POPE ASKS AFRICAN NATIONS AND PEOPLES TO WORK TOGETHER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed Desire Koumba, Gabon's new ambassador to the Holy See and, in accepting his Letters of Credence, told him he "rejoiced" at the efforts of Gabon's leaders to "put into place political, economic and social structures which allow the building of an ever more fraternal and peaceful society."

"While the continent continues to bitterly suffer from the various conflicts which plague it," he affirmed, "I appeal once again and with insistence to all Africans to mobilize in order to work hand in hand, like brothers, to make their lands into livable places, in which each one can have his share of the natural resources." He said that leaders must create conditions for "an integral development, marked by solidarity."

John Paul II stressed that "every member of the international community ... (should) participate in civic life, so that states of law and democratic institutions are consolidated, which must promote ... the honest administration of the common good, respect for persons and ethnic communities and the defense of the poorest and of families."

The Pope then highlighted the extreme poverty suffered by "numerous African countries." He invited "the legitimate authorities of these countries to pursue the fight against all forms of poverty that ruin the hopes of individuals and peoples, thus feeding violence and extremism of every kind. In this spirit, I also call for a new elan in international cooperation which must be rethought in terms of a culture of solidarity to fight the negative effects linked to globalization."

To promote "this ethic of solidarity," the Pope asked "the international community to pursue its efforts to sustain, notably by rethinking the debt of African countries, local initiatives that involve the population."

He then dedicated remarks to relations between the Holy See and Gabon, noting that "cooperation has already borne fruit, especially the signing and ratification of the 'Agreement-framework between the Holy See and the Gabonese Republic on the principles and certain juridical dispositions concerning their relations and collaboration'." He also mentioned the recently signed Agreement on the statute of Catholic teaching, saying that "the Church wishes to bring in a specific way an efficacious contribution to the human, spiritual, moral and civic formation of young people who are the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Marie Daniel Dadiet, auxiliary of Korhogo, Ivory Coast, as bishop of Katiola (area 32,835, population 498,000, Catholics 49,655, priests 33, religious 37), Ivory Coast. He succeeds Bishop Jean-Marie Keletigui whose resignation the Holy Father accepted in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Ricardo Oscar Faifer, vicar general of the diocese of Gualeguaychu, Argentina, as bishop of Goya (area 33,063, population 236,322, Catholics 212,898, priests 40, religious 67), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Urdinarrain, Argentina in 1940 and was ordained a priest in 1964.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Bernard Agre, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto, apostolic nuncio in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
- Archbishop Thomas Yeh Sheng-nan, apostolic nuncio in Sri Lanka.
- Four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Chile on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Renato Hasche Sanchez, S.J., of Arica.
- Bishop Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca of Talca.
- Bishop Juan Barros Madrid of Iquique.
- Bishop Gaspar Quintana Jorquera, C.M.F., of Copiapo.

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ARCHBISHOP CORDES VISITS INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN INSTITUTIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," paid a two-day visit to the international humanitarian institutions in Geneva, according to a press release published today.
Archbishop Cordes' visit was coordinated by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, headed by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

The president of "Cor Unum" met with Mr. Ruud Lubbers, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and his collaborators. They talked about the situation of the refugees and displaced persons cared for by UNHCR, which currently number around 20 million.

In another meeting, Archbishop Cordes spoke about the humanitarian activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The press release focused on the future of the latter country, which is trying to rebuild itself, saying "its future is however still risky. The basic infrastructures concerning education and health are poor. People, however, crave for education, parents as well as children. This is a very positive sign."

Archbishop Cordes also met with Christopher E. Sorek, head of the Department of Communication of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and with the director and staff of the International Catholic Migration Commission.

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