SYMPOSIUM ON CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 16, 2001 (VIS) - An international symposium organized by the Congregation for the Oriental Churches will be held at the Vatican from November 19 to 23, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary this year of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches which came into force on October 1, 1991.

The symposium, entitled "Law of the Church - Instrument of Charity," will be presided over by His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the congregation. The vice presidents are Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts (which interprets both the Eastern Code and the Code of Canon Law), and Bishop Emilio Eid, judge of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. During the last phase of preparation, Bishop Eid was the vice president of the pontifical commission which prepared this Code.

According to a communique published today, the title of the symposium, in which over 300 academics from throughout the world will participate, is inspired "by the words spoken by John Paul II on the occasion of the promulgation of the Code. ... 'May this Code become a vehiculum (instrument) of that charity which ... must be profoundly rooted in the soul of every human creature."

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HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIFICAL CROATIAN COLLEGE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, John Paul II received 250 students of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome in Rome, on the occasion of the first centenary of its foundation by Leo XIII.

John Paul II affirmed that this institution "has carried out an irreplaceable role in evangelization in the beloved regions of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. It has represented, also, a constant sign of the closeness of the Popes to the Croatian people, as well as the affection of your people for the successor of Peter, the Roman Pontiff."

The College was founded, he recalled, "to offer to priests, who 'by their origin and language belong to the Croat people', the possibility to complete their studies at the pontifical athenaeums of Rome."

The Holy Father noted that the celebration of the centenary is "a propitious occasion to consider the contribution that this praiseworthy institution has given to the apostolate of the Church in the Republic of Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to reflect, at the same time, on the impulse to give to the formative and pastoral initiatives of the College itself, in harmony with the apostolic needs of the Church at the beginning of the third millennium."

"Called to be a privileged place of human, spiritual, cultural, and scientific formation of the young priests," the Pope concluded, "the College, still today, has the task of ensuring the conditions for a proper preparation for the pastoral ministry of the priests."

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TO THAI BISHOPS: SCHOOLS, THE FAMILY, INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 16, 2001 (VIS) - The bishops of Thailand were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning as they concluded their quinquennial "ad limina" visit to the Vatican where they earlier met individually with the Pope and visited various offices of the Roman Curia.

The Pope highlighted the "commitment and self-sacrifice of countless foreign missionaries (who) contributed much to the growth of the Church in Asia. ... Today, however, the missionary endeavor has to be carried out primarily by Asians themselves."

"Though the Catholic community in Thailand forms a small minority," he remarked, "it is nevertheless held in high esteem for the good work that is being done in the fields of health care and education. Your Catholic schools provide instruction of a high standard. ... By its very nature Catholic education aims not only to provide knowledge and training but also, and more importantly, to transmit a coherent vision of life, shaped by the Gospel, which will help young people to grow in true wisdom and freedom. Contemporary society urgently needs such educational institutions to provide a solid moral training."

John Paul II then turned to the family, calling it "the foundation of society and the place where people first learn the values that will guide them through life." He stressed that bishops should give families "a special place in your pastoral concern" and that "every diocese should have an active family apostolate. ... The family is under threat from various forms of materialism and from widespread offenses against human dignity, such as the scourge of abortion, and the sexual exploitation of women and children. Fresh efforts must be constantly made in your local communities to meet these difficulties."

The Pope highlighted the important role in education to the faith played by lay and religious catechists, saying they must "be equipped for every good work. ... In the task of transmitting the faith, the Catechism of the Catholic Church would be an invaluable resource."

Urging the prelates to be attentive to the training and welfare of catechists and men and women Religious, he affirmed that "it is above all in attention to the formation and welfare of priests that a bishop shows himself to be a true pastor and a true father, brother and friend of those who are his closest collaborators in the ministry. The Church in Thailand continues to be blessed with numerous vocations."

In closing remarks, the Holy Father noted that "evangelization in Asia, a continent shaped by ancient cultures and religious traditions, presents particular challenges. ... The question of interreligious dialogue is a pressing one." He observed that "Thailand's ancient monastic tradition ... is a reminder of the primacy of the things of the spirit and should act as a counter-balance to the materialism and consumerism which affect such a large part of society."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Abba Tesfay Medhin, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Adigrat, Ethiopia, as bishop of the eparchy of Adigrat (area 80,000, population 4,516,625, Catholics 16,625, priests 85, Religious 101). The bishop-elect was born in Alitena, Ethiopia in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1980. He succeeds Bishop Kidane-Mariam Teklehaimanot whose resignation the Holy Father accepted in conformity with Canon 210, para 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Donato Squicciarini, apostolic nuncio in Austria.
- Four prelates of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, on the occasion of their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray of Mawlamyine.
- Bishop Nicholas Mang Thang of Hakha.
- Bishop Sotero Phamo of Loikaw.
- Bishop Philip Za Hawng of Lashio.

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

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