ARCHBISHOP TAURAN LEAVES FOR TEHERAN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2001 (VIS) - A declaration today by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, stated that "early this afternoon, Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, left for Teheran, Iran, accompanied by Msgr. Giovanni d'Aniello, nunciature counselor in the Secretariat of State."

"His Excellency is responding to an invitation issued to him by the government authorities and by the local episcopal conference.

"He will have meetings with the highest State authorities and will also give a talk at the Italian Diplomatic Institute.

"Numerous encounters are also planned with the Catholic community, in particular Mass tomorrow, March 4, in Teheran's Joan of Arc Church."

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