PAN-ASIAN MEETING IN BANGKOK ON CHRISTIAN HUMANISM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 1999 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Culture has organized a Pan-Asian meeting together with the Federation of Episcopal Conferences of Asia, on the theme "Christian Humanism: Illuminating with the Light of the Gospel the Mosaic of Asian Cultures."

The meeting will be held from January 31 until February 3 in the archdiocesan center of Bangkok, Thailand. Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, archbishop of Bangkok, will welcome participants and Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the pontifical council, will give a speech.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Natalino Pescarolo of Fossano as bishop of Cuneo (area 1,565, population 108,730, Catholics 106,900, priests 169, religious 468), Italy. He succeeds Bishop Carlo Aliprandi of Cuneo whose resignation, in conformity with Code 401, para 2 of the CIC, was accepted by the Pope. Bishop Pescarolo continues to also be the ordinary of Fossano.

On Saturday January 30, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Christopher Kakooza as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Kampala (area 3,644, population 1,596,515, Catholics 716,250, priests 244, religious 736), Uganda. The bishop-elect was born in Lusaze, Uganda, in 1952, was ordained a priest in 1983, and since 1993 has been vicar general and pastor of Kamwokya.

- Appointed Fr. Joseph Mygenyi Sabiiti, of the diocesan clergy, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Fort Portal (area 9,553, population 1,338,000, Catholics 511,500, priests 83, religious 228), Uganda. The bishop-elect was born in Nyansozi, Uganda, was ordained a priest in 1975, and since 1993 has been pastor of Welkomiire.

- Appointed Bishop Martin Luluga of Gulu as bishop of Nebbi (area 5,098, population 401,373, Catholics 304,566, priests 39, religious 54), Uganda.

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Gulu, elevating the diocese of the same name to the rank of metropolitan church, and assigning to it as suffragans the dioceses of Arua, Lira and Nebbi. He appointed Bishop John Baptist Odama of Nebbi, as first metropolitan archbishop of Gulu.

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Mbarara, elevating to the rank of metropolitan church the diocese of the same name and assigning to it as suffragans the dioceses of Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale and Kasese. He appointed Bishop Paul K. Bakyenga of the diocese of Mbarara, as first metropolitan archbishop of Mbarara.

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Tororo, elevating to the rank of metropolitan church the diocese of the same name, and assigning to it the dioceses of Jinya, Kotido, Moroto and Soroti. He appointed Bishop James Odongo of the diocese of Tororo, as first metropolitan archbishop of Tororo.

- Appointed Fr. Salvatore Nunnari as archbishop of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi-Conza-Nusca-Bisaccia (area 840, population 91,100, Catholics 90,650, priests 64, religious 118), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 1939, was ordained a priest in 1964, was up until now has been episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova.

- Appointed Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, as member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

- Appointed Fr. George Palackapilly, S.D.B., secretary of the Commission for Education and Culture of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, as consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

- Appointed Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers, as his special envoy at the opening ceremonies and work of the Congress of the Seventh World Day of the Sick, which will take place in Harissa, Lebanon, from February 8 to 11, 1999. Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers, was appointed as the Holy Fathers's special envoy for the closing celebrations for the same World Day of the Sick.

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POPE HAS FLU SYNDROME, CANCELS AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls declared this morning that "due to a flu syndrome, the Holy Father will not hold the audiences scheduled for today."

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WORLD DAY OF LEPROSY SUFFERERS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 1999 (VIS) - Following the angelus at midday, the Pope reminded the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that today is the World Day of Leprosy Sufferers.

This day, he said, has the aim of "re-mobilizing efforts to fight and defeat this serious illness which still affects 12 million persons. I send a special blessing to these people, assuring them of my constant prayer."
"I also welcome the Italian association, Friends of Raoul Follereau, and all those throughout the world who work generously to eradicate Hansen's disease (leprosy) and all kinds of marginalization from society."

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ANGELUS: POPE REFLECTS ON TRIP, RELEASES DOVES OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 1999 (VIS) - "Today the Pope has a slight cold, so his words will be brief," John Paul II told the large crowd of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Sunday angelus.

In remarks preceding the angelus, the Pope reflected on his recent trip: "Three days ago I returned from my pilgrimage to Mexico City and to St. Louis in the United States, and I thank God for having given me this possibility. We entrust the destiny of the American peoples and their new evangelization to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico and of the entire continent."

He then pointed out that among those present "are many young boys and girls of Catholic Action in Rome, who have come at the end of the 'Month of Peace' with their parents, teachers and so many of their peers. My dear young people, the theme of your initiative this year is 'We are in time for peace'. Yes, this is part of the mission of every Christian: to remind everyone that we are always in time for peace."

Two Catholic Action representatives, a boy of 12 and girl of 10, were with the Pope at his study window as part of this traditional celebration. "The two doves which we will release shortly," said Pope John Paul in concluding, "represent a wish of peace for Rome and the entire world, which we entrust to the Holy Virgin."

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