OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father gave his assent to the following provisions made by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Church in accordance with their canons:

- The erection of the archiepiscopal exarchate of Donets'k-Kharkiv, Ukraine, and the election of Fr. Stepan Meniok C.SS.R., superior of the monastery of St. Alfonso of Lviv, Ukraine, as exarch of the new exarchate. The exarch-elect was born in Nakonechne, Ukraine, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1981.

- The election of Frs. Ihor Vozniak C.SS.R., master of novices for the Lviv province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, and Hlib Lonchyn M.S.U., collaborator at the apostolic nunciature in Kiev, Ukraine, as auxiliaries of Lviv of the Ukrainians (area 10,995, population 1,783,400, Catholics 857,053, priests 285, permanent deacons 2, religious 495). Bishop-elect Vozniak was born in Lypytsi, Ukraine, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1980. Bishop-elect Lonchyn was born in Steubenville, U.S.A., in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1977.

The Holy Father appointed Fr. James Fitzgerald of the clergy of Joliet in Illinois (area 10,920, population 1,494,978, Catholics 571,742, priests 285, permanent deacons 152, religious 889), U.S.A., pastor of the parish of St. Mary, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Chicago, U.S.A., in 1938 and ordained a priest in 1964.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Domenico De Luca, apostolic nuncio in Morocco.
- Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio in Rwanda.
- Bishop Tommaso Valentinetti of Termoli-Larino, Italy, accompanied by an entourage.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., emeritus of Vercelli, Italy, and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY: MEETING ON NEW EVANGELIZATION IN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, is presently participating in a meeting on new evangelization in America. The meeting is taking place today and tomorrow in Miami, U.S.A.

The president of the pontifical council will address the gathering at lunchtime today in Miami's Radisson Hotel, and later deliver the homily during a Eucharistic celebration. Tomorrow, January 12, he is scheduled to make another speech.

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POLISH AGRICULTURAL ACADEMY CONFERS DOCTORATE ON POPE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received in audience teachers and students from the academy of agricultural sciences of Warsaw, Poland, who conferred upon him a doctorate "honoris causa."

The Pope affirmed that the academy has "a long and rich tradition." There, he said, "distinguished scholars and politicians, as well as heroes of the struggle for independence, were formed and taught."

"The economic crisis in agriculture," he said, "also has an effect on national culture. Indeed, if many capable young people from rural areas cannot, for material reasons, continue their studies in high school and university, then spiritual impoverishment will undoubtedly result, not only for the countryside of Poland, but for all of society."

After emphasizing that "the educational activity of the academy includes over 50 specialized subjects," he underlined the need not to forget "the roots, the tradition, that require each member of the academy's community to be attentive to the development of the countryside and to engender love for the land of Poland, our nurturing mother."

The Pope concluded by encouraging teachers and students of the academy to offer "to all the inhabitants of cities and villages, a testimony of the love and respect due to Polish land and to those who, with the sweat of their brows, till that land. Do as much as you are able in order that the Polish countryside may enter with dignity, material well-being and spiritual wealth into the structure of a united Europe."

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