FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION FOR CARDINAL PUJATS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 29, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the text of a Message from John Paul II, written in Latin and dated February 27, to Cardinal Janis Pujats, metropolitan archbishop of Riga, Latvia who today celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Cardinal Pujats was born in Nautreni, Latvia, on November 14, 1930, ordained to the priesthood March 29, 1951 and consecrated bishop on June 1, 1991. During the Angelus on January 28 of this year, the Pope announced his decision to add seven names to the previously announced list of 37 new cardinals to be created in the February 21 consistory. Among these was Archbishop Pujats, whose name had been reserved "in pectore" in the 1998 consistory.

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