AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Alfio Rapisarda, apostolic nuncio in Brazil.
- Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

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AGREEMENT ON EDUCATION BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND SAARLAND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2001 (VIS) - Yesterday, December 19, at the apostolic nunciature of Berlin, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, apostolic nuncio in Germany, and Minister-President Peter Muller of Saarland, exchanged the instruments of ratification of the Agreement signed on September 19, 2001 between the Holy See and Saarland, which contains a modification and a supplement to the 1975 Agreement on private schools directed by the Catholic Church.

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SISTER LUCY: SECRET OF FATIMA CONTAINS NO MORE MYSTERIES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique regarding a meeting which took place at the convent of Coimbra, Portugal, on November 17, 2001, between Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Sister Mary Lucy of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart.

"Over the last few months," says the communique, "and especially following the sad event of the terrorist attack of September 11, articles have appeared in various newspapers regarding presumed new revelations by Sister Lucy, announcements of warning letters to the Pope and apocalyptic re-interpretations of the message of Fatima.

"Moreover, emphasis has been given to the suspicion that the Holy See has not published the integral text of the third part of the 'secret,' and some 'Fatimid' movements have repeated the accusation that the Holy Father has not yet consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"For this reason, in order to obtain clarification and information directly from the surviving visionary, it was considered necessary to organize a meeting with Sister Lucy. This took place in the presence of the prioress of the Carmelite convent of St. Teresa and of Fr. Luis Kondor S.V.D., vice-postulator of the causes of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta; and with the permission of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and of the bishops of Leiria-Fatima and Coimbra."

"The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, took place on the afternoon of Saturday, November 17. Sister Lucy, who will be 95 on March 22 next year, was in good health, lucid and vivacious. She first of all professed her love for and devotion to the Holy Father. She prays much for him and for the Church as a whole."

With reference to the third part of the secret of Fatima, she affirmed that she had attentively read and meditated upon the booklet published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and confirmed everything that was written there. To whoever imagines that some part of the secret has been hidden, she replied: "Everything has been published; no secret remains." To those who speak and write of new revelations she said: "There is no truth in this. If I had received new revelations I would have told no-one, but I would have communicated them directly to the Holy Father."

Sister Lucy was asked: "What do you say to the persistent affirmations of Fr. Gruner who is gathering signatures in order that the Pope may finally consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which has never been done?". She replied: "The Carmelite Community has rejected the forms for gathering the signatures. I have already said that the consecration that Our Lady desired was accomplished in 1984 and was accepted in heaven."

"Is it true," the communique concludes, "that Sister Lucy is extremely worried by recent events and does not sleep but prays night and day?". Sister Lucy replied: "It is not true. How could I pray during the day if I did not rest at night? How many things are attributed to me! How many things I am supposed to have done! Let them read my book, there are the advice and appeals that correspond to Our Lady's wishes. Prayer and penitence, accompanied by an immense faith in God, will save the world."

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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, in the presence of the Holy Father, the members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the postulators of the respective causes, thirteen decrees were promulgated. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation, read a discourse on the lives of the future blesseds and saints.

The thirteen causes are:

MIRACLES

- Blessed Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (1902-1975), Spanish, priest and founder of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei.
- Blessed Ignazio da Santhia, born Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti (1686-1770), Italian, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins.
- Blessed Pio da Pietrelcina, born Francesco Forgione (1887-1968), Italian, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins.
- Blessed Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello (1791-1858), Italian, foundress of the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence.
- Blessed Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin (c.1474-1548), Mexican, layman, visionary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
- Venerable Servant of God Ludovico Pavoni (1784-1849), Italian, priest and founder of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Immaculate.
- Venerable Servant of God Marco Antonio Durando (1801-1880), Italian, priest of the Congregation of the Missions, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus the Nazarene.
- Venerable Servant of God Luigi Variara (1875-1923), Italian, professed priest of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, founder of the Institute of the Sisters Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
- Venerable Servant of God Maria Cristina dell'Immacolata Concezione, born Adelaide Brando (1856-1906), Italian, foundress of the Congregation of the Atonement Sisters of the Eucharistic Jesus.

HEROIC VIRTUES:

- Servant of God Juan Nepomuceno Zegri Moreno (1831-1905), Spanish, priest of the diocese of Malaga, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.
- Servant of God Pietro Legaria Armendariz (1878-1956), Spanish, priest of the diocese of Tudela, founder of the Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ the King.
- Servant of God Bruno Marchesini (1915-1938), Italian, cleric of the archdiocese of Bologna and student of the Major Roman Pontifical Seminary.
- Servant of God Maria Ludovica, born Antonina De Angelis, (1880-1962), Italian, professed religious of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano, apostolic nuncio, as a member of the administrative council of the Vatican Television Center.

- Bishop Reinhard Marx, auxiliary of Paderborn, Germany, as bishop of Trier (area 12,870, population 2,368,000, Catholics 1,646,599, priests 1,234, permanent deacons 106, religious 2,471), Germany.

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