PLENARY SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2002 (VIS) - The International Theological Commission will celebrate its last annual plenary session of the sixth quinquennial from September 30 to October 4 in the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, president, will preside and Fr. Georges Cottier, O.P., secretary general, will guide the assembly's discussions.

According to a communique made public today, the presentation of and final vote on the text regarding certain questions about the diaconate are scheduled to take place during the workshops. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requested the study and will receive the definitive text.

Later the final draft of the text "Accepting God's self gift: Revelation and inculturation" will be presented and voted on.

The communique indicates that different chapters of the "Instrumentum laboris" whose title is, "Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons created in the Image of God," will be disclosed. The subcommission that prepared the text will send the final draft to all members of the commission for a final vote.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Rino Passigato, apostolic nuncio in Peru.
- Six prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast 2) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jose Gonzalez Alonso of Cajazeiras.
- Bishop Jaime Vieira Rocha of Caico.
- Bishop Valerio Breda, S.D.B., of Penedo.
- Bishop Antonio Muniz Fernandes, O.Carm., of Guarabira.
- Bishop Irineu Roque Scherer of Garanhuns.
- Bishop Adriano Ciocca Vasino of Floresta.
- Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, deacon of the College of Cardinals.

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