SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF THE ROMAN CURIA BEGIN SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2002 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. on February 17, first Sunday of Lent, the annual spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia will begin in the Vatican's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, in the presence of the Holy Father. That evening there will be the recitation of Vespers, an introduction to the exercises, and Eucharistic adoration.

Cardinal Claudio Hummes O.F.M., archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, will give the retreat meditations, on the theme "ever disciples of Christ."

The programme from Monday, February 18 to Saturday, February 23 is as follows: 9 a.m., Lauds and meditation; 10:15 a.m., midday prayer and meditation; 5 p.m., Vespers and meditation; 6:15 p.m., meditation, Rosary, Eucharistic adoration and benediction. The spiritual exercises will conclude on Saturday morning, February 23, with the recitation of Lauds.

During the retreat all audiences will be suspended, including the weekly Wednesday general audience.

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DOMINICANS ARE CALLED TO BE MASTERS OF TRUTH AND SANCTITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received members of the general council of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) and recalled his years of study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

His time at the university was, he said, "a very fruitful period in my theological formation, thanks also to the expert contribution of unforgettable and prestigious Dominican teachers" such as Frs. Garrigou-Lagrange, Paul Philippe and Mario Luigi Ciappi.

The Holy Father indicated that the Dominican Order "has a specific task in the vast field of new evangelization. ... This is a united undertaking of the Church, one to which all members of the people of God, and particularly families of religious, must make their contribution."

"Only those who have experienced God," he continued, "can speak of Him convincingly to others. In the school of St. Dominic and of the many Dominican saints, you are called to be masters of truth and sanctity."

He concluded: "May this be the fundamental orientation of your general council in laying out courageous guidelines for the life and apostolate of Dominican friars in the world. I follow you with affection and wish all goodness for your communities on all continents."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Luis Antonio Nova Rocha of the diocese of Facatativa, Colombia, rector of the major seminary of that diocese, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Barranquilla (area 3,388, population 2,380,000, Catholics 1,930,000, priests 173, religious 133), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in Subachoque, Colombia, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1968.

- Fr. Hector Cubillos Pena of the archdiocese of Bogota, Colombia, pastor of the parish of San Diego, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Bucaramanga (area 5,397, population 1,130,517, Catholics 1,104,214, priests 216, permanent deacons 10, 763), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in Bogota in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1974.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Ruben Hector Di Monte of Mercedes-Lujan.
- Bishop Baldomero Carlos Martini of San Francisco.
- Bishop Aurelio Jose Kuhn O.F.M., prelate of Dean Funes.
- Yang-il Bae, ambassador of Korea, on a farewell visit.

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

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DECLARATION FROM PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls replied to questions from journalists concerning the position adopted by certain representatives of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow:

"Beyond the facts of this specific matter lies the deeper question which I believe to be: Does one wish to accept and safeguard the fundamental rights to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion that lie at the base of all forms of civil and pluralistic coexistence? From these rights it follows that each faith be recognized and respected in its individual identity, avoiding discrimination between citizens for religious motives as, indeed, is guaranteed by the civil code of the Russian Federation.

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