OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Jesus Rocha, auxiliary of Brasilia, Brazil as bishop of Oliveira (area 7,738, population 300,000, Catholics 266,000, priests 40, religious 67), Brazil.  He succeeds Bishop Francisco Barroso Filho whose resignation was accepted upon having reached the age limit.

- Elevated the apostolic prefecture of Brunei, Brunei to the rank of apostolic vicariate, with the same name and territorial configuration.

- Appointed Msgr. Cornelius Sim, apostolic prefect of Brunei, Brunei as apostolic vicar of the same vicariate (area 5,765, population 347,000, Catholics 21,500, priests 4, religious 2). The bishop-elect was born in Seria, Brunei in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1989.

- Appointed Fr. Moacir Silva, diocesan administrator of the diocese of Sao Jose dos Campos and pastor of "Sao Dimas" diocesan Cathedral as bishop of the same diocese (area 3,181, population 803,500, Catholics 624,800, priests 69, permanent deacons 60, religious 211), Brazil.  The bishop-elect was born was in Sao Jose dos Campos in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1986.

 NER:ECE:NA/.../...                            VIS 20041020 (180)

MASS TO OPEN ACADEMIC YEAR OF ECCLESIASTICAL UNIVERSITIES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2004 (VIS) - This Friday, October 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, John Paul II will deliver the homily and impart his apostolic blessing during the traditional Mass to inaugurate the academic year of ecclesiastical universities. Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, will preside at the Eucharistic celebration.
OCL/INAUGURATION ACACEMIC YEAR/...            VIS 20041020 (70)

ARCHBISHOP MIGLIORE: PROGRESS AND SETBACKS OF AFRICA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2004 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke yesterday in the plenary session of the 59th General Assembly dedicated to the analysis of the progress and the international support for NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) and for the initiative to stop malaria in the next decade in developing countries.

    In his speech the nuncio referred to "the duty of the international community, especially the more powerful countries, of redressing the economic imbalances that penalize Africa" and he recognized that the continent "is doing more and more, notwithstanding the many adversities it faces and the lack of means to overcome them."

    Afterward he spoke about the positive results obtained due to the cooperation of the United Nations and different African organizations, among them, the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS). "Management of conflicts in Western Africa also deserves special mention. The current trend in harmonizing international, regional and sub-regional levels is not only a measure of the success achieved by the members of the African Union; it is a success that contains valuable lessons for the solving of crises in other parts of the world and for the reform of the U.N. itself. … This management in solidarity of Africa's affairs by Africans will allow important advances in the provision of basic necessities - clean water, food, housing, access to health care and reduction in the spread of malaria and HIV.

    Without disregarding the progress made, such as the adoption of certain accords of the WTO (World Trade Organization) which reopened negotiations in Doha which keep in mind "the various difficulties expressed by African nations," the nuncio expressed regret that  "the recent Councils of Governors of the IMF and of the World Bank, as well as the meeting of the Ministers of Finance of the G-7 which preceded them, failed to agree on the total cancellation of debt of the 27 poorest countries. At least it can be said that consensus was reached for the first time in history on the necessity of eliminating such a debt."
DELSS/NEPAD/MIGLIORE:UN                    VIS 20041020 (370)

TRUE RICHES ARE OBTAINED BEING UNITED TO GOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2004 (VIS) - The first part of Psalm 48, "Vanity of riches," was the subject of the catechesis of today's general audience which was held in St. Peter's Square.

  In the presence of 19,000 people, the Holy Father said that this part of the psalm describes the situation of the just man who "must confront 'evil days' because the malice of his foes surrounds him' and men 'boast of the vastness of their riches'. The conclusion reached by the just man is … that great riches is not an advantage; on the contrary, it is better to be poor and to live as one with God."

  The rich man, he continued, "is convinced that he is able to buy everything, even death, trying almost to corrupt it, as he did in order to obtain all other things, success, triumph over others in the social and political sphere, unpunished abuse of power, eating to his heart's content, comforts, pleasures."

  John Paul II indicated that "the final destiny of the rich man, even for as much money as he is willing to offer, will be unalterable. As all men and women, … he will die one day … and will have to leave the gold he loved so much and the material goods so idolatrized on earth."

  "Jesus addresses this unsettling question to those who listen to Him: 'What can man give in exchange for his soul?'  No exchange is possible because life is a gift from God who 'has in his hand the soul of every living being and the breath of all human flesh'."

  Addressing his fellow Poles, the Holy Father thanked them for "their prayers and expressions of unity and for the help that you have given me during these 26 years of pontificate. May the Lord reward you abundantly and bless you."

  Just before the audience, the Pope blessed a statute of St. Teresa de Jesus Jornet e Ibars, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, also known as the Little Sisters of Abandoned Aged, which was placed in an exterior niche of the Vatican basilica.  
AG/PSALM 48/…                            VIS 20041020 (340)