 25, is due to begin on Thursday. The theme for the 2007 initiative is: "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

The texts for reflection and prayer this year have been prepared by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

"This year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," says a communique released by the pontifical council, "brings together two themes, two invitations extended to Christian Churches and people: to pray and strive together for Christian unity, and to join together in responding to human suffering. These two responsibilities are deeply intertwined. Both relate to healing the Body of Christ (the Church), hence the principal text chosen for this year's week of prayer is a story of healing."

Each day of the Week will have a different theme:

January 18: In the beginning was the Word. "And God said..." (Gen 1).

January 19: The Saving Word of Christ. "He makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" (Mk 7: 31-37).

January 20: The Holy Spirit gives us the Word. "The Spirit ...will testify on my behalf" (Jn 15: 26).

January 21: The silence of the forgotten and the cries of the suffering. "If one member suffers all suffer together" (1 Cor 12: 26).

January 22: God's judgement on our silence. "Just as you did not do it to one of the least of these..." (Mt 25: 45).

January 23: Empowered to speak out. "But the woman ... came in fear and trembling ... and told Him the whole truth" (Mk 5: 33).

January 24: Forsakenness. "Why are You so far from helping me?" (Ps 22: 1)

January 25: Resurrection - glorification. "Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2: 11).

In the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, Feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul, Benedict XVI will preside at the celebration of Vespers to mark the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

.../PRAYER WEEK CHRISTIAN UNITY/...                                    VIS 070116 (380)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 16, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Francois Jacolin M.D.P., vicar general of the archdiocese of Bourges, France, and pastor of the parish of "La Resurrection" in Chateauroux, as bishop of Mende (area 5,180, population 74,300, Catholics 58,400, priests 126, permanent deacons 5, religious 193), France. The bishop-elect was born in Fontainebleau, France in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1982.

- Msgr. Leo Boccardi, Holy See permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) and to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations Organization for Industrial Development (O.N.U.D.I.), and to the Office of the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, as apostolic nuncio to Sudan, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in San Martino in Pensilis, Italy, in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1979

NER:NN/.../JACOLIN:BOCCARDI                                                VIS 070116 (160)

ADDRESSING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 2007 (VIS) - On February 27, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, together with the Path to Peace Foundation and the Vincentian Center for Church and Society of St. John's University in New York, will host an event within the framework of a meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, entitled "The Human Dignity of Women in Contemporary Society: Addressing Violence against Women."

According to a communique made public today, the event "will identify the key contemporary social economic and legal issues that violence has upon women; discuss these issues through the prism of the dignity of the human person; describe current best practices and the applied ethics approach to the issue of violence and its prevention; and provide a forum for the exchange of experience across nations and enhanced communication among panelists and participants."

The meeting, which will be moderated by Marilyn Martone, associate professor of theology at St. John's University, will consider such questions as: Domestic Violence: Service and Policy Issues; Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls: Trafficking, Prostitution and Weapons of War; and Gender-Based Violence: International Human Rights and Family Reunification Policy.

DELSS/VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN/UN                              VIS 070115 (210)

FAMILY OF NAZARETH: MODEL OF THE MIGRANT FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 14, 2007 (VIS) - The World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and in particular "the migrant family," provided the theme for Benedict XVI's reflections this morning before praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

As an example of the migrant family, the Pope mentioned the Holy Family of Nazareth in St. Matthew's account of their flight to escape the persecution of Herod. In their drama, he said, "we contemplate the painful condition of so many migrants, especially refugees, exiles, displaced people, and the persecuted. We particularly recognize the difficulties of migrant families: their discomforts, humiliations, privations and frailties."

The Holy Father went on to recall how the phenomenon of human mobility "is very extensive and varied," and that according to recent United Nations statistics, "economic migrants number almost 200 million, refugees nine million and international students two million."

To these must be added "internally displaced people and irregular migrants, taking into account the fact that each of them has, in one way or another, a family. It is, therefore, important to protect migrants and their families with specific legislative, juridical and administrative assistance, as well as through a network of services, welcome centers, and social and pastoral care structures."

The Pope expressed the hope that "a harmonious regulation of migratory flows and of human mobility in general" would soon be achieved, "so as to bring benefits to the entire human family, beginning with effective measures to favor legal migration and family reunion."

"Only respect for the human dignity of all migrants, on the one hand, and recognition by the migrants themselves of the values of their host societies, on the other, can make it possible to integrate families into the social, economic and political systems of their countries of destination."

"Migration," Pope Benedict concluded, "must never be seen only as a problem, but also and above all as a great resource for the progress of mankind. And the migrant family is a particularly special resource, so long as it is respected as such; it must not suffer irreparable divisions but remain united, or reunite, and complete its mission as the cradle of life and the primary place for welcoming and educating human beings."

ANG/MIGRANT FAMILIES/...                                                        VIS 070115 (380)

LETTER FROM POLISH BISHOPS TO THE FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 14, 2007 (VIS) - Polish cardinals and bishops meeting this week in plenary session - members of the permanent council of the Polish Episcopal Conference and diocesan bishops - have sent a letter to all the faithful of the Church in Poland. The letter was read out today in all the country's parishes.

"In recent days," the prelates begin their letter, which was also made public in Italian and English translations, "we have experienced dramatic events related to Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus of Warsaw resigning from office. ... With sadness, we have followed the accusations brought against him in recent weeks. ... We are grateful to the Holy Father Benedict XVI for his fatherly help in the difficult situation we face. Thanks to his resolve ... we are better prepared to live through this unusual time courageously and fruitfully."

The Polish bishops note that "not taking into account the widely accepted rule of the presumption of innocence helped to apply pressure to the accused archbishop, which did not make it easy for him to present public opinion with an appropriate defense, to which he is entitled."

Later in their letter, the bishops write: "We wish Ash Wednesday, February 21, to be a day of prayer and repentance for the entire Polish clergy. In all the churches in our dioceses services to the Merciful God should be celebrated for forgiveness of mistakes and weaknesses in the proclamation of the Gospel."

"We appeal to those in power and to members of parliament to ensure that materials found in the archives of the Popular Republic of Poland are used in such a way as not to encroach upon the rights of a human person and demean the dignity of man, and to ensure that such materials may be verified in an independent court of justice. Nor should it be forgotten that the documents incriminate their authors above all."

"We ask everyone to refrain from passing superficial and rash judgements, for they can be damaging. We mean especially those who work in the media. May Christian conscience and human sensibility suggest to them what should be presented to public opinion and how it should be done, always taking into account the dignity of the human person, and the right to defense and good name, even after one's death."

The Polish prelates conclude their letter: "We believe that our current experience will contribute to a renewal of the Church, to a greater transparency and maturity of her members. We believe that it will help the Church to be faithful to the Gospel and look to it for solutions of our problems, to be reborn from it, in order to be a leaven of good and love in the world."

.../WIELGUS/POLISH BISHOPS                                                  VIS 070115 (470)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop-Bishop Beniamino Depalma C.M., of Nola.

    - Bishop Gennaro Pascarella of Pozzuoli.

    - Archbishop Felice Cece of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia.

    - Bishop Arturo Aiello of Teano-Calvi.

    - Bishop Antonio Napoletano C.SS.R., of Sessa Aurunca.

   - Archbishop Gerardo Pierro of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno.

- James T. Morris, executive director of the World Food Program, on his farewell visit.

On Saturday, January 13, he received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Salvatore Giovanni Rinaldi of Acerra.

    - Bishop Pietro Farina of Alife-Caiazzo.

    - Archbishop-Bishop Mario Milano of Aversa.

    - Archbishop Bruno Schettino of Capua.

    - Bishop Raffaele Nogaro of Caserta.

    - Bishop Filippo Strofaldi of Ischia.

- Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio S.J., archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina and president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, accompanied by Archbishop Luis Hector Villalba of Tucuman and Bishop Augustin Roberto Radrizzani S.D.B., of Lomas de Zamora, vice presidents, and by Bishop Sergio Alfredo Fenoy of San Miguel, secretary general.

- Guillermo Leon Escobar-Herran, ambassador of Colombia, on his farewell visit.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

- Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum."

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070115 (230)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Christian Blouin C.M.M., master of novices in the diocese of Lae, Papua New Guinea, as bishop of the same diocese (area 35,968, population 534,810, Catholics 31,000, priests 14, religious 5). The bishop-elect was born in Saint-Sebastien, Canada in 1941 and ordained a priest in 1969. He succeeds Bishop Henry Anthony A. van Lieshout C.M.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Gervas Rozario of the clergy of the diocese of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, pastor of Rohanpur and diocesan administrator, as bishop of the same diocese (area 18,063, population 15,000,000, Catholics 45,588, priests 40, religious 89). The bishop-elect was born in Stiangaccha, Bangladesh in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Fr. Emigdio Duarte Figueroa, rector of the seminary of the diocese of Culiacan, Mexico, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese (area 37,800, population 2,382,072, Catholics 2,287,722, priests 150, permanent deacons 4, religious 301). The bishop-elect was born in Guamuchil, Mexico in 1968 and ordained a priest in 1996.

NER:NEA/.../...                                                                                VIS 070115 (200)

POPE PRAISES INSPECTORATE FOR PUBLIC SECURITY IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2007 (VIS) - In keeping with an annual tradition, Benedict XVI today received members of the General Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican, to whom he expressed his "appreciation and recognition" for their service.

"I well know, also from personal experience, how important for pilgrims and tourists is your discreet presence in the places that constitute the heart of Christian Rome," said the Pope. Many of the people "who visit St. Peter's Basilica or pause under Bernini's imposing colonnade see your faces and not infrequently avail themselves of your help."

"You have the task of protecting and overseeing sites that have inestimable value for the memory and faith of millions of pilgrims, places that contain great treasures of history and art; above all places where, by some inscrutable mystery, the living encounter of the faithful with the Lord Jesus takes place. The People of God, pilgrims, all people understand, as they pass by you, that they enjoy a special and reassuring protection."

The Holy Father concluded with a reflection which, he said, applies to us all: "we are called to be the guardians of our fellows. The Lord will call us to account for the responsibilities entrusted to us, for the good and bad we have done to our brothers and sisters; whether we accompanied them carefully on the daily journey, sharing the anguish and joys of their hearts; whether we stayed beside them discreetly but constantly, helping and supporting them when the path became more difficult and tiring."

AC/VATICAN SECURITY/...                                                          VIS 070112 (270)

BRAZIL TO STAGE LATIN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at midday today, Fr. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, director of the press office of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), briefed journalists on the forthcoming Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean. The meeting will be held in Aparecida, Brazil from May 13 to 31.

Fr. Gutierrez affirmed that the conference - which will have as its theme "Disciples and missionaries in Jesus Christ, that in Him our peoples may have life ('I am the way and the truth and the life')" - will be inaugurated by Benedict XVI on May 13. The Pope will preside at a Mass, concelebrated with representatives of all Latin American bishops, and will pronounce an address during the opening session.

A group of experts is currently selecting the themes from proposals being put forward by the various episcopal conferences. They will prepare a summary and, at the end of February, publish a preparatory document for the conference.

The presidents of the 22 episcopal conferences of CELAM will attend the Aparecida meeting, as will groups representing the prelates in each episcopal conference, for a total of 176, also including bishops from Canada, U.S.A., Spain and Portugal. Also present will be 24 priests, 23 male and female religious, and 17 lay people, as well as six ecumenical representatives.

The novelty of this conference with respect to the previous four held in 1955, 1968 1979 and 1992, said Fr. Gutierrez, is that on the closing day, when the final document is published, a "great continental mission" will begin.

Fr. Gutierrez also explained that the original intention had been to hold the meeting in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, but the idea was abandoned because the city lies at an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters and there were fears this might affect the health of the delegates, particularly the more elderly. Benedict XVI had then asked for the meeting to be celebrated at a Marian shrine, and Aparecida was chosen, a site that can hold 35,000 faithful and is visited annually by eight million pilgrims.

OP/LATIN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE/BRAZIL           VIS 070109 (370)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences seven prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Filippo Iannone O. Carm.

    - Archbishop Andrea Mugione of Benevento.

    - Bishop Giovanni D'Alise of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia.

    - Bishop Francesco Marino of Avellino.

    - Bishop Michele De Rosa of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata dei Goti.

    - Archbishop Francesco Alfano of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi-Conza-Nusco-Bisaccia.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 070112 (110)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Orlando Antonio Corrales Garcia of Palmira, Colombia, as metropolitan archbishop of Santa Fe de Antioquia (area 11,803, population 255,183, Catholics 230,000, priests 93, permanent deacons 3, religious 135), Colombia. The archbishop-elect was born in Abejorral, Colombia in 1947, he was ordained a priest in 1971, and consecrated a bishop in 1998. He succeeds Archbishop Ignacio Gomez Aristizabal, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

NER.RE/.../CORRALES:GOMEZ                                                 VIS 070112 (100)

POLICES OF THE FAMILY AND FOR THE FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Pope received Piero Marrazzo, president of the Region of Lazio, Italy; Walter Veltroni, mayor of the City of Rome; and Enrico Gasbarra, president of the Province of Rome, each accompanied by an entourage, for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings.

Addressing them, the Holy Father expressed his satisfaction at the long-standing collaboration between their administrations and ecclesial bodies; a collaboration that aims "to alleviate the many forms of poverty - economic poverty, but also poverty in terms of human relationships - that afflict a considerable number of individuals and families, especially among immigrants."

On the subject of healthcare, Benedict XVI stressed the fact that "the Church and Catholic organizations are happy to offer their help, in the light of the great principles of the sacredness of human life from conception to natural end, and of the central importance of sick people." On this subject, he expressed his hope that the administrators would "favor a form of collaboration that brings definite benefits to the entire population."

Turning to the question of the family, the Pope said that the "intrinsic value and authentic motivations" of marriage and the family, "need today to be better understood. To this end, the Church's pastoral commitment is great and must grow further. But equally necessary are polices of the family and for the family," that translate into initiatives to help young couples form a family, have children and educate them. Such policies must involve "favoring the occupation of the young, containing as far as possible the cost of housing, and increasing the number of nursery schools and kindergartens.

"However," he added, "projects that aim to attribute to other forms of union inappropriate legal recognition appear dangerous and counterproductive," because they inevitably end up "weakening and destabilizing the legitimate family based on marriage."

After pointing out that "the education of new generations is the pastoral priority of the diocese of Rome," the Holy Father told his audience of his gratitude for the support "you give to certain forms of educational activity in the Church, in particular the oratories. I trust that, also in this field, we can further develop our fruitful collaboration, while respecting the nature and duties of each of the parties involved."

AC/.../REGION:PROVINCE ROME                                              VIS 070111 (390)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Piero Marrazzo, president of the Region of Lazio, Italy.

- Walter Veltroni, mayor of the City of Rome.

- Enrico Gasbarra, president of the Province of Rome.

- Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (for Seminaries and Educational Institutions).

- Ahamad Abdulkareem Al-Ibrahim, ambassador of Kuwait, on his farewell visit.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

- Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, Spain.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 070111 (110)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Kurian Valiakandathil of the clergy of the diocese of Bhagalpur, India, pastor of Leela, as bishop of the same diocese (area 40,000, population 8,247,236, Catholics 76,940, priests 94, religious 306). The bishop-elect was born in Elanjy, India in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1977.

- Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, apostolic nuncio to Mexico, as apostolic nuncio to Italy.

NER:NN/.../ VALIAKANDATHIL:BERTELLO                              VIS 070111 (80)

ST. STEPHEN CHARITABLE COMMITMENT AND EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 10, 2007 (VIS) - In this morning's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 7,000 people, Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen.

"St. Stephen," said the Pope, "is the most representative figure of a group of seven companions," who concerned themselves with charitably serving the needs of members of the Christian community, whether of Jewish or of Greek origin.

"Tradition sees in this group the origins of the future ministry of deacons," upon whom the Apostles "laid their hands," a gesture that in the Old Testament "has above all the significance of transmitting an important task," said the Pope.

"That this was an important action, to be undertaken following due discernment, becomes clear from a reading of the First Letter of Paul to Timothy: 'Do not be hasty in laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins'."

"Apart from his charitable service," the Pope continued, "Stephen also carried out evangelizing activity among his countrymen, the so-called 'Hellenists'." To them "he reread the Old Testament in the light of the announcement, death and resurrection of Jesus." This rereading "provoked the reaction of the Jews who perceived his words as blasphemy."

Stephen "shows that the mystery of the cross lies at the center of the history of salvation," and that "the cult of the temple is finished" because the Risen Christ "is the new and true 'temple.' It was precisely this 'no' to the temple" that led to his death sentence and martyrdom. After his stoning, the group of Jewish and Hellenic Christians fled Jerusalem "and became itinerant missionaries. ... Persecution and consequent dispersion became mission."

The Holy Father explained how the story of St. Stephen reminds us that "social commitment to charity can never be disassociated from the courageous announcement of the faith." With charity, the first martyr "announced the crucified Christ, even to the point of accepting martyrdom."

"The cross remains central in the life of the Church as well as in our private lives. In the history of the Church, passion and persecution will never be lacking," said Pope Benedict, but, "in the famous phrase of Tertullian, ... 'we multiply every time we are cut down by you.' The blood of Christians is a seed."

"In our own lives too, the cross, which will never be lacking, becomes a blessing," he concluded. "And accepting the cross, knowing that is it is and becomes a blessing, we learn the joy of being Christian, even in moments of difficulty."

AG/ST. STEPHEN/...                                                                  VIS 070110 (440)

Pope to Inaugurate Latin American Episcopal Conference

- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

POPE TO INAUGURATE LATIN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 9, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office on Friday, January 12, Fr. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, director of the press office of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), will brief journalists on the forthcoming Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean. The meeting will be held in Aparecida, Brazil from 13 to 31 May, and is due to be inaugurated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI.

OP/LATIN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE/BRAZIL    VIS 070109 (100)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 9, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany.

AP/.../...                                                                                                        VIS 070109 ()

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF CHRIST AND OF HIS MESSAGE!

VATICAN CITY, JAN 6, 2007 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. today, the Pope presided at Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

In his homily, the Holy Father affirmed that the Epiphany is "the 'manifestation' of Christ to peoples," who "are represented by the Magi, the mysterious pilgrims from the East. We celebrate Christ, the goal of peoples' pilgrimage in search of salvation".

"Who," the Pope asked, "are the Magi today? How, our minds upon the modern world, can we interpret these mysterious gospel figures?" To answer this question, he considered Vatican Council II which, he said, was moved "by the desire to announce Christ, light of the world, to modern humanity," and which identified "the need to create a new political and economic world order, and at the same time and above all a spiritual and cultural order, in other words a renewed humanism."

At the beginning of the third millenium, characterized by the phenomenon of globalization, said the Holy Father, there is a risk of losing sight of this challenge, "a risk greatly reinforced by the immense growth of the mass media which, although on the one hand they immeasurably increase our sources of information, on the other they seem to weaken our capacity to achieve a critical overview."

Recalling the final messages of Vatican Council II, the Pope indicated that the first was addressed to rulers and the second to men of thought and science, "two categories of people," he said, "that in some way correspond to the gospel figures of the Magi." To them, he went on, "it is today more than ever necessary to add the representatives of the great non-Christian religious traditions, inviting them to contemplate the light of Christ, Who came not to abolish but to bring to fruition what the hand of God had written in the religious history of civilizations, especially in the 'great souls' who contributed to building humanity with their wisdom and their exemplary virtue. Christ is light, and light cannot obscure but only illuminate, clarify and reveal.

"Therefore," he concluded, "let no one be afraid of Christ and of His message! And if in the course of history Christians, being imperfect and sinful, have sometimes betrayed Him with their behavior, this highlights even more the fact that the light is Christ, and the Church reflects that light only by remaining united to Him."

HML/EPIPHANY/...                                                                         VIS 070108 (420)

CHURCH IS BASED NOT ON HOMOGENEITY BUT ON SHARED FAITH

VATICAN CITY, JAN 6, 2007 (VIS) - The Solemnity of the Epiphany was the central theme of Benedict XVI's brief remarks before praying the Angelus today with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The Holy Father pointed out how the Gospel of Matthew lays great emphasis on the Epiphany, a vitally important event because it marks the beginning of the conversion of "pagan peoples to faith in Christ. ... If, then, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds of Bethlehem represent the people of Israel who welcomed the Lord, the Magi are the 'first fruit' of the Gentiles, also called to become part of the Church, the new people of God, no longer based on ethnic, linguistic or cultural homogeneity, but solely on shared faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

"For this reason," he added, "the Epiphany of Christ is at the same time the epiphany of the Church, in other words the expression of her vocation and universal mission." Benedict XVI then went on to greet "our brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches who, following the Julian calendar, will celebrate Christmas tomorrow." He also recalled the fact that today is the World Day of Missionary Children, "the feast of Christian children who live the gift of faith with joy and pray that the light of Christ may reach all children in the world."

ANG/EPIPHANY:MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD DAY/...               VIS 070108 (240)

IN EACH NEWBORN WE RECOGNIZE THAT LIFE IS A GIFT OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 7, 2007 (VIS) - In the Sistine Chapel today, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which concludes the liturgical time of Christmas, the Pope baptized 13 newborn babies from various countries.

"Each child born," said the Holy Father in his homily, "brings to us the smile of God and invites us to recognize that life is His gift, a gift that must be accepted with love and protected with care, always and at all times."

"Each child born is entrusted by God to its parents. How important, then, is the family founded upon marriage! The cradle of life and of love."

After highlighting the fact that "Baptism is adoption and assumption into the family of God, in communion with the Holy Trinity," the Pope affirmed that newborns, "from being children of human parents, become also children of God in the living Son of God."

"In Baptism we are adopted by the heavenly Father," said Pope Benedict, "but in His family there is also a mother, the Mother Church."

"Christianity is not just a spiritual reality, an individual reality, a simple subjective decision that I take, but something real, something concrete, perhaps even something material. The family of God is built within the concrete reality of the Church."

The Holy Father called upon the parents and godparents of the children just baptized to teach them "to pray and to feel themselves to be active members of the real family of God, of the ecclesial community."

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of that Catechism, ... could prove an extremely useful and exact tool to help you to grow in your own knowledge of Catholic faith, and to transmit it fully and faithfully to your offspring. Above all, do not forget that it is your testimony, your example, that has the greatest influence on the human and spiritual growth of ... your children."

HML/BAPTISMS/...                                                                         VIS 070108 (340)

BAPTISM MEANS WE MUST LISTEN TO AND FOLLOW JESUS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 7, 2007 (VIS) - After having presided at Mass in the Sistine Chapel, during which he administered the Sacrament of Baptism to 13 newborn infants, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square below.

"Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which closes the period of Christmas," he said, pointing out that the Baptism is mentioned, in different ways, in all the Gospels. "It was, in fact, part of the Apostles' preaching, because it constituted the starting point of the entire arc of deeds and words to which they were called to bear witness."

Jesus' Baptism was extremely important for the apostolic community, "not only because then, and for the first time in history, the mystery of the Trinity was made manifest clearly and completely, but also because with that event Jesus' public ministry began. ... The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan anticipates His Baptism of blood on the Cross and symbolizes the entire sacramental activity with which the Redeemer would achieve the salvation of humanity."

The Holy Father recalled that "this Feast is, after Easter, the oldest," and indicated how "there is a close correlation between the Baptism of Christ and our own Baptism. In the Jordan, heaven opened to show that the Savior has opened the way of salvation, and we can follow it thanks to the new birth 'of water and the Spirit' that comes about in Baptism. In Baptism we are inserted into mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church, we die and are born again in Him, we cloth ourselves in Him. ... The duty that arises from Baptism is, then, that of 'listening' to Jesus, believing in Him and following Him obediently, doing His will."

ANG/BAPTISM CHRIST/...                                                            VIS 070108 (320)

BENEDICT XVI ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF ARCHBISHOP WIELGUS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 7, 2007 (VIS) - In a note released at midday today, the apostolic nunciature to Poland stated that: "Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus of Warsaw, Poland, on the day in which he was scheduled to enter the cathedral basilica to begin his pastoral ministry in the Church of Warsaw, has presented His Holiness Benedict XVI with his resignation from canonical office, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

"The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus and has appointed Cardinal Jozef Glemp, primate of Poland, as diocesan administrator of Warsaw, until further notice." The note bears the signature of Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, apostolic nuncio to Poland.

