OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland, presented by Cardinal Desmond Connell upon having reached the age limit. Coadjutor Archbishop Diarmuid Martin succeeds him.

 - Appointed Bishop Claudio Stagni, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Bologna, Italy, as bishop of Faenza-Modigliani (area 1,044, population 121,000, Catholics 116,000, priests 134, permanent deacons 3,  religious 219), Italy. 

  It was made public on Saturday April 24 that the Holy Father:

  - Elevated Msgr. Jan Kocis, protosyncellus of the Apostolic Exarchate for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite resident in the Czech Republic, to the dignity of bishop.

 - Appointed Sr. Enrica Rosanna, F.M.A., of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium" of the Daughters of Mary, Our Help, as undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2004 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Nine prelates from the United States Bishops Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Leonard James Olivier, S.V.D., Kevin Joseph Farrell, and Francisco Gonzalez Valer, S.F.

    - Cardinal William Henry Keeler of Baltimore, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Gordon Dunlap Bennett, S.J., William Francis Malcoly, and William Clifford Newman.

    - Bishop George Vance Murry of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

  On Saturday April 24, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Carlos Abella y Ramallo, ambassador of Spain, accompanied by his wife on his farewell visit.

- Bishop Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signatura, accompanied by family members.

-  Archbishop Josef Michalik of Przemysl, Poland.
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LEADERS URGED TO GENEROUSLY SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2004 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning received representatives of the National Association of Italian Municipalities which has gathered to celebrate the centenary of Giorgio La Pira, whom the Pope called "an eminent figure in politics, culture and spirituality of the last century."

  He noted that La Pira worked "for the cause of fraternal coexistence among nations," in particular "to favor friendship between the peoples whose reference is Abraham - Hebrew, Christian and Islamic." And he thanked the association for their tangible gift in La Pira's memory of "concrete aid for the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem."

  "Before the leaders of the world," said the Holy Father, Giorgio La Pira "set forth with firmness his ideas as a believer and as a man who loved peace, inviting his interlocutors to a common effort to promote this basic good in various spheres: in society, politics, the economy, cultures and among religions." The Pope added that, in an October 1964 letter to his friend Amintore Fanfani, a former Italian prime minister, La Pira "wrote words of a surprising actuality: 'Politicians are civil guides to whom the Lord entrusts, through the changing technologies of the times, the mandate to lead peoples towards peace, unity, and the spiritual and civil promotion of each people and of everyone together'."

  In closing, John Paul II urged the mayors present today to follow La Pira's example and "place yourselves generously at the service of your communities, with special attention to the younger generation. ... Thanks to everyone's contribution, the dream of a better world can become a reality."
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POPE BEATIFIES A PRIEST, 4 WOMEN RELIGIOUS AND A LAY WOMAN

VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 2004 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II beatified a priest, four women religious and a lay woman: Servants of God Augustus Czartoryski, Laura Montoya, Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, Nemesia Valle, Eusebia Palomino Yenes and Alexandrina Maria da Costa.

  When speaking about Polish Blessed Czartoryski of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, the Pope recalled that this young prince "presented all his questions and doubts to God in prayer and then in a spirit of obedience followed the advice of his spiritual guides. In this way, he understood his vocation to live poverty in order to serve the least of his brethren." The Holy Father especially urged young people to learn from the new blessed "to ardently ask for the light of the Holy Spirit and prudent guides through prayer" in their lives.

  John Paul II noted that Colombian Blessed Laura Montoya, "realizing that so many indigenous people who lived far from big cities did not know God, decided to found the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena, in order to bring the Gospel to those who live in the jungle. ... Inspired by her peaceful message, we pray to her today so that the beloved nation of Colombia may soon enjoy peace, justice and integral progress."

  "Blessed Guadalupe Garcia Zavala from Mexico, who renounced marriage," he continued, "dedicated herself to the service of the poor, needy and sick, and founded the Congregation of the Servants of St. Margaret Mary and of the Poor. With deep faith, boundless hope and a great love for Christ, Mother Lupita sought holiness through love for the heart of Jesus and in fidelity to the Church."

  The Pope went on to say that the mission of Italian Blessed Nemesia Valle, virgin, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Charity of St. Jeanne-Antida Thouret was "to show God's love to the needy, the poor and to all human beings in every corner of the earth. ... She is an example of luminous holiness, aiming for the high summits of evangelic perfection, and translated into the simple gestures of daily life entirely dedicated to God."

  The Spanish Salesian Eusebia Palomina Yenes, of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, "was driven by love for the Eucharist and for Our Lady.  What was important to her was to love and to serve; the rest did not matter. ... In a radical way and while adhering to her opinions, she forged a fascinating and demanding path of sanctity for all of us and especially for the young people of our age."

  The Holy Father concluded by speaking about Portuguese Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, lay person, of the Union of Salesian Cooperators. He emphasized her "strong will which accepted everything in order to show her love for God. ... She mystically relived Christ's passion and offered herself as a victim for sinners, receiving strength from the Eucharist which was her only sustenance during the last thirteen years of life."

  At the end of the Mass and before praying the Regina Coeli, John Paul II greeted pilgrims in their respective languages. Speaking in Polish about Blessed Czartoryski, he said, "For me it is a great joy to be able to welcome the Blessed's family to the Vatican on this occasion. I am very close to Poland as former bishop of Krakow, and especially to the prelate Stanislaw Czartoryski."
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REGULARLY MAKE TIME FOR PRAYER

VATICAN CITY, APR 24, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning received 210 young people from the archdiocese of Rouen in France, accompanied by the diocesan administrator, Fr. Christian Nourrichard.

   "You came to Rome," the Pope told the priests, seminarians, religious and lay faithful, "to live a week of retreat and fraternal life. I especially pray for those of you who will be confirmed on Monday. I invite you to make this pilgrimage a time of spiritual  enrichment. You will be able to discern the will of the Lord who wishes to help you lead a beautiful life; your interior life will have new impetus. Do not be afraid of opening your heart and allowing Christ to speak to you. Learn to regularly make time for prayer and for mediating on the Gospel."
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