DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COOK ISLANDS AND THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy See and the Cook Islands (Oceania), in the desire to develop friendly bilateral relations, have mutually agreed to establish diplomatic links at the level of apostolic nunciature by the Holy See and embassy by the Cook Islands.

The Cook group comprises 15 volcanic islands, 13 of which are inhabited. They have a surface area of 234 square kilometers and a population of 19,000 inhabitants. The diocese of Rarotonga covers all the islands. There are 3,074 Catholics and 15 parishes in which a total of 8 priests are active, both diocesan - two of whom are indigenous -and religious.

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HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE TO U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the Message written by Pope John Paul to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, on the vigil of his departure for Europe on a peace-seeking mission aimed at resolving the conflict in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In the message encouraging Secretary General Annan in his mission, the Pope writes that he is "convinced that the chain of hatred and violence cannot be broken unless it is with the force of fraternity, law and justice."

Following are excerpts from that message, written in French and dated April 27:
"On this occasion I which to express my prayers of solidarity and wish you every success in your mission. The Holy See greatly appreciates the fact that the United Nations finds its full role in the management of a crisis which involves the entire international community. It is indeed urgent that law and institutions be heard and not silenced by the din of arms.

"As you know, since the first moment of the crisis in Kosovo, I have expressed without the slightest hesitation my conviction that only loyal, patient and realistic negotiations are able to give a suitable answer to the legitimate aspirations of the peoples concerned, and I have encouraged every effort in this regard.

"Faced with the deportation of peoples in fear, with demands of all sorts and with the bombings of this past month, I can only exhort all those who, like you and with you, endeavor to resume the way of dialogue in order to arrive at the drafting of a peace plan and thus put an end to a human tragedy which concerns the conscience of all. My true appreciation is expressed to all the organizations and volunteers who dedicate themselves with such generosity to comfort so many of our brothers and sisters, The Catholic Church is also present on the ground and is working to help all those that she is able to reach. This humanitarian work is irreplaceable: It must continue, intensify and diversify."

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THE POPE ASKS STUDENTS TO PRAY FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II visited Rome's "Tor Vergata" University where at 11:30 a.m. he held a meeting with students and professors in front of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

In his speech the Pope indicated that "the humanistic dimension, according to which the individual is seen as the subject and as the goal, constitutes the basis of the educational and cultural function of the university."

"The true humanist, opening himself to divine mystery, finds space for his own freedom, the impulse for an investigation whose goals are truth, beauty and good, the characteristics of irreplaceable educational values that serve true cultural progress."

After having referred to Rome's Citizens' Mission, which is aimed this year at the fields of work and study, he said: "I know that you are working with great generosity in order to promote the pastoral activity of the university, considering it a special path in the Christian cultural project to which the Church in Italy has been dedicating its attention for a number of years."

"The symbol and focus of your pastoral activity," the Pope added, "is the Chapel which is being constructed at the center of the university campus and which you have decided to dedicate to St. Thomas Aquinas."

The Holy Father told the professors and students that the Chapel "is called on to be a driving force behind the Christian animation of culture. ... I thank you for the gift of two ambulances for the humanitarian relief mission for refugees from Kosovo. Your active solidarity with those suffering the consequences of the tragic conflict is united with my fervent desire that the war cease as soon as possible and that the armed conflict give way to dialogue and peace. I ask you to remember these desires in your prayers."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Marcel Herriot of Verdun as bishop of Soissons (area 7,378, population 555,000, Catholics 474,000, priests 166, religious 226) in France.

- Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, apostolic pro-nuncio in Zambia and Malawi, as apostolic nuncio in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received a group of 15 prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference (Triveneto) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Cardinal Mario Ce, Patriarch of Venice.
- Archbishop Alfredo Battisti of Udine.
- Archbishop Antonio Vitale Bommarco O.F.M. Conv., of Gorizia.
- Archbishop Antonio Mattiazzo, bishop of Padua.
- Bishop Sennen Corra of Concordia-Pordenone.
- Bishop Paolo Magnani of Treviso.
- Bishop Martino Gomiero of Adria-Rovigo.
- Bishop Eugenio Ravignani of Trieste.
- Bishop Pietro Brollo of Belluno-Feltre. - Bishop Wilhelm Emil Egger O.F.M. Cap., of Bolzano-Bressanone.
- Bishop Pietro Giacomo Nonis of Vicenza.
- Bishop Alfredo Magarotto of Vittorio Veneto.
- Bishop Flavio Roberto Carraro O.F.M. Cap., of Verona with his auxiliary, bishop Andrea Veggio.
- Bishop Angelo Daniel of Chioggia.

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