AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Bishop Enzo Dieci, auxiliary of Rome for the northern pastoral sector, and Fr. Paolo Cardona, of the "Apostolici sodales" secular institute, pastor of the parish of San Liborio, with a curate from the parish.

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CLARIFICATION BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 1998 (VIS) - The following declaration was made today by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"Information regarding the public exhibit of an archeological find located in the Lake of Genesareth, dating to 2000 years ago, requires clarification.

"The ambassador of Israel to the Vatican had proposed a form of co-participation in the exhibit, which is a wooden boat, to be held first in Jerusalem and then in the Vatican.

"The Holy See had declined the offer and thus this eventuality was no longer under consideration.

"This news of recent days surprises me in that the Holy See was not even consulted on the matter."

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AUDIENCE: MAN'S NEED TO SEEK THE FACE OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 1999 (VIS) - "The face of God the Father, the desire of man" was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during today's general audience held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.

The various religious traditions give witness to "man's unavoidable need to seek the face of God" said the Pope. For this reason, "the Church respectfully looks at the efforts which other religions make to discover the face of God, distinguishing in their beliefs what is acceptable from that which is incompatible with Christian revelation."

Thus, he continued, "the perception of God as universal Father of the world and of people should be considered as a positive religious intuition. The idea of a divinity dominated by absolute power and whims cannot be accepted."

The Holy Father stated that "seeking the face of God is a necessary path which must be travelled with sincerity of heart and constant commitment. Only the heart of the just can rejoice in seeking the face of the Lord, and on him can shine thus the face of God the Father."

Jesus, he concluded, "manifests himself as the 'Son' and offers himself as the only way to the Father. ... The person wishing to meet the Father should necessarily believe in the Son. Through Him, God is not limited in assuring us provident paternal aid, but rather gives us his very life, making us 'sons in the Son."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Jose Antonio Aparecido Tosi Marques, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Sao Salvador da Bahia, as metropolitan archbishop of Fortaleza (area 15,217, population 2,602,000, Catholics 2,598,000, priests 272, religious 2,423), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Sao Carlos, Brazil, in 1948, was ordained a priest in 1974 and received episcopal ordination in 1991.

- Archbishop Geraldo Majella Agnelo, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as metropolitan archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia (area 5,277, population 3,700,000, Catholics 3,200,000, priests 245, religious 901), Brazil.

- Bishop Jose Palma, auxiliary of Cebu, as bishop of Calbayog (area 5,609, population 589,373, Catholics 565,798, priests 55, religious 91), the Philippines.

- Msgr. Antonieto Cabajog, of the diocesan clergy of Tagbilaran, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Cebu (area 5,088, population 3,031,012, Catholics 2,622,735, priests 443, religious 1,103), the Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in Botoc, the Philippines, in 1956, was ordained a priest in 1981 and up until now has been pastor of Tagbilaran.

- Bishop Gerard-Joseph Deschamps, S.M.M., of Daru-Kiunga, as bishop of Bereina (area 19,146, population 86,400, Catholics 58,800, priests 18, religious 54), Papua New Guinea.

- Bishop Gilles Cote, S.M.M., auxiliary of the diocese of Daru-Kiunga, as bishop of this diocese (area 99,600, population 110,000, Catholics 29,020, priests 16, religious 56), Papua New Guinea.

- Fr. Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I., as metropolitan archbishop of Bloemfontein (area 64,393, population 984,618, Catholics 96,903, priests 28, religious 107), South Africa.

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