IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile, Chile, on April 9, aged 91.
- Archbishop Donato Ugo Bianchi of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, on April 5, aged 69.
- Bishop John Linus Paschang, emeritus of Grand Island, United States of America, on March 21, aged 103.
- Bishop Manuel Antonio Pires, emeritus of Kwito-Ble, Angola, on April 3, aged 84.
- Bishop Vartan Tekeyan of Ispahan of the Armenians, Iran, on April 12, aged 78.
.../DEATHS/... VIS 990420 (90)

POPE AND THE WHOLE CHURCH PRAY FOR PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father to Archbishop Franc Perko of Belgrade, president of the Episcopal Conference of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which he expresses his spiritual closeness and the prayer of the whole Church for all those who suffer because of the war.

"It is with deep sorrow that I am following each and every day the worsening of the tragic humanitarian situation in the various regions of Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo. With special affection I am particularly close to the pastors and faithful of the Catholic communities, as well as to all people of good will who are making efforts to aid those who are suffering most at this time, because they have been deprived of the love of their families, forcefully made to leave their homes and unjustly made to live far from their land.

"At the same time, I wish to assure you, by dear Brother, and all the bishops of Yugoslavia that this Apostolic See will continue in its commitment to peace, so that these people, especially those in Kosovo, who have been so sorely tried, might be spared further suffering.

"Finally, all those responsible for national and international life must be reminded that the path of dialogue is always possible and that such a way can always lead to honorable solutions among the various parties, in the respect of men and women from the same land, who are all children of the same heavenly Father.

"Such is the prayer, at this tragic time, of the entire Church, who is closer than ever to you, invoking the Lord with a single voice, that He might soon let the star of peace shine on your beloved land, in the respect for the rights of every creature of God."

JPII-LETTER;WAR YUGOSLAVIA;...;PERKO;VIS;19990420;Word: 310;