For his part, Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. released the following declaration to journalists today:

"Archbishop Wielgus' conduct in the past years of the communist regime in Poland has seriously compromised his authority, even with the faithful. Therefore, despite his humble and touching request for forgiveness, his resignation from the see of Warsaw and its prompt acceptance on the part of the Holy Father seemed an appropriate way to address the disorientation that has been created in that country.

"It is a time of great suffering for a Church to which we all owe so much and which we love. A Church that has given us pastors of the stature of Cardinal Stefan Wyszybnski and, above all, of Pope John Paul II. The universal Church must feel spiritually united to the Church in Poland and support her with prayer and encouragement, so she may soon recover her serenity.

"At the same time, it must be remarked that the case of Archbishop Wielgus is not the first and will probably not be the last time that personalities of the Church are attacked on the basis of documentation from the security services of the former regime. There is an enormous amount of material and, in attempting to assess its value and draw reliable conclusions, it must not be forgotten that it was produced by officials of an oppressive and blackmailing regime.

"So many years after the end of the communist regime, with the loss of the great and unassailable figure of Pope John Paul II, the current wave of attacks against the Catholic Church in Poland, rather than a sincere search for transparency and truth, has many hallmarks of being a strange alliance between the persecutors of the past and their adversaries, a vendetta by those who used to persecute the Church and were defeated by the faith and the thirst for freedom of the Polish people.

"'The truth will make you free,' says Christ. The Church is not afraid of the truth and her members, to be faithful to their Lord, must be able to acknowledge their own faults. We hope that the Church in Poland will be able to live and surmount this difficult period courageously and clearly, so that she will be able to continue to offer her precious and extraordinary contribution of faith and evangelical energy to the Church in Europe and the world."

OP/RESIGNATION/WIELGUS                                                      VIS 070108 (530)

LET US WORK TO BUILD AN INTEGRAL HUMANISM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Sala Regia of the Vatican, Pope Benedict pronounced his traditional annual address to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, in which he analyzed the most important events of the year that has just ended. He also received greetings from the ambassadors formulated in a speech delivered by Giovanni Galassi, ambassador of San Marino and dean of the diplomatic corps. The Holy See currently maintains diplomatic relations with 175 States, to which must be added the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It also has relations of a special nature with the Russian Federation and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

"At the start of the year," the Pope began, "we are invited to turn our attention to the international situation, so as to focus upon the challenges that we are called to address together. ... The worsening scandal of hunger is unacceptable in a world which has the resources, the knowledge, and the means available to bring it to an end. It impels us to change our way of life, it reminds us of the urgent need to eliminate the structural causes of global economic dysfunction and to correct models of growth that seem incapable of guaranteeing respect for the environment and for integral human development, both now and in the future.

"Once again I invite the leaders of the wealthiest nations to take the necessary steps to ensure that poor countries, which often have a wealth of natural resources, are able to benefit from the fruits of goods that are rightfully theirs. From this point of view, the delay in implementing the commitments undertaken by the international community during the last few years is another cause of concern. So it is to be hoped that the trade negotiations of the 'Doha Development Round' of the World Trade Organization will be resumed, and that the process of debt cancellation and reduction for the poorest countries will be continued and accelerated. At the same time, these processes must not be made conditional upon structural adjustments that are detrimental to the most vulnerable populations.

"Equally, in the area of disarmament, symptoms of a developing crisis are multiplying, linked to difficulties in negotiations over conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction and also to the rise in global military expenditure. Security issues - aggravated by terrorism, which is to be utterly condemned - must be approached from a global and far-sighted perspective.

"As far as humanitarian crises are concerned, we should note that the organizations dealing with them need greater support, so that they can be equipped to provide protection and assistance to the victims. Another concern which looms ever larger is that of the movement of persons: millions of men and women are forced to leave their homes or their native lands because of violence or in order to seek more dignified living conditions. It is an illusion to think that migration can be blocked or checked simply by force. Migration and the problems to which it gives rise must be addressed humanely, with justice and compassion.

"How can we not be alarmed, moreover, by the continuous attacks on life, from conception to natural death? Such attacks do not even spare regions with a traditional culture of respecting life, such as Africa, where there is an attempt to trivialize abortion surreptitiously, both through the Maputo Protocol. ... Equally, there are mounting threats to the natural composition of the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, and attempts to relativize it by giving it the same status as other radically different forms of union."

"Other forms of attack on life are sometimes committed in the name of scientific research. There is a growing conviction that research is subject only to the laws that it chooses for itself and that it is limited only by its own possibilities. This is the case, for example, in attempts to legitimize human cloning for supposedly therapeutic ends.

"This overview of matters of concern must not distract our attention from the positive elements characteristic of the modern age. I should like to mention first of all the growing awareness of the importance of dialogue between cultures and between religions."

"It is also timely to note the growing awareness shown by the international community of the enormous challenges of our time, and the efforts made to transform this awareness into concrete action. Within the United Nations Organization, the Council for Human Rights was established last year, and it is to be hoped that this will focus its activity on defense and promotion of the fundamental rights of the person, especially the right to life and the right to religious freedom."

"Within the framework of development, various initiatives have been undertaken to which the Holy See has not failed to pledge its support, at the same time reiterating that these projects must not supplant the commitment of developed countries to devote 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product to international aid. Another important element in the collective struggle to eliminate poverty, in addition to aid - which one can only hope will expand - is a greater awareness of the need to combat corruption and to promote good governance. We must also encourage and continue the efforts that have been made to guarantee human rights to individuals and peoples, for the sake of more effective protection of civilian populations.

"In considering the political situation in the various continents, we find even more reasons for concern and reasons for hope. At the outset, we note that peace is often fragile and even mocked. We cannot forget the African Continent. The drama of Darfur continues and is being extended to the border regions of Chad and the Central African Republic. The international community has seemed powerless for almost four years, despite initiatives intended to bring relief to the populations in distress and to arrive at a political solution. Only by active cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union, the governments and other interested parties will these methods achieve results."

"The situation in the Horn of Africa has recently become more serious, with the resumption of hostilities and the internationalization of the conflict. ... With regard to Uganda, we must pray for the progress of negotiations between the parties, in order to hasten the end of that cruel conflict which has even seen numerous children enlisted and forced to become soldiers."

"The Great Lakes Region has seen much bloodshed over the years through merciless wars. Recent positive developments are to be welcomed with interest and hope, especially the conclusion of the period of political transition in Burundi and, more recently, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ... In Rwanda, I pray that the long process of national reconciliation after the genocide may finally result in justice, but also in truth and forgiveness. ... Finally, I should like to mention the Ivory Coast, urging the embattled parties to create a climate of mutual trust that can lead to disarmament and peace. And I should like to speak of Southern Africa: in the countries of this region, millions of people are reduced to a situation of great vulnerability that clamors for the attention and the support of the international community.

"Among the positive signs for Africa is the wish expressed by the international community to keep its attention focused on this continent. Likewise, the strengthening of Africa's continental and regional institutions bears witness to the desire of the countries concerned to take increasing charge of their own destiny."

"The apostolic journey that I shall undertake next May to Brazil gives me the opportunity to turn my attention towards that great country, which awaits me with joy, and towards the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean. The improvement in certain economic indicators, the commitment to combat drug-trafficking and corruption, the various processes of integration, the efforts to improve access to education, to fight unemployment and to reduce inequalities in the distribution of revenues - these are all signs to be viewed with satisfaction. If these developments are consolidated, they will be able to make a decisive contribution to overcoming the poverty that afflicts vast sectors of the population and to increasing the stability of institutions.

"In the light of the elections that took place last year in several countries, it should be emphasized that democracy is called to take into account the aspirations of the citizens as a whole, and to promote increasing respect for all the components of society, according to the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and justice. Yet the practice of democracy must not be allowed to turn into the dictatorship of relativism, by proposing anthropological models incompatible with the nature and dignity of the human person.

"My attention is focused in a special way on certain individual countries - notably Colombia, where the long internal conflict has provoked a humanitarian crisis, especially as far as displaced persons are concerned. Every effort must be made to bring peace to the country, to return to families their loved ones who have been kidnapped, to restore security and normal life for millions of people. ... Our attention is also turned towards Cuba. In voicing the hope that all of its inhabitants may realize their legitimate aspirations, amid concern for the common good, I should like to renew the appeal made by my venerable Predecessor: 'Let Cuba open itself to the world, and let the world open itself to Cuba.' Mutual openness to other countries can only bring benefits to all concerned. Not far away, the people of Haiti continue to live in great poverty surrounded by violence. I pray that the interest of the international community - manifested among other things by the conferences of donors that took place in 2006 - will lead to the consolidation of institutions and will allow the people to become the architects of their own development, amid a climate of reconciliation and harmony.

"The Asian continent includes countries characterized by very large populations and significant economic development. I am thinking of China and India, countries that are in rapid expansion, and I hope that their growing presence on the international stage will bring with it benefits for their own populations and for other nations. Likewise, I pray for Vietnam, recalling its recent entry into the World Trade Organization. My thoughts go out to the Christian communities. In most Asian countries, they tend to be small but lively communities, with a legitimate desire to be able to live and act in a climate of religious liberty. This is not only a primordial right but it is a condition that will enable them to contribute to the material and spiritual progress of society, and to be sources of cohesion and harmony.

"In East Timor, the Catholic Church intends to continue making her contribution, notably in the fields of education, healthcare and national reconciliation. The political crisis experienced by this young State, and by other countries in the region, highlights a certain fragility in the processes of democratization. Dangerous sources of tension are lurking in the Korean Peninsula. The goal of reconciling the Korean people and maintaining the Peninsula as a nuclear-free zone - which will bring benefits to the entire region - must be pursued within the context of negotiations. It is important to avoid gestures that could compromise the talks, and likewise to avoid making their results a condition for the humanitarian aid destined for the most vulnerable sectors of the North Korean population."

"In Afghanistan, in recent months, we can only deplore the notable increase in violence and terrorist attacks. This has rendered the way out of the crisis more difficult, and it weighs heavily on the local population. In Sri Lanka, the failure of the Geneva negotiations between the Government and the Tamil Movement has brought with it an intensification of the conflict, causing great suffering among the civilian population. Only the path of dialogue can ensure a better and safer future for all.

"The Middle East is also a source of great anxiety. ... I renew my urgent appeal to all parties involved in the complex political chessboard of the region, hoping for a consolidation of the positive signs noted in recent weeks between Israelis and Palestinians. The Holy See will never tire of reiterating that armed solutions achieve nothing, as we saw in Lebanon last summer. In fact, the future of that country depends upon the unity of all its components, and upon fraternal relations between its different religious and social groupings. ... In particular, the Lebanese have a right to see the integrity and sovereignty of their country respected; the Israelis have a right to live in peace in their State; the Palestinians have a right to a free and sovereign homeland. When each of the peoples in the region sees that its expectations are taken into consideration and thus feels less threatened, then mutual trust will be strengthened.

"This trust will grow if a country like Iran, especially in relation to its nuclear program, agrees to give a satisfactory response to the legitimate concerns of the international community. Steps taken in this direction surely help to stabilize the whole region, especially Iraq, putting an end to the appalling violence which disfigures that country with bloodshed, and offering an opportunity to work for reconstruction and reconciliation between all its inhabitants.

"Closer to us, in Europe, two new countries, Bulgaria and Romania, nations with a long Christian tradition, have joined the European Union. As the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome approaches, some reflection on the Constitutional Treaty would seem appropriate. I hope that the fundamental values that are at the basis of human dignity will be fully protected, particularly religious freedom in all its dimensions and the institutional rights of Churches. ... The fiftieth anniversary of the rising of Budapest, celebrated last October, calls to mind the dramatic events of the twentieth century, and it prompts all Europeans to build a future free from oppression and from ideological conditioning, to establish bonds of friendship and fraternity, and to show concern and solidarity towards the poor and the weak. Likewise, the tensions of the past must be purified by promoting reconciliation at all levels, since this alone opens the way to the future and gives hope. I also appeal to all those on European soil who are tempted by terrorism, to cease from all such activity: actions of this kind only lead to more violence and create fear among populations - they are simply a dead end. And I must also mention the various 'frozen conflicts' and today's recurring tensions linked to energy resources, in the hope that they will find a rapid and definitive solution.

"I pray that the Balkan region will arrive at the stability so ardently desired, particularly through the integration of the nations concerned into continental structures with the support of the international community. The establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Montenegro, which has recently entered peacefully into the family of nations, and the Fundamental Accord signed with Bosnia-Herzegovina are signs of the Holy See's constant concern for the Balkan region. As the moment approaches in which the statute of Kosovo will be defined, the Holy See asks all concerned to strive with far-sighted wisdom, flexibility and moderation, so that a solution may be found which respects the rights and legitimate expectations of all.

"The situations I have mentioned," the Pope concluded, "constitute a challenge that touches us all - a challenge to promote and consolidate all the positive elements in the world, and to overcome, with good will, wisdom and tenacity, all that causes injury, degradation and death. It is by respecting the human person that peace can be promoted, and it is by building peace that the foundations of an authentic integral humanism are laid. ... In her commitment to serve humanity and to build peace, the Church stands alongside all people of good will and she offers impartial cooperation. Together, each in his place and with his respective gifts, let us work to build an integral humanism which alone can guarantee a world of peace, justice and solidarity.

AC/NEW YEAR/DIPLOMATIC CORPS                                      VIS 070108 (2720)

DEATH OF CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OF KINSHASA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2007 (VIS) - The Pope has sent a telegram to Bishop Daniel Nlandu Mayi, auxiliary of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, for the death of the archbishop of that archdiocese, Cardinal Frederic Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi C.I.C.M., who died on January 6 at the age of 76.

"I pray to the Father of Mercy," writes Pope Benedict in his telegram, "to welcome in the light and peace of His Kingdom this pastor who consecrated his life with enthusiasm and abnegation to the service of Christ and His Church, in particular in the archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro and in that of Kinshasa. I give thanks for the ministry of this eminent son of Africa, who was also president of the episcopal conference and who dedicated himself to announcing the Gospel, and to the service and promotion of the peoples of that continent."

The Holy Father has also sent a telegram of condolence to Fr. Josef Lapauw, superior general of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the religious order to which the late cardinal belonged."

TGR/DEATH/ETSOU-NZABI-BAMUNGWABI                            VIS 070108 (190)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Appointed Bishop John Charles Wester, auxiliary of the archdiocese of San Francisco, U.S.A., as bishop of Salt Lake City (area 220,974, population 2,351,467, Catholics 180,000, priests 85, permanent deacons 70, religious 86), U.S.A.

- Appointed as members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See; Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education; William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Franc Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; and Agostino Vallini, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; and Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea, apostolic nuncio.

NER:NA/.../...                                                                                   VIS 070108 (150)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 5, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

- Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

- Cardinal William Wakefield Baum, major penitentiary emeritus.

- Fr. Mauro Johri, minister general of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 070105 (70)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 5, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Rodrigo Mejia Saldarriaga S.J., director of the Galilee Center in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, as apostolic vicar of Soddo-Hosanna (area 65,000, population 7,000,000, Catholics 250,000, priests 56, religious 74), Ethiopia. The bishop-elect was born in Medellin, Colombia in 1938 and ordained a priest in 1969 . He succeeds Bishop Domenico Crescentino Marinozzi O.F.M. Cap., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Leopldo C. Jaucian S.V.D., superior general of the Verbite central province in Manila, Philippines, as bishop of Bangued (area 3,975, population 236,545, Catholics 198,497, priests 38, religious 38), Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in Santa, Philippines in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1988.

- Appointed Bishop Isabelo Caiban Abarquez, auxiliary of Palo, Philippines, as bishop of Calbayog, Philippines (area 5,069, population 689,087, Catholics 654,632, priests 61, religious 81), Philippines.

- Appointed Fr. Emmanuel Felemou of the clergy of N'Zerekore, Guniea, rector of the seminary of "Saint Eugene de Samoe" and episcopal vicar for the formation of the diocesan clergy, as bishop of Kankan (area 118,000, population 1,811,000, Catholics 56,255, priests 29, religious 24), Guinea. The bishop-elect was born in Kolouma, Guinea in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1989.

NER/.../...                                                                                          VIS 070105 (230)

BENEDICT XVI VISITS A CARITAS SHELTER IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, JAN 4, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father visited a shelter run by the diocesan Caritas of Rome on the city's Colle Oppio. Founded in 1983, it was the first structure for homeless people to be established in Rome. Over the last 23 years it has welcomed thousands of people, both Italians and non-Italians, and distributed more than nine million meals.

Accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Bishop Ernesto Mandara, auxiliary of Rome for the central area, and Msgr. Guerino Di Tora, director of Caritas, the Pope visited the welcome center, the canteen and a nativity scene built by the Caritas volunteers and the people who use the shelter. He also greeted young people from the "Monti-Esquilino" youth center, which is based in the same building.

At the entrance to the canteen, the Pope paused to bless a plaque commemorating John Paul II's visit there on December 20, 1992. A phrase Pope John Paul pronounced on that occasion - "suffering man concerns us" - is now inscribed on the plaque.

Afterwards, in the courtyard attached to the canteen, the Pope met with the Caritas volunteers and the people who use the shelter.

"In this shelter, which can in some way be considered as the symbol of Roman Caritas" he said in his address to them, "it is possible to touch the presence of Christ in our brothers and sisters who are hungry, and in those who give them to eat. Here we can experience how, when we love our fellows, we know God better. In the manger of Bethlehem, He showed Himself to us in the poverty of a helpless newborn child. The Christmas message is simple: God came among us because He loves us. God is love, not a sentimental love but a love that became a total giving of self, even unto the sacrifice on the cross."

Benedict XVI recalled how the word Bethlehem means "house of bread. Truly Jesus - the bread from heaven, the living bread - in some way shows Himself every day in this shelter, where the aim is not just to give people to eat, but to serve them without distinction of race, religion or culture."

"A call addressed to everyone arises from the manger of Bethlehem, from each nativity scene: Jesus loves us and He teaches us to love. The directors, the volunteers and all those who frequent this shelter can experience the beauty of this love. They can feel the profundity of the joy that it brings, a joy most certainly different from the one proclaimed by publicity and advertising."

The Pope concluded his talk by calling upon the Lord "to continue to protect the people who, in Roman Caritas, undertake such precious work in promoting solidarity, both here and elsewhere in the city. May the Holy Spirit animate the hearts of the directors, workers and volunteers that they may serve with ever more committed dedication, drawing inspiration from authentic Christian love, which the saints of charity summarized in the motto: 'the good done well'."

After his address, five prayer intentions were read out, followed by the Our Father and the final blessing. The Pope was then given "ID card number one" for accessing Caritas shelters in Rome, an apron of the kind worn by the volunteers, a blanket, and an album with drawings by children living in a shelter for mothers in difficulties. For his part, the Holy Father donated 10,000 blankets and 2,000 overcoats to distribute to the homeless people whom the Caritas volunteers meet every night in the streets of the capital.

At midday, his visit concluded, the Pope returned to the Vatican by car.

BXVI-VISIT/CARITAS SHELTER/ROME VIS 070104 (630)

IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 4, 2007 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Auguste Delisle S.S.Sp., emeritus of Lokoja, Nigeria, on November 13, at the age of 98.

- Archbishop Nerses Der Nersessian C.A.M., ordinary emeritus for Armenian Catholics of Eastern Europe, on December 24, at the age of 86.

- Archbishop Ettore Di Filippo, emeritus of Campobasso-Boiano, Italy, on December 18, at the age of 84.

- Bishop Daniele Ferrari, emeritus of Chiavari, Italy, on December 20, at the age of 86.

- Bishop Jacinto Guerrero Torres of Tlaxcala, Mexico, on December 27, at the age of 72.

- Archbishop Jorge Manuel Lopez, emeritus of Rosario, Argentina, on December 22, at the age of 88.

.../DEATHS/... VIS 070104 (130)

- Opening Our Hearts and Minds to Christ

- Other Pontifical Acts

OPENING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, JAN 3, 2007 (VIS) - In his first general audience of this year, held this morning in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the Pope pointed out how the atmosphere of Christmas "invites us to rejoice for the birth of the Redeemer."

"Those who pause in meditation before the Son of God lying defenseless in the manger cannot but marvel at this humanly incredible event; they cannot but share the wonder and the humble abandonment of the Virgin Mary, whom God chose as the Mother of the Redeemer precisely because of her humility.

"In the Child of Bethlehem," the Holy Father added, "all mankind discovers itself to be gratuitously loved by God. In the light of Christmas, the infinite goodness of God is made plain to each of us. In Jesus, the heavenly Father inaugurated a new relationship with us: He made us 'sons in the Son'."

"However, the joy of Christmas does not make us forget the mystery of evil (mysterium iniquitatis), the power of the dark that seeks to obscure the splendor of divine light, and unfortunately we experience this power of darkness every day. ... This is the drama of the rejection of Christ which, today as in the past, shows and expresses itself in many different ways." Indeed, "perhaps the ways of refusing God in the modern age are even more insidious and dangerous: from outright rejection to indifference, from scientistic atheism to the presentation of a modernized or post-modernized Jesus, a human Jesus, reduced in various ways to being a simple man of His time and deprived of His divinity; or perhaps a Jesus so idealized as to appear as a character of legend."

Yet, Pope Benedict said, "only the Child lying in the manger possesses the real secret of life. For this reason He asks for acceptance, for space to be made for Him among us, in our hearts, in our houses, in our cities and in our societies," In this "we are helped by the simplicity of the shepherds and the quest of the Magi, who through the star scrutinized the signs of God, [and by] the docility of Mary and the prudent wisdom of Joseph."

"At the beginning of this new year, let us reawaken our commitment to open our minds and hearts to Christ, sincerely demonstrating to Him our will to live as His true friends. Thus will we become collaborators in His plan of salvation and witnesses of the joy He brings, that we may spread it abundantly about us. ... Let us accompany Jesus, walk with Him, and thus the new year will be happy and good."

AG/CHRISTMAS/...                                                                        VIS 070103 (450)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 3, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Angelo Pignoli of the clergy of the diocese of Franca, Brazil, diocesan coordinator of pastoral care and pastor of the parish of "Sant'Ana," as bishop of Quixada (area 15,134, population 294,125, Catholics 263,900, priests 40, religious 98), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Cappella Picenardi, Italy in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1976. He succeeds Bishop Adelio Giuseppe Tomasin P.S.D.P., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Joao Bosco Barbosa de Sousa O.F.M., pastor of the parish of "Sao Francisco de Assis," in the archdiocese of Sao Paulo, Brazil, as bishop of Uniao da Vitoria (area 10,000, population 286,000, Catholics 246,000, priests 39, permanent deacons 12, religious 72), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Guaratingueta, Brazil in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1978. He succeeds Bishop Walter Michael Ebejer O.P., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Messias dos Reis Silveira of the clergy of the diocese of Guaxupe, Brazil, pastor of the diocesan cathedral "Nossa Senhora das Dores," as bishop of Uruacu (area 43,''', population 354,000, Catholics 302,000, priests 38, religious 36), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Passos, Brazil in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1992. He succeeds Bishop Jose da Silva Chaves, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Rene-Marie Ehuzu C.I.M., of Abomey, Benin, as bishop of Porto Novo (area 4,545, population 1,180,015, Catholics 376,050, priests 61, religious 109), Benin.

- Appointed as members of the Congregation for Bishops, Archbishops Giovanni Marra, emeritus of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela, Italy, and Giorgio Zur, apostolic nuncio.

NER:RE:NA/.../...                                                                             VIS 070103 (320)

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SUMMARY: DECEMBER 30, 2006 - JANUARY 2, 2007

- Execution of Saddam Hussein: Tragic News

- May Families Be the Living Image of God's Love

- Mother of God, Intercede to Bring Peace and Comfort

- Peace, a Gift to Be Invoked, a Task to Be Carried Out

- Dignity of the Person Is the Foundation of Human Rights

- Other Pontifical Acts

- Notice

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EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN: TRAGIC NEWS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 30, 2006 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., made the following declaration at midday today on the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, which took place at dawn in Baghdad.

