GENERAL AUDIENCE: THE LORD'S FIDELITY WILL NEVER LEAVE US

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2003 (VIS) - Psalm 99, "The joy of those entering the temple", was the theme of the Holy Father's catechesis for the first general audience of the year 2003, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall.

After underlining that Psalm 99 "is a joyful invitation to praise the Lord, shepherd of his people", the Pope said that seven imperative verbs can be found: acclaim, serve, present oneself, recognize, cross the threshold, praise, bless. They exalt the bonds of alliance between God and Israel. Above all, true belonging to God is asserted."

John Paul II stated that "The first appeal is for the joyous acclamation by the entire world in the singing of praise to the Creator." The verbs 'serve', 'present oneself', 'cross the threshold' "describe the different gestures made by the faithful when they enter a sanctuary of Zion to take part in community prayer," he continued.

He mentioned that "The verb 'recognize' expresses the content of the profession of faith to the only God. We must proclaim that only 'the Lord is God', battling all idolatry and all pride and human power opposed to Him. The end of the other verbs, 'praise' and 'bless', is also the 'name' of the Lord, His person, His saving presence."

The Holy Father concluded by pointing out that the Psalm ends with "a solemn exaltation to God, a sort of profession of faith: the Lord is good and His faithfulness will never abandon us, because He will always be ready to sustain us with His merciful love. This is how the person in prayer abandons himself to God's embrace."

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2003 (VIS) - On December 16, 2002, Bishop Licinio Rangel died at the age of 69. He was the Apostolic Administrator of the Personal Apostolic Administration "San Juan Maria Vianney" in Campos, Brazil.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2003 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father:

- Created the new diocese of Piedras Negras (area 56,608; population 549,040; priests 46; religious 76) Mexico, separated from the territory of Saltillo, dependent on the metropolitan Church of Monterrey. Reverend Alonso Gerardo Garza Trevino was appointed as the diocese's first Bishop. The Bishop-elect was born in 1947 in Monterrey, Mexico. He was ordained a priest in 1972 and till now was the archdiocesan bursar and parish priest of the Sacred Heart.

- Appointed Fr. Pedro Sbalchiero Neto, M.S., as Bishop Coadjutor of Vacaria (area 15,932; population 197,500; Catholics 180,000; priests 63; religious 212; permanent deacons 1) Brazil, till now Provincial Vicar of the Congregation of Missionaries of Our Lady of "La Salette" in Brazil and parish priest of "Sao Domingos Savio" in Sao Paulo. The Bishop-elect was born in 1953 at Sananduva, Brazil; he was ordained a priest in 1980.

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