MARCH 13 CONSISTORY ON VARIOUS CANONIZATION CAUSES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2001 (VIS) - During the celebrations of the Sixth Hour on Tuesday, March 13, at 11 a.m. in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, an Ordinary Public Consistory will take place for the canonization of the following Blesseds:

Giuseppe Marello, bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph; Luigi Scrosoppi, priest, of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence of St. Gaetano Thiene; Agostino Roscelli, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Bernardo da Corleone (ne Filippo Latino), religious, of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins; Teresa Eustochio Verzeri, virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Paola Montal Fornes di San Giuseppe Calasanzio, virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Religious of the Pious Schools; Francesca Salesia Aviat, religious, foundress of the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales; Maria Crescentia Hoss, virgin, sister of the Third Order of St. Francis; Rebecca Pietra Ar-Rayes di Himlaya, virgin, sister of the Lebanese Order of St. Anthony of the Maronites.

OCL;CANONIZATIONS;...;...;VIS;20010308;Word: 200;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Armando Larios Jimenez of Magangue, Colombia, as bishop of Riohacha (area 19,037, population 380,000, Catholics 300,000, priests 36, religious 84), Colombia. He succeeds Bishop Gilberto Jimenez Narvaez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in conformity with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech, auxiliary of Melbourne, Australia, as bishop of Sandhurst (area 45,178, population 325,642, Catholics 87,776, priests 66, religious 121), Australia.

NER; RE;...;...;JIMENEZ; NARVAEZ; GRECH ;VIS;20010308;Word: 80;

ARCHBISHOP TAURAN ISSUES COMMUNIQUE ON VISIT TO IRAN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2001 (VIS) - Made public this morning was a communique issued in Teheran yesterday by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, who has been in Iran since Saturday, March 3. Following is the text of that communique, written in French:

"As I am about to leave the Islamic Republic of Iran I wish to thank the governmental authorities for their generous hospitality.

"The contacts and conversations of recent days have allowed me to better know the Iran of today, which is hopeful of making its own contribution to international life, in fidelity to its long multi-cultural and multi-religious history.

"I was also able to evaluate the conditions of life of the Christian community, in particular of the Catholic Church.

"The climate of dialogue promoted by Iranian authorities has made it possible to better define the measure of participation of the local Catholic Church and her institutions in Iranian society.

"Dialogue among civilizations and cultures, which Iran promotes, seems to offer in this regard promising prospects."

DELSS;COMMUNIQUE;...;IRAN; TAURAN;VIS;20010308;Word: 190;

GREEK-ORTHODOX CHURCH FAVORABLE TO PAPAL TRIP TO GREECE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls commented yesterday afternoon on the decision by the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church not to oppose a trip by the Pope to Greece. He said that "today's decision, including its ecumenical significance, coincides with the Holy Father's hopes and will be greeted with feelings of gratitude. We hope soon to be able to announce the Pope's spiritual pilgrimage, following the footsteps of St. Paul, as was his desire."

OP;PAPAL TRIP; GREECE;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20010308;Word: 100;