OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Jose Horacio Gomez, auxiliary of Denver, U.S.A., as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of San Antonio (area 60,013, population 1,959,950, Catholics 644,357, priests 351, permanent deacons 312, religious 1090), U.S.A. The archbishop-elect was born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He succeeds Archbishop Patrick F. Flores whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese was accepted upon having reached the age limit.

- Erected the new ecclesiastical province of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A., elevating the see to metropolitan archdiocese and making the following dioceses suffragans: Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Tyler and Victoria in Texas, formerly part of the ecclesiastical province of San Antonio, U.S.A.

- Appointed Bishop Joseph Anthony Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A., as first metropolitan archbishop of the same archdiocese (area 23,257, population 4,704,532, Catholics 1,006,425, priests 438, permanent deacons 250, religious 726).

- Elevated Bishop Daniel Nicholas Dinardo, coadjutor of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A., to the dignity of archbishop.

- Erected the diocese of Castanhal, Brazil, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Belem do Para, Brazil and the diocese of Braganca do Para, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan Church of Belem do Para.

- Appointed Bishop Carlos Verzeletti, auxiliary of Belem do Para, Brazil, as first bishop of the diocese of Castanhal (area 14,338, population 688,306, Catholics 405,000, priests 40, religious 136), Brazil.

- Appointed Bishop Jerome E. Listecki, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Chicago, U.S.A., as bishop of La Crosse (area 39,037, population 848,455, Catholics 203,341, priests 212, permanent deacons 25, religious 508), U.S.A.

- Appointed Bishop Pedro Jose Conti of Santissima Conceicao do Araguaia, Brazil, as bishop of Macapa (area 148,000, population 339,000, Catholics 279,000, priests 33, permanent deacons 13,  religious 62), Brazil.

- Appointed Bishop Robert James Carlson of Sioux Falls, U.S.A., as bishop of the diocese of Saginaw (area 18,006, population 724,142, Catholics 139,824, priests 114, permanent deacons 14, religious 138), U.S.A.
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THE POPE CALLS FOR SOLIDARITY WITH VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2004 (VIS) - At the end of today's audience, John Paul II remembered the victims of the earthquake that struck Southeast Asia on December 26  and called for solidarity with the people affected by the disaster.

  "The news coming from Asia," he said, "shows us ever more the extent of the catastrophe which particularly struck India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand."

  "The international community and many humanitarian organizations," he continued, "have come together quickly to lend help.  Numerous charitable institutions of the Church are doing the same.  In the Christmas spirit of these days, I invite all believers of good will to generously contribute to this great work of solidarity with the peoples, subject to such a harsh trial and exposed to the danger of disease.  I am by their side through my prayer and affection, especially those who are injured and homeless, while I entrust the innumerable victims who lost their life to the divine mercy."
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GO JOYFULLY TