OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the prelature of Moyobamba, Peru, presented by Bishop Venancio Celestino Orbe Uriarte C.P., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon law.

- Appointed Msgr. Laurent Ulrich, vicar general of Dijon, France, as archbishop of Chambery and bishop of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Tarentaise (area 7,460, population 354,700, Catholics 331,600, priests 209, permanent deacons 15, religious 368), France. The archbishop-elect was born in Dijon in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1979.
- Appointed Fr. Anton Losinger of the clergy of Augsburg (area 13,250, population 2,195,124, Catholics 1,536,620, priests 1,017, permanent deacons 107, religious 2,924), Germany, pastor of Irsee, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Rohrbach in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1983.

RE; NER; NEA;...;...;ORBE; ULRICH; LOSINGER;VIS;20000606;Word: 130;

TELEGRAM FOR EARTHQUAKE IN INDONESIA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent in Pope John Paul's name by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, to Bishop Joseph Suwatan, M.S.C., president of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, for the earthquake in that country:

"Saddened by news of the tragic earthquake which has caused many victims and great damage in Sumatra, the Holy Father expresses heartfelt sympathy and asks you kindly to convey to the suffering population and civil authorities the assurance of his prayerful closeness. He invokes divine strength and comfort on all affected by this disaster, especially the bereaved families, the injured and homeless. He earnestly hopes that the international community will respond promptly to the urgent needs of the survivors."

TGR;EARTHQUAKE;...;INDONESIA; SUWATAN;VIS;20000606;Word: 130;

POPE RECEIVES RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration concerning the audience between John Paul II and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation which took place at 6:30 p.m.

"The private meeting was followed by another with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States. Also present was Igor Ivanov, minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

"In the course of the talks consideration was given to the roles played by the Holy See and by Russia in the process of integration between east and west. In President Putin's opinion, the Holy See's mission in this field is particularly important.

"Special consideration was also reserved for problems concerning disarmament and the international situation."

OP;AUDIENCE PUTIN;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20000606;Word: 140;

IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2000 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius M.I.C., archbishop emeritus of Kaunas, Lithuania, on May 28, at the age of 79.
- Bishop Vilmos Dekany Sch. P., auxiliary of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, on May 19, at the age of 75.
- Bishop Gerardo Tomas Farrell, coadjutor of Quilmes, Argentina, on May 19, at the age of 69.
- Bishop Raymundo Lopez Mateos O.F.M., bishop emeritus of Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, on April 3, at the age of 68.
- Bishop Nino Marzoli C.R., auxiliary of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on May 24, at the age of 61.
- Bishop Henrique Muller O.F.M., emeritus of Joacaba, Brazil, on May 26, at the age of 77.
- Bishop Alberico Semeraro, emeritus of Oria, Italy, on May 24, at the age of 97.
- Bishop Jose Pedro da Silva, emeritus of Viseu, Portugal, on May 23, at the age of 83.
- Bishop Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto C.M., emeritus of Luz, Brazil, on May 24, at the age of 81.

...;DEATHS;...;...;VIS;20000606;Word: 160;