"The execution of a capital sentence is always tragic news, a cause of sadness, even when the person is guilty of terrible crimes.

"The position of the Catholic Church against the death penalty has often been reiterated.

"The killing of the guilty is not the way to rebuild justice and reconcile society, rather there is a risk of nourishing the spirit of revenge and inciting fresh violence.

"At this dark time in the life of the Iraqi people, we cannot but hope that all those in charge truly make every effort to ensure that, in such a dramatic situation, hopes for reconciliation and peace are finally opened."

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MAY FAMILIES BE THE LIVING IMAGE OF GOD'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2006 (VIS) - Today, the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, before praying the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope sent his greetings to all the families of the world, expressing the hope that they may enjoy "the peace and love that Christ gave us, coming among us at Christmas."

"God," he said, "wished to be born and to grow in a human family. Thus he consecrated [the family] as the basic and ordinary way of His meeting with humanity. In the life spent in Nazareth, Jesus honored the Virgin Mary and the good Joseph, remaining under their authority for the entire period of His infancy and adolescence. In this way, He highlighted the fundamental value of the family in the education of the person."

The Pope emphasized how Mary and Joseph introduced Jesus into the religious community. "With them he learned to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. ... When He was twelve years old, He stayed behind in the Temple and his parents took three days to find Him." Through that gesture, Jesus "brought them to understand that He had to concern Himself with the things of His Father's House."

"This evangelical episode reveals the most authentic and profound vocation of the family: that of accompanying all its members on the journey to the discovery of God and of the design He has laid down for them. Mary and Joseph educated Jesus ... through their own example. ... From them He learned that in the first place it is necessary to do God's will, and that the spiritual bond is greater than the tie of blood.

"The Holy Family of Nazareth," Benedict XVI added, "is truly the 'prototype' for all Christian families who, united in the Sacrament of Marriage and nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, are called to put into practice that stupendous vocation and mission of being a living cell, not only of society but also of the Church, sign and instrument of unity for the entire human race."

The Pope concluded his remarks by invoking the protection of Mary and St. Joseph "for all families, especially those in difficulties. ... Support them so they may resist the divisive forces of a certain kind of modern culture that undermines the very foundations of the family institution. ... Help Christian families all over the world to be the living image of God's love."

Following the Angelus, the Holy Father addressed the faithful in various languages. To Polish pilgrims he said: "Let us give thanks to God for the past year, for all the good received, and particularly for my pilgrimage to Poland. I recall my journey in the footsteps of Servant of God John Paul II and your witness of faith. Today, on the Sunday of the Holy Family, I pray that your families be worthy places for the education of children and young people."

ANG/HOLY FAMILY/...                                                                   VIS 070102 (500)

MOTHER OF GOD, INTERCEDE TO BRING PEACE AND COMFORT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2006 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 6 p.m. today, the Pope presided at the first Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, and the singing of the "Te Deum" of thanksgiving for the end of the year.

In his homily, the Holy Father referred to the dimension of time, saying: "In the closing hours of each solar year, we witness the repetition of certain worldly 'rites' which, in the modern world, are prevalently aimed at enjoyment, often experienced as escape from reality, almost as if to exorcise negative elements and propitiate improbable turns of fortune. How different must the attitude of the Christian community be, ... called to live these hours by making their own the sentiments of the Virgin Mary," so that, with her, they may present to Jesus "the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted."

" Mary's maternity," the Pope explained, "is at one and the same time a human and a divine event. ... The Son of God was begotten by Him, and at the same time is the son of a woman, Mary. He comes from her. He is of from God and from Mary. For this reason the Mother of Jesus can and must be called Mother of God."

Pope Benedict called upon the "Theotokos," the Mother of God, to intercede for the world entire, entrusting to her care "situations in which only the grace of the Lord can bring peace, comfort and justice."

"We ask the Mother of God to obtain for us the gift of a mature faith, a faith which we would like, as far as possible, to resemble her own, a clear and genuine faith, humble and at the same time courageous, saturated with hope and enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God; a faith removed from all fatalism and that aims to cooperate in full and joyous obedience to the divine will, in the absolute certainty that God wants nothing other than love and life, always and for everyone."

Following the celebration, in keeping with tradition, the Pope visited the nativity scene in St. Peter's Square.

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PEACE, A GIFT TO BE INVOKED, A TASK TO BE CARRIED OUT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica, Benedict XVI presided at a Eucharistic celebration for the Solemnity of Holy Mary Mother of God and the 40th World Day of Peace, which has as its theme this year: "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace."

"Apart from her maternity, today we also highlight Mary's virginity," said the Holy Father in his homily. "These are two attributes that are always proclaimed together and inseparably, because they complement and qualify one another. Mary is a mother, but a virgin mother. If we overlook one aspect or the other we do not fully understand the mystery of Mary as she is presented in the Gospels."

Going on to refer to the theme of the World Day of Peace, the Holy Father said that "all human beings - precisely because created in the image and likeness of God, without distinction of race, culture or religion - are clothed in the same personal dignity. For this reason they must be respected, and no reason can ever justify their being used at whim, as if they were objects.

"Faced with the unfortunately ever present threats to peace," he added, "faced with situations of injustice and violence that continue in various parts of the earth, faced with the persistence of armed conflicts often forgotten by public opinion, faced with the danger of terrorism that disturbs the serenity of peoples, it is even more necessary to work together for peace. Peace, as I recalled in my Message, is 'both gift and task,' a gift to invoke with prayer, a task to carry out with tireless courage."

The Holy Father's thoughts then turned to the Holy Land where Jesus was born. "How can we not implore with insistent prayers that that region may, as soon as possible, achieve the day of peace," he said, "the day in which the current conflict, that has gone on for too many years, is definitively resolved. A peace agreement, in order to last, must be founded upon the dignity and rights of each person.

"My hope, that I express before the representatives of nations here present, is that the international community may unite its efforts so as to build, in the name of God, a world in which the essential rights of man are respected by everyone. For this to happen it is necessary that the foundation of such rights be recognized, not just in simple human agreements, but in 'man's very nature and his inalienable dignity as a person created by God.'

"The Holy Father went on: "If, in fact, the constituent elements of human dignity are entrusted to changeable human opinions, then human rights, though solemnly proclaimed, will end up as weak and variously interpretable."

Benedict XVI entrusted the new year to the Mother of God, a year "we receive from the hands of God as a precious 'talent' to invest, as a providential opportunity to contribute to the realization of the Kingdom of God."

HML/WORLD PEACE DAY/...                                                      VIS 070102 (520)

DIGNITY OF THE PERSON IS THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2007 (VIS) - Following today's Eucharistic celebration marking the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and before praying the Angelus from the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Pope said: "Today we contemplate Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, in His attribute of true 'Prince of Peace.' He 'is our peace,' Who came to break down the wall that divides men and peoples, in other words 'hostility'."

Benedict VI recalled how it was Paul VI who wished "that the year should begin under the protection of Most Holy Mary, venerated as the Mother of God," and that January 1 "should mark the World Day of Peace, so that each year may start in the light of Christ, the great pacifier of humanity.

"Today," he added, "I renew my hope for peace to the governors and leaders of nations and of international organizations, and to all men and women of good will. I do so particularly with the special Message that I prepared together with my collaborators in the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace and that has as its theme this year: 'The Human Person, the Heart of Peace'."

That Message, said the Holy Father, "touches upon an essential point: the value of the human person, who is the column that supports the entire grand edifice of peace. Today there is much talk of human rights, but it is often forgotten that they need a foundation that is firm, not relative or subjective. This foundation can only be the dignity of the person. And respect for this dignity begins with the recognition and protection of people's right to live and profess their own religion freely."

The Pope concluded: "To the Holy Mother of God we trustingly address our prayer that sacred respect for all human beings and the firm refusal of war and violence may develop in people's consciences. Help us, Mary, you who brought Jesus into the world, to welcome from Him the gift of peace and to be sincere and courageous builders of peace."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2007 (VIS) - Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios Malancharuvil O.I.C. of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars, India, with the consent of the Synod of Bishops and after having consulted the Apostolic See, erected, in accordance with canon 85, para. 1, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, the eparchy of Mavelikara of the Syro-Malankars (population 2,998,325, Catholics 30,825, priests 75, religious 105), India, with territory taken from Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan archieparchy.

Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios Malancharuvil O.I.C. of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars, with the consent of the Synod of Bishops and after having consulted the Apostolic See, transferred, in accordance with canon 85, para. 2, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Bishop Joshuah Mar Ignathios Kizhakkeveettil, auxiliary of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars, to the office of first bishop of Mavelikara of the Syro-Malankars.

ECE:NER/.../KIZHAKKEVEETTIL                                                VIS 070102 (160)

NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2007 (VIS) - During the year 2007, the VIS bulletin will be transmitted every week from Monday to Friday, except on the following days:

March 19 (Monday)

April 5 (Holy Thursday)

April 6 (Good Friday)

April 9 (Easter Monday)

April 10 (Tuesday)

April 19 (Thursday)

May 1 (Tuesday)

May 17 (Thursday)

June 7 (Thursday)

June 29 (Friday)

The entire month of August

November 1 (Thursday)

November 2 (Friday)

December 24 (Monday)

December 25 (Tuesday)

December 26 (Wednesday)

December 27 (Thursday)

December 30 (Monday)

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More Than Three Million People in Papal Meetings in 2006

- Pope Benedict to Visit Caritas Shelter in Rome

- Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2007

- Papal, Holy See Highlights for August - December 2006

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

- Notice

MORE THAN THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN PAPAL MEETINGS IN 2006

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - During the year 2006, more than three million faithful participated in public meetings with the Pope, either in the Vatican or at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo.

According to statistics released by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, a total of 3,222,820 people attended the Wednesday general audiences, special audiences, liturgical celebrations and Sunday Angelus prayers during the course of the year.

The Wednesday general audiences, held in St. Peter's Square and the Paul VI Hall, attracted 1,031,500 people. This figure reflects the number of tickets distributed, and does not take into account the thousands of faithful who arrive without tickets and also participate.

The Angelus prayers of 2006 drew a total of 1,295,000 people to St. Peter's Square, while more than half a million attended the various liturgical ceremonies presided by the Holy Father, 196,000 in April alone.

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POPE BENEDICT TO VISIT CARITAS SHELTER IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - On January 4, 2007 the Holy Father is scheduled to visit a shelter run by the diocesan Caritas of Rome on the city's Colle Oppio, according to a communique released by the Vicariate of Rome.

During the pastoral visit, the Pope will dedicate a canteen to the memory of John Paul II, unveiling a commemorative plaque. He will also visit a nativity scene built by the Caritas volunteers.

The Holy Father - who will be accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Bishop Ernesto Mandara, auxiliary of Rome for the central area, and Msgr. Guerino De Tora, director of Caritas - will greet the people who use the shelter, Caritas workers and the young people of the "Il Centro" youth center, which is based in the same building.

The Colle Oppio shelter was the first structure for homeless people to be established in Rome, founded in 1983 and run with the help of the city council. Over the last 23 years it has welcomed thousands of people, both Italians and non-Italians, and distributed more than nine million meals.

John Paul II visited the center on December 20, 1992, when he pronounced the phrase "suffering man concerns us," now inscribed on the plaque to be unveiled by Benedict XVI.

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BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2007

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for January 2007 is: "That in our time, unfortunately marked by many episodes of violence, the pastors of the Church may continue to indicate the way of peace and understanding among peoples."

His mission intention is: "That the Church in Africa may become a constantly more authentic witness of the Good News of Christ and be committed, in every nation, to the promotion of reconciliation and peace."

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PAPAL, HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST - DECEMBER 2006

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - Following are highlights of the activities of Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See for the months of August through December 2006.

AUGUST

- 2: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father for the death at the age of 96 of Dutch Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

- 11: Telegram from the Holy Father to Susilo Yudhoyono, president of Indonesia, requesting clemency for three men condemned to death for their role in inciting sectarian violence in Poso, Indonesia in 2000.

- 11: The Holy Father asks Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, to travel to Lebanon as his special envoy to express to the people there his spiritual closeness and solidarity, and to pray for peace.

- 13: Publication of the text of an interview granted by Benedict XVI to the television stations Bayerischer Rundfunk (ARD), ZDF and Deustsche Welle, and to Vatican Radio, for his forthcoming apostolic trip to Munich, Altotting and Regensburg, due to take place from September 9 to 14.

- 19: Telegram to His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Iraq, expressing the Pope's closeness to the Chaldean Catholic Church and requesting the release of the kidnapped priest, Fr. Saad Syrop Hanna, seized in Baghdad on August 15.

- 28: The Holy Father receives in audience Angela Merkel, chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by her entourage.

SEPTEMBER

- 8: The new ambassador of Chile to the Holy See, Pedro Pablo Cabrera Gaete, presents his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father.

- 9-14: Benedict XVI makes his second apostolic trip to Germany - the first having been in August 2005 when he travelled to Cologne for World Youth Day - divided into three stages: Munich, Altotting and Regensburg.

- 15: In the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father welcomes the staff of the Secretariat of State for the appointment of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., archbishop of Genoa, Italy, as new secretary of State, and the farewell ceremony of his predecessor, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

- 16: The new ambassador of Slovenia to the Holy See, Ivan Rebernik, presents his Letters of Credence to the Pope.

- 17: Beatification of Servant of God Sara Salkahazi (1899 - 1944) of the Institute of the Sisters of the Assistance, in the square of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, Hungary. She was killed in 1944 for having protected hundreds of Jews during the Second World War. Beatification of Servant of God Mose Tovini (1877-1930), a priest of the diocese of Brescia, Italy.

- 18: The new ambassador of Austria to the Holy See, Martin Bolldorf, presents his Letters of Credence to the Pope.

- 18-25: Ninth plenary session of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in Belgrade, Serbia.

- 20: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the killing of Sr. Leonella Sgorbati of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, in Mogadishu, Somalia.

- 25: The Holy Father receives in audience Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, representatives from Muslim-majority countries that maintain diplomatic links with the Holy See, and a number of leaders of the Muslim community in Italy.

- 28: The new ambassador of the Federal Republic Germany to the Holy See, Hans-Henning Horstmann, presents his Letters of Credence to Benedict XVI.

- 29: The new ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Holy See, Rrok Logu, presents his Letters of Credence to Benedict XVI.

- 30: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the death at the age of 94 of Cardinal Louis-Albert Vachon, archbishop emeritus of Quebec, Canada.

OCTOBER

- 5: Heinz Fischer, president of the Federal Republic of Austria, received in audience by the Holy Father.

- 6: The Holy Father convokes the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops dedicated to the theme: "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church." The Synod is due to will be held in the Vatican from October 5 to 26, 2008.

- 8: Beatification of Servant of God Maria Teresa di Gesu, nee Maria Scrilli (1825-1889), foundress of the Congregation of the Religious of Our Lady of Carmel in the Roman amphitheater of Fiesole, Italy.

- 12: Inauguration of the exhibition "Petros Eni" (Peter is here) dedicated by the Fabric of St. Peter's to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the current basilica, and to the Apostle Peter to whom the basilica is dedicated. The exhibition runs from October 12, 2006 to March 8, 2007.

- 12: Opening of a new section of the Roman necropolis on the Via Triumphalis. The sector came to light in 2003 during building work on a parking lot within Vatican City, and its inauguration is part of celebrations marking the fifth centenary of the Vatican Museums.

- 12: The Holy Father receives in audience Jaroslaw Kaczynski, prime minister of the Republic of Poland.

- 13: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the death at the age of 84 of Cardinal Dino Monduzzi, prefect emeritus of the Pontifical Household.

- 13: Romano Prodi, prime minister of the Republic of Italy, visits the Holy Father Benedict XVI.

- 15: Canonization in the Vatican Basilica of Blesseds: Rafael Guizar Valencia (1878-1938), Mexican, bishop; Filippo Smaldone (1848-1923), Italian, founder of the Institute of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts; Rosa Venerini (1656-1728), virgin, Italian, foundress of the Congregation of the "Maestre Pie Venerini;" and Theodore Guerin, nee Anne-Therese (1798-1856), virgin, French, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary "ad Nemus" (Saint Mary of the Woods) in the U.S.A.

- 19: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father for the death at the age of 77 of Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

- 19: Pope travels to the Italian city of Verona for the 4th Italian Ecclesial Congress on the theme: "Witnesses of the Risen Christ, Hope of the World."

- 22: Beatification, in the cathedral of Bilbao, Spain, of Servant of God Margarita Maria Lopez de Maturana (1884-1934), Spanish, foundress of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of Mercy.

- 26: The new ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See, Frank De Coninck, presents his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father.

- 26: The Holy Father receives in audience participants in the fifth international congress of Military Ordinariates, marking the twentieth anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution "Spirituali Militum Curae," promulgated by Servant of God John Paul II.

- 27: The Pope receives in audience Jose Ramos-Horta, prime minister of East Timor, accompanied by an entourage.

- 29: Beatification, in the cathedral of Speyer, Germany, of Servant of God Paul Josef Nardini (1821-1862), German, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family.

NOVEMBER

- 5: Beatification of Servant of God Mariano de la Mata Aparicio, Spanish, priest of the Order of Saint Augustine. (1905-1983), in the cathedral of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

- 6: The Holy Father receives in audience Laszlo Solyom, president of the Republic of Hungary.

- 10: The Holy Father receives in audience Tassos Papadopoulos, president of the Republic of Cyprus.

- 13: The new ambassador of Japan to the Holy See, Kagefumi Ueno, presents his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father.

- 14: Publication of Benedict XVI's Message for the 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees, due to be celebrated on Sunday, January 14, 2007 on the theme: "The Migrant Family."

- 18: Benedict XVI receives in audience Horst Kohler, president of the Federal Republic of Germany.

- 20: The Pope receives Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, on an official visit. President Napolitano took office on May 15 this year.

- 21: Announcement that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has completed writing the first part of a book, entitled 'Gesu di Nazareth. Dal Battesimo nel Giordano alla Trasfigurazione' (Jesus of Nazareth, From His Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration). The book is due to be published in spring 2007.

- 21-26: Official visit to Rome by the primate of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England.

- 24: The Holy Father receives in audience Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales, president of the Republic of Honduras.

- 28-1 December: Benedict XVI makes an apostolic trip to Turkey - the fifth journey outside Italy of his pontificate - divided into three stages: Ankara, Ephesus and Istanbul.

- 30: Joint Declaration signed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI and His Holiness Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch, at the ecumenical patriarchate in Istanbul.

DECEMBER

- 3: Beatification of Servant of God Eufrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Eluvathingal, nee Rosa (1877-1952), Indian, religious of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel at Ollur in the archdiocese of Trichur, India.

- 10: The Pope makes a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Mary Star of Evangelization, where he celebrates Mass and consecrates the new parish church.

- 11: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father for the death at the age of 88 of Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, emeritus of Palermo, Italy.

- 11: Press conference presided by Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, to present recent excavations that brought to light the sarcophagus of St. Paul in that basilica.

- 12: Publication of the Holy Father's Message for the World Day of Peace 2007, which has as its theme: "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace."

- 13-16: First official visit of His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, to His Holiness Benedict XVI and the Church of Rome. The Pope and the Archbishop sign a Joint Declaration.

- 13: Publication of the Holy Father's Message for the 15th World Day of the Sick. The event is due to be celebrated in Seoul, South Korea on February 11, 2007, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

- 13: Benedict XVI receives in audience Ehud Olmert, president of the State of Israel.

- 14: Six new ambassadors to the Holy See - Lars Moller of Denmark, Maratbek Salievic Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan, Carlos Dos Santos of Mozambique, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Uganda, Makram Obeid of Syria, and Makase Nyaphisi of Lesotho - present their Letters of Credence to the Holy Father.

- 15: Benedict XVI receives His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Coptic Catholics, on his first official visit to the Holy See since his election in March of this year.

- 16: The Holy See and the Republic of Montenegro decide, in common agreement, to establish diplomatic relations, at the level of an apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See, and of an embassy on the part of the Republic of Montenegro.

- 20: The Pope receives the "Prize for Charity" from the Italian foundation "Banca Alimentare." The reason for granting the prize, according to a communique released by the foundation, is that since the start of his pontificate, the Holy Father "has sought to present charity - the sincere giving of oneself to others - as a natural dimension of Christian life."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Jorge Herbas Balderrama O.F.M., secretary for formation and study of the Franciscan Province of San Antonio and president of the ecclesiastical tribunal of first appeal of the archdiocese of Cochabamba, Bolivia, as coadjutor bishop of the territorial prelature of Aiquile (area 23,325, population 230,000, Catholics 200,000, priests 27, religious 86), Bolivia. The bishop-elect was born in Mizque, Bolivia in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1990.

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NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2006 (VIS) - As previously advised, there will be no VIS service on Monday, January 1, 2007, the next service will be transmitted on Tuesday, January 2. The staff of the Vatican Information Service wishes all its readers a very Happy New Year.

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SUMMARY: DECEMBER 23 - 28

- Since Jesus Came No One Is a Stranger in This World

- God Asks for Our Love, So He Makes Himself a Child

- Christmas Message: the Savior Knows That We Need Him

- The Pope Remembers Those Who Suffer Persecution

- Glory of God Is the Salvation of Man

- Message to Pope from President Ahmadinejad

- In Brief

- Other Pontifical Acts

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SINCE JESUS CAME NO ONE IS A STRANGER IN THIS WORLD

VATICAN CITY, DEC 24, 2006 (VIS) - Shortly before midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study in order to pray the Angelus with thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square below.

"The celebration of Christmas is now imminent," said the Holy Father in his opening remarks. "In the Divine Newborn Child, ... our salvation is made manifest. In God, Who for us became man, we feel loved and accepted, and we discover ourselves to be precious and unique in the eyes of the Creator.

"The Nativity of Christ," the Pope added, "helps us to realize the value ... of each human life, from its first instant to its natural end. To those people who open their hearts to this 'babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger' He offers the chance to contemplate daily reality with new eyes. They will be able to savor the ... inner wonder of the love of God, Who can transform even pain into joy.

"Le us prepare ourselves, dear friends, to meet Jesus, the Emmanuel, God-with-us. Born into poverty in Bethlehem, He wants to be our companion on all our journeys. Ever since He decided to pitch his 'tent' in this world, no one is a stranger. ... This is the amazing gift of Christmas: Jesus came for each of us, and in Himself He made brothers of us all. Consequently, our task is to overcome ... preconceptions and prejudices, break down barriers, and eliminate the contrasts that divide individuals and peoples or, worse still, set them against one another, in order to build together a world of justice and peace."

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GOD ASKS FOR OUR LOVE, SO HE MAKES HIMSELF A CHILD

VATICAN CITY, DEC 24, 2006 (VIS) - The Pope tonight celebrated Midnight Mass in the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Thirty-six cardinals concelebrated with the Holy Father.

On this holy night, said the Holy Father in his homily, God "makes Himself small for us. This is how He reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby - defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with His strength. He takes away our fear of His greatness. He asks for our love: so He makes Himself a child."

"God made Himself small so that we could understand Him, welcome Him, and love Him," Benedict XVI went on. "He became a child, so that the Word could be grasped by us. In this way God teaches us to love the little ones. In this way He teaches us to love the weak. In this way He teaches us respect for children. The Child of Bethlehem directs our gaze towards all children who suffer and are abused in the world, the born and the unborn. Towards children who are placed as soldiers in a violent world; towards children who have to beg; towards children who suffer deprivation and hunger; towards children who are unloved. In all of these it is the Child of Bethlehem Who is crying out to us; it is the God Who has become small Who appeals to us."

"He Who is the Eternal One, above time, He has assumed our time and raised it to Himself on high. Christmas has become the feast of gifts in imitation of God Who has given Himself to us. Let us allow our heart, our soul and our mind to be touched by this fact! Among the many gifts that we buy and receive, let us not forget the true gift: to give each other something of ourselves, to give each other something of our time, to open our time to God."

