AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Nine prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem of Uyo.
- Bishop Emmanuel Otteh of Issele-Uku.
- Bishop Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo of Nsukka.
- Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor of Awka, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu.
- Bishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin of Osogbo.
- Bishop Richard Anthony Burke of Warri, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop John 'Oke Afareha.
- Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Abeokuta.
- Fr. Giacomo Bini O.F.M., general minister of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor.

This after he will receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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PRESENT PRIESTLY VOCATION IN ITS ENTIRETY

VATICAN CITY, APR 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a letter to Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, Canada, on the occasion of the congress concerning the pastoral care of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life which is taking place from April 18 to 22 in Rome.

In the letter made public today and dated April 12, the Pope recalls that "the theme of the congress - 'Vocation: Gift from God' - expresses well the fundamental dimension of the priestly or religious vocation, and inspires all the participants to live the days of the congress in a fervent climate, invoking the light and strength of the Holy Spirit."

"The census of apostolic efforts in Canada" shows that "some seminaries are being filled with candidates for the priesthood, and that certain religious congregations have many vocations, thanks to, among other things, the vocational fecundity of more recent communities and ecclesial movements."

"Apropos of the call to the priestly ministry, I want to underline that it cannot be considered a call among many others; in fact, the fulfillment and development of all other vocations depends on it. A priest represents Christ in his roles as Master, Shepherd, Priest and Spouse."

John Paul II affirms that the Lord's voice "is frequently drown out by other calls that unfortunately distract the spirit of the youth, and also by some ideas about the priesthood and priestly ministry that do not conform to the faith and Church tradition. In the face of this, capillary pastoral action is necessary, capable of presenting this vocation in its entirety and of offering useful help to those who are the object of the Lord's invitation."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Joseph (Joy) Kalathiparambil, vicar general of the archdiocese of Verapoly, India as bishop of Calicut (area 12,505, population 8,770,634, Catholics 23,526, priests 96, religious 707), India. The bishop-elect was born in 1952 in Vaduthala, India and was ordained a priest in 1978. The Holy Father also accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Maxwell Valentine Noronha, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Archbishop Jules Mikhael Al-Jamil, apostolic visitor of the Syrian faithful resident in Western Europe, as the procurator general of the Syrian Patriarchate in Rome.

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