TELEGRAM FOR DEATH OF DEAN EMERITUS OF THE ROMAN ROTA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano sent a telegram in the Pope's name to the dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, Msgr. Raffaello Funghini, after learning the news of the death of the dean emeritus, Archbishop Ernesto Maria Fiore, at the age of 83.

Cardinal Sodano recalled "his zealous priestly life and long generous activity in the service of the Apostolic See as a man of the Church and an expert in law, who sought in the love of Christ the fulfillment of every law."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GREATNESS OF GOD IN CREATION AND HISTORY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II spoke on the Canticle of Isaiah (Is 45:15-26) in which the greatness of God in creation and history is shown.

The Pope noted that "The historical background from which this meditation springs is that of the surprising liberation which God obtains for His people, at the time of the Babylonian exile. ... The certainty of the providential action of God is the source of hope for the believer, who knows he can count upon the constant presence of He 'who formed the earth and made it, He (who) established it'."

"God," he affirmed, "is by definition the Only One. Nothing can compare to Him. Everything is subordinate to Him." In this regard the Pope recalled that the prophet Isaiah reproaches "all forms of idolatry, often concealed in the attitudes with which men and things are considered as absolute values and substitutes for God Himself, more than in the improper use of images."

The hymn, he continued, refers to history, "in which Israel was able to experience many times the beneficent and merciful power of God, His faithfulness and His providence."

"God proclaims: 'Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God and there is no other'. In this way it becomes clear that the predilection with which God has chosen Israel as His people is not an act of exclusion, but instead an act of love in which all of humanity is destined to benefit. Already in the Old Testament, that 'sacramental' conception of the history of salvation stands out, which sees in the special election of the sons of Abraham, and then of the disciples of Christ in the Church, not a privilege which 'closes' or 'excludes', but the sign and the instrument of a universal love."

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JOHN PAUL II TO MARK 55 YEARS AS A PRIEST TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Tomorrow, the solemnity of All Saints, Pope John Paul II will celebrate the 55th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood which took place on November 1, 1946 in the cathedral in Krakow, Poland.

In 1996, the Holy Father's golden jubilee was celebrated on November 1 with a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with 700 priests from the diocese of Rome. On November 10, over 1,500 priests from around the world who were also ordained in 1946 concelebrated Mass with the Pope, 116 cardinals and over 100 archbishops and bishops in St. Peter's Basilica.

To mark that 50th anniversary Pope John Paul wrote "Gift and Mystery," a book of memoirs and reflections on his priesthood. It was published November 15 of that year.

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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for November is: "That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God."

His missionary intention is: "That, through the active participation of Christians, mass media may be instruments of missionary evangelization."

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY TO SPEAK IN U.S. IN COMING DAYS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, will speak in coming days in the United States. He will give an address on November 3 to the Catholic Leadership Institute at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania upon receiving an award from the Institute.

On November 4, feast of St. Charles Borromeo, he will give the homily at a Mass celebrating this feast day at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.

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NUNCIO ASKS INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR MIDDLE EAST SITUATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The afternoon of October 29 Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke before the Fourth Committee of the U.N. General Assembly on Item 87, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine.

"The events of 11 September," he stated, "seem to have cast a dark shadow upon the life of this city which in turn has a profound effect throughout the world. However this is but one tragedy which makes my Delegation heavy of heart. Although they were founded as temporary agencies, UNRWA and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine have labored to assist the Palestinian Refugees for over fifty years."

The archbishop observed that "Each year we come before this Committee with an intervention and I am sorry to say that each year our observations are the same. Violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories continues to take innocent lives. ... In particular, I note the incursions into the Christian towns of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala." He named some of the many Church institutions that have suffered shell damage, and added: "Numerous houses in these towns have sustained damage from artillery and as a result, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine has been making emergency grants to aid with repairs or for the relocation of the residents." The Mission is also creating projects "to put the unemployed to work, projects which will benefit the community at large are sponsored."

"It is the hope of my Delegation," affirmed Archbishop Martino, "that any solution found for the multifaceted problems of the region will include the question of the Holy City of Jerusalem. In light of the numerous incidents of violence and the rigors of imposed closures, the Holy See renews its consistent call for 'internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities'."

In concluding remarks, he appealed "for greater international solidarity and the political will to meet the challenge of the seemingly unending violence in the region. The arms manufacturers of the world have the region awash in weapons. These weapons help to fuel the fire of violence throughout the entire area. Further, my Delegation appeals to the international community to assist in bringing a just resolution to the differences between the peoples of the Holy Land who are all cousins in the Abrahamic faith."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Julio Cesar Vidal Ortiz of Montelibano, as bishop of Monteria (area 14,550, population 1,350,000, Catholics 1,200,000, priests 74, religious 219), Colombia.

- Fr. Bonifacio Antonio Reimann Panic, O.F.M., pastor and curator of the Convent of Saint Ann in Sucre, as apostolic vicar of Nuflo de Chavez, Bolivia. The bishop-elect was born in Kadlub Turowski, Poland, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1979.

- Fr. John Chrisostom Kwon Hyok-ju, of the clergy of the diocese of Andong, Korea, professor of Dogmatic Theology in the Major Interdiocesan Seminary of Taegu, as bishop of Andong (area 10,788, population 935,675, Catholics 43,437, priests 49, religious 157). The bishop-elect was born in Uisong-kun, in 1957, and ordained to the priesthood in 1983.

- Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau and the islands of Cape Verde, apostolic delegate in Mauritania, as apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua.

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