OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed  Fr. Bernardino C. Cortez, pastor of the parish of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Los Banos, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Manila (area 117, population 2,993,000, Catholics 2,719,781, priests 186, religious 1,013), Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in Baclaran, Philippines, in 1949, and ordained a priest in 1974.

  On Saturday, May 29, it was made public that he appointed:

- Fr. Lucio Soravito De Franceschi, pastor of the cathedral of Udine and episcopal vicar for the laity, as bishop of Adria-Rovigo (area, 1,193, population 202,864, Catholics 200,128, priests 175, religious 239), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Mione di Ovaro, Italy, in 1939 and ordained a priest in 1963.

- Fr. Giuseppe Andrich, diocesan administrator of Belluno-Feltre (area 3,263, population 181,822, Catholics 181,402, priests 221, permanent deacons 4, religious 287), Italy, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Canale d'Agordo, Italy, in 1940, and ordained a priest in 1965.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences four prelates from the United States Catholic Bishops' Conference (Region XIII) on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Michael Jarboe Sheehan of Santa Fe.

    - Bishop Donald Edmond Pelotte S.S.S., of Gallup.

    - Bishop Ticardo Ramirez C.S.B., of Las Cruces.

    - Bishop Thomas James Olmsted of Phoenix.

  On Saturday, May 29, he received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

- Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, apostolic nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor.

- Baron Hendrik Volkier Bentinck van Schoonheten, ambassador of the Netherlands, on his farewell visit.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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IN BRIEF

CARDINAL RENATO R. MARTINO, president of the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace," will travel to Uganda from May 31 to June 4 to visit, among others places, the cities of Gulu, Kalongo and Kitgum, where armed conflicts still persist. The cardinal will meet the authorities, "Justice and Peace" organizations, and representatives of religious and lay associations involved in social work, and he will visit refugee camps and hospitals for victims of the war which has lasted for 18 years. On June 3, he is scheduled to preside at a Eucharistic celebration in Namugongo in honor of Ugandan martyrs, on the feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and 21 companions, canonized by Paul VI in 1964.

THE FINAL DOCUMENT HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED of the sixteenth Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. The meeting was held from May 17 to 19 at the Rome headquarters of the dicastery. During the sessions, the members and consultors reflected upon the necessity and methods of ecumenical, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue in the context of human mobility. Among the conclusions reached was the urgent need that such dialogue become a driving element for peace and harmony among nations and civilizations.
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INTENSIFY PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2004 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received participants in the general chapter of the monastic family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and of St. Bruno.

  In his address, the Pope assured the female religious that through a "humble and bold faithfulness, in the silence that characterizes your secluded lives, you are supported by the prayers of the Virgin Mary. Through your contemplative life you raise the world up to God and remind the human beings of our time of the place of silence and prayer in their existence."

  The Holy Father requested that St. Bruno give them "the grace to remain vigilant in prayer, mounting a 'holy and persevering guard, while awaiting the return of the Lord, to open to Him when He calls.' I particularly invite your monastic family, which bears the name of Bethlehem birthplace of the Emmanuel, to intensify your prayers for the Middle East, beseeching the Lord to give the grace of peace and of reconciliation to all inhabitants of that region so tormented by violence."
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REGINA COELI: FOR A RENEWAL OF THE PRODIGIES OF PENTECOST

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2004 (VIS) - "The Church today celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, recalling the prodigious effusion of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles in the Cenacle," said John Paul II to the numerous pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the Regina Coeli.

  "Animated by the fire of the Spirit, the Apostles left the Cenacle and began to speak of Christ, Who died and rose again, to the faithful who had come to Jerusalem from all places, and each heard them speak in his own language."

  With Pentecost ... was born the Church: the mystical body of Christ distributed around the world. The Church is made up of men and women of all races and cultures, united in faith and love for the Most Holy Trinity as a sign and instrument of the unity of the entire human race. Shaped by the Spirit to conform to Christ, new man, believers become His witnesses, sowers of hope, agents of mercy and peace."

  The Pope concluded by invoking the maternal intercession of Mary "that the prodigies of Pentecost may be renewed in the Church and that all men and women may welcome the joyous news of salvation."
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SPIRITUALITY OF PENTECOST MUST SPREAD THROUGH THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2004 (VIS) - This evening in St. Peter's Square, the Pope presided at the celebration of the first Vespers of the Solemnity of Pentecost. Faithful from parishes, associations and ecclesial groups participated in the ceremony, as did members of Movements for Renewal in the Spirit, at the special invitation of the Holy Father.

  The Holy Father also greeted numerous young people who were participating in a prayer vigil at Lednica, Poland, and were connected to St, Peter's Square through a radio and television link: "I pray with you, my dear friends, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. May the Consoler, the Holy Spirit, fill you with the love of Christ, to Whom you entrust your future."

  Having addressed himself especially to members of Renewal in the Spirit, "one of the various expressions of the great family of the Catholic charismatic movement," he said: "Thanks to the charismatic movement many Christians - men and women, children and adults - have rediscovered Pentecost as a living reality in their daily lives. It is my hope that the spirituality of Pentecost may spread through the Church as a renewed impetus of prayer, of sanctity, of communion and of announcement."

  The Pope encouraged "the initiative known as the 'Burning Bush,' promoted by Renewal in the Spirit. It involves incessant adoration, day and night, before the Most Holy Sacrament; an invitation to the faithful to 'return to the Cenacle' so that, united in contemplation of the Eucharistic Mystery, they may intercede for the full unity of Christians and for the conversion of sinners. It is my heartfelt wish that this initiative may conduct many people to rediscover the gifts of the Spirit that have their source in the Pentecost."

  "This evening's celebration," he continued, "reminds me of the memorable meeting with ecclesial groups and new communities on the vigil of Pentecost six years ago. That was an extraordinary epiphany of the unity of the Church, in the richness and variety of charisms which the Holy Spirit lavishly donates." And the Pope repeated the words he used on that occasion: "Ecclesial movements and new communities are a 'providential response' - one 'activated by the Holy Spirit' - to the modern-day question of new evangelization, for which 'mature Christian personalities' and 'living Christian communities' are necessary."

  "For this reason," he concluded, "I also say to you: 'Open yourselves meekly to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Accept with gratitude and obedience the gifts that the Spirit does not cease to give! Do not forget that each charism is given for the common good, in other words for the benefit of the entire Church!'"
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