OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Robert Anthony Daniels, vicar general of the diocese of London, Canada, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese (area 21,349, population 1,507,230, Catholics 482,3131, priests 286, permanent deacons 3, religious 497). Bishop-elect Daniels was born in 1957 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and was ordained a priest in 1983 for the diocese of London.

- Appointed Bishop Ndumbukuti Nashenda, O.M.I., auxiliary of the diocese of Windhoek, Namibia, as archbishop of the same archdiocese (area 560,158, population 1,700,000, Catholics 239,702, priests 46, permanent deacons 24, religious 271).
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the Colombian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Jose Octavio Ruiz Arenas of Villavicencio.

    - Bishop Jose Figueroa Gomez of Granada in Colombia.

    - Bishop Belarmino Correa Yepes, M.X.Y., of San Jose del Guaviare.

    - Bishop Daniel Caro Borda of Soacha.

    - Bishop Hector Cubillos Peña of Zipaquira.

- Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, apostolic nuncio in Poland.
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WORLD MUST UNITE TO ERADICATE THE SCOURGE OF HUNGER

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2004 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, is in New York where yesterday he addressed a meeting at the United Nations that is examining an initiative to fight hunger and poverty that has been promoted by the president of Brazil, with the support of many U.N. member nations. He expressed the support of the Holy See and "the personal adherence of Pope John Paul II to this important initiative."

  The cardinal noted the "vast humanitarian action of the many Catholic institutions in the world, especially in missions and in the poorest countries," saying that "the Holy See has always supported the many personal and collective initiatives that have been proposed to solve the drama" of hunger in the world. It has also supported, he added, initiatives proposed by U.N. bodies such as FAO, IFAD and the WFP.

  Highlighting the commitments made by governments to alleviate hunger and poverty in the 1996 Report of the World Food Summit and in the 2000 U.N. Millennium Declaration, Cardinal Sodano said that in his speech on this subject in 1996, he outlined the principles that inspire Holy See action: human dignity, solidarity, the universal destination of the goods of the earth and the promotion of peace.

  Notwithstanding a world alliance against hunger and poverty, he stated, "it was discovered bit by bit that there were not sufficient funds to finance a program of world food security." He recognized that there have been emergencies - wars and natural disasters - but added "the problem is far greater. The fight against hunger, and I would also say against thirst, goes beyond mere emergencies; this fight must face a series of complex factors such as, for example, the need to invest in the human capital of the local populations (in the fields of health and education) and to ask for the transfer of appropriate technologies and the guarantee of equality in international trade."

  Cardinal Sodano welcomed this new initiative and reminded "donor countries of their commitment to underwrite public aid for development equal to 0.7 percent of the GNP of each State."
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PORTUGAL: GRATITUDE FOR HIGHLIGHTING CHRISTIAN IDENTITY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2004 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received the Letters of Credence of the new ambassador of Portugal to the Holy See, Joao Alberto Bacelar da Rocha Paris.

  In his speech to the diplomat, the Holy Father emphasized that the "intensification of regional, cultural and economic differences, the desire to safeguard peace," natural disasters as well as "the disproportion between rich and poor with the consequent lack of respect human rights, are, among other things, a reason for great concern for every leader."

  John Paul II expressed his appreciation to the Portuguese government for "highlighting the Christian identity of Europe" in the new constitution and he expressed the desire that "the convictions that come from this identity can be affirmed in every national and international sphere."

  "In this sense," he continued: "the signing of the new Concordat between the Holy See and Portugal is the great expression of a mature consensus to reinforce the presence of this Christian 'soul' founded on the 'deep historical relations between the Catholic Church and Portugal, according to mutual responsibilities that bind the parties, in the sphere of religious freedom in order to continue with its service to the common good and to collaborate in building up a society that promotes the dignity of the human person, justice and peace."

  The Holy Father expressed his hope that Portugal will be a country that is "always open to the new challenges of our society and one that knows that the Almighty will not leave those who trust in His ways with empty hands."

  Referring to challenges in modern society, the Pope indicated that they can be better presented to the public "if they are part of a project of development in which the vital forces in local society make up a substantial, unified effort. Associating citizens with projects in society and giving them confidence in government leaders and in their nation is the foundation for peaceful coexistence in societies."
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