DECLARATION ON AUDIENCE WITH PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2002 (VIS) - The vice-director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Ciro Benedettini, C.P., released the following declaration at midday today:

"This morning, July 4, the Holy Father received in audience the prime minister of Hungry, Peter Medgyessy.

"Subsequently, the prime minister was also received by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, and by Msgr. Celestino Migliore, undersecretary for Relations with States.

"In the course of the conversations, there was an exchange of opinions on Church-State relations in Hungary at the moment, in which the desire was manifested for faithful respect of the accords established among parties and for constructive dialogue with the local episcopate for the material and spiritual progress of the nation."

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THEME OF WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2003 ANNOUNCED

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2002 (VIS) - The theme of John Paul II's message for the 36th World Day of Peace, which will take place on January 1, 2003, was made public today: "Pacem in terris: A Permanent Commitment", taken from the title of the encyclical by Pope John XXIII.

"While commemorating the 40th anniversary of Blessed John XXIII's encyclical, the message will emphasize the four foundations of peace, in light of the present circumstances: 'Peace is but an empty word if it does not rest upon that order which our hope prevailed upon us to set forth in outline in this encyclical. It is an order that is founded on truth, built up on justice, nurtured and animated by charity, and brought into effect under the auspices of freedom.'"

The message "will highlight the precarious state of peace in the world and will encourage everyone to carefully contemplate the signs of the times and to prudently consider the fundamental values necessary to construct an authentic human coexistence."

"Keeping in mind," concludes the document, "the distress caused by the outbreak of terrorism and other forms of fratricidal struggles, the Holy Father, John Paul II, will evoke the everlasting reality of these fundamental values and will call for a new and brave commitment to peace."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Karl-Heinz Wiesemann, provost of the parish of Sts. Peter and Andrew in Brilon, Germany as auxiliary of Paderborn (area 14,754, population 5,115,821, Catholics 1,796,591, priests 1227, permanent deacons 111, religious 2,409), Germany. The bishop-elect was born in 1961 in Herford, Germany and was ordained a priest in 1985.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Peter Medgyessy, prime minister of the Republic of Hungary, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- Archbishop Antonio Mennini, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.
- Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, apostolic nuncio in Belarus.
- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Peru on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Julian Garcia Centeno, apostolic vicar of Iquitos.
- Bishop Alberto Campos Hernandez, apostolic vicar of San Jose del Amazonas.
- Bishop Pedro Barreto Jimeno, apostolic vicar of Jaen en Peru o San Francisco Javier.

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