PRESS OFFICE TO REPORT ON ESTERMANN'S DEATH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls this morning made a declaration in which he said: "On Monday February 8, the Holy See Press Office will report on the results of the inquiry concerning the deaths of the Estermann couple and of vice corporal Cedric Tornay on the night of May 4, 1998."

OP;ESTERMANN; TORNAY;...;NAVARRO-VALLS ;VIS;19990205;Word: 70;

POPE ASKS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR ALL GREEKS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 1999 (VIS) - The Pope this morning received prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Greece, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

At the beginning of his speech, John Paul II highlighted that the faithful in the Catholic Church in Greece are in the minority, and encouraged bishops to create "a permanent secretariat which might allow a faster implementation of decisions taken during your meetings, putting into action those pastoral projects which concern the entire Catholic Church in Greece."

Referring to the active participation of the faithful in the Church, he said: "All are invited to grow in union with the Lord through personal prayer, meditation on the Holy Scriptures, "lectio divina" (the breviary), liturgical and sacramental life and a filial devotion to Mary. These are the necessary elements for the Christian's growth and spiritual and human maturity."

The Holy Father then spoke of ecumenical dialogue, and highlighted that "a significant aspect of this (dialogue) involves active collaboration in society, together with people from other religious confessions."

"All common initiatives and prayer, all respectful dialogue, and all requests for reciprocal forgiveness can bring brothers and sisters together in the faith and let people of today discover the Father's tenderness and mercy. ... I wish to emphasize once again the value of prayer in ecumenical relations; this helps us to live as brothers and sisters."

John Paul II echoed the prelates' concern faced with the scarcity of vocations, and exhorted families to always be "aware of their responsibility to the birth and nurturing of priestly and religious vocations."

"I invite religious congregations and other institutes to send new members to Greece to reinforce existing communities or to create new ones, capable of perceiving the needs of the Catholic Church in that country."

The Pope ended by pointing out the responsibility of Catholics in society. "It is for them, as for all citizens of the country, to work tirelessly for peaceful co-existence among all Greeks, each person having the same rights and freedoms, and particularly religious freedom. Thus, I rejoice in the significant efforts ... to find just solutions to problems still to be resolved, especially with regard to the juridical statute of the Catholic Church. I express the hope that dialogue with the various competent authorities advances and intensifies, for the good of all the population."

AL;...;...;GREECE;VIS;19990205;Word: 400;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio in Colombia, as apostolic nuncio in Canada.

NN;...;...;ROMEO ;VIS;19990205;Word: 30;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Greece on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Antonios Varthalitis A.A., of Corfu, Zante and Cefalonia; apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the apostolic vicariate of Thessaloniki (Salonika).
- Archbishop Nikolaos Foscolos of Athenai; apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Rhodes.
- Archbishop Nikolaos Printesis of Naxos, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos; apostolic administrator "sede vacante" of Chios.
- Bishop Franghiskos Papamanolis O.F.M., of Syros, Milos, Santorini; apostolic administrator of Crete.
- Bishop Anarghyros Printesis, apostolic exarch for Catholics of the Byzantine rite.
- Rev. Nechan Karakeheyan, ordinary for Catholics of the Armenian rite resident in Greece; apostolic visitor for Catholic Armenian faithful in Central-Eastern Europe without their own ordinary.
- Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet, apostolic nuncio in Greece.
Later this evening, the Holy Father is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AL; AP;...;...;...;VIS;19990205;Word: 160;