AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua.
- Marcello Pera, president of the senate of the Republic of Italy.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, with Bishop Francesco Lambiasi of Anagni-Alatri, Italy, and general ecclesiastical assistant of Italian Catholic Action, and Dr. Paola Bignardi, national president of Italian Catholic Action.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20011221;Word: 100;