AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 28,  2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia on their "ad limina" visit:

     - Bishop Abraham Escudero Montoya of Espinal.

     - Bishop Fabio Sueschn Mutis, military ordinary.

    - Bishop Antonio Bayter Abud, apostolic vicar of Inirida.

    - Bishop Eulises Gonzalez Sanchez, apostolic vicar  of San Andres and Providencia.

  Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Misael Vacca Ramirez of Yopal.

    - Bishop Luis Felipe Sanchez Aponte of Chiquinquira.

    - Bishop Francisco Javier Munera Correa, apostolic vicar of San Vicente-Puerto Leguizamo.

    - Bishop Hector Javier Pizarro Acevedo, apostolic vicar of Trinidad.
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COUNCIL SENDS $100,000 IN POPE'S NAME TO PEOPLE OF HAITI

VATICAN CITY, SEP 28, 2004 (VIS) - The following communique was released by the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" yesterday afternoon announcing that $100,000 has been sent by Cor Unum in the name of the Holy Father to the people of Haiti who were struck by hurricane Jeanne:

   "As is well known, Haiti has been struck by the disastrous hurricane Jeanne, which till now has claimed over 2,000 victims in the region of Artibonite, and the regional capital of Gonaives and causing irreparable agricultural damage. There were also victims and damage in the northwest area of Port-de-Paix. The numbers are still approximate: some areas are only reachable by helicopter. In Gonaives, the water did not even spare a dispensary for AIDS patients, killing a missionary as well as his patients; 80% of all houses were destroyed and 250,000 people have been left homeless.

  "Exactly four months ago, the tremendous flood of Rio Soleil devastated Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In Haiti alone the disaster caused more than 1,500 deaths. For this reason, the Pope sent Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" to the site on June 22-25 in order to bring a message of hope and an economic contribution for rebuilding.

  "Today, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in contact with the Haitian Episcopal Conference, and in response to the needs expressed by the local Caritas office, is sending $100,000 in the Holy Father's name in order to buy basic necessities: potable water, food and medicine."
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HOLY FATHER TO PROCLAIM FIVE NEW BLESSEDS OCTOBER 3

VATICAN CITY, SEP 28, 2004 (VIS) - According to a communique from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, on Sunday, October 3, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul will preside at a Eucharistic celebration during which he will proclaim as Blesseds the following Servants of God:

Pierre Vigne, priest, founder of the Congregation of Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament;

Joseph-Marie Cassant, priest, monk of the Reformed Cistercian Order;

Anna Katharina Emmerick, virgin of the order of Regular Canonesses of St. Augustine;

Maria Ludovica De Angelis, virgin, of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy of Savona;

Charles of Austria, Emperor and King.

   "In the life of the five new Blesseds," adds the communique, "the centrality of the Eucharistic mystery is seen as a source of charity and of the Church's mission. Their witness is an invitation for all the faithful to start the Year of the Eucharist with joy and commitment."
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THEME FOR THE 2005 WORLD DAY OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 28, 2004 (VIS) - Published today was the theme of the Holy Father's Message for the 38th World Day of Peace which will take place on January 1, 2005: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good."

  According to a communique, the theme "seeks to solicit awareness of evil as the cause and source of conflicts and wars, and at the same time, of the inseparable link between moral good and peace. Peace is, in fact, a good that comes as the fruit of inspired choices for good and oriented toward good." The message emphasizes "behavior which leads to the exercise of personal and collective responsibility which has the special characteristic of looking for good."

  "The will to seek out good and avoid evil must take into account the numerous social and economic problems that weigh on the lives of peoples - inequality, poverty, wide-spread injustice, insecurity - in order to find a solution inspired by justice and solidarity."
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THE POPE BIDS FAREWELL TO CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 28, 2004 (VIS) - As is tradition before leaving his summer residence in Castelgandolfo and returning to the Vatican, this morning the Pope thanked the mayor and officials of the city, as well as the security staff for their service throughout his stay.

  The Holy Father said that after having spent some "peaceful and restful" days, he was now returning to the Vatican, "comforted by your spiritual closeness and prayer. For this, I sincerely thank you, also on behalf of my collaborators."

  Later, when addressing the police officers and carabineri, John Paul II expressed his "esteem and appreciation for the generous and faithful service in keeping order and security. I thank you for having contributed to my serene and peaceful stay in this beautiful town. I hope you will always be witnesses to the values of justice, loyalty and a spirit of sacrifice which find their deepest source in love for God and for one's neighbor."

  The Pope is scheduled to return to Rome tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
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