ADVENT SERMONS START TODAY IN REDEMPTORIS MATER CHAPEL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2002 (VIS) - Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap., preacher of the papal household, delivered the first of three scheduled Advent sermons this morning at 9 in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in the presence of Pope John Paul II. The theme is entitled "Behold, a virgin shall conceive..." and focussed on reflections on priestly celibacy and consecrated virginity. The next sermons will be given on December 13 and 20.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Jose Soleibe Arbelaez, auxiliary of Cali, Colombia, as bishop of Caldas (area 1,250, population 212,040, Catholics 200,450, priests 53, religious 94), Colombia.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
- Five prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast III) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Hildebrando Mendes Costa of Estancia.

- Bishop Czeslaw Stanula, C.S.S.R., of Itabuna.

- Bishop Francisco Batistela, C.S.S.R., of Bom Jesus da Lapa.

- Bishop Andre de Witte of Ruy Barbosa.

- Bishop Mauro Montagnoli, C.S.S., of Ilheus.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

This afternoon the Holy Father is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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TO JOURNALISTS: HAVE INTEGRITY, SEEK TRUTH, OFFER HOPE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2002 (VIS) - Eighty members of the International Catholic Union of the Press, meeting in Rome to celebrate the organization's 75th anniversary, were welcomed this morning by the Holy Father who remarked on the group's great growth over the decades. He noted that at their first meeting in 1930 there were 230 journalists from 33 countries, whereas at the 2001 meeting there were 1,080 journalists from 106 countries.

In his talk to them in English, the Holy Father highlighted what it means to be a professional journalist who is Catholic. "Quite simply," he said, "it means being a person of integrity, an individual whose personal and professional life reflects the teachings of Jesus and the Gospel. It means striving for the highest ideals of professional excellence, being a man or woman of prayer who seeks always to give the very best they have to offer. It means having the courage to seek and report the truth, even when the truth is inconvenient or is not considered 'politically correct'."

"It means," John Paul II continued, "being sensitive to the moral, religious and spiritual aspects of human life, aspects which are often misunderstood or deliberately ignored. It means reporting not only the misdeeds and tragedies that take place, but also the positive and uplifting actions performed on behalf of those in need; the poor, the sick, the handicapped, the weak, those who are otherwise forgotten by society. It means offering examples of hope and heroism to a world that is in desperate need of both."

"These are some of the things that must mark your professional lives as Catholic journalists," said the Pope in closing. "And this is the spirit that the International Catholic Union of the Press must always strive to embody in its membership and activities."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Jose Soleibe Arbelaez, auxiliary of Cali, Colombia, as bishop of Caldas (area 1,250, population 212,040, Catholics 200,450, priests 53, religious 94), Colombia.

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