POPE FOLLOWS WITH INTEREST THE SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 1999 (VIS) - Yesterday evening Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"This morning Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano received a telephone call from the Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Guterres, regarding the present situation in East Timor. Cardinal Sodano reiterated the interest with which the Holy Father is following the whole situation.

"The Secretary of State assured the prime minister that the Holy See is in contact with the governments concerned in order to find a solution to the situation as soon as possible."

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY ATTENDS CONFERENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, today addressed the National Conference of Priests of England and Wales, being held at Newman College in Birmingham, England. The Archbishop, who spoke on "God's Word Spoken and Heard," also gave the homily during Mass celebrated this morning at the college.

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COURTESY VISIT BY RUPERT MURDOCH TO CARDINAL SODANO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Today, September 7, 1999, Rupert Murdoch made a courtesy visit to Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano. Mr. Murdoch was accompanied by Letizia Moratti and Ettore Bernabei." Ms. Moratti and Mr. Bernabei are respectively former president and former director of RAI (Italian Radio and Television).

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