"Man, in order to live, needs bread, the fruit of the earth and of his labor. But he does not live by bread alone. He needs nourishment for his soul: he needs meaning that can fill his life. Thus, for the Fathers of the Church, the manger of the animals became the symbol of the altar, on which lies the Bread which is Christ himself: the true food for our hearts. Once again we see how He became small: in the humble appearance of the host, in a small piece of bread, He gives us Himself."

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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: THE SAVIOR KNOWS THAT WE NEED HIM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, the Holy Father pronounced his traditional Christmas Message from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

Extracts of the Message are given below:

"'Our Savior is born to the world!' During the night, in our churches, we again heard this message that, notwithstanding the passage of the centuries, remains ever new. ... But does a 'Savior' still have any value and meaning for the men and women of the third millennium? Is a 'Savior' still needed by a humanity which has reached the moon and Mars and is prepared to conquer the universe; for a humanity which knows no limits in its pursuit of nature's secrets and which has succeeded even in deciphering the marvelous codes of the human genome?

"Is a Savior needed by a humanity which has invented interactive communication, which navigates in the virtual ocean of the internet and, thanks to the most advanced modern communications technologies, has now made the earth, our great common home, a global village? This humanity of the twenty-first century appears as a sure and self-sufficient master of its own destiny, the avid proponent of uncontested triumphs.

"So it would seem, yet this is not the case. People continue to die of hunger and thirst, disease and poverty, in this age of plenty and of unbridled consumerism. Some people remain enslaved, exploited and stripped of their dignity; others are victims of racial and religious hatred, hampered by intolerance and discrimination, and by political interference and physical or moral coercion with regard to the free profession of their faith. Others see their own bodies and those of their dear ones, particularly their children, maimed by weaponry, by terrorism and by all sorts of violence, at a time when everyone invokes and acclaims progress, solidarity and peace for all.

"And what of those who, bereft of hope, are forced to leave their homes and countries in order to find humane living conditions elsewhere? How can we help those who are misled by facile prophets of happiness, those who struggle with relationships and are incapable of accepting responsibility for their present and future, those who are trapped in the tunnel of loneliness and who often end up enslaved to alcohol or drugs? What are we to think of those who choose death in the belief that they are celebrating life?

"How can we not hear, from the very depths of this humanity, at once joyful and anguished, a heart-rending cry for help? It is Christmas: today 'the true light that enlightens every man' came into the world. 'The word became flesh and dwelt among us,' proclaims the Evangelist John.

"Today, this very day, Christ comes once more 'unto His own,' and to those who receive Him He gives 'the power to become children of God;' in a word, he offers them the opportunity to see God's glory and to share the joy of that Love which became incarnate for us in Bethlehem. Today 'our Savior is born to the world,' for He knows that even today we need Him. Despite humanity's many advances, man has always been the same: a freedom poised between good and evil, between life and death. It is there, in the very depths of his being, in what the Bible calls his 'heart,' that man always needs to be 'saved.' And, in this post-modern age, perhaps he needs a Savior all the more, since the society in which he lives has become more complex and the threats to his personal and moral integrity have become more insidious. Who can defend him, if not the One who loves him to the point of sacrificing on the Cross His only-begotten Son as the Savior of the world?"

"With deep apprehension I think, on this festive day, of the Middle East, marked by so many grave crises and conflicts, and I express my hope that the way will be opened to a just and lasting peace, with respect for the inalienable rights of the peoples living there. I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments.

"I am confident that, after so many victims, destruction and uncertainty, a democratic Lebanon, open to others and in dialogue with different cultures and religions, will survive and progress. I appeal to all those who hold in their hands the fate of Iraq, that there will be an end to the brutal violence that has brought so much bloodshed to the country, and that every one of its inhabitants will be safe to lead a normal life. I pray to God that in Sri Lanka the parties in conflict will heed the desire of the people for a future of brotherhood and solidarity; that in Darfur and throughout Africa there will be an end to fratricidal conflicts, that the open wounds in that continent will quickly heal and that the steps being made towards reconciliation, democracy and development will be consolidated. May the Divine Child, the Prince of Peace, grant an end to the outbreaks of tension that make uncertain the future of other parts of the world, in Europe and in Latin America.

"Our Savior is born for all. We must proclaim this not only in words, but by our entire life, giving the world a witness of united, open communities where fraternity and forgiveness reign, along with acceptance and mutual service, truth, justice and love."

"Only by rediscovering the gift she has received can the Church bear witness to Christ the Savior before all people. She does this with passionate enthusiasm, with full respect for all cultural and religious traditions; she does so joyfully, knowing that the One she proclaims takes away nothing that is authentically human, but instead brings it to fulfillment. In truth, Christ comes to destroy only evil, only sin; everything else, all the rest, He elevates and perfects."

Following his Message, the Pope extended Christmas greetings in 62 languages and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.

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THE POPE REMEMBERS THOSE WHO SUFFER PERSECUTION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 26, 2006 (VIS) - At midday, before praying the Angelus with thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled how today is the feast of St. Stephen, deacon and protomartyr.

At first sight, the fact that the feast of the protomartyr falls the day after Christmas "may leave some people surprised," said the Holy Father, "because of the striking contrast between the peace and joy of Bethlehem and the drama of Stephen, stoned to death in Jerusalem during the first persecution against the nascent Church."

However, he went on, it must be remembered that "the Baby Jesus lying in the manger ... will save humanity by dying on the cross."

"In the first four centuries of Christianity, all the saints venerated by the Church were martyrs," said Benedict XVI. "For believers, the day of death - and even more so the day of martyrdom - is not the end of everything but the 'transit' towards eternal life, the day of definitive birth, in Latin 'dies natalis.' ... If Jesus had not been born on earth, mankind would not have been able to be born in heaven. It is precisely because Jesus was born, that we can be 'reborn'."

The Pope entrusted "those who undergo persecution and suffering in witnessing and serving the Gospel" to the Virgin Mary "who held the Redeemer in her arms in Bethlehem" and after He was removed from the cross.

"With particular spiritual closeness," he concluded, "I think also of those Catholics who maintain their faithfulness to the See of Peter without giving way to compromise, at times even at the cost of great suffering. All the Church admires their example and prays that they may find the strength to persevere, in the knowledge that their tribulations are a source of victory, even when they may appear as failures."

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GLORY OF GOD IS THE SALVATION OF MAN

VATICAN CITY, DEC 27, 2006 (VIS) - Christmas was once again the theme of the Pope's catechesis during today's general audience, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall.

"Today's audience is taking place in a Christmas atmosphere pervaded with joy for the birth of the Savior," he began. "The words of John the Evangelist resound in our hearts, ... 'the Word became flesh.' ... God came to dwell among us, He came for us, to stay with us." But "a question traverses these two thousand years of Christian history: Why did He do it? Why did God become man?

"The song of the angels over the manger in Bethlehem," the Pope proceeded, "helps us to answer this question: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.' ... The term 'glory' indicates the splendor of God which inspires the grateful praise of His creatures. ... 'Peace' summarizes the fullness of the messianic gifts: salvation, ... identified with Christ Himself ... Who is our peace." The reference to the men and women loved by the Lord makes the Christmas message even more explicit, "with the birth of Jesus, God has manifested His love towards everyone."

"God's glory is expressed, then, in the salvation of man, whom God so loved 'that He gave His only Son.' ... Hence, love is the ultimate reason for the incarnation of Christ." In this context, the Holy Father recalled the words of the theologian H. U. von Balthasar: "God is not primarily absolute power, but absolute love, the sovereignty of which is not expressed in keeping what it has for itself, but in letting it go."

"The God we contemplate in the manger is God-Love," Pope Benedict concluded. "The announcement of the angels is, for us, also an invitation: 'let there be' Glory to God in the highest, 'let there be' peace on earth among men with whom He is pleased. The only way to glorify God and to build peace in the world consists in the humble and trusting acceptance of the gift of Christmas: love."

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MESSAGE TO POPE FROM PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD

VATICAN CITY, DEC 27, 2006 (VIS) - Following today's general audience, Benedict XVI received Manouchehr Mottaki and Rahim Mashai, respectively foreign minister and vice president of Iran, who gave the Holy Father a message from the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to a communique from the Holy See Press Office.

"During the meeting," the communique reads, "the Iranian representatives expressed their best wishes to the Pope, and their satisfaction for 50 years of diplomatic relations between Iran and the Holy See.

"For his part, the Holy Father also expressed his best wishes and reaffirmed the role the Holy See intends to play for peace in the world, not as a political but as a religious and moral authority, appealing to consciences so that the problems of peoples are always resolved through dialogue, in mutual understanding and in peace."

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IN BRIEF

FOLLOWING THE OIL PIPELINE EXPLOSION ON THE OUTSKIRTS of Lagos, Nigeria, which occurred on December 26 and left hundreds dead, the Pope sent a telegram of condolence, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., to Cardinal Anthony Olunbunmi Okogie, archbishop of Lagos.

THE HOLY FATHER SENT A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE to Catholics living in the Middle East, assuring them of his "spiritual closeness," and communicating his hope that this period of the liturgical calendar "may mark an end to, or at least a respite from, so much suffering and give many families the supplementary hope necessary to persevere in the arduous task of promoting peace in a world still so torn and divided." The Pope also expresses the hope that circumstances will enable him to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

THE POPE SENT A MESSAGE, THROUGH CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., to young people participating in a European meeting promoted by the Taize Community, being celebrated in Zagreb, Croatia from December 28 2006 to January 1, 2007. "In the land of Croatia, marked in recent years by conflict," reads the Message, "you are a sign of new hope and a demonstration of the fact that the young look forward to a new humanity, founded on the recognition of all people, whatever their nationality or religion."

ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, DURING A BRIEF CEREMONY attended by Cardinals Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Camillo Ruini, respectively secretary of State and vicar general for the diocese of Rome, the managing director of Italian State Railways and the mayor of Rome inaugurated two plaques dedicated to Servant of God John Paul II in Rome's central Termini Station. The plaques are 12 meters high and have been placed at the busiest parts of the station building.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 27, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello S.D.B., auxiliary of Santiago de Chile, as metropolitan archbishop of Concepcion (area 11,330, population 1,164,000, Catholics 606,000, priests 129, permanent deacons 21, religious 295), Chile. The archbishop-elect was born in Campiglia dei Berici, Italy, in 1942, he was ordained a priest in 1970 and consecrated a bishop in 1996. He succeeds Archbishop Antonio Moreno Casamitjana, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday, December 23, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the 15th World Day of the Sick, due to take place in Seoul, Korea, on February 11, 2007.

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- Benedict XVI Meets Roman Curia for Christmas Greetings

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

- Notice

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BENEDICT XVI MEETS ROMAN CURIA FOR CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 22, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, the Holy Father held his traditional meeting with cardinals, archbishops, bishops and members of the Roman Curia, for the exchange of Christmas greetings.

At the beginning of his address to them, the Pope affirmed how "the year that is coming to an end," leaves us "with the profound impression of the war that took place near the Holy Land and, more generally, of the danger of a clash between cultures and religions, a danger still threateningly present at this moment in history. The question of the roads to peace has thus become a challenge of vital importance."

Recalling his apostolic trip to Poland in May, Benedict XVI described his "debt of gratitude" for everything that John Paul II gave, "both to me personally and, above all, to the Church and the world. His greatest gift to all of us was his unshakeable faith and the radicalism of his devotion. ... He held nothing back, but allowed himself to be entirely consumed by the flame of faith."

Marriage and the family was the theme of the Holy Father's trip to Valencia, Spain, in July. He recalled the testimonies of families who had passed through moments of crisis and who, with great efforts, had managed to overcome them and rediscover their happiness. "Before these families and their children," he said, "before these families in which the generations hold each other by the hand, and the future is present, the problem of Europe, which seems almost no longer to want children, penetrated my soul."

"Why, is this the case? That is the great question. The answers are certainly extremely complex. But before seeking responses we must thank all those married couples who, even in our Europe today, say 'yes' to children and accept the labors they bring." Alongside the need to give them so much of our time, is the problem of "what norms must we teach our children in order for them to follow the right path, and, in doing so, to what extent must we respect their freedom?"

"Men and women today," said the Holy Father, "are unsure about the future." This fact, "alongside the desire to have all of life to themselves, is perhaps the most profound reason for which the risk of having children appears to many as almost unbearable. ... If we do not relearn the basic foundations of life - if we do not rediscover the certainty of faith - it will also be ever more difficult for us to give others the gift of life and the challenges of an unknown future." Another aspect of this question, he went on, "is the problem of definitive decisions. Can man bind himself for ever? Can he say a 'yes' that lasts a lifetime? Yes, he can. He was created for this end. Thus man achieves his freedom and thus the sacred bond of marriage is created, which broadens to become a family and build the future.

"At this point," he added, "I cannot fail to mention my concern over 'de facto' couples. ... When new legislation is created that relativizes marriage, the rejection of the definitive bond gains, so to speak, juridical endorsement." Moreover, "relativizing the difference between the sexes ... tacitly confirms those bleak theories which seek to remove all relevance from a human being's masculinity or femininity, as if this were a purely biological matter."

"Herein is a contempt for corporeality whence it follows that man, in seeking to emancipate himself from his body (from the 'biological sphere'), ends up by destroying himself." Against those who say that "the Church should not involve herself in these matters, we can only respond: does man not concern us too?" The church and believers "must raise their voices to defend man, the creature who, in the inseparpable unity of body and spirit, is the image of God."

Going on to mention his September visit to his homeland, Bavaria (Munich, Altotting, Regensburg and Freising), the Holy Father recalled how the main intention of his apostolic trip "was to highlight the question of God," because "the great problem in the West is forgetfulness of God."

"The question of God," the Pope went on, "is associated with two themes that characterized my visit: that of priesthood and that of dialogue." And he recalled how according to the Old Testament, the tribe of Levi (of priests) was landless.

"The true foundation of a priest's life, the land of his existence, ... is God Himself," said the Holy Father. "This theocentrism of priestly existence is vital in our modern world where everything is entirely functional and based on calculable and verifiable exchanges. The priest must know God from within in order to bring Him to mankind, this is the priority service of which humanity today has need."

Benedict XVI then went on to consider priestly celibacy which, he said, "can only be definitively understood and experienced on the basis of this basic standpoint," because "purely pragmatic reasons, reference to greater availability are not sufficient." It may also be thought that the nature of celibacy involves "a kind of selfishness, that avoids the sacrifices and trials required in the mutual acceptance and tolerance of marriage."

However, "the true foundation of celibacy can be encapsulated only in the phrase 'Dominus pars - You are my land.' ... It cannot mean being without love, but must mean letting oneself be seized by passion for God. ... Celibacy must be a testimony of faith."

The Holy Father then turned to introduce the question of dialogue, recalling his meeting some years ago with the philosopher Jurgen Habermas, who informed the then Cardinal Ratzinger of the need "for thinkers capable of translating the beliefs encoded in the Christian faith into the language of the secularized world, in order to render them effective once again.

"In fact," Pope Benedict added, "it is becoming ever more clear how urgently the world has need of dialogue between faith and reason," especially when "the cognitive capacities of human beings, their control over the material world through the power of thought, has made such unimaginable progress. But man's power, which has grown thanks to science, is becoming an ever greater danger, threatening both humankind and the world."

"Science must welcome faith in the God Who personifies the creative Reason of the universe ... as a challenge and an opportunity. In the same way, this faith must recognize its own intrinsic immensity and reasonableness. Reason needs the Logos which lies at the origin of our light. For its part, faith needs to dialogue with modern reason, in order to become aware of its own greatness and meet is own responsibilities."

On the subject of inter-religious dialogue the Pope insisted that "secularized reason is not capable of entering into a true dialogue with religions. If reason remains closed to the question of God, this will lead it to the clash of cultures. ... Religions must come together in the shared task of serving truth, and hence serving man."

Another important part of the Pope's address to the Roman Curia was dedicated to his recent apostolic trip to Turkey which, he said, "gave me the chance to express publicly my respect for Islam. ... The Muslim world today," the Pope observed, "is facing a task very similar to that imposed upon Christians from the time of the Enlightenment, and which Vatican Council II, as the result of a long and arduous journey, brought to fruition with concrete solutions for the Catholic Church."

"On the one hand, it is important to avoid a dictatorship of positivist reason that excludes God from community life and public legislation. ... On the other hand, it is necessary to welcome the true achievements of the Enlightenment: human rights and especially the freedom of faith and of its expression. ... The Muslim world, with its own traditions, is facing the great task of finding appropriate solutions to these questions. Dialogue between Christians and Muslims must, at this time, be that of coming together in this mission, in order to find the right solutions."

The Pope then mentioned his meeting in Istanbul with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. "We experienced," he said, "a profound unity in faith and will pray to God ever more insistently that He may grant us full unity in the shared breaking of bread. ... We hope and pray that religious freedom - which is part of the intimate nature of the faith and is recognized in the principles of the Turkish constitution - finds a growing practical implementation in appropriate juridical norms and in the daily life of the patriarchate and of the other Christian communities."

Benedict XVI dedicated the final paragraphs of his address to the question of peace. "We must learn that peace cannot be achieved only from the outside, ... and that the attempt to establish peace through violence leads only to fresh violence. ... We must learn that peace can only exist if hatred and selfishness are overcome from within. ... In our lives, we must attain that which Baptism sacramentally brought us: the death of the old man and the re-emergence of the new. ... May the reason of peace overcome the unreasonableness of violence!"

AC/CHRISTMAS GREETINGS/ROMAN CURIA                        VIS 061222 (1560)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 22, 2006 (VIS) - This evening, the Holy Father is due to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 22, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Guillermo Javier Karcher, official of the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, as assistant master of pontifical ceremonies.

NA/.../KARCHER                                                                            VIS 061222 (40)

NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 22, 2006 (VIS) - As previously advised, there will be no VIS service on Monday, December 25, Tuesday, December 26, or Wednesday, December 27 the next service will be transmitted on Thursday, December 28. The Vatican Information Service wishes its readers a very happy and holy Christmas.

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Pope Calls upon Children to Bear Witness to Jesus

- Communiques on Appointment of New Archbishop of Warsaw

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

POPE CALLS UPON CHILDREN TO BEAR WITNESS TO JESUS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2006 (VIS) - In a traditional meeting for this time of year, the Pope today received a group of children from Italian Catholic Action, who came to the Vatican to wish him a happy Christmas.

Addressing the young people, the Holy Father made reference to the slogan - "Beautiful. True" - they had chosen for their formative journey this year. "Christmas," he said, "is the great mystery of the Truth and Beauty of God Who came among us for everyone's salvation. The birth of Jesus is not a fable, it is a story that really happened, in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Faith brings us to recognize in that little Child born of the Virgin Mary, the true Son of God Who, out of love, chose to become man."

"In the face of the little Jesus," the Holy Father proceeded, "we contemplate the face of God, which is not revealed through force or power, but in weakness and the fragile constitution of a child. This 'Divine Child' ... demonstrates the faithfulness and tenderness of the boundless love with which God surrounds each of us. For this reason we rejoice at Christmas, reliving the same experience as the shepherds of Bethlehem."

"The wonder we feel before the enchantment of Christmas" is, said Benedict XVI, in some way reflected in the birth of all children, "and it invites us to recognize the Infant Jesus in all babies, who are the joy of the Church and the hope of the world."

The Pope assured the children of his trust in them and called upon them "to be friends and witnesses of Jesus, Who came among us in Bethlehem. Is it not a beautiful thing to make Him better known among your friends, in cities, in parishes and in your families? The Church needs you in order to be close to all the children and young people who live in Italy. Bear witness to the fact that Jesus takes away nothing of your joy, but makes you more human, more true, more beautiful."

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COMMUNIQUES ON APPOINTMENT OF NEW ARCHBISHOP OF WARSAW

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2006 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique released by the Polish Episcopal Conference, and of another released by the Holy See Press Office, both concerning the recent appointment of Bishop Stanislaw Wojciech Wielgus of Plock, Poland as the new metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw.

Communique from the Polish Episcopal Conference:

"On the subject of the accusations launched by the Polish media against Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus, the presidency of the Polish Episcopal Conference draws attention to the public injury that has been inflicted against a specific person's right to a good reputation.

"The situation that has been created provokes even greater unease because it is a clear example of 'wildcat lustration' (lustration being a technical term to refer to the procedure for attributing responsibility of collaborating with the security services of the communist regime). Such a situation is particularly offensive in the case of an ecclesiastic. In fact, the simple fact of a conversation taking place between a priest and members of the communist security services cannot of itself prove immoral collaboration; especially because, not infrequently, such conversations were of an administrative nature, or had to be undertaken for pastoral reasons or to study, and with the consent of the bishop.

"We thus request that respect be shown for the decision of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who has expressed his faith in the person appointed, entrusting him with the office of metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw.

"Expressing our solidarity with Archbishop Wielgus, we entrust his person and the task he has been given to God.

"We trust that the media storm that has been created will not ruin the religious and family atmosphere that accompanies the Feast of Christmas."

Communique from the Holy See Press Office:

"The Holy See, in choosing to appoint the new metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw, took into consideration all the circumstances of his life, including those regarding his past. This means that the Holy Father nourishes complete trust in Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus and, in full awareness, has entrusted him with the mission of pastor of the archdiocese of Warsaw."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

- Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Carlo Chenis S.D.B., secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, as bishop of Civitavecchia-Tarquinia (area 876, population 85,000, Catholics 82,750, priests 68, permanent deacons 10, religious 182), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Turin, Italy in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1984. He succeeds Bishop Girolamo Grillo, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

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Humanity Awaits the Renewal That Christ Brings

- Christmas Tree in St. Peter's Square to Be Lit This Evening

- Other Pontifical Acts

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HUMANITY AWAITS THE RENEWAL THAT CHRIST BRINGS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2006 (VIS) - Christmas was the central theme of the Pope's catechesis during his general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.

"In these final days of Advent," said the Holy Father, "the liturgy invites us to approach ... the stable in Bethlehem where the extraordinary event that changed the course of history took place: the birth of the Redeemer. On Christmas Eve, we will stand once again before the manger, and contemplate in wonder the 'Word made Flesh.' ... The chosen people awaited the Messiah but imagined him to be a powerful and victorious leader who would free his people from foreign oppression. Yet the Savior was born in silence and in absolute poverty."

"Does mankind in our own time still await the Savior?" the Pope asked. "It appears that many people consider God as foreign to their interests. They have no apparent need of Him, and live as if He did not exist or, worse still, as if He were an 'obstacle' to be removed in order to achieve self-fulfillment. Even among believers ... are those who let themselves be attracted by alluring mirages and distracted by misleading doctrines that propose illusory shortcuts to happiness.

"And yet," he added, "with all their contradictions, their anguish and their dramas - or perhaps precisely because of them - men and women today seek a road of renewal, of salvation, they seek a Savior and await, sometimes without knowing it, ... the coming of Christ, man's only true Redeemer."

"Of course, false prophets continue to propose 'low cost' salvation, which always ends up delivering resounding disillusionment. Indeed, the history of the last 50 years provides an example of this search for a 'low cost' Savior and highlights all the consequent disillusionment."

For this reason, the Pope concluded, Christians must, "with the testimony of their lives, propagate the truth of Christmas, which Christ brings to all men and women of good will. Born into poverty in the manger, Jesus came to offer everyone the joy and peace which alone can satisfy the needs of the human soul."

In his Italian-language greetings at the end of the audience, Benedict XVI said: "In a few days it will be Christmas, and I imagine that, in your homes, you are putting the final touches to your nativity scenes, which are such an evocative depiction of Christmas. I hope that this important element, not only of our spirituality but also of our culture and art, may endure as a simple and eloquent way to remember the One Who came 'to dwell among us'."

After the audience, the Pope was awarded the "Prize for Charity" by the "Banca Alimentare," an Italian foundation that organizes, among other initiatives, the National Day of Food Collection. The reason for granting the prize, says a communique released by the foundation, is that since the start of his pontificate, the Holy Father "has sought to present charity - the sincere giving of oneself to others - as a natural dimension of Christian life."

Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., speaking during a meeting between the Vatican Publishing House and other international publishers, highlighted the fact that the award coincides with Benedict XVI's decision to donate part of his copyright earnings to a study center founded by his former theology students.

AG/CHRISTMAS/...                                                                        VIS 061220 (570)

CHRISTMAS TREE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE TO BE LIT THIS EVENING

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2006 (VIS) - This afternoon, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, will preside at the official lighting ceremony of the Christmas tree which was erected in St. Peter's Square last Wednesday. The tree stands next to the nativity scene, which will be inaugurated in the next few days.

Today's event, which is due to begin at 4.30 p.m., will be attended by civil and religious authorities from the Italian region of Calabria which donated this year's tree, a fir from the forests of the Sila National Park, more than 30 meters high and weighing seven tons.

The nativity scene, which will be unveiled on the evening of December 24, has seventeen life-size statues. Of these, nine are the original figures donated by St. Vincent Pallotti for the nativity scene in the Roman church of Sant'Andrea della Valle in 1842. The other eight figures were added over the course of the years. The Italian province of Trento, and the local council of Tesero - a village at an altitude of 1,000 meters in the Valle di Fiemme in eastern Trento - have provided a further thirteen sculpted wooden figures and animals, as well as household utensils for the depiction of daily life.

Over the Christmas period, the Friends of the Nativity Scene of Tesero, an association founded in 1965, will hold an exhibition of old nativity scenes in the Paul VI Hall.

The tradition of placing a nativity scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square began in 1982, during the pontificate of John Paul II.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Shreveport, U.S.A., presented by Bishop William Benedict Friend, upon having reached the age limit.

RE/.../FRIEND                                                                                 VIS 061220 (40)

Stable Peace in the Great Lakes Region of Africa

- Ecclesial Communion for New Coptic Catholic Patriarch

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

STABLE PEACE IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., sent a Message to Mwai Kibaki, president of the Republic of Kenya and current president of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which held its second session in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 14 and 15.

Heads of State and government from 11 countries in the Great Lakes region attended the session, as did representatives from neighboring or associated States. The Holy See delegation was led by Archbishop Luigi Travaglino, apostolic nuncio, acting as special envoy.

"The present summit," writes Cardinal Bertone in the English-language Message, "is called to take up again the challenge and satisfy the long-suffering populations' yearning for lasting peace by signing and bringing to fulfillment the Pact on Security, Stability and Development.

"The four aspects envisaged in this plan (peace and security, democracy and good government, economic development and regional integration, social and humanitarian promotion) are interwoven and mutually inclusive. None of these human achievements can subsist, in a lasting and genuine form, without the support of the others. They will require from all those involved - authorities and citizens alike - generosity, courage and perseverance.

"The Catholic Church," he adds, "attaches great importance to the values enshrined in these proposals and for many years has dedicated her untiring commitment to them. His Holiness is confident that the Catholic community will continue to do so with generous zeal, in cooperation with members of other religions and all men and women of good will."

Benedict XVI, the secretary of State continues, "encourages all the delegations present at this conference to assume courageously their historic responsibility. His prayers will accompany them as they seek to agree upon and put into place the concrete measures that would decisively discourage any recourse to violence, and foster the only rational and human alternative to war: negotiation and dialogue. He is confident that on the basis of a genuine and stable peace, the Great Lakes region with its human and natural resources, and the support of the international community, can overcome its present difficulties and offer its people the genuine hope of a dignified future."

At the end of the conference session, the bishops of the Great Lakes released a final declaration, also in English, in which they highlight the problems of the region, "including political instability in some areas, violence as a result of negative ethnicity, poverty and many others.

"Due to violence leading to loss of human lives," they add, "some of our people have been left divided and without hope. Therefore, this initiative of our heads of State and government offers a chance to initiate the process of healing, which the Church fully endorses and commits itself to promote leading our people to forgive and reconcile with one another in the interest of peaceful co-existence now and in the future.

"We call upon all those concerned to ensure equitable distribution of resources at the national and regional levels. We challenge ourselves to be pro-active so that we can be able to foresee and forestall explosive negative situations. This way we shall save our region from exhaustive wars and other negative experiences.

"We urge our political leaders to nurture a culture of tolerance, patience and forgiveness," the bishops conclude. "We urge them to be sensitive to the plight of the majority of people when their differences of opinion plunge different countries into political instability. While we pray for them, we again urge prudence and wise discretion. We urge our lay people to take up the challenge of their calling and mission. This is to be the salt of the earth. They are to take up their rightful roles in the society including the political and administrative offices."

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ECCLESIAL COMMUNION FOR NEW COPTIC CATHOLIC PATRIARCH

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2006 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Pope to Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, appointing him as papal delegate for the ceremony of the confirmation of Ecclesiastical Communion of His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, the new patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts. The ceremony is due to take place in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

The Synod of Bishops of the Coptic Catholic Church, meeting in Cairo, Egypt, from March 27 to 30, 2006 accepted - having consulted the Supreme Pontiff - the resignation from office of His Beatitude Stephanos II Ghattas, C.M., patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, and elected Bishop Antonios Naguib, emeritus of Minya of the Copts, Egypt as the new patriarch.

BXVI-LETTER/NAGUIB/DAOUD VIS 061219 (140)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 19, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio to Italy and the republic of San Marino, as metropolitan archbishop of Palermo (area 1,366, population 915,787, Catholics 887,169, priests 518, permanent deacons 33, religious 1,706), Italy. He succeeds Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Richard J. Garcia, auxiliary of the diocese of Sacramento, U.S.A., as bishop of Monterey in California (area 21,916, population 975,451, Catholics 195,000, priests 118, permanent deacons 5, religious 206), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

NER:RE/.../... VIS 061219 (140)

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Museums: Centers of Cultural and Spiritual Enrichment

- Diplomatic Relations between Holy See and Montenegro

- Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

- Joy, a Prophetic Announcement Addressed to All Humanity

- Blessing the "Baby Jesus," Help for Iraqi Refugees

- Jews and Christians Must Promote Shared Values

- Migrants Enrich Cultures and Societies

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

MUSEUMS: CENTERS OF CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 16, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received participants in an international congress on the theme: "The Concept of Museum: identity, task, prospects." The congress, held from December 13 to 15, was the final event of this year's celebrations marking the fifth centenary of the Vatican Museums.

"The Vatican Museums," said the Pope, "present an extraordinary opportunity for evangelization because, through the various exhibits on display, they provide visitors with an eloquent testimony of the close and constant bond between the divine and the human in the life and history of peoples."

Benedict XVI noted how the function of the Museum "has changed perceptibly. ... From being a privilege it has become a right; from being a center reserved for artists, specialists and men of culture, it has now become a 'home' for everyone, thus responding to a widespread need for education in society."

After highlighting how, in the Museums, new generations "may recognize the roots of their history and culture," the Pope encouraged "all initiatives that favor the integration and meeting of individuals and peoples."

In this context he added: "Even taking account of the new social conditions, the Museums can also be a place for artistic mediation, links between the past, the present and the future, a crossroads for men and women from different continents, and research laboratories and centers for cultural and spiritual enrichment."

Dialogue between cultures and religions, he concluded, "cannot but facilitate mutual knowledge and render more fruitful the efforts to build a shared future of progress solidarity and peace for all humanity. The Museums can help to spread the culture of peace if, while maintaining their status as temples of historical memory, they also become places of dialogue and friendship among everyone."

AC/VATICAN MUSEUMS/...                                                         VIS 061218 (300)

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND MONTENEGRO

VATICAN CITY, DEC 16, 2006 (VIS) - According to a communique made public this morning, "the Holy See and the Republic of Montenegro, in the desire to foment relations of mutual friendship, have decided, in common agreement, to establish diplomatic relations, at the level of an apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See, and of an embassy on the part of the Republic of Montenegro."

A note attached to the communique recalls that, "in 1852, the Austro-Hungarian empire and Russia recognized Montenegro as a secular Principality" and that, "in 1886, a convention was signed by the Principality and the Holy See, in which the Catholic Church was officially recognized."

"Following the victory of communist partisans at the end of the Second World War," the note continues, "the monarchy was abolished and Montenegro became one of the six republics making up the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, governed until 1980 by Marshall Tito. ... As Yugoslavia disintegrated between 1991 and 1995, Montenegro remained united to Serbia. In 2003 it adhered to the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, ... which was dissolved by the declaration of separation by the Montenegrin parliament in 2006."

"The Holy See recognized the Republic of Montenegro on June 19, 2006. Currently, the country has two Catholic ecclesiastical circumscriptions: the archdiocese of Antivari (Bar), which is immediately subject to the Holy See and has 11,500 Catholics, mostly Albanians, 19 parishes, 12 priests and 34 female religious; and the diocese of Cattaro (Kotor), suffragan of Spalato (Split), with 10,000 Catholics, mostly Croats, 23 parishes, 15 priests and 31 female religious. The two ordinaries belong to the International Episcopal Conference of Sts. Cyril and Methodius."

.../DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS/MONTENEGRO                          VIS 061218 (290)

DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 16, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, during a private audience with Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., president of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorized the congregation to promulgate the decrees concerning the following causes:

MIRACLES

- Blessed Szymon of Lipnica, Polish, priest of the Order of Friars Minor (1439-1482).

- Blessed Antonio de Santa Ana (ne Antonio Galvao de Franca), Brazilian, priest of the Order of Alcantarine or Discalced Friars Minor, and founder of the Convent of Conceptionist Sisters (1739-1822).

- Blessed Charles of St. Andrew (ne Johannes Andreas Houben), Dutch, priest of the Congregation of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1821-1893).

- Blessed Marie Eugenie de Jesus (nee Anne-Eugenie Milleret de Brou), French, foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1817-1898).

- Venerable Servant of God Carlo Liviero, Italian, bishop of Citta di Castello and founder of the Congregation of Little Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart (1866-1932).

- Venerable Servant of God Stanislaus of Jesus Mary (ne Jana Papczynski), Polish, priest and founder of the Congregation of Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (1631-1701).

- Venerable Servant of God Celina Chludzinska, Polish, widow and foundress of the Congregation of Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1833-1913).

- Venerable Servant of God Marie Celine of the Presentation (nee Jeanne-Germaine Castang), French, nun of the Second Order of St. Francis (1878-1897).

MARTYRDOM

- Servants of God Manuel Gomez Gonzalez, Spanish, diocesan priest born in 1877, and Adilio Daronch, Brazilian, lay person born in 1908, both killed in Feijao Miudo, Brazil, in 1924.

- Servant of God Albertina Berkenbrock, Brazilian, lay person born in 1919, killed in 1931.

- Servant of God Eufrasio of the Baby Jesus (ne Eufrasio Barredo Fernandez), Spanish, born in 1897, priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1934.

- Servants of God Lorenzo, Virgilio and 44 companions of the Institute of Brothers of the Marist Schools, Spanish, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Enrique Izquierdo Palacios and 13 companions, Spanish, of the Order of Friars Preachers, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Servants of God Ovidio Beltran, Hermenegildo Lorenzo, Luciano Pablo, Estanislao Victor and Lorenzo Santiago, Spanish, members of the Institute of Brothers of the Christian Schools, and Jose Maria Canovas Martinez, Spanish, parish helper, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Servants of God Maria del Carmen, Rosa and Magdalena Fradera Ferragutcasas, Spanish, religious of the Congregation of Daughters of the Blessed and Immaculate Heart of Mary, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Servant of God Lindalva Justo de Oliviera, Brazilian, of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, born in 1953, killed in 1993 in Sao Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Mamerto Esquiu, Argentinean (1826-1883), of the Order of Friars Minor, bishop of Cordoba, Argentina.

- Servant of God Salvatore Micalizzi, Italian (1856-1937), professed priest of the Congregation of the Mission.

- Servants of God Jose Olallo Valdes, Cuban (1820-1889), professed religious of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God.

- Servant of God Stefan Kaszap, Hungarian (1916-1935), novice of the Society of Jesus.

CCS/DECREES/SARAIVA                                                          VIS 061218 (560)

JOY, A PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENT ADDRESSED TO ALL HUMANITY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 17, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square, in order to pray the Angelus with the thousands of pilgrims gathered below.

"On this third Sunday of Advent," said the Pope, "the liturgy invites us to the joy of the spirit. ... The joy that the liturgy reawakens in the hearts of Christians is not reserved just for them, it is a prophetic announcement addressed to all humanity, especially to the poor, in this case to those poorest in joy!"

Our thoughts go, the Holy Father continued, "to our brothers and sisters who, especially in the Middle East, in some parts of Africa and in other parts of the world, experience the drama of war. What joy can they have? How will their Christmas be? We think of the many sick and lonely people, who suffer spiritual as well as physical torment because they often feel abandoned. How can we share our joy with them without showing a lack of respect for their suffering?

"But we also think," he added, "of those people, especially the young, who have lost all feeling of real joy, and seek it in vain where it cannot be found: in the constant pursuit of self-affirmation and success, ... in consumerism, in moments of inebriation, in the artificial paradise of drugs and all forms of alienation. We cannot but compare today's liturgy, and its invitation to be joyful, with these dramatic truths."

"Yet the Word of the Lord," the Pope concluded, "is addressed precisely to those undergoing moments of trial, to those 'wounded by life and orphaned of joy.' The invitation to joy is not an alienating message, or a sterile palliative, rather it is the prophecy of salvation, an appeal to redemption that begins with inner renewal."

ANG/JOY/...                                                                                     VIS 061218 (320)

BLESSING THE "BABY JESUS," HELP FOR IRAQI REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 17, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, after praying the Angelus, the Pope delivered his customary blessing upon the figures of the Child Jesus, brought to St. Peter's Square by children of Rome in the company of their parents and teachers. The children traditionally bring the figures for blessing before placing them in nativity scenes in their own homes and parishes.

After thanking the Roman Oratory Center for having organized "this important pilgrimage," the Holy Father said to the children: "Pray to Jesus before the nativity scene, and ask Him also for the Pope's intentions. I thank you and I wish you a happy Christmas."

The Pope then went on to refer to "the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Syria, forced to leave their country because of the dramatic situation there. Caritas Syria is already active in their support, nonetheless I appeal to the sensibility of individuals, international organizations and governments, to make further efforts to meet these people's most urgent needs. I raise my prayers to the Lord, that He may bring comfort to these brothers and sisters, and move many hearts to generosity."

ANG/JESUS:REFUGEES SYRIA/...                                            VIS 061218 (200)

JEWS AND CHRISTIANS MUST PROMOTE SHARED VALUES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2006 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received 112 members of B'nai B'rith International (in Hebrew, 'Sons of the Covenant'), the world's oldest Jewish volunteer organization, founded in New York in 1843.

In greeting them, the Pope recalled how, since the 1965 promulgation of the Vatican Council II Declaration "Nostra Aetate," representatives of B'nai B'rith have visited the Holy See on numerous occasions, in "the spirit of understanding, respect and mutual appreciation which is developing between our communities."

Continuing his English-language talk, the Pope pointed out that "much has been achieved in the past four decades of Jewish-Catholic relations, and we must be grateful to God for the remarkable transformation that has taken place on the basis of our common spiritual patrimony. It is this rich heritage of faith which enables our communities not only to enter into dialogue, but also to be partners in working together for the good of the human family. ... Jews and Christians are called to work together for the healing of the world by promoting the spiritual and moral values grounded in our faith convictions. If we give a clear example of fruitful cooperation, our voice in responding to the needs of the human family will be all the more convincing.

"On the occasion of your visit, I reiterate my unfailing hope and prayer for peace in the Holy Land. Peace can only come about if it is the concern of Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, expressed in genuine inter-religious dialogue and concrete gestures of reconciliation. All believers are challenged to show that it is not hatred and violence, but understanding and peaceful cooperation which open the door to that future of justice and peace which is God's promise and gift."

AC/JEWS:CHRISTIANS COOPERATION/B'NAI B'RITH        VIS 061218 (310)

MIGRANTS ENRICH CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2006 (VIS) - On December 1, Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and International Institutions in Geneva, delivered an address before the 92nd council session of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In his English-language talk, made public today, Archbishop Tomasi recalled that "the lesson of history is that migrants enrich cultures and societies and that transnational families and communities create bridges of understanding and productive interaction. It shows that the most important resource of all is the human person."

"If the economy of the receiving countries benefits from the work of the immigrants - obviously it cannot do without them - the life aspirations of the immigrants must be attended to, and the possibility to integrate must be given. National legislation cannot aim at regulating only the flows of services and jobs without taking into account the person that provides those services. For this reason," the archbishop concluded, "family reunification must be a primary consideration: the family plays a fundamental role in the integration process, in giving stability to the presence of the immigrants in the new social environment, and even in the dynamics of temporary migrations."

DELSS/MIGRATIONS/GENEVA:TOMASI                                  VIS 061218 (210)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, archbishop of Florence, Italy.

- Durak Osman, ambassador of Turkey on his farewell visit.

- Bishop Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, accompanied by members of his family.

- Bishop Gianfranco Girotti O.F.M. Conv., regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, accompanied by members of his family.

- Bishop Raffaele Farina S.D.B., prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, accompanied by members of his family

On Saturday, December 16, he received in separate audiences:

- Nikola Gruevski, prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, accompanied by an entourage.

- Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 061218 (140)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Bruno Bertagna, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, as auditor general of the Apostolic Camera.

On Saturday, December 16, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins of Edmonton, Canada, as metropolitan archbishop of Toronto (area 13,000, population 5,083,000, Catholics 1,374,000, priests 799, permanent deacons 119, religious 1,206), Canada. He succeeds Cardinal Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, professor of physics at the Physical Research Laboratory of Ahmedabad, India, as an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences

- The Incarnation: The Son Of God's Most Perfect Gift

- Archbishop Cordes In The Holy Land

- Pope Praises The Spirituality Of The Alexandrian Tradition

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

THE INCARNATION: THE SON OF GOD'S MOST PERFECT GIFT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father met with Roman university students after their traditional mass at St. Peter's Basilica in preparation for Christmas, which was celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

Benedict XVI stated that "Christmas gifts remind us of the most perfect gift that the Son of God gave us of himself in the Incarnation. (...) Christmas is the day in which God has given himself to human persons and this gift is made perfect, so to speak, in the Eucharist."

"The Eucharistic mystery," he continued "constitutes the privileged point of convergence between the various spheres of Christian existence, including that of intellectual pursuit. (...) The Eucharist nourishes a fruitful unity between contemplation and action in us so that we are regularly sustained with faith."

Making reference to the immanent arrival of Christmas, the Pope indicated that "in the grotto of Bethlehem we adore the same Lord who wanted to make himself our spiritual nourishment in the Eucharistic sacrament, in order to transform the world from within beginning from the human heart."

The Virgin Mary was the "first to contemplate the incarnate Word, Divine Wisdom, made human. In the Christ Child (...) she recognized God's human face in such a way that the mysterious Wisdom of the Son was impressed on the Mother's mind and heart."

"This is why," he concluded, "Mary was transformed in the "Seat of Wisdom" and is particularly venerated with this title by the Roman academic community. There is a special icon dedicated to the "Sedes Sapientiae" that, starting from Rome, has already visited various countries, making a pilgrimage through the universities. It is present here today in order to be given to the delegation from Bulgaria and Albania."

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES IN THE HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - According a communique, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" has been meeting with the Christian communities in the Holy Land since 13 December in order to "witness to the Holy Father's spiritual nearness to them and to give them a gift in the Pope's name."

"On the occasion of a pastoral visit by Benedict XVI to Bavaria last September, the faithful of the dioceses of Munich, Ratisbona, and Passau organized a collection to help the Christians in the land where Jesus was born," reads the text. "A million euro were collected and given to the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', which Archbishop Cordes will deliver, in the Pope's name, to the Custos of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M."

"The sum will be entirely used in the construction of a pastoral center in Nazareth (...) near the Basilica of the Annunciation, with ample spaces for youth and families. It will be a true center of life and activity for Christians and a point of reference for the pilgrims."

"The Christians of the Holy Land will thus feel the nearness and the support of the entire people of God in maintaining their presence in Jesus' land and in building a community of love regardless of difficulties and adversities."

In Jerusalem, Archbishop Cordes will meet with the Benedictine fathers of the Dormition Abbey, with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, and with the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco. In Bethlehem he will visit the seminary of Bet Jala and on Saturday 16 December the official presentation of the Pope's gift will be made to the Custody of the Holy Land. Afterward, the president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" will visit the German Benedictine fathers of the monastery of Tabga.

"On 18 December, the prelate will meet with the Greek-Melkite archbishop Elias Chacour, to whom he will give 50,000 dollars for the construction of a school in the village of Mughar, money which was collected at the Vatican during the showing of the film 'Nativity'. Christian, Druze, and Muslims, boys and girls will study in the school, which will be erected where Jesus' parents lived."

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POPE PRAISES THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE ALEXANDRIAN TRADITION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - Today, Benedict XVI received His Beatitude Antonios Naguib Patriarch of Alexandria for Catholic Copts who is officially visiting the Holy See for the first time since his election in March of this year.

In his French address, the Pope asked the patriarch to give his greetings to all the bishops, priests, and faithful of his patriarchy, as well as to Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, Patriarch Emeritus of Alexandria.

"The communion in Christ that unites us and all Catholics around the Successor of Peter is best seen in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy," said the Holy Father.

While recalling that the seat of Alexandria was the "first patriarchy after Rome" during the first five centuries of Christianity, Benedict XVI emphasized that its patriarchal community is the "bearer of a rich spiritual, liturgical, and theological tradition - the Alexandrian tradition -, whose treasures form part of the Church's patrimony". He assured the patriarch of his prayers and support in the "special duty that the ecumenical Second Vatican Council entrusted to the Eastern Catholic Churches: "to make progress toward the unity of all Christians, above all Eastern Christians".

The Patriarch of Alexandria for Catholic Copts also has "an important role in interreligious dialogue to develop fraternity and respect among Christians and Muslims". The Pope also invited His Beatitude to "continue encouraging the theological and spiritual pursuit of his tradition".

"In today's world, your mission is of great importance for the faithful and for all human persons", the Holy Father said, praising the attention the patriarch has given to the "human, spiritual, moral, and intellectual education of youth through a network of quality schools and catechesis that constitute a service to the entire society".

Referring to the formation of priests the Pope underlined that "the vitality of Christian communities in the world today needs pastors (...) who are truly witnesses to the Word of God and guides to help the faithful be always more deeply rooted in the life and the mission of Christ".

"I know well what place consecrated life occupies in the Church, " concluded the Holy Father. "May poverty, chastity, and obedience, lived in accordance with the gospel message, be a witness and a call to holiness for today's world!"

AC/ALEXANDRIAN PATRIARCHY/NAGUIB       VIS 061215 (420)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Italy on their "ad limina" visit:



    -Bishop Ercole Lupinacci of Lungro of the Italo-albanians.

    -Bishop Luigi Antonio Cantafora of Lamezia Terme.

    -Bishop Domenico Graziani of Cassano all'Jonio.

    -Bishop Domenico Crusco of San Marco Argentano-Scalea.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 061215 (80)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Gregorio Martinez Sacristan, diocesan delegate for the catechesis, as bishop of Zamora (area 6,984, population 165,065, Catholics 163,865, priests 211, religious 546), Spain. The bishop-elect was born in 1946 in Villarejo de Salvanés, Spain and he was ordained priest in 1971.

NER/.../MARTINEZ                                                                         VIS 061215 (60)

SUMMARY:

- Leaders of Nations: Listen to Your People

- Spiritual Contribution of Catholics and Orthodox

- Joint Declaration of Pope and His Beatitude Christodoulos

- Celebrations to Be Presided By the Pope over Christmas

- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

LEADERS OF NATIONS: LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the Letters of Credence of six new ambassadors to the Holy See. They are: Lars Moller of Denmark, Maratbek Salievic Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan, Carlos Dos Santos of Mozambique, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Uganda, Makram Obeid of Syria, and Makase Nyaphisi of Lesotho.

"The year just ending, witnessed numerous conflicts on many continents," said the Pope in the French-language talk he addressed to the ambassadors. "As diplomats, you are doubtless concerned by the situations and outbreaks of tension that affect local populations, and cause many innocent victims."

The Holy Father assured his listeners that "the Holy See shares your disquiet for situations that put the survival of many peoples at risk, and cause the poorest to bear the burden of suffering and the lack of the most basic amenities." In order to face up to such circumstances, he continued, the leaders of civil society "must pay greater attention to their people, seeking more effective solutions in order to resolve situations of distress and poverty and to share goods as equally as possible, both within each country and across the international community.

"Indeed," the Pope added, "the leaders of society have a duty to ensure that deep dissatisfaction with the political, economic and social spheres in a country or region is neither created nor maintained. Because this could lead people to think that society and it decision-making classes ignore them, and that they have no right to enjoy the fruits of national production.

"Such injustices can only lead to disorder and engender a kind of escalation of violence. The search for peace, justice and understanding among everyone must be a primary objective and calls for leaders of nations to pay heed to real-life situations, committing themselves to suppressing everything that opposes equality and solidarity, especially corruption and the hoarding of resources."

"I know that a certain amount of courage is needed in order to remain firm in the face of difficulties when the aim is the good of individuals and of the national community," the Holy Father concluded. "Nonetheless, in public life, courage is an indispensable virtue in order to avoid being swayed by partisan ideologies, by pressure groups or by thirst for power. ... As the Church's social doctrine recalls, the good of individuals and of peoples must always be the priority criterion in decisions regarding social life."

Following the papal address, delivered to the ambassadors as a group, each of the diplomats was given the text of a discourse concerning the situation in his or her own country. To the Mozambican ambassador, Benedict XVI highlights the need for national reconciliation; to the ambassadors of Uganda and Lesotho, he recalls the Catholic Church's efforts in the fight against AIDS; and in the text given to the Syrian diplomat, the Pope expresses his hope in a development of relations between Syria and the Holy See to facilitate the question of Church property taken over by the State. He praises the respect for the family and the tolerance among various ethnic communities in Kyrgyzstan, and commends Denmark's efforts in seeking to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/...                                               VIS 061214 (540)

SPIRITUAL CONTRIBUTION OF CATHOLICS AND ORTHODOX

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, who is making an official visit to the Vatican. Prior to his audience with the Pope, the archbishop visited St. Peter's Basilica where he prayed at the tomb of John Paul II.

In his address, the Holy Father recalled how "following the advent of Christianity, Greece and Rome intensified their relations" and how "this gave rise to very different forms of Christian communities and traditions in the regions of the world that today correspond to Eastern Europe and Western Europe. These intense relations helped to create a kind of osmosis in the formation of ecclesial institutions. And this osmosis - in safeguarding the disciplinary, liturgical, theological and spiritual peculiarities of the Roman and Greek traditions - made the Church's evangelizing activity and the inculturation of the Christian faith fruitful."

Pope Benedict highlighted how "our relations continue today, slowly but deeply and with a desire for authenticity." This has made it possible "to discover a new range of spiritual expressions, rich in significance and joint commitment." He also recalled John Paul II's "memorable visit" to Athens in 2001, "a defining point in the progressive intensification of our contacts and collaboration."

Catholics and Orthodox, said Benedict XVI, are called "to make a cultural and, above all, a spiritual contribution. They have the duty to defend the Christian roots of Europe, which have formed the continent down the centuries, and to enable the Christian tradition to continue to manifest itself and work with all its strength in favor of the defense of human dignity, the respect of minorities, avoiding that cultural uniformity which could lead to the loss of the immense riches of civilization. At the same time, it is necessary to work to safeguard human rights, which include the principle of individual freedom, and in particular of religious freedom. These rights must be promoted and defended in the European Union and in each member State.

"At the same time," he added, "we must increase collaboration among Christians in all European countries in order to face the new risks that challenge the Christian faith: growing secularization, relativism and nihilism, which open the way to forms of behavior and laws that damage the inalienable dignity of man and threaten such fundamental institutions as marriage. It is vital to undertake joint pastoral activity, as a joint testimony to our contemporaries and an expression of our hope."

AC/.../CHRISTODOULOS                                                             VIS 061214 (420)

JOINT DECLARATION OF POPE AND HIS BEATITUDE CHRISTODOULOS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, following their private meeting and after each had pronounced a public address, the Pope and His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, signed a Joint Declaration in the presence of members of the archbishop's Greek delegation and of Catholic representatives.

"We, Benedict XVI, Pope and Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, in this sacred place of Rome, ... wish to live ever more intensely our mission to bear apostolic witness, to transmit the faith, ... and to announce the Good News of the birth of the Lord. ... It is also our joint responsibility to overcome, in love and truth, the multiple difficulties and painful experiences of the past."

"Our meeting in charity makes us more aware of our joint task: together to follow the arduous path of dialogue in truth in order to re-establish full communion of faith. ... Thus we obey a divine mandate ... and continue our commitment, ... following the example of the Apostles and demonstrating mutual love and a spirit of reconciliation."

"We recognize the important steps made in the dialogue of charity, and in the decisions of Vatican Council II concerning relations between us. Moreover, we hope that bilateral theological dialogue will take advantage of these positive elements in order to formulate propositions acceptable to both sides, in a spirit of reconciliation."

"Together we affirm the need to persevere on the road of constructive theological dialogue because, despite the difficulties, this is one of the essential ways we have to re-establish the longed-for unity, ... and to reinforce the credibility of the Christian message in a period of enormous social upheaval and of great spiritual searching by many of our contemporaries, who are disquieted by growing globalization which at times even threatens the lives of human beings and their relationship with God and the world."

"We solemnly renew our desire to announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, especially to new generations. ... This is very important in our societies where many schools of thought distance people from God and contribute nothing to the meaning of life."

"We believe that religions have a role to play to ensure the triumph of peace in the world, and that they must in no way be the focus for intolerance and violence. As Christian religious leaders, we exhort all religious leaders to maintain and reinforce inter-religious dialogue, and to work to create a society of peace and fraternity among individuals and peoples. This is one of the missions of religion."

The Pope and the Archbishop recognize the huge progress of science, but express concern at "experiments on human beings which do not respect the dignity or integrity of the person at all stages of existence, from conception to natural death." They also call for "more effective protection" of "the fundamental rights of human beings, founded on the dignity of man created in God's image."

"We trust in a fruitful collaboration," they continue, "to ensure that our contemporaries may rediscover the Christian roots of the European continent." This, they write, "will help them to experience and promote fundamental human and spiritual values for the good of people and of society itself."

Benedict XVI and His Beatitude Christodoulos invite wealthy nations to show solidarity towards less-developed countries. "It is likewise important," they write, "not to exploit the creation, which is the work of God, abusively." In this context, they call for "a reasoned and respectful care of creation, in order to administer it correctly, while maintaining solidarity, especially with people suffering hunger, and leaving future generations an earth that can truly be inhabited by everyone."

At the end of their declaration, the Holy Father and the Archbishop of Athens and of all Greece call upon the Lord "to grant all mankind the gift of peace, in the charity and unity of the human family."

AC/JOINT DECLARATION/CHRISTODOULOS                        VIS 061214 (670)

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE OVER CHRISTMAS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebration of the Supreme Pontiff published today the calendar of celebrations at which the Holy Father will preside during the Christmas season:

DECEMBER

- Sunday, 24: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. The Pope will celebrate Midnight Mass in the Vatican Basilica.

- Monday, 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. At noon from the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, the Pope will deliver his Christmas message to the world and will impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

- Sunday, 31: At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father will preside at first Vespers on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, during which the traditional "Te Deum" hymn of thanksgiving will be sung for the conclusion of the civil year.

JANUARY 2007

- Monday, 1: Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and 40th World Day of Peace which has as its theme: "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace." In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m., the Holy Father will preside at the celebration of Mass.

- Saturday, 6: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Holy Father to preside at Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m.

- Sunday, 7: Baptism of Our Lord. Benedict XVI will preside at Mass in the Sistine Chapel at 10 a.m., during which he will impart the Sacrament of Baptism to a number of children.

BXVI-CALENDAR/CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS/...              VIS 061214 (250)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Bishop Giancarlo Maria Bregantini C.S.S., of Locri-Gerace, Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.

AL/.../...                                                                                             VIS 061214 (30)

Shoah: Immense Tragedy to Which No One Can Be Indifferent

- Timothy and Titus: Willingness to Serve the Gospel

- Message for the World Day of the Sick

- Prime Minister of Israel Visits the Holy Father

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

SHOAH: IMMENSE TRAGEDY TO WHICH NO ONE CAN BE INDIFFERENT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy See Press Office released the following declaration.

"With reference to the conference taking place in Tehran, the Holy See re-states its own position, already expressed in the document of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews: 'We remember, a reflection on the Shoah.'

"Last century witnessed the attempt to exterminate the Jewish people, with the consequent killing of millions of Jews of all ages and social categories, simply for the fact of belonging to that people. The Shoah was an immense tragedy to which no one can remain indifferent.

"The Church approaches with deep respect and great compassion the experience suffered by the Jewish people during the Second World War. The memory of those terrible events must remain as a warning to consciences, in order to eliminate conflicts, respect the legitimate rights of all peoples, and press for peace in truth and in justice.

"This position was affirmed by Pope John Paul II at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on March 23, 2000, and repeated by His Holiness Benedict XVI on his visit to the concentration camp of Auschwitz on May 28, 2006."

OP/SHOAH:JEWS/TEHRAN                                                        VIS 061213 (210)

TIMOTHY AND TITUS: WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica this morning, the Holy Father met with faithful from dioceses in the Italian region of Calabria, accompanied by their bishops who are in the process of completing their "ad limina" visit. Also present was a group of Italian students. Afterwards, the Holy Father went to the Paul VI Hall for his weekly general audience.

In a brief greeting to the faithful gathered in the basilica, the Holy Father said that the Church in Calabria must continue "her evangelizing mission, more urgent than ever even in our own times, in order to face the current cultural, social and religious challenges. From the Gospel, courageously draw the light and strength to promote the authentic moral, social and economic renewal of your region. Be joyful witnesses of Christ and tireless builders of His Kingdom of justice and peace.

In conclusion, the Pope thanked the region of Calabria which this year has donated the Christmas tree to adorn St. Peter's Square. The tree is due to be erected today.

In the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father's catechesis focused on Sts. Timothy and Titus, two of St. Paul's closest associates. Benedict XVI recalled how Timothy, a "pastor of great importance," was the first bishop of Ephesus, while Titus, whom Paul defined as "my true child in a common faith," was bishop of Crete.

These two men, said the Holy Father, tell us that Paul, the archetypal Apostle, "did not do everything alone, but relied upon trusted individuals to share his labors and responsibilities."

The Pope highlighted the "willingness" of Timothy and Titus "to take on various tasks, which often involved representing Paul in difficult circumstances. Thus they teach us," he added, "to serve the Gospel generously, knowing that this involves a service to the Church herself."

Pope Benedict XVI quoted St. Paul's words in his Letter to Titus, where the Apostle exhorts his helper to remain faithful to the true doctrine: "'I desire you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men.'

"Through a solid commitment on our part," the Pope concluded, "we can and must discover the truth of these words and, precisely in this period of Advent, be rich in good works, thus opening the door of the world to Christ, our Savior."

AG/TIMOTHY:TITUS/...                                                                   VIS 061213 (420)

MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father's Message for the 15th World Day of the Sick was made public at midday today. The event is due to be celebrated in Seoul, South Korea on February 11, 2007, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In his Message, published in English and dated December 8, the Holy Father writes that "despite the advances of science, a cure cannot be found for every illness. ... Many millions of people in our world still experience insanitary living conditions and lack access to much-needed medical resources, often of the most basic kind, with the result that the number of human beings considered 'incurable' is greatly increased."

After highlighting the "need to promote policies which create conditions where human beings can bear even incurable illnesses and death in a dignified manner," Benedict XVI dwells upon the necessity "to stress once again the need for more palliative care centers which provide integral care, offering the sick the human assistance and spiritual accompaniment they need. This is a right belonging to every human being, one which we must all be committed to defend."

"The Church, following the example of the Good Samaritan, has always shown particular concern for the infirm. ... Many individuals - health care professionals, pastoral agents and volunteers - and institutions throughout the world are tirelessly serving the sick, in hospitals and in palliative care units, on city streets, in housing projects and parishes."

The Pope encouraged people suffering from incurable and terminal diseases "to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified. ... Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world."

"Through her priests and pastoral workers, the Church wishes to assist you and stand at your side, helping you in your hour of need, and thus making present Christ's own loving mercy towards those who suffer."

MESS/WORLD DAY SICK/...                                                                   VIS 061213 (330)

PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL VISITS THE HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following communique:

"Today Wednesday, December 13, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received Ehud Olmert, prime minister of Israel. Subsequently, the prime minister went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and Msgr. Pietro Parolin, respectively secretary and under-secretary for Relations with States.

"In the course of the discussions, attention turned to the matter of peace in the Middle East, and to questions regarding the position of the Catholic community in Israel, also in view of the forthcoming Christmas celebrations."

OP/ISRAEL/OLMERT                                                                    VIS 061213 (120)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Zamora, Mexico, presented by Bishop Carlos Suarez Cazares, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Wilfredo Pino Estevez of the clergy of the archdiocese of Camaguey, Cuba, episcopal vicar and pastor, as bishop of Guantanamo-Baracoa (area 6,565, population 512,555, Catholics 183,086, priests 10, permanent deacons 5, religious 16), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in Camaguey in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1975. He succeeds Bishop Carlos Jesus Patricio Baladron Valdes, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Jorge Enrique Serpa Perez, rector of the major seminary of San Cristobal de La Habana, Cuba, as bishop of Pinar del Rio (area 13,500, population 1,888,000, Catholics 811,844, priests 24, religious 38), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in Santa Clara, Cuba in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1968. He succeeds Bishop Jose Siro Gonzalez Bacallao, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Sao Joao Batista em Curitiba of the Ukrainians, Brazil, presented by Bishop Efraim Basilio Krevey O.S.B.M., in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Valdomiro Koubetch O.S.B.M.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of New Orleans, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Dominic Carmon S.V.D., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Shelton Joseph Fabre of the clergy of the archdiocese of Baton Rouge, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of the Sacred Heart, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of New Orleans (area 10,898, population 1,361,488, Catholics 490,898, priests 413, permanent deacons 189, religious 1,020), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in New Road, U.S.A. in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989.

RE:NER:NEA/.../...                                                                          VIS 061213 (360)

The Human Person, the Heart of Peace

- Message for the World Day of Peace 2007

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

THE HUMAN PERSON, THE HEART OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2006 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this morning, Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino and Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, presented the Pope's Message for the World Day of Peace 2007, which has as its theme: "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace."

Cardinal Martino affirmed that this year's Message "must be read and interpreted as a continuation and completion of last year's. Indeed, in paragraph 1, the Holy Father expresses his conviction 'that respect for the person promotes peace and that, in building peace, the foundations are laid for an authentic integral humanism'."

The Message, the cardinal continued, "is structured in three parts," the first of which highlights "the meaning and value of the connection between the human person and peace, considered and presented through the theological-spiritual categories of 'gift and task.' In the second part, the truth of the human person is related to the new and innovative concept of 'ecology of peace.' In the third part, the truth about human beings is considered with reference to the complex field of respect for their fundamental rights, of international humanitarian law and of certain responsibilities inherent to the activity of international organizations. The Message concludes with a call to Christians to become workers for peace."

"Recognition of the transcendent order of things is the basis upon which to found the inter-religious and cultural dialogue that aims to promote peace. ... In order to advance the cause of peace, humanity today must treasure the norms of natural law, norms which 'should not be viewed as externally imposed decrees, as restraints upon human freedom'."

Later in the Message, "the Holy Father affirms that certain things are and must remain beyond the disposal of human will, these are the right to life and to religious freedom." The former because it is a gift and the latter because "it opens nature to something that transcends it."

On the subject of the natural equality of all persons, the Holy Father highlights how "inequalities of social status and gender are worrying causes of instability in the building of peace," said the cardinal.

In paragraphs 8 and 9, dedicated to the "ecology of peace," the Pope poses a series of questions that "highlight how the problem of the relationship with nature is closely associated with the construction, among mankind and between nations, of ecological human relationships, in other words, relationships that respect the dignity of the person and his or her authentic needs."

"In paragraphs 10 and 11, the Holy Father presents the foundations for an ecology of peace and the base upon which to plant the 'tree of peace.' With faith and hope he brings us to understand that it is possible to cultivate this tree, ... so long as we let ourselves be guided by a correct and as-broad-as-possible vision of the human person, because the reduction of man, of his value and his dignity, is often paid for with conflict."

"The Pope's Message," said the cardinal, "affirms that peace has become difficult also because of indifference as to what constitutes man's true nature. ... Such an attitude is very dangerous for peace, which cannot be built upon emptiness and indifference because, in such circumstances, reciprocal recognition is merely formal, conventional, provisional."

In the third part of the Message, from paragraphs 12 to 15, Benedict XVI makes it clear that "true and stable peace presupposes respect for human rights anchored in a strong conception of the human person. ... Rights express the requirements of man's nature as it arose in the Creation. They tell us what men and women need in their existence in order to be able to be themselves with dignity. They tell us how we must treat man in order to respect his dignity. Human rights cannot sustain the continuous attacks to which they are subject if they do not rediscover this significance."

The Holy Father, said Cardinal Martino, goes on to recall "the original vocation of international organizations, especially the United Nations, and encourages them to be guardians of the promotion of human rights. ... He also returns this year to the value of international humanitarian law," with reflections "inspired by realism and by trust." Finally, he expresses his concern "at the fact that some countries have expressed the desire to supply themselves with nuclear weapons."

"The conclusion of Benedict XVI's Message ... is entirely dedicated to Catholics, who are called to be tireless workers for peace and energetic defenders of the dignity of the human person. ... The sentiment of belonging to the Church must be lived with a generous dedication towards everyone, especially towards people suffering poverty and privation, and who lack the precious gift of peace."

OP/MESSAGE PEACE DAY/MARTINO                                     VIS 061212 (810)

MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2007

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2006 (VIS) - Made public today was Benedict XVI's 2nd Message for the World Day of Peace. The Day falls on January 1, 2007, and has as its theme: "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace." The text has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese.

Extracts from the Message are given below:

"At the beginning of the new year, I wish to extend prayerful good wishes for peace to governments, leaders of nations and all men and women of good will"

"As one created in the image of God, each individual human being has the dignity of a person; he or she is not just something, but someone, capable of self-knowledge, self-possession, free self-giving and entering into communion with others."

"Likewise, peace is both gift and task. If it is true that peace between individuals and peoples - the ability to live together and to build relationships of justice and solidarity - calls for unfailing commitment on our part, it is also true, and indeed more so, that peace is a gift from God."

"The body of rules for individual action and the reciprocal relationships of persons in accordance with justice and solidarity, is inscribed on human consciences, in which the wise plan of God is reflected. ... Peace is thus also a task demanding of everyone a personal response consistent with God's plan. The criterion inspiring this response can only be respect for the 'grammar' written on human hearts by the divine Creator.

"From this standpoint, the norms of the natural law ... should be welcomed as a call to carry out faithfully the universal divine plan inscribed in the nature of human beings. Guided by these norms, all peoples - within their respective cultures - can draw near to the greatest mystery, which is the mystery of God. Today too, recognition and respect for natural law represents the foundation for a dialogue between the followers of the different religions and between believers and non-believers. As a great point of convergence, this is also a fundamental presupposition for authentic peace."

"The duty to respect the dignity of each human being, in whose nature the image of the Creator is reflected, means in consequence that the person can not be disposed of at will. Those with greater political, technical, or economic power may not use that power to violate the rights of others who are less fortunate. Peace is based on respect for the rights of all. Conscious of this, the Church champions the fundamental rights of each person.

"In particular she promotes and defends respect for the life and the religious freedom of everyone. Respect for the right to life at every stage firmly establishes a principle of decisive importance: life is a gift which is not completely at the disposal of the subject. ... The right to life and to the free expression of personal faith in God is not subject to the power of man.

"As far as the right to life is concerned, we must denounce its widespread violation in our society: alongside the victims of armed conflicts, terrorism and the different forms of violence, there are the silent deaths caused by hunger, abortion, experimentation on human embryos and euthanasia. How can we fail to see in all this an attack on peace? Abortion and embryonic experimentation constitute a direct denial of that attitude of acceptance of others which is indispensable for establishing lasting relationships of peace.

"As far as the free expression of personal faith is concerned, another disturbing symptom of lack of peace in the world is represented by the difficulties that both Christians and the followers of other religions frequently encounter in publicly and freely professing their religious convictions. Speaking of Christians in particular, I must point out with pain that not only are they at times prevented from doing so; in some States they are actually persecuted, and even recently tragic cases of ferocious violence have been recorded.

"There are regimes that impose a single religion upon everyone, while secular regimes often lead not so much to violent persecution as to systematic cultural denigration of religious beliefs. In both instances, a fundamental human right is not being respected, with serious repercussions for peaceful coexistence. This can only promote a mentality and culture that is not conducive to peace."

"At the origin of many tensions that threaten peace are surely the many unjust inequalities still tragically present in our world. Particularly insidious among these are, on the one hand, inequality in access to essential goods like food, water, shelter, health; on the other hand, there are persistent inequalities between men and women in the exercise of basic human rights.

"A fundamental element of building peace is the recognition of the essential equality of human persons springing from their common transcendental dignity. ... The extremely grave deprivation afflicting many peoples, especially in Africa, lies at the root of violent reactions and thus inflicts a terrible wound on peace.

"Similarly, inadequate consideration for the condition of women helps to create instability in the fabric of society. I think of the exploitation of women who are treated as objects, and of the many ways that a lack of respect is shown for their dignity; I also think - in a different context - of the mindset persisting in some cultures, where women are still firmly subordinated to the arbitrary decisions of men, with grave consequences for their personal dignity and for the exercise of their fundamental freedoms. There can be no illusion of a secure peace until these forms of discrimination are also overcome, since they injure the personal dignity impressed by the Creator upon every human being."

"Humanity, if it truly desires peace, must be increasingly conscious of the links between natural ecology, or respect for nature, and human ecology. Experience shows that disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa."

"In recent years, new nations have entered enthusiastically into industrial production, thereby increasing their energy needs. ... Meanwhile, some parts of the planet remain backward and development is effectively blocked, partly because of the rise in energy prices."

"The destruction of the environment, its improper or selfish use, and the violent hoarding of the earth's resources cause grievances, conflicts and wars, precisely because they are the consequences of an inhumane concept of development."

"Thus there is an urgent need, even within the framework of current international difficulties and tensions, for a commitment to a human ecology that can favour the growth of the 'tree of peace.' ... It is understandable that visions of man will vary from culture to culture. Yet what cannot be admitted is the cultivation of anthropological conceptions that contain the seeds of hostility and violence. Equally unacceptable are conceptions of God that would encourage intolerance and recourse to violence against others. This is a point which must be clearly reaffirmed: war in God's name is never acceptable!"

"Today, however, peace is not only threatened by the conflict between reductive visions of man, in other words, between ideologies. It is also threatened by indifference as to what constitutes man's true nature. ... A 'weak' vision of the person, which would leave room for every conception, even the most bizarre, only apparently favors peace. In reality, it hinders authentic dialogue and opens the way to authoritarian impositions, ultimately leaving the person defenseless and, as a result, easy prey to oppression and violence."

"The protection of human rights is constantly referred to by international bodies and, in particular, the United Nations Organization, which set itself the fundamental task of promoting the human rights indicated in the 1948 Universal Declaration. That Declaration is regarded as a sort of moral commitment assumed by all mankind. There is a profound truth to this, especially if the rights described in the Declaration are held to be based not simply on the decisions of the assembly that approved them, but on man's very nature and his inalienable dignity as a person created by God. Consequently it is important for international agencies not to lose sight of the natural foundation of human rights."

"Were that to happen, the international bodies would end up lacking the necessary authority to carry out their role as defenders of the fundamental rights of the person and of peoples, the chief justification for their very existence and activity."

"The recognition that there exist inalienable human rights connected to our common human nature has led to the establishment of a body of international humanitarian law which States are committed to respect, even in the case of war. Unfortunately, to say nothing of past cases, this has not been consistently implemented in certain recent situations of war. Such, for example, was the case in the conflict that occurred a few months ago in southern Lebanon, where the duty 'to protect and help innocent victims' and to avoid involving the civilian population was largely ignored."

"The new shape of conflicts, especially since the terrorist threat unleashed completely new forms of violence, demand that the international community reaffirm international humanitarian law, and apply it to all present-day situations of armed conflict, including those not currently provided for by international law.

"Moreover, the scourge of terrorism demands a profound reflection on the ethical limits restricting the use of modern methods of guaranteeing internal security. Increasingly, wars are not declared, especially when they are initiated by terrorist groups determined to attain their ends by any means available. In the face of the disturbing events of recent years, States cannot fail to recognize the need to establish clearer rules to counter effectively the dramatic decline that we are witnessing."

"Another disturbing issue is the desire recently shown by some States to acquire nuclear weapons. This has heightened even more the widespread climate of uncertainty and fear of a possible atomic catastrophe."

"Unfortunately, threatening clouds continue to gather on humanity's horizon. The way to ensure a future of peace for everyone is found not only in international accords for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, but also in the determined commitment to seek their reduction and definitive dismantling. ... The fate of the whole human family is at stake!"

"Finally, I wish to make an urgent appeal to the People of God: let every Christian be committed to tireless peace-making and strenuous defense of the dignity of the human person and his inalienable rights. ... In Christ we can find the ultimate reason for becoming staunch champions of human dignity and courageous builders of peace."

MESS/PEACE DAY/...                                                                              VIS 061212 (1770)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- As presidents of the fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, due to be held in Aparecida, Brazil, from May 13 to 31, 2007, Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile, and president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM); and Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, and president of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

- As secretary general of the same general conference, Bishop Andres Stanovnik O.F.M. Cap., of Reconquista, Argentina, and secretary of CELAM; and as adjunct secretary, Bishop Odilo Pedro Scherer, auxiliary of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

- Bishop Dode Gjergji of Sape, Albania, as apostolic administrator of Prizren (area 11,800, population 2,100,000, Catholics 65,000, priests 53, religious 88).

- Msgr. Lucjan Augustini, vicar general of the metropolitan archdiocese of Shkodre-Pult, Albania, as bishop of Sape (area 2,544, population 200,000, Catholics 90,000, priests 12, permanent deacons 1, religious 54), Albania. The bishop-elect was born in Ferizaj, Kosovo in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989.

NA:NER/.../...                                                                                   VIS 061212 (220)

- Exhibition on Pontifical Elections

- Like Mary, Welcome Christ into Our Lives with Faith

- Europe Must Draw New Energy from Its Christian Roots

- State Must Recognize Public Relevance of Religion

- The Parish, a Beacon Radiating the Light of Faith

- Build the House of God Among Mankind

- Telegram for the Death of Cardinal Pappalardo

- End of Excavations at St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

EXHIBITION ON PONTIFICAL ELECTIONS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2006 (VIS) - In the Lateran Apostolic Palace this evening, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. inaugurated an exhibition entitled: "Habemus Papam. Pontifical elections from St. Peter to Benedict XVI."

The exhibition includes a broad selection of works of art from collections in the Vatican and in Rome and, as the cardinal pointed out, "has been conceived in such a manner as, on the one hand, to offer as complete a vision as possible of the historical development of conclaves while, on the other, not failing to highlight the mysterious action of God Who, through His Providence, guides the journey of the Church, which is founded upon Peter and his legitimate successors."

"The outstanding value of this exhibition, which falls on the 500th anniversary of St. Peter's Basilica and the foundation of the Vatican Museums," said the cardinal, "is that it helps us understand how, though through circumstances at times marked by human frailty and political interest, the choice of Supreme Pontiffs is always guided by Him, the Lord. Christ, with the strength of His Spirit, leads the Church, entrusting her to His vicar on earth, the Pope, 'servant of the servants.' And the Pope - even when intrigue, subterfuge and conflict seemed to prevail - has never failed in his mission."

"Despite its shadows, then, the history of the Church is a history of faith, love and zeal" said the secretary of State. Such events as papal funerals and conclaves, he added, make us aware of "how great a contribution to the life of the Church so many ecclesiastics have made," and of "the participation, charged with strong spiritual emotion, of Christian people."

Cardinal Bertone then went on to consider changes to the structure of conclaves over the centuries, affirming that "from the Constitution 'Ubi periculum' of 1274 to today the concern has always been to prevent external influence in the election of the one whom God chooses to guide His people. ... Ceremonies and practices reflecting cultures and customs of yesterday have now disappeared. What remains unchanged is the essential part of the ministry of Peter's Successor and, in this sense, the conclave represents a moment of great importance."

SS/EXHIBITION PONTIFFS/BERTONE                                      VIS 061211 (380)

LIKE MARY, WELCOME CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES WITH FAITH

VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square below.

The Immaculate Conception, said the Pope, "is one of the most beautiful and popular feasts of the Blessed Virgin. ... Mary not only committed no sin, but was even spared that shared heritage of humankind which is original sin. And this was because of the mission for which God had always destined her: that of being the Mother of the Redeemer."

Pope Benedict went on to explain how the biblical foundation for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is to be found in the words the angel directed to the young girl from Nazareth: "'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.' Full of grace," the Pope added, "is Mary's most beautiful name, a name God Himself gave her in order to indicate that she was always, and will always be, the beloved, the elect, the one chosen to accept the most precious gift: Jesus, 'the incarnate love of God'."

The Holy Father emphasized how Mary's humility was a reason for her being chosen. "God," he said, "was attracted by Mary's humility," and the Virgin "thus became the Mother of God, image and model of the Church, chosen from among peoples to receive the blessing of the Lord and transmit it to the entire human family."

"This 'blessing'," the Pope added, "is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the source of the grace with which Mary was filled from the very first instant of her existence. She welcomed Jesus with faith, and with love she gave Him to the world. This is also our vocation and our mission, the vocation and the mission of the Church: to welcome Christ into our lives and to give Him to the world, 'that the world may be saved through Him'."

ANG/IMMACULATE CONCEPTION/...                                        VIS 061211 (340)

EUROPE MUST DRAW NEW ENERGY FROM ITS CHRISTIAN ROOTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2006 (VIS) - Early this afternoon, the Pope travelled in an open-top car to Rome's Piazza di Spagna to pay his traditional homage before the statue of Mary Immaculate. The Holy Father made the journey standing in order to greet the thousands of people who lined the streets to see him.

Having reached the monument, a tall column bearing a statue of the Virgin in front of the Spanish embassy to the Holy See, Benedict laid a basket of roses at the base of the monument and read a prayer.

"You are full of grace, Mary, full of divine love from the first instant of your life, providentially predestined to be the Mother of the Redeemer and intimately associated with Him in the mystery of salvation. ... In you shines the dignity of all human beings, who are always precious in the eyes of the Creator. Those who turn their gaze to you, All Holy Mother, never lose their serenity, however hard the trials of life may be. Although the experience of sin, that disfigures the dignity of the children of God, is sad, those who turn to you renew the beauty of truth and of love, and rediscover the path that leads to the house of the Father."

The Pope called on the Virgin to help us pronounce, as she did, "our 'yes' to the Lord's will," and to give us the "courage to say 'no' to the snares of power, money, pleasure and dishonest gain, corruption and hypocrisy, selfishness and violence. 'No' to the Evil One, deceitful prince of this world. 'Yes' to Christ, Who destroys the power of evil with the omnipotence of His love. We know that only hearts converted to Love - that is, God - can build a better future for everyone."

"You are 'full of grace,' Mary! ... To the fount of your immaculate heart, we come once again as faithful pilgrims to draw faith and consolation, joy and love, security and peace."

Benedict XVI also called upon the Virgin to be "a Mother and a watchful guardian over Italy and Europe, so that from their ancient Christian roots people may know how to draw new lifeblood to build their present and their future. Show yourself a prudent and merciful Mother to the world entire, so that, with respect for human dignity and rejecting all forms of violence and exploitation, solid foundations may be laid for the civilization of love."

"Show yourself as Mother especially to those in particular need: the defenseless, the marginalized and the excluded, victims of a society that all too often sacrifices man to other ends and interests. Show yourself, O Mary, as Mother to everyone, and give us Christ, the Hope of the world! 'Monstra Te esse Matrem,' Immaculate Virgin full of grace, Amen!"

Following the act of homage, and before returning to the Vatican, the Holy Father travelled to the basilica of St. Mary Major where he prayed before the image of the Mother of God, "Salus Populi Romani."

BXVI-HOMAGE/MARY IMMACULATE/...                                   VIS 061211 (520)

STATE MUST RECOGNIZE PUBLIC RELEVANCE OF RELIGION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 9, 2006 (VIS) - The Pope today received participants in the 56th national study congress, promoted by the Union of Italian Catholic Jurists, which is being held in Rome on the theme: "Secularity and secularities."

The concept of secularity, said the Holy Father in his address to the group, originally referred to "the condition of simple faithful Christian, not belonging to the clergy or the religious state. During the Middle Ages it acquired the meaning of opposition between civil authorities and ecclesial hierarchies, and in modern times it has assumed the significance of the exclusion of religion and its symbols from public life by confining them to the private sphere and the individual conscience. In this way, the term secularity has acquired an ideological meaning quite opposite to the one it originally held."

Secularity today, then, "is understood as a total separation between State and Church, the latter not having any right to intervene in questions concerning the life and behavior of citizens. And such secularity even involves the exclusion of religious symbols from public places." In accordance with this definition, the Pope continued, "today we hear talk of secular thought, secular morals, secular science, secular politics. In fact, at the root of such a concept, is an a-religious view of life, thought and morals; that is, a view in which there is no place for God, for a Mystery that transcends pure reason, for a moral law of absolute value that is valid in all times and situations."

The Holy Father underlined the need "to create a concept of secularity that, on the one hand, grants God and His moral law, Christ and His Church, their just place in human life at both an individual and a social level, and on the other hand affirms and respects the 'legitimate autonomy of earthly affairs'."

The Church, the Pope reiterated, cannot intervene in politics, because that would "constitute undue interference." However, "'healthy secularity' means that the State does not consider religion merely as an individual sentiment that can be confined to the private sphere." Rather, it must be "recognized as a ... public presence. This means that all religious confessions (so long as they do not contrast the moral order and are not dangerous to public order) are guaranteed free exercise of their acts of worship."

Hostility against "any form of political or cultural relevance of religion," and in particular against "any kind of religious symbol in public institutions" is a degenerated form of secularity, said the Holy Father, as is "refusing the Christian community, and those who legitimately represent it, the right to pronounce on the moral problems that today appeal to the conscience of all human beings, particularly of legislators.

"This," he added, "does not constitute undue interference of the Church in legislative activity, which is the exclusive competence of the State, but the affirmation and the defense of those great values that give meaning to people's lives and safeguard their dignity. These values, even before being Christian, are human, and therefore cannot leave the Church silent and indifferent, when she has the duty firmly to proclaim the truth about man and his destiny."

The Pope concluded by highlighting the need "to bring people to understand that the moral law God gave us - and that expresses itself in us through the voice of conscience - has the aim not of oppressing us but of freeing us from evil and of making us happy. We must show that without God man is lost, and that the exclusion of religion from social life, and in particular the marginalization of Christianity, undermines the very foundations of human coexistence. Such foundations, indeed, before being of the social and political order, belong to the moral order."

AC/SECULARITY/...                                                                       VIS 061211 (640)

THE PARISH, A BEACON RADIATING THE LIGHT OF FAITH

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2006 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, the second Sunday of Advent, the Pope made a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Mary Star of Evangelization, where he celebrated Mass and consecrated the new parish church.

In his homily, Benedict XVI, noted how the inauguration was taking place "in the period of Advent which, for the last 16 years, the diocese of Rome has dedicated to awareness raising and fund collection for building new churches on the city outskirts." Thus, this new church "joins the more than 50 parish structures already built over these years thanks to the Vicariate of Rome's economic efforts, the contributions of so many faithful, and the concern of the civil authorities.

"I ask all faithful, and all citizens of good will to continue their generous commitment, so that neighborhoods that are still deprived may, as soon as possible, have a home for their parish.

"The parish is a beacon that radiates the light of faith," the Pope added, "above all in our largely secularized world. Thus it meets the most profound and authentic desires of the human heart, giving meaning and hope to the lives of individuals and families."

St. Mary Star of Evangelization is a young parish, said the Pope, both because it was founded in 1989 and because most of its families are young. "Your community," he went on, "has the arduous but fascinating task of educating its children in the life and the joy of the faith. I trust that together, in a spirit of sincere communion, you will prepare the Sacraments of Christian initiation, and help your boys and girls ... to grow in love and faithfulness to the Lord."

A sacred building, the Holy Father explained, "exists so that the Word of God may be heard, explained and understood. ... It exists so that the Word of God can work among us as a power that creates justice and love."

"The church exists so we can meet Christ there, Son of the living God. God has a face. God has a name. In Christ, God became flesh and gives Himself to us in the mystery of the Blessed Eucharist."

"We humans," the Pope added, "live from Truth. This Truth is a Person, it speaks to us and we speak to it. The church is the place we meet the Son of the living God and thus it is also the place we meet one another. This is the joy God gives us: that He became one of us, that we can almost touch Him, and that He lives with us. Truly, the joy of God is our strength."

The Virgin Mary, said the Pope at the conclusion of his homily, "tells us why church buildings exist. They exist so that within each of us a space may be created for the Word of God, so that within us and through us the Word can become flesh today."

Benedict XVI had previously visited two Roman parishes. On December 18, 2005 he visited the parish of Santa Maria Consolatrice which was his titular church from 1977 to 1993, and on March 26, 2006 he visited the parish of God the Merciful Father.

HML/MARY STAR OF EVANGELIZATION/...                             VIS 061211 (550)

BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD AMONG MANKIND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study, to pray the Angelus with pilgrims gathered below in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled how a few hours previously he had inaugurated the new church of the Roman parish of St. Mary Star of Evangelization, an event that "assumes symbolic significance within the liturgical period of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. In these days the liturgy constantly reminds us that 'God is coming' to visit His people."

"The church-building is a concrete sign of the Church-community, made up of the 'living stones' that are the believers," said the Pope. "St. Peter and St. Paul both highlight how the 'cornerstone' of this spiritual temple is Christ and that, united to Him, ... we too are called to participate in the construction of this living temple. If, then, it is true that it is God who takes the initiative to come and live among men, and that He is the principal architect of this project, it is also true that He does not want to accomplish it without our active collaboration. Therefore, preparing for Christmas means commitment to building the 'house of God with men.' ... At the end of time it will be complete, and it will be the 'heavenly Jerusalem'."

"Advent invites us to turn our gaze towards the 'heavenly Jerusalem,' which is the final goal of our earthly pilgrimage. At the same time, it exhorts us to commit ourselves with prayer, conversion and good works, to welcoming Jesus into our lives, to constructing together with him that spiritual building in which each of us - our families and our communities - is a precious stone."

After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of his concern for the situation in the Middle East, "where glimmers of hope for resolving the crises that afflict the region alternate with tensions and difficulties that cause us to fear fresh violence."

In this context, he made special mention of Lebanon. There, he said quoting John Paul II's 1997 post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation A New Hope for Lebanon, "yesterday as today, 'men from different cultures and religions are called to live together, to build a nation of dialogue and coexistence and to work together for the common good.' Hence, in the face of recent developments, I share the great concern expressed by the patriarch, His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, and by Maronite bishops in a communique made public last Wednesday.

"Together with them, I ask the Lebanese and their political leaders to have as their exclusive concern the good of the country and the harmony of its communities," in order to achieve "the unity which is the responsibility of all and of each, and which requires patient and persevering efforts and a trusting and permanent dialogue.

"I also hope," the Pope concluded, "that the international community will help to find ... the peaceful and balanced solutions so necessary for Lebanon and for the entire Middle East, and I invite everyone to prayer at this difficult moment."

ANG/ADVENT:LEBANON/...                                                        VIS 061211 (530)

TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL PAPPALARDO

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2006 (VIS) - The Pope sent the following telegram of condolence to Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, archbishop of Palermo, Italy for the death yesterday at the age of 88 of Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, emeritus of the same archdiocese:

"With great sorrow I learned the sad news of the death of Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo. As I raise fervent prayers to the Lord that He may grant eternal repose to this zealous and generous pastor, I unite myself spiritually to the diocesan community where he conscientiously exercised his episcopal ministry. With admiration, I recall his many and fruitful apostolic activities, animated by the desire to announce Christ and to accompany with his illuminated teaching the moral and cultural growth of society in Palermo. As I express my deepest condolences to the relatives of the beloved cardinal, I impart upon you, upon the clergy, upon the religious communities and upon all the faithful of that dear archdiocese a heartfelt and comforting apostolic blessing as a sign of faith and of Christian hope in the Risen Lord."

TGR/DEATH PAPPALARDO/DE GIORGI                                  VIS 061211 (190)

END OF EXCAVATIONS AT ST. PAUL'S OUTSIDE-THE-WALLS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2006 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this morning, a press conference was held to present recent excavations that brought to light the sarcophagus of St. Paul in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

Participating in the conference were Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, Giorgio Filippi, archeologist, and Pier Carlo Visconti, an official from the administration of the basilica.

In his talk, Cardinal Cordero Lanza de Montezemolo mentioned the new name to be given to the four great basilicas of Rome, which from now on will be referred to as papal rather than patriarchal basilicas. He also touched on a plan to completely reorganize the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, part of which involves the creation of walking route for pilgrims and visitors including, among other things, a new museum area centered on the cloister. The cardinal also dwelt on the work taking place around the tomb of St. Paul and mentioned a new transparent floor which will make it possible to see the remains of the basilica's Constantinian apse.

For his part, Giorgio Filippi pointed out that "although it is an incontrovertible historical fact that the basilica of St. Paul was built over the tomb of the Apostle, the location of the original tomb remains an open question.

"The chronicles of the monastery," he added, "speaks of a great marble sarcophagus found during reconstruction work on the basilica following the great fire of 1823, in the area of the Confession, under the two stones with the inscription PAULO APOSTOLO MART[YRI]. However, there is no trace of it in the excavation documents, unlike the other sarcophagi unearthed on that occasion."

  "Archeological investigations in the area traditionally believed to be the Apostle's resting place, which began in 2002 and came to an end on November 22, 2006, brought to light an important area of stratification, formed by the apse of the Constantinian basilica enclosed within the transept of the building of the Three Emperors. On the floor of this building, under the papal altar, we found that great sarcophagus of which all trace had been lost, considered since the time of Theodosius to be the tomb of St. Paul."

OP/ST. PAUL OUTSIDE-THE-WALLS/...                                   VIS 061211 (380)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences seven prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

   - Archbishop Vittorio Luigi Mondello of Reggio Calabria-Bova.

    - Archbishop Antonio Ciliberti of Catanzaro-Squillace.

    - Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari of Cosenza-Bisignano.

    - Bishop Domenico Tarcisio Cortese O.F.M., of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea.

    - Bishop Luciano Bux of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi.

    - Archbishop Santo Marciano of Rossano-Cariati.

    - Msgr. Francesco Frandina, apostolic administrator of Crotone-Santa Severina.

On Saturday, December 9, he received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Delio Lucarelli of Rieti.

    - Bishop Luca Brandolini C.M., of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo.

    - Bishop Giovanni Paolo Benotto of Tivoli.

    - Bishop Lorenzo Chiarinelli of Viterbo.

    - Bishop Fabio Bernardo D'Onorio O.S.B., ordinary abbot of Montecassino.

    - Fr. Emiliano Fabbricatore O.S.B.I., archimandrite of St. Mary's abbey at Grottaferrata.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 061211 (160)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia, presented by Bishop Joseph Peter O'Connell, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Gabriel Mbilingi C.S.Sp., of Lwena, Angola, as coadjutor archbishop of Lubango (area 118,000, population 3,085,651, Catholics 1,604,539, priests 83, religious 255), Angola. The archbishop-elect was born in Bandua, Angola, in 1958, he was ordained a priest in 1984 and consecrated a bishop in 2000.

On Saturday, December 9, it was made public that he appointed Bishop Marcel Madila Basanguka, auxiliary of Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as archbishop of the same archdiocese (area 33,000, population 2,264,000, Catholics 1,363,000, priests 123, religious 345). The archbishop-elect was born in Demba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 1955 he was ordained a priest in 1981 and consecrated a bishop in 2004.

RE:NEC:NER/.../O'CONNELL:MBILINGI:MACILA        VIS 061211 (160

Public Session of Pontifical Academies: Mary Immaculate

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

- Notice

___________________________________________________________

PUBLIC SESSION OF PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES: MARY IMMACULATE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the eleventh public session of the pontifical academies was held in the Vatican's New Synod Hall. This year's event was organized by the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate and the Pontifical International Marian Academy on the theme: "Mary Immaculate, Mother of all men, icon of beauty and of divine charity."

An opening address by Cardinal Paul Poupard was followed by contributions from Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, and from Bishop Stanislaw Nowak of Czestochowa, Poland, vice president of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate.

At the end of the session, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. read out a Message, in the Pope's name, and bestowed the pontifical academies' annual prize.

The Holy Father, said Cardinal Bertone, takes this opportunity "to encourage all students of Mariology to ever greater commitment and more intense activity, both in study centers and in the field of academic publications, taking care to ensure that their methodology respects a fruitful interaction between the 'via veritatis' and the 'via pulchritudinis,' which come together in the 'via caritatis.'

"Welcoming the proposal of the pontifical academies' coordinating council," the cardinal added, "the Pope is pleased to award ... the pontifical academies' prize to the 'Section Africaine pour les Congres Mariologiques,' which is affiliated to the Pontifical International Marian Academy, and is made up of young students and teachers of Mariology from various African countries."

The cardinal secretary of State also remarked how the Pope had awarded a pontificate medal to Fr. Fidel Stockl O.R.C. of the Philippines for his work: "Mary, Model and Mother of consecrated life. A Marian synthesis of theology of consecrated life based on the teachings of John Paul II."

MESS/PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES/BERTONE                          VIS 061207 (310)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences seven prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Salvatore Boccaccio of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino.

    - Bishop Vincenzo Apicella of Velletri-Segni.

    - Bishop Lorenzo Loppa of Anagni-Alatri.

    - Bishop Divo Zadi of Civita Castellana.

    - Bishop Girolamo Grillo of Civitavecchia-Tarquinia.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Petrocchi of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno.

    - Fr. Dom Mauro Meacci, O.S.B., abbot of the territorial abbey of Subiaco.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

AL:AP/.../...                                                                                      VIS 061207 (110)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Doraboina Moses Prakasam of Cuddapah. India, as bishop of Nellore (area 30,800, population 6,665,490, Catholics 82,740, priests 137, religious 251), India. He succeeds Bishop Pudhota Chinniah Balaswamy, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

NER:RE/.../PRAKASAM:BALASWAMY                                     VIS 061207 (70)

NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2006 (VIS) - As previously advised, there will be no VIS service tomorrow Friday, December 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day and a holiday in the Vatican. The service will resume on Monday, December 11.

.../.../...                                                                                               VIS 061207 (50)

Pope Recalls His Recent Apostolic Trip to Turkey

- Promote Human Dignity, Recognize Religious Dimension

- In Brief

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

POPE RECALLS HIS RECENT APOSTOLIC TRIP TO TURKEY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2006 (VIS) - Today's general audience was celebrated in two locations, first in the Vatican Basilica in the presence of faithful from various Italian cities, then in the Paul VI Hall with pilgrims from other countries.

In the basilica, the Holy Father addressed a special greeting to faithful from dioceses in the Italian region of Lazio, come to Rome in the company of their bishops who are currently completing their "ad limina" visit. "I encourage you," he told them, "to intensify your life of faith, bearing in mind the guidelines that emerged recently from the meeting of the Italian Church at Verona."

"I am certain that courageous evangelizing activity," Benedict XVI continued, "will bring about the longed-for renewal of Catholic commitment in society, also in Lazio. The primary aim of evangelization is to indicate in Jesus Christ the Savior of all men and women. Never tire from entrusting yourselves to Him and announcing Him in your family lives and in all environments. This is what people, even today, expect from the Church."

The Holy Father then moved from the Vatican Basilica to the Paul VI Hall where the rest of the pilgrims were awaiting his arrival. His catechesis today was dedicated to his recent apostolic trip to Turkey which took place from November 28 to December 1.

"The Pope's journeys also contribute to the accomplishment his mission," began Benedict XVI, a mission he described as being divided into "concentric circles." In the innermost circle, he explained, "Peter's Successor confirms Catholics in the faith, in the intermediate circle he meets other Christians, and in the outermost circle he addresses non-Christians and humanity entire."

Part of this latter circle, the Holy Father went on, was the first day of his journey to Turkey, when he met with the civil authorities. These meetings were "a very important part of my visit, above all because Turkey is a country with a very big Muslim majority, but regulated by a constitution affirming the laicism of the State. Consequently, the country is emblematic of the great challenge facing the world today: on the one hand ... rediscovering the reality of God and the public importance of religious faith and, on the other, guaranteeing that the expression of faith remains free, repudiating all forms of violence and not degenerating into fundamentalism."

The Pope recalled how, during his trip, he had stressed the importance of "joint Christian and Muslim commitment ... in favor of life, peace and justice, reiterating that the distinction between the civil and religious spheres constitutes a value and that the State must guarantee ... effective freedom of worship. ... In the field of inter-religious dialogue, ... an initially unplanned gesture, but one that revealed itself as particularly significant, was my visit to the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Pausing in meditation for a few minutes in that place of prayer, I addressed myself to the One Lord of heaven and earth."

On the second day, in Ephesus, Benedict XVI recalled how, "in the 'innermost circle' of my journey, in direct contact with the Catholic community, ... in a climate of peace, we prayed for peace in the Holy Land and in the whole world."

The "intermediate circle," that of ecumenical relations, occupied the central part of the visit. "In the footsteps of Paul VI ... and of John Paul II," Benedict XVI and the Ecumenical Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew I renewed "the mutual commitment to continue along the path towards the re-establishment of full communion between Catholic and Orthodox. To ratify that firm intention," the Pope said, "I and the ecumenical patriarch signed a Joint Declaration, that constitutes a further stage on this journey." He also recalled how he met the patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic church, the Syro-Orthodox metropolitan and the chief rabbi of Turkey.

The visit concluded, the Pope recalled, with a return to the "innermost circle," in other words "meeting the Catholic community ... in Istanbul's Latin Cathedral of the Holy Spirit," where he celebrated a Mass also attended by Christians of other rites, Orthodox and Protestants. "Comforted by the Word of Christ," said Pope Benedict, "we lived a renewed experience of Pentecost."

The Holy Father concluded his memories of his trip by calling upon the Lord to help "the Turkish people, their leaders and the representatives of the various religions to build a future of peace together, so that Turkey may be a 'bridge' of friendship and fraternal collaboration between West and East."

AG/EVANGELIZATION:TURKEY/...                                 VIS 061206 (760)

PROMOTE HUMAN DIGNITY, RECOGNIZE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2006 (VIS) - On Monday afternoon, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, participated in the 14th ministerial council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium, on December 4 and 5, and attended by foreign ministers of all States participants in the OSCE.

In his address, Archbishop Mamberti expressed the hope that the meeting "would strengthen and implement the 'acquis' of the OSCE, refining the instruments at its disposal in order to attain the final goal: peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic zone through prosperous and safe societies that promote the dignity of human beings and recognize their fundamental religious dimension."

"The Holy See," the archbishop went on, "is most appreciative of the documents that aim to intensify the struggle against human trafficking, with an approach that focuses on victims. The scourge of the sexual exploitation of children, often associated with human trafficking, calls for special action. For her part, the Catholic Church will not fail to arouse the world's conscience concerning the magnitude and seriousness of these scourges."

After highlighting how the Holy See is dedicating particular attention to the question of tolerance, Archbishop Mamberti asked: "How can religions authoritatively and effectively promote respect and understanding if they themselves are victims of stereotyping and prejudice?" In this context, he recalled how in one area of the OSCE, a Catholic priest has been murdered and various Christians have been victims of violence and aggression.

Recalling the words of Benedict XVI on his recent apostolic trip to Turkey - "recognition of the positive role of religions within the fabric of society can and must impel us to explore more deeply their knowledge of man and to respect his dignity" - the prelate concluded: "The Holy See hopes that such recognition and such respect may appear openly and honestly in the work of the OSCE and its institutions, as well as in the field of tolerance."

DELSS/PEACE:RELIGIONS/OSCE:MAMBERTI                      VIS 061206 (340)

IN BRIEF

THE PREFECTURE OF THE PONTIFICAL HOUSEHOLD has announced that the sermons for Advent 2006 will take place in the Vatican's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel on December 15 and 22 on the theme: "Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. The Evangelical Beatitudes." According to a note from the prefecture, "the Beatitudes are a spiritual self-portrait of Jesus." This year, the focus will be on the Beatitudes of the persecuted and the meek "particularly appropriate to the liturgical spirit of Advent, and necessary to the Church in her current historical situation." The sermons will be delivered by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the pontifical household.

AT 11 A.M. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, IN THE JOHN PAUL II HALL of the Holy See Press Office, a press conference will be held to present the recent restoration work on the sarcophagus of St. Paul in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. Participating in the conference will be Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, Giorgio Filippi, archeologist, and Pier Carlo Visconti, an official from the administration of the basilica.

.../IN BRIEF/...                                                                                  VIS 061206 (190)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Stanislaw Wojciech Wielgus of Plock, as metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw (area 3,350, population 1,533,600, Catholics 1,439,600, priests 1,076, religious 1,020), Poland. The archbishop-elect was born in Wierzchowiska, Poland in 1939, he was ordained a priest on 1962 and consecrated a bishop in 1999. He succeeds Cardinal Jozef Glemp, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Erected the new diocese of Sao Jose dos Pinhais (area 7,172, population 649,556, Catholics 497,454, priests 58, religious 165), Brazil, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Curitiba, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Bishop Ladislau Biernaski C.M., auxiliary of Curitiba, as first bishop of the new diocese.

- Appointed as ordinary members of the Pontifical Academy for Life: Bishop Daniel Nlandu Mayi, auxiliary and vicar general of the archdiocese of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; John Haas, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, U.S.A.; Alejandro Cesar Serani Merlo, professor of neurology and bioethics at the faculty of medicine and surgery of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; and Monica Lopez Barahona, dean of the faculty of bio-sciences at the "Francisco de Vitoria" University of Madrid, Spain.

NER:RE:ECE:NA/.../...                                                                VIS 061206 (220)

- Education, a Task for Parents, Teachers and Pastors

- Other Pontifical Acts

- In Memoriam

___________________________________________________________

EDUCATION, A TASK FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND PASTORS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2006 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. sent a message to Luciano Corradini, national president of the Italian Catholic Union of Middle School Teachers (UCIIM), and to participants in that association's 22nd national congress. The congress was held in Rome recently on the theme: "Education in schools. New scenarios, new responsibilities."

In his message, the cardinal gives assurances of Benedict XVI's appreciation for the activities of the UCIIM which, he recalls, was founded by Gesualdo Nosengo in 1944 and "works actively in schools, promoting initiatives for the cultural and didactic aggiornamento of teachers, showing particular concern for their religious and spiritual growth, and supporting all initiatives that effectively seek to promote the education of youth. [The Pope] encourages you to continue along this path, facing the challenges of the modern age with farsighted courage."

Cardinal Bertone continues: "The formation of new generations, as never before in history, calls for much shared reflection, and for the preparation of educational and pastoral strategies aimed at meeting the expectations of the world of youth in the third millennium. It is necessary to transmit to young people an appreciation of the positive value of life, arousing in them the desire to spend their own lives in the service of Good. And this requires a responsible contribution on everyone's part: teachers, parents, pastors and all people who truly have the future of humanity at heart."

SS/EDUCATION:UCIIM/BERTONE                                             VIS 061205 (250)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Alberto Serrano I.E.M.E., diocesan administrator and former vicar general of the diocese of Hwange, Zimbabwe, as bishop of the same diocese (area 43,427, population 345,265, Catholics 41,118, priests 34, religious 58). The bishop-elect was born in Zaragoza, Spain in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1966.

- Bishop Sergio Alfredo Fenoy, auxiliary of Rosario, Argentina, as bishop of San Miguel (area 206, population 845,000, Catholics 810,000, priests 95, permanent deacons 7, religious 335), Argentina.

- Msgr. Hugo Santiago, episcopal vicar of Rafaela, Argentina, and pastor of San Guillermo, as bishop of Santo Tome (area 29,011, population 152,700, Catholics 137,800, priests 18, religious 32), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Maria Juana, Argentina in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1985.

- As consultors of the Extraordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See: Carlo Gilardi, Italy; Peter D. Sutherland, Ireland; and Robert J, McCann, U.S.A.

NER:NA/.../...                                                                                   VIS 061205 (170)

IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2006 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Joseph D'Silva of Bellary, India, on November 17, at the age of 74.

- Bishop Paul Vincent Dudley, emeritus of Sioux Falls, U.S.A., on November 20, at the age of 79.

- Archbishop-bishop Michel Hakim B.S., emeritus of Saint-Sauveur de Montreal of the Greek-Melkites, Canada, on November 22, at the age of 85.

- Archbishop Jean Mansour, auxiliary emeritus of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, Syria, on November 17, at the age of 78.

- Archbishop Santiago Martinez Acebes, emeritus of Burgos, Spain, on November 25, at the age of 80.

- Bishop Manuel D. Moreno, emeritus of Tucson, U.S.A., on November 17, at the age of 75.

- Bishop Augusto Jose Zini Filho of Limeira, Brazil, on November 15, at the age of 73.

.../DEATHS/...                                                                                  VIS 061205 (150)

Holy See Press Office Communique

- Meeting of Special Council for Asia of Synod of Bishops

- Peace Is the Goal to Which All Humanity Aspires

- Other Pontifical Acts

- Benedict XVI Recalls His Visit to Turkey

- First Official Visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to Pope

- Declaration of Cardinal Hummes on Priestly Celibacy

- Communique on New Skyscraper near Bucharest Cathedral

- Audiences

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE COMMUNIQUE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following communique:

"The Holy See feels the duty to communicate its position regarding the episcopal ordination of Fr. John Wang Renlei, which took place on November 30 at Xuzhou, in the province of Jiangsu, China.

"The Holy Father learned the news with great sadness, because this episcopal ordination was conferred without the pontifical mandate, in other words without respecting the discipline of the Catholic Church concerning the appointment of bishops (cf. canon 377 para. 1 of the Code of Canon Law).

"That of Xuzhou is just the latest - in order of time - of the illegitimate episcopal ordinations which have been afflicting the Catholic Church in China for a number of decades, creating divisions in diocesan communities and tormenting the consciences of many ecclesiastics and faithful. This extremely grave series of acts, which offend the religious sentiments of all Catholics in China and the rest of the world, is the fruit and consequence of a vision of the Church that does not correspond to Catholic doctrine and undermines the fundamental principles of her hierarchical structure. Indeed, as Vatican Council II makes clear, 'one is constituted a member of the episcopal body in virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion with the head and members of the body'."

"The Holy See, having learned only at the last minute of the planned episcopal ordination in the diocese of Xuzhou, did not fail to take the steps possible in the brief time available in order to prevent an act that would have produced a fresh laceration in ecclesial communion. In fact, an illegitimate episcopal ordination is an act objectively so serious that Canon Law lays down severe penalties for those who confer or receive it, assuming the act was carried out in conditions of true freedom (cf. canon 1382 para. 1 of the Code of Canon Law).

"It is a consolation to note that, despite past and present difficulties, almost the entirety of bishops, priests, religious and lay people in China, conscious of their status as living limbs of the Universal Church, have maintained a profound communion of faith and of life with Peter's Successor and with all Catholic communities around the world.

"The Holy See is aware of the spiritual crisis and suffering of those ecclesiastics - consecrating bishops and ordinands - who find themselves compelled to be an active part of illegitimate episcopal ordinations, thus contravening the Catholic tradition which, in their hearts, they would like to follow faithfully. The Holy See also shares the interior disquiet of those Catholics - priests, religious and laity - who find themselves obliged to accept a pastor whom they know is not in full hierarchical communion with the head of the College of Bishops or with other bishops around the world.

"As regards these episcopal ordinations, the Holy See cannot accept being faced with a 'fait accompli.' Therefore, it deplores the procedure with which the ordination of Fr. Wang Renlei in Xuzhou was carried out, and hopes that incidents of this kind will not be repeated in the future."

OP/ILLEGITIMATE EPISCOPAL ORDINATIONS/CHINA        VIS 061204 (530)

MEETING OF SPECIAL COUNCIL FOR ASIA OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2006 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today by the Synod of Bishops, the 10th Meeting of the Special Council for Asia was held in Rome on November 17 and 18.

Under the presidency of Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, the cardinals, archbishops and bishops who participated in the meeting considered "two themes of great contemporary importance contained in the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation 'Ecclesia in Asia:' vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life, and inter-religious dialogue."

In the continent of Asia between 1978 and 2004, the communique states, "the numbers of secular clergy rose by 5.56 percent, and of regular clergy by 42.55 percent. Male religious vocations increased by 38.72 percent, and female religious vocations by 64.59 percent."

As for inter-religious dialogue, the communique notes "the numerous efforts and positive results achieved by particular Churches and episcopal conferences in maintaining dialogue and collaboration with the great religions of the Asian continent, especially Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism; although there is no lack of difficulties provoked by certain groups of fundamentalists in various countries. They, however, are minority groups, given that the great majority of religious believers remains open to dialogue, and is disposed to collaborate with Christians and with men and women of good will in promoting justice and peace, and the fundamental values of social coexistence, among which respect for religious freedom has an important position."

The note from the Synod of Bishops also recalls how the first Asian Mission Congress was held in Chang Mai, Thailand, from October 18 to 22. The theme of the event was "the Story of Jesus, a celebration of faith and life," and among the participants were observers from non-Christian religions.

The next meeting of the Special Council for Asia is due to be held on November 20 and 21, 2007.

SE/SYNOD ASIA/ETEROVIC                                                                  VIS 061204 (320)

PEACE IS THE GOAL TO WHICH ALL HUMANITY ASPIRES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2006 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m. today, the Pope presided at the celebration of the first Vespers of the first Sunday of Advent.

In his homily, the Holy Father indicated how "at the beginning of a new annual cycle, the liturgy invites the Church to renew her announcement to all people, encapsulating it in these words, 'God is coming'."

"The one true God, 'the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob,' is not a God Who remains in heaven, disinterested in our history," said the Pope. "He is the God-Who-comes. He is a Father Who never ceases to think of us and, in absolute respect for our freedom, wishes to meet us and visit us; He wants to come, to dwell among us, to stay with us. His 'coming' arises from His will to free us from evil and from death, from everything that prevents our true freedom. God comes to save us."

Benedict XVI then pointed out that "the liturgy of Advent highlights how the Church gives voice to the yearning for God so profoundly inscribed in the history of humanity; a yearning that is, unfortunately, often stifled or diverted along false paths."

With "prayer and good works," said the Holy Father, the Christian community "can hasten the last coming, helping humanity to go out towards the Lord Who comes". In this context, Advent must be lived "in communion with all those people - and thanks be to God, they are many - who hope for a more just and fraternal world.

"In this commitment to justice," he added, "it is possible that men and women of all nationalities and cultures, believers and non-believers, find themselves together to some degree. Indeed, all of them, though for different reasons, are animated by a shared longing for a future of justice and peace."

The Pope underlined how "peace is the goal to which all of humanity aspires. For believers, 'peace' is one of the most beautiful names of God, Who wishes for understanding among all His children, something I had the opportunity to recall also during my pilgrimage of recent days to Turkey."

"Let us then," he concluded, "begin this new Advent - a time given to us by the Lord of time - by reawakening in our hearts the expectation of the God-Who-comes, and the hope that His Name be hallowed, that His Kingdom of justice and peace may come, that His will be done, on earth as in heaven."

HML/ADVENT VESPERS/...                                                        VIS 061204 (430)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Anthony Swamy Thomasappa of the clergy of Bangalore, India, professor of St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, as bishop of Chikmagalur (area 14,015, population 2,984,422, Catholics 37,397, priests 72, religious 266), India. The bishop-elect was born in Mariannapalaya, India in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1984. He succeeds Bishop John Baptist Sequeira, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Paul Cremona O.P., pastor of the church of Jesus of Nazareth in Malta, as archbishop of Malta (area 246, population 395,000, Catholics 375,000, priests 689, religious 1,454). The archbishop-elect was born in Valletta, Malta in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1969. He succeeds Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Diego Coletti of Livorno, Italy, as bishop of Como (area 4,244, population 530,000, Catholics 520,000, priests 579, permanent deacons 9, religious 1,083), Italy. He succeeds Bishop Alessandro Maggiolini, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Salvatore Di Cristina, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Palermo, Italy, as archbishop of Monreale (area 1,509, population 232,250, Catholics 215,000, priests 136, permanent deacons 2, religious 325), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in Palermo in 1937, he was ordained a priest in 1960 and consecrated a bishop in 2001.

NER:RE/.../...                                                                                   VIS 061204 (260)

BENEDICT XVI RECALLS HIS VISIT TO TURKEY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 3, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, before praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Benedict XVI recalled his recent apostolic trip to Turkey, during which, he said, "I felt how I was accompanied and supported by the prayers of the entire Christian community."

The Pope expressed the hope that his recent journey would produce "fruits of goodness for ever more sincere cooperation among all Christ's disciples and for a productive dialogue with Muslim believers." After thanking the Turkish authorities and people for "a welcome worthy of their traditional spirit of hospitality," the Holy Father mentioned the Catholic community in Turkey which, he said, "often finds itself in difficult conditions."

Catholics in Turkey, Pope Benedict went on, are "a small but varied flock, rich in enthusiasm and faith, who ... always live the experience of Advent intensely, sustained by hope. During Advent, the liturgy often ... assures us, almost as if to overcome our natural diffidence, that God 'comes:' He comes to be with us. ... He comes to bridge the distances that divide and separate us. He comes to reconcile us with Him and among ourselves. He comes into the history of humanity ... to bring the gift of fraternity, harmony and peace."

For this reason, "Advent is, par excellence, the time of hope," he went on. And to live it fully, "the liturgy exhorts us to look to Mary Most Holy and to walk ... with her towards the manger of Bethlehem. When God knocked at the door of her young life, she accepted Him with faith and love. ... Let us allow ourselves to be attracted by her beauty, a reflection of divine glory, so that 'the God Who comes' may find in each of us a good and open heart He can fill with His gifts."

ANG/TURKEY:ADVENT/...                                                            VIS 061204 (320)

FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS TO POPE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) - His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, is to visit the Holy Father and the Church of Rome from December 13 to 16, according to a communique released by the Holy See Press Office today.

"The archbishop was in Rome for the funeral of His Holiness John Paul II," says the communique, "but this is the first time that the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church makes an official visit to the Pope and to the Church of Rome."

The Holy Father will receive His Beatitude Christodoulos and his entourage on the morning of December 14. At a ceremony in the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, the archbishop of Athens and of all Greece will be given part of a chain - kept in that basilica - with which St. Paul was held prisoner. Later, the communique continues, "Rome's Pontifical Lateran University will confer an 'honoris causa' degree upon the illustrious guest." During his stay in Rome, the archbishop and his entourage will also visit some of the holy sites of the city such as the basilicas and catacombs.

The communique points out how on November 3, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece expressed its "joy at this visit, the fruits of which will be positive."

In his 2001 pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul, John Paul II visited the Areopagus of Athens where he signed a joint declaration with His Beatitude Christodoulos, and was received by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece. In subsequent years, visits have been exchanged between delegations from the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece, which came to Rome, and from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which went to Athens. These initiatives were followed by "fraternal and intense" contacts between the Catholic Church of Rome and the Orthodox Church of Greece.

OP/VISIT CHRISTODOULOS/...                                                   VIS 061204 (330)

DECLARATION OF CARDINAL HUMMES ON PRIESTLY CELIBACY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a declaration made today by Cardinal Claudio Hummes O.F.M., prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, concerning his comments on priestly celibacy that appeared on the pages of "Estado de Sao Paolo," a Brazilian newspaper.

"On the subject of the echoes provoked by my words as reported by the newspaper 'Estado de Sao Paulo,' I would like to specify the following:

"In the Church it has always been clear that priests' obligation to celibacy is not a dogma but a disciplinary norm. Indeed, it is valid for the Latin Church but not for the oriental rites where, even in communities united to the Catholic Church, it is normal for there to be married priests.

"Yet it is also clear that the norm prescribing celibacy for priests in the Latin Church is very ancient and is founded upon consolidated tradition and upon strong motivations, both theological-spiritual and practical-pastoral, as reiterated also by Popes.

"Even during the recent Synod on priests, the most widespread opinion among the fathers was that a relaxation of the rule of celibacy would not be a solution even to the problem of the lack of vocations, which is, rather, to be linked to other causes, in the first place the modern culture of secularization. This is clear also from the experience of other Christian confessions that have married priests and pastors.

"This question is not, then, currently on the order of the day for the ecclesial authorities, as was recently reiterated following the latest meeting of heads of dicastery with the Holy Father."

.../PRIESTLY CELIBACY/HUMMES                                            VIS 061204 (280)

COMMUNIQUE ON NEW SKYSCRAPER NEAR BUCHAREST CATHEDRAL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy See Press Office released the following communique:

"Concerning the matter of the construction of a skyscraper near the historic Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest, Romania, the Holy See Press Office wishes to specify the following:

"At the end of April this year, the archdiocese of Bucharest informed the Secretariat of State about the construction of a building - of 19 floors above ground level and four below - at a distance of less than 10 meters from the northeast wall of the Cathedral of St. Joseph which, as a consequence, risks being irreparably damaged. Concerns are aggravated by the precedent of the Armenian church, which suffered grave damage for similar reasons. On various occasions, the archbishop and the auxiliary bishop of Bucharest have come to the Secretariat of State to provide updated information concerning this case, with which the apostolic nunciature to Romania is also concerning itself, and about which the Holy See has received appeals from other parties.

"Following this, the Secretariat of State has not failed to take the appropriate steps with the Romanian authorities, both directly and through their embassy to the Holy See, to ask for the immediate suspension of work and the withdrawal of the relative authorizations, also in view of the provisions of the 1993 European Union Treaty concerning Legal Conditions and Measures for Preserving Cultural Heritage, to which Romania adhered, and the State Commission Report for Monitoring Building.

"The Holy See is aware of the resolution with which the Romanian Senate approved the report of the commission of inquiry, which requests the immediate suspension of work. This should be followed by a decision on the part of the appropriate authorities.

"The Secretariat of State continues to follow the situation closely, in the hope that a speedy and satisfactory conclusion to this delicate question may be found, in the above-mentioned terms, for the protection of the cathedral of Bucharest, of the historical heritage it represents and of the values of faith it embodies, not only for the Catholic community but for all the Romanian people."

OP/SKYSCRAPER CATHEDRAL/BUCHAREST                     VIS 061204 (370)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences 14 prelates from the Italian Episcopal conference on their "ad limina" visit:

   - Archbishop Pier Luigi Mazzoni of Gaeta.

    - Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Matarrese of Frascati.

    - Bishop Domenico Sigalini of Palestrina.

    - Bishop Gino Reali of Porto-Santa Rufina

    - Bishop Lino Fumagalli of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto

    - Cardinal Camillo Ruini, His Holiness' vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Auxiliaries: Archbishop Luigi Moretti, and Bishops Enzo Dieci, Armando Brambilla, Salvatore Fisichella, Paolino Schiavon, Ernesto Mandara and Benedetto Tuzia.

AL/.../...                                                                                             VIS 061204 (110)

SUMMARY OF APOSTOLIC TRIP TO TURKEY:
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 1

- Heal the Wounds of Separation between Christians

- Church Asks to Live in Freedom in Order to Reveal Christ

OTHER NEWS:

- Sunday: Primordial Nucleus of the Liturgical Year

- Telegram of Condolence for Typhoon in the Philippines

- Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for December

- Other Pontifical Acts

http://www.montebubbles.net/blog7/2006/11/vatican_news_5.html

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