EUROPE MUST PRESERVE ITS PATRIMONY OF VALUES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father presided last evening in the Vatican basilica at a Mass for 10,000 students from universities in Rome in preparation for Christmas. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, celebrated the Eucharist with 47 chaplains from European universities.

In his homily, the Pope said that 'the most intimate human aspirations find their full response only in God. For this reason I encourage you, dear ones, to see to it that your formatives years be ceaselessly sustained by seeking God. Never stop in the face of doubts and difficulties. God ... is near you. His comforting company will make you aware of the mission which you are called to undertake in the university milieu.'

John Paul II underscored that many of the students present in the basilica had taken part in the congress of recent days promoted by the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe and by the Rome diocesan office for the university pastoral ministry 'which dedicated its attention to the process of European integration.'

'In this process you too, who are part of the university world, must offer your contribution. For European unity, great importance is given to social, political and economic structures but the humanistic and spiritual aspects must absolutely not be overlooked. It is indispensable for Europe today to preserve its patrimony of values and to recognize that it was Christianity above all that was the force behind promoting them, reconciling them and consolidating them.'

Then, in a reference to Christmas, the Pope said that 'this is a privileged occasion to underline the most heartfelt Christian values. With
the birth of Jesus, in the simplicity and poverty of Bethlehem, God gave again dignity to the life of every human being; He offered everyone the possibility of participating in his own divine life. May this incomparable gift always find hearts ready to receive it!'
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POPE RECEIVES PERFORMERS FROM VATICAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2003 (VIS) - The Pope today received the artists who will perform at the traditional Christmas concert in the Vatican which will take place late tomorrow afternoon in the Paul VI Hall. He noted that 'this is a show organized to gather funds to build new churches in Rome, especially on the periphery.'

He expressed his best wishes for Christmas to the promoters, organizers and performers. 'Christmas,' he said, 'reminds us that the Son of God, taking on human nature, became the travelling companion of every person throughout time. May this feast, so deeply felt by families, be a propitious occasion to feel the closeness and love of God.'

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HOLY FATHER WELCOMES FOUR NEW AMBASSADORS TO THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2003 (VIS) - John Paul II welcomed four new ambassadors to the Holy See this morning, including the first ambassador ever from Qatar, and, after accepting their Letters of Credence, he addressed them as a group in French. Following the audience the Pope greeted each one individually and gave them a personal message of welcome that made reference to the specific situations in their countries.

The new ambassadors are: Birger Dan Nielsen of Denmark, Walter Woon of Singapore, Mohamad Jaham Abdulaziz Al-Kawari of Qatar and Priit Kolbre of Estonia.

'The end of the civil year,' stated the Holy Father, 'is a propitious occasion to analyze the world situation and the events to which we are witnesses. As all diplomats, you attempt to create bonds among persons and among countries, thus favoring peace, friendship and solidarity among peoples. You do so in the name of your governments, who have as their concerns a globalization of fraternity and solidarity, with the certitude that what brings men together is more important than what divides them.'

He went on to say that 'for a lasting development as well as for international stability and the very credibility of government bodies, national or international, those involved in public life, especially in the political and economic domains, must have an ever more refined moral sense in conducting public affairs with, as their primordial goal, the public good, which is the sum of all individual goods.' He asked those in service to their country to 'place your skills in the service of your fellow countrymen, and more broadly, of the international community.'

In conclusion, the Pope said that 'in this season where men and women around the world exchange wishes for peace and happiness, these are what I wish for you, your governments, the people of your nations and, indeed, for all of mankind.'

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2003 - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio in Tanzania.

- Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia; apostolic delegate in Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

- Four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Sudan on their 'ad limina' visit:

- Bishop Joseph Abangite Gasi of Tombura-Yambio.

- Bishop Paride Taban of Torit, with Auxiliary Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek.

- Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau.

- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL TZADUA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2003 (VIS) - Following is the telegram of condolences sent by the Holy Father to Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M. of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, upon learning of the death yesterday at the age of 82 of Cardinal Paulos Tzadua, archbishop emeritus of this archdiocese.

'Having learned the sad news of the death of Cardinal Paulos Tzadua, metropolitan archbishop emeritus of Addis Abeba, I wish to send to you, the priests, the religious community and all of the faithful, as well as to the family of the dear deceased cardinal the expression of my heartfelt condolences for the mourning that has struck this archdiocese where he exercised with generosity the episcopal ministry. As I raise fervent prayers to God to give eternal rest to this zealous pastor, I also impart my comforting apostolic blessing as a sign of Christian faith and hope in the Risen Lord.'

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the diocese of Mindelo (area 2,207, population 147,489, Catholics 140,114, pritests 20, religious 29), Cape Verde, with territory taken from the diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, making it immediately subject to the Holy See.

- Appointed as first bishop of Mindelo Fr. Arlindo Gomes Furtado, pastor of the cathedral of Mindelo. The bishop-elect was born in 1949 in Santa Catarina and was ordained a priest in 1967

- Appointed Msgr. Victor Tamayo Betancourt, pastor of the metropolitan cathedral of Barranquilla, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of
Barranquilla (area 3,368, population 2.240,000, Catholics 2,050,000, priests 178, religious 426), Columbia. The bishop-elect was born in 1937 in Anori, Colombia and was ordained a priest in 1964.

- Appointed Msgr. Gonzalo Restrepo Restrepo, rector of the Pontifical Bolivian University, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Cali (area 2,602, population 2,431,390, Catholics 1,982,390, priests 295, religious 995, permanent deacons 17), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in 1947 in Urrao, Colombia and was ordained a priest in 1974.

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