POPE URGES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SERVICE TO PEACE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - United States Vice President Dick Cheney, his wife and an entourage were welcomed to the Vatican at 11 this morning by Pope John Paul II. A subsequent meeting with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano also took place.

"I am pleased to welcome you and your family to the Vatican and to receive the cordial greetings which you bring from President Bush," said the Holy Father. "The American people have always cherished the fundamental values of freedom, justice and equality. In a world marked by conflict, injustice and division, the human family needs to foster these values in its search for unity, peace and respect for the dignity of all. I encourage you and your fellow citizens to work, at home and abroad, for the growth of international cooperation and solidarity in the service of that peace which is the deepest aspiration of all men and women. Upon you and all the American people I cordially invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God."

Following the encounter, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following statement:

"This morning the Vice President of the United States of America, Richard Cheney, paid a visit to His Holiness John Paul II after which he met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, and Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States.

"During the course of the conversations there was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with special attention to the peace process in the Middle East and to developments in the situation in Iraq. There was also an examination of the moral and religious problems that touch upon the life of States, especially relative to the defense and promotion of life, the family, solidarity and religious freedom."
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HOLY FATHER TO PRESIDE MASS ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - John Paul II will preside at a Mass on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Monday, February 2, the Eighth Day of Consecrated Life, at 5:30 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, according to a communique from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

The Pope will preside at the liturgy of the Word: he will bless the candles and participate in the initial procession and, after delivering the homily, will lead prayers of thanksgiving to God for the gift of consecrated life. At the end of the Mass, he will impart the apostolic blessing.

Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic life, will celebrate the Eucharist. The secretary, undersecretary and bureau chiefs of the congregation, as well as the priest members of the Board of Directors of the Union of Superior Generals, will concelebrate.
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PRAISE FOR WFP AID TO WORLD'S HUNGRY AND MALNOURISHED

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - James T. Morris, executive director of the World Food Program, was received in audience by the Holy Father this morning who said "I am pleased to greet you and to express once more my deep appreciation of all that the World Food Program does to assist those who suffer from hunger and malnutrition throughout the world."

"The complexities of our modern era," the Pope added, speaking English, "are such that the joint commitment and efforts of many different organizations are necessary if the nutritional needs of millions of men, women and children are to be adequately met. This is no easy task. But I am confident that, with the help and support of countless people of good will, the World Food Program will continue to be an important instrument of solidarity and assistance in the ongoing battle against undernourishment and starvation. I gladly assure you and all involved in this essential undertaking of my prayers. May Almighty God bless your work with success."

Headquartered in Rome, this agency of the United Nations was set up in 1963 and is the primary U.N. office in fighting world hunger. The WFP uses food to meet emergency needs throughout the world and provides the logistical support for getting food to people in emergencies. It also uses food to support economic and social development. The WFO is governed by an Executive Board consisting of 36 member States. The executive director is appointed by the U.N. secretary general and the director general of FAO for a five-year term.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Archbishop Renzo Fratini, apostolic nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor, as apostolic nuncio in Nigeria.

- Msgr. Vito Rallo, nunciature counsellor, as special envoy and permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Vicente Espeche Gil, ambassador of Argentina, accompanied by his wife, on his farewell visit.
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SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH MUST SERVE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF MAN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2004 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received Archbishop Zygmunt Kaminski of Szczecin-Kamien, Poland with a delegation, headed by the rector, from the academic senate from the University of Szczecin.

"You have come," said the Pope, "on the occasion of a special event. The senate of the university decided that the university will embrace within its walls the Faculty of Theology that until now has carried out its scientific and educational activity independently."

John Paul II emphasized that a theological faculty "comes about due to the need for dialogue between reason and faith. ... This type of dialogue is necessary so that the fruits of scientific research in different disciplines serve the full development of human beings. Just as reason cannot be separated from the soul, science cannot be fully transmitted without keeping in mind the needs of the human soul which is open to the infinite. In addition, development in the sciences entails many ethical questions that should be resolved while respecting the autonomy of the sciences and the spirit of truth."

"The collegial tendency toward the knowledge of truth about man, the dignity of the human person, the value of life and, at the same time, the greatness of scientific results in all disciplines, will surely serve in the deeper study of transmitted knowledge."
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