POPE TO TRAVEL TO POLAND FROM JUNE 5 TO 17

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - From June 5 to 17 John Paul II will go on his eighth pastoral trip to Poland, where he is due to visit nineteen places and speak on twenty-nine occasions. This is also his 87th trip outside of Italy.

The Pope will leave Rome's Fiumicino International Airport on June 5 at 8:45 a.m. and will return to Ciampino airport on June 17 at 4 p.m.

Among the events scheduled during this papal trip are the beatification of 108 martyrs from the Second World War, the canonization of Blessed Cunegunda, a Poor Clare Sister, and a visit, on the last day, to the graves of his family members.

The Holy Father will travel to the following 19 places in his native land: Gdansk, Pelplin, Elblag, Lichen, Bydgoszcz, Torun, Elk, Wigry, Siedlce, Drohiczyn, Warsaw, Sandomierz, Zamosc, Lowicz, Sosnowiec, Cracow, Gliwice, Stary Sacz and Wadowice.

His previous pastoral trips to Poland were June 2-10, 1979; June 16-23, 1983; June 8-14, 1987; June 1-9, 1991; August 13-16, 1991 for World Youth Day; May 22, 1995, during a trip to the Czech Republic and May 31-June 10, 1997.

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DECLARATION ON ARREST OF RWANDAN BISHOP

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls this morning made the following declaration:

"It was with great pain and sorrow that the Holy See learned the news of the arrest yesterday, Wednesday April 14, 1999 at the gates of Kigali, of Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, Rwanda.

"The prelate was due to take part in a meeting of bishops which was called following the declarations made by the president of the Republic of Rwanda, Pasteur Bizimungu, who on the occasion of the celebration of the 'fifth anniversary of the genocide', held last April 7, had publicly accused the local Church, and in particular, Bishop Misago, of complicity in known ethnic crimes.

"In a communique made public yesterday, the same Rwandan episcopal conference stated that, as he has done in the past, Bishop Misago will respond to the court so that the truth of the facts may be established.

"The arrest of a bishop is an extremely serious act which wounds not only the Church in Rwanda but the entire Catholic Church.

"Relations between the Republic of Rwanda and the Holy are deeply troubled by this.

"It is hoped that the bishop be assured of all legal guarantees in a climate of respect for persons and facts, and that his innocence might be rapidly proven."

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COMMUNIQUE ON PLANS FOR NEW MOSQUE IN NAZARETH

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of a declaration made yesterday afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on the announcement of the building of a mosque in Nazareth, Israel:

"Some days ago, the patriarchs of Jerusalem, the Custos of the Friars Minor, and the leaders of Christian communities issued a communique in which they expressed their concern for the violence in Nazareth following the announcement of the construction of a mosque. In this communique, the Christian religious authorities also called on the Israeli government to assume its responsibility and to take adequate measures to reestablish order and security and to preserve the sacred character of the city of the Annunciation.

"The Holy See obviously upholds the reasons outlined in the forementioned communique.

"The proposal to build a mosque in the square in front of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth was put forward by people who were not from the place itself, and represents, according to many observers, a provocation.

"Today, the apostolic nuncio in Israel, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, communicated the Holy See concerns regarding this question.

"I can, however, deny that the Holy Father wrote a letter to the Israeli authorities in this regard."

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PAPAL WISHES FOR 75TH SACRED HEART CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY DAY

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - On the occasion of the 75th Sacred Heart Catholic University Day, Pope John Paul expressed his "cordial esteem" to Sergio Zaninelli, rector of the Milan university, in a letter written by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.

The letter, published today, accompanied a monetary gift. It highlighted the theme of the forthcoming day: "Investing in Culture. 75 Years of Looking Towards the Future."

"Over these past decades," Cardinal Sodano writes, "Sacred Heart Catholic University, faithful to its academic vocation, has promoted scientific research and the formation of new generations and, firmly anchored to the Christian identity, has always considered its activity as a service to the Church and the Gospel. In such a way, it has been able to become the proper place for the search for a harmonious synthesis between faith and reason, realizing one of the typical aims of the academic institution, that of helping people to progress on the path towards truth."

The cardinal then lists what he calls four "characteristics" or "objectives" of Sacred Heart Catholic University: "the consolidation of its bond with the Church and with her cultural and social presence"; its role "as a protagonist at the center of an international network of exchanges and relationships"; its duty to "not merely transmit content and methods, but to make an systematic commitment to communicate values" and the need for innovative ongoing formation to meet new challenges "in the cultural, production and territorial contexts."

In closing remarks, Cardinal Sodano writes: "To harmonize human and scientific research with the dictates of Revelation is a particularly necessary duty because, as is known, the separation between faith and reason, which marks many expressions of modern culture, has produced a dangerous impoverishment of both."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Paul Bui Van Doc as bishop of My Tho (area 10,122, population 3,940,000, Catholics 98,750, priests 66, religious 186), Vietnam. The bishop-elect was born in Dalat, Vietnam, in 1944, was ordained a priest in 1970, and in 1994 was appointed vicar general. He succeeds Bishop Andre Nguyen Van Nam, whose resignation from the pastoral care of this diocese was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audience:

- Archbishop Benigno Luigi Papa, O.F.M. Cap., of Taranto, Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.
- Seven prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Quebec, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Maurice Couture, R.S.V., of Quebec, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishops Jean-Pierre Blais, Eugene Tremblay, and Jean Gagnon.
- Bishop Gerard Drainville of Amos.
- Bishop Jean Gratton of Mont-Laurier.
- Bishop Raymond Saint-Gelais of Nicolet.
- Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, accompanied by Cardinal Ricardo Maria Carles Gordo, archbishop of Barcelona, vice-president; and Bishop Juan Jose Asenjo Pelegrina, auxiliary of Toledo, general secretary.
- Dino Vierin, president of the junta of the autonomous region of Valle d'Aosta, Italy, and his entourage.
- Archbishop Cosmo Francesco Ruppi of Lecce, Italy, and his entourage.
- A group of eight prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference (Puglia region) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Settimio Todisco of Brindisi-Ostuni.
- Archbishop Francesco Cacucci of Otranto.
- Bishop Martino Scarafile of Castellaneta.
- Bishop Giovanni Battista Pichierri of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano.
- Bishop Mario Paciello of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti.
- Bishop Domenico Caliandro of Ugento-Santa Maria di Leuca.
- Bishop Donato Negro of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi.
- Bishop Vittorio Fusco of Nardo-Gallipoli.

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