AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience five prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Region VI) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Daniel Edward Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Carl K. Moeddel.

- Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing.

- Bishop James Henry Garland of Marquette.

- Bishop Ibrahim Namo Ibrahim of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit of the Chaldeans.
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CARDINAL RIGALI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - At 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 9, Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, metropolitan archbishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A., will take possession of the title of Santa Prisca in Via S. Prisca 11 in Rome, according to an announcement from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.
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IMITATE PIUS V IN HIS MARIAN FILIAL DEVOTION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope to Bishop Fernando Charrier of Alessandria, Italy upon the conclusion tomorrow, May 5 of the celebrations for the fifth centenary of the birth of St. Pius V.
 
  In the Message, dated May 1, the Holy Father prays "that the intercession of St. Pius V and the example of his virtues stimulate us to make our faith more solid, maintaining it uncontaminated and in permanent contact with the sources of Revelation, and spreading it in society in order to make humanity more open to Christ and disposed toward building a civilization of love."

  John Paul II recalls that his predecessor was born in 1504 in Bosco, Alessandria. At age fourteen, he entered the Order of the Preachers, was ordained a priest in 1528, a bishop in 1556 and was created a cardinal in 1557. At age sixty-two in 1566, he was elected supreme pontiff. During his pontificate he named St. Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church.

  "St. Pius V," continues the Message, "was concerned with faithfully applying the decisions made during the Council of Trent: in liturgy with the publication of the new Roman Missal and the new Breviary; in the catechetic field, entrusting especially to parish priests the 'Catechism of the Council of Trent'; in theological material, introducing in the universities the 'Summa' of St. Thomas.  He reminded bishops of the duty to reside in the diocese for attentive pastoral care of the faithful and he stressed the opportunity for cloistered life to religious and the importance of celibacy and sanctity of life to priests."

  At the end of the Message, John Paul II prays that the "apostolic zeal, constant attention to holiness and love for Our Lady which characterized the life of St. Pius V may be for all a stimulus to live with greater commitment one's own Christian vocation. I want to invite everyone in a special way to imitate him in his Marian filial devotion, rediscovering simple and deep prayer of the Rosary which, as I recalled in the Apostolic Letter 'Rosarium Virginis Mariae', helps us to contemplate the mystery of Christ."
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POPE OFFERS PRAYERS FOR KIDNAPPED PRIEST IN COLOMBIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a declaration made this morning, stated that "Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, has sent a letter in Pope John Paul's name to Bishop Jairo Jaramillo Monsalve of Santa Rosa de Osos in Colombia, assuring the bishop of his "prayers and paternal affection for Fr. Cesar Dario Pena Garcia, pastor of Raudal in Valdiva, who since the middle of March has been in the hands of unknown kidnappers.

   "The Pope encourages the bishop and priests of the diocese to continue with courage and hope in their commitment to evangelization, and he invites them to care for, with constancy, the spiritual and social needs of the faithful entrusted to them.

  "The Holy Father also hopes for a rapid solution to this painful situation and wishes the joy and peace of the Risen Lord upon the entire diocese and all of Colombian society."
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CARDINAL SCHOTTE, SPECIAL ENVOY TO CROATIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Pope, written in Latin and dated April 25, in which he appointed Cardinal Jan Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general emeritus of the Synod of Bishops, as his special envoy to the celebrations of the 17th centenary of the martyrdom of St. Domnio, bishop and patron of the archdiocese of Split-Makarska, Croatia which will take place on May 6 and 7, 2004.

  Msgrs. Ivan Cubelic and Drago Simundza, respectively vicar general and pastoral vicar of the archdiocese of Split-Makarska, will accompany Cardinal Schotte.
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LEGAL SYSTEMS MUST RESPECT WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT HUMAN PERSON

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed to the Vatican members of the World Jurist Association, who are holding a conference in Rome. In his talk to them in English, the Pope noted that "the theme of your discussions focuses on the legal aspects of certain economic questions facing our increasingly globalized world."

  He said that "for legal systems and juridical instruments to be of real service to all men and women, especially the poor and disadvantaged, they must uphold the whole truth of the human person. It is therefore of utmost importance that the various expressions of international law recognize and respect those moral and spiritual truths that are necessary for properly defending and promoting the dignity and freedom of individuals, peoples and nations. In the confident hope that your work will make a significant contribution in this area, I cordially invoke upon all of you the abundant blessings of Almighty God."
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