OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Dario Campos, O.F.M., of Aracuai, Brazil, as bishop of Leopoldina (area 8,491, population 529,154, Catholics 396,865, priests 53, religious 150), Brazil.

- Fr. Jose de Lanza Neto of the clergy of the diocese of Jaboticabal, Brazil and pastor of Senhor Bom Jesus Parish, as auxiliary bishop of archdiocese of Londrina (area 6,594, population 900,000, Catholics 658,800, priests 135, permanent deacons 22, religious 363), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Pirangi, Brazil in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Fr. Fabrizio Capanni, study assistant of the Vatican Secret Archives, as bureau chief of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received in audience prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Region XII):

- Bishop Robert Francis Vasa of Baker.

- Bishop Michael Patrick Driscoll of Boise City.

- Bishop Anthony Michael Milone of Great Falls-Billings.
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MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY OF TOURISM TO BE PRESENTED FRIDAY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - On Friday, June 25, at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, will present the Holy Father's Message for the 25th World Day of Tourism which will be celebrated on September 27, 2004 on the theme: 'Sport and tourism, two vital forces at the service of reciprocal understanding, culture and development of countries."  Archbishop Agostino Marchetto secretary of the same dicastery, will also participate in the press conference.
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PRESS OFFICE DECLARATION ON ARRESTS OF BISHOPS IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following statement today on the arrests of bishops in China:

  "Requests for information have been made concerning recent wire service reports of new arrests of bishops in China.

  "Since May 27 there has been no news of the 84-year old bishop of Xuanhua who was taken into custody by police forces. The coadjutor bishop of Xiwanzi was placed in custody from June 2 to 12, whereas the bishop of Zhengding was held by the authorities for five days.

  "The Holy See feels deep pain for these measures, for which no reason has been communicated. They are inconceivable in a State of  law and go against human rights, in particular religious freedom, which are sanctioned in numerous international documents, even subscribed to by the People's Republic of China."
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LET US, LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST, BRING CHRIST INTO THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - In his multi-language greetings following today's Wednesday audience catechesis, Pope John Paul had special words for several groups of pilgrims, as well as the traditional salute to young people, newlyweds and those who are sick.

  Addressing faithful from the Czech Republic in their language, the Pope noted that "tomorrow we celebrate the feast of St. John The Baptist. Dear ones, the vocation of this great prophet was to prepare the way for Our Lord. We too, each according to his own efforts and vocation, bring Christ into today's world. Be strong in the Lord!"

  He then welcomed a group of pilgrims from Slovakia, remarking that "in this period priestly ordinations are taking place in Slovakia. Let us thank Christ the High Priest for the 110 new priests, and let us pray that they will faithfully announce the Gospel and celebrate the divine mysteries."

  "While many young people are taking exams," the Holy Father said in closing remarks, "for many others it is the start of the summer period, a time of tourism and pilgrimages, of holidays and rest. Dear young people, while I think of your peers still involved in taking exams, I hope that you who are already on vacation will take advantage of summer to fulfill formative human and spiritual experiences. I hope that you, dear sick people, will not lack in the comfort and support of your family. And I encourage you newlyweds to deepen your mission in the Church and in society during these summer months."
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DESIRE FOR JUSTICE MANIFESTS A DESIRE FOR SALVATION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2004 (VIS) - In today's general audience celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope spoke about the Canticle in Chapter 15 of the Book of Revelation, "Hymn of adoration and praise."

  John Paul II said that this hymn "is sung by those who are saved, the just of this earth. ... Like the Hebrews, after having crossed the seas, the chosen people raise up to God their 'hymn of Moses and the Lamb,' having conquered the beast, the enemy of God."

  With this hymn, he continued, those who are saved "exalt the 'great and admirable works' of the 'Lord God Almighty', his saving action in the governing of the world and in history. True prayer, as well as supplication, is praise, thanksgiving, blessing, celebration, and profession of faith in the Lord who saves."

  The Holy Father indicated that "the universal dimension in this hymn, which is expressed in the terms of Psalm 85, is significant: 'All the nations thou hast made shall come and bow down before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.' Our gaze extends to the whole horizon and we see crowds of people going toward the Lord in order to recognize 'His just judgements', His interventions in history to fend off evil and to praise good.  Therefore, the desire for justice present in all cultures, the need for truth and love that is perceived in all spiritualities, manifests a desire for salvation which can only come from the Lord."
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