HOLY FATHER RECITES ANGELUS FROM CARMELITE MONASTERY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 18, 1999 (VIS) - For a second consecutive Sunday, Pope John Paul recited the angelus from his vacation retreat in Valle d'Aosta, northwest Italy. Today he visited the "Mother of Mercy" Carmelite monastery at Quart, which he had blessed 10 years earlier on the July 16 feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

In reflections preceding the angelus prayer, the Pope said: "A monastery is an authentic 'center' of spiritual energy, nourished by the source of contemplation, based on the example of prayer to which Jesus dedicated Himself in solitude, immersing Himself totally in the dialogue with God the Father, to draw the strength necessary to His saving mission."

"In this monastic community of Quart," he continued, "Mary, Queen of Carmel, is venerated with the title of 'Mother of Mercy'. Giving birth to Jesus, the Holy Virgin in fact gave the world the supreme Witness of the merciful love of God. In this plan of salvation, she is not merely an instrument, but a docile collaborator: Divine mercy is perfectly consonant with Mary. ... Mary's motherhood is fulfilled on Calvary, where divine mercy realizes, in the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, the supreme act of redemption. In that tragic yet glorious hour, Mary becomes forever the Mother of Mercy."

The Holy Father then greeted the priests, religious and seminarians of the diocese. And, noting that his "stay in Valle d'Aosta is coming to an end," he thanked all those who had a role "in preparing everything for a serene and tranquil visit."

ANG;...;...;VALLE D'AOSTA;VIS;19990719;Word: 260;

POPE TO TRAVEL TO SLOVENIA ON SEPTEMBER 19

VATICAN CITY, JUL 17, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the program of Pope John Paul's pastoral trip to Slovenia, scheduled for September 19.

The Holy Father will depart from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport at 8:25 a.m. and arrive in Maribor at 10. Following a brief welcome ceremony he will celebrate Mass and beatify Servant of God Anton Martin Slomesk on the esplanade of Betnava at Maribor. Thereafter he will pray the angelus.

At 5:30 p.m. he is to visit the cathedral of Maribor and pray at the tomb of the Blessed Slomesk. Later he will meet the president of the Republic at the city's airport where, at 7 p.m., the farewell ceremony will take place.

The Pope's flight will take off at 7:30 and is expected to arrive at Rome's Ciampino airport 90 minutes later.

PV-SLOVENIA;PROGRAM;...;...;VIS;19990719;Word: 150;

EXHIBITION OF ANCIENT ICONS FROM THE GREAT MUSEUMS OF RUSSIA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 1999 (VIS) - "Sophia, the Wisdom of God" is the title of the exhibition of ancient Russian icons which will be inaugurated in the Charlemagne Wing, adjacent to St. Peter's Square, on July 29. The exhibits will remain on display until October 30.

The exhibition, which includes 145 icons from the 13th to the 19th century, has been organized by the association "Sophia: Russian Idea, Idea of Europe," in collaboration with the most important Russian museums.

...;EXHIBITION; RUSSIAN ICONS;...;... ;VIS;19990719;Word: 90;

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE LESSER ANTILLES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy See and the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, Lesser Antilles, 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 St. Kitts and Nevis.

A British colony since 1623, and a State of Association with the United Kingdom since 1967, St. Kitts and Nevis has been an independent state within the British Commonwealth since September 19, 1983. The Federation has a total area of 269.4 square kilometers and a population of 45,000; the island of St. Kitts measures 176.2 square kilometers and has 35,000 inhabitants, while Nevis is 93.2 square kilometers and has 10,000 inhabitants.

In St.Kitts and Nevis there are 5,000 Catholics; they are divided into four parishes and there are three priests. Both islands form part of the diocese of St. John's-Basseterre which has 14,000 faithful and is under the guidance of Bishop Donald James Reece.

OP;DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS;...;ST KITTS; NEVIS;VIS;19990719;Word: 170;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Jose Soleibe Arbelaez of the diocese of Cartago, Colombia, and Fr. Luis Adriano Piedrahita Sandoval of the archdiocese of Cali, Colombia, as auxiliaries of Cali (area 2,742, population 2,329,000, Catholics 2,011,000, priests 268, permanent deacons 15, religious 1,178). Bishop-elect Soleibe Arbelaez was born in Cartago in 1938, ordained a priest in 1963 and since 1998 has been rector of the major seminary of Cartago. Bishop-elect Piedrahita Sandoval was born in Palmira, Colombia, in 1946, ordained a priest in 1972 and is presently pastor of the parish of "Cristo Resucitado."

- Fr. Gerhard Feige of the clergy of Magdeburg (area 23,000, population 3,000,000, Catholics 192,000, priests 198, permanent deacons 31, religious 225), Germany, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Halle, Germany, in 1951, ordained a priest in 1978 and since 1994 has been professor at the school of philosophy and theology in Erfurt.

On Saturday, July 17, it was made public that he appointed:
- Bishop Andre Wouking of Bafoussam, Cameroon, as metropolitan archbishop of Yaounde (area 4,964, population 1,512,000, Catholics 671,000, priests 233, religious 664), Cameroon. The archbishop-elect was born in Dschang, Cameroon, in 1930, was ordained a priest in 1961 and a bishop in 1979.

- Fr. Joseph Atanga S.J., apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Yaounde, Cameroon, as bishop of Bafoussam (area 13,000, population 1,534,300, Catholics 260,000, priests 76, religious 130), Cameroon. The bishop-elect was born in Akok-Bekoe, Cameroon, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1987.

- Fr. Willem Jacobus Eijk of the clergy of the diocese of Roermond, Netherlands, as bishop of Groningen (area 9,205, population 1,700,000, Catholics 125,993, priests 70, permanent deacons 5, religious 188), Netherlands. The bishop-elect was born in Duivendrecht, Netherlands, in 1953, ordained a priest in 1985 and since 1998 has been professor of moral theology at the faculty of theology in Lugano.

- Archbishop Rino Passigato, apostolic nuncio in Bolivia, as apostolic nuncio in Peru.

NEA; NER; NN;...;...;... ;VIS;19990719;Word: 300;