AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, apostolic nuncio in Ireland.
- Archbishop Carmelo Juan Giaquinta of Resistencia, Argentina.
- Bishop Jozef Zlatnansky, secretary of the Permanent Inter-dicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

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CARDINAL CASSIDY TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE IN U.S.

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Edward Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will receive the degree Doctor of Humane Letters "honoris causa" from Loyola University, Chicago, U.S.A. at the commencement ceremony tomorrow. He will also preach the homily at the baccalaureate Mass tomorrow morning, according to a communique from the pontifical council.

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CHINESE BISHOP TUAN IN-MIN DIES AT AGE 92

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2001 (VIS) - On January 10, Bishop Matthias Tuan In-min of Wanxian, People's Republic of China, died at the age of 92, according to a communique made public today.

The late prelate studied theology in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1937 and consecrated a bishop in 1949.

After long years of suffering for the faith, says the communique, he returned to the episcopal ministry in his diocese of Wanxian. In April 1998, the Holy Father, in the hope of expressing his spiritual closeness to the Catholic Church in China and of showing a concrete sign of his regard for the Chinese people, named him as a member of the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops, although the Chinese government prevented him visiting Rome.

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POPE WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR OF KNIGHTS OF MALTA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed to the Vatican Alberto Leoncini Bartoli, the new ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. In his greetings the Pope thanked the entire Order for the generous and "thoughtful service" of its volunteers throughout the just-concluded Jubilee Year.

"Witnesses and ministers of God Who is Love," remarked the Pope, "the Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are called to pursue with renewed dedication, in the third millennium, their work as Good Samaritans, always ready to care for the wounds of man by spreading on them the oil of compassion and balm of charity."

John Paul II recalled that "during its nine centuries of existence, your meritorious Order has always been marked by a special bond with the See of Peter." He added that many Popes had praised their work, their "dialogues with every culture," their contribution "to promoting civilizations of love and peace."

"In today's context," the Holy Father underscored, "where impersonal mechanisms of great economic and technological changes contribute to enriching those who already have great fortunes, I ask you to intensify, within your possibilities, your interventions. Continue to work for a humanization and sharing of the resources that God has destined in equal measure for all men."

"Continue to be," he urged in concluding remarks, "men and women of faith with hearts rich in mercy, and generous and intrepid in the defense of the interests and rights of the poor."

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