VATICAN ARCHIVES UP TO 1939 TO BE OPENED

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2002 (VIS) - The Pope has decreed that, as from the beginning of 2003, it will be possible to consult documents concerning Germany and relative to the period 1922-1939 contained in the archives of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State and in the Secret Vatican Archives.

At present, by order of John Paul II in 1984, consultation of documents in the Vatican archives extends up to 1922, the end of the pontificate of Benedict XV.

A note on the subject made public by Fr. Sergio Pagano B., prefect of the Secret Vatican Archives, and Fr. Marcel Chappin S.J., keeper of the Historical Archives of the Secretariat of State, states that this is an "exceptional" move on the part of John Paul II through which he aims "to put an end to unjust and thoughtless speculation."

"The Holy Father's decision," reads the note, "thus aims to meet the many requests for access to Vatican documentation on a pontificate as important as was that of Pius XI (1922-1939) during which, among other things, ... totalitarian States and despotic governments came into being, in prelude to the Second World War."

Once the Vatican Archives for the period of the pontificate of Pius XI are fully opened (in 2005), the Holy Father also wishes to open access "to Vatican-German documentary sources for the pontificate of Pius XII (1939-1958), ... bearing in mind that during Pius XII's pontificate the Second World War took place and with it the deportation of the Jews and the tragedy of the Shoah." The note furthermore announces the publication of information concerning prisoners of the last world war (1939-1945). Thus, the note concludes, historians may become aware as soon as possible of "the great works of charity and assistance undertaken by Pius XII for the many prisoners and other victims of war, irrespective of their nationality, religion or race."

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NO PROCEEDINGS AGAINST VATICAN RADIO DIRECTORS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2002 (VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was a communique from the management of Vatican Radio regarding the latest hearing in the trial for the alleged electromagnetic contamination produced by the transmitting station of Santa Maria di Galeria, a few kilometers outside Rome.

The sentence issued by Rome's penal court has established that proceedings must not continue "for lack of jurisdiction" over the three directors of Vatican Radio accused over the alleged electromagnetic contamination of the transmitters.

As for the health concerns of the people who live near Santa Maria di Galeria, the note says: "it must in any case be recalled once again that no reliable study has shown the existence of health risks associated with transmissions from the Santa Maria di Galeria station, and that there is, consequently, no reason to be alarmed."

The communique goes on to affirm: "Not only has Vatican Radio always respected international recommendations on electromagnetic transmissions, but it also implemented within the agreed time (August 31, 2001) measures necessary for emissions from the Santa Maria di Galeria station to enter within the limits set by Italian law. Vatican Radio has thus fulfilled the commitments it assumed with the Italian government, in accordance with the agreement reached by the Italian-Holy See bilateral commission on May 18, 2001. Vatican Radio would like to make clear that, to this end, medium wave transmissions on 1530 kHz - which were held to be the chief cause of the problem and which, for that reason, had already been cut back - have been further reduced from 300 to just 100 kilowatts. This has had inevitably serious consequences on the reception of programmes, a problem only partly compensated by the transfer of some transmissions to the transmitting station of 'Montecarlo Radiodiffusion'."

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PROTOCOL ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COMES INTO FORCE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2002 (VIS) - On February 12, Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, took part in a press conference marking the entrance into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.

The Optional Protocol was adopted by the UN General Assembly in May 2000. To date it has been signed by 96 countries and ratified by 14 others, including the Holy See.

During the press conference Olara Otunnu, special representative of the secretary general for children and armed conflict, praised the Holy See for its "untiring commitment to the well-being of children" and reiterated his sentiments of sincere gratitude for the indispensable ministry of Catholic priests, religious and lay people who are most often "the first ones he meets on the ground, working to assist war-affected children."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya, presented by Bishop Linus Okok Okwach in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Jose Maria Liborio Camino Saracho, auxiliary of Sao Miguel Paulista, Brazil, as bishop of Presidente Prudente (area 13,251, population 511,445, Catholics 470,000, priests 45, religious 58), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Agostinho Marochi whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Archbishop Murilo Sebastiao Ramos Krieger S.C.I., of Maringa, Brazil, as metropolitan archbishop of Florianopolis (area 7,802, population 1,191,505, Catholics 953,976, priests 163, permanent deacons 86, religious 597), Brazil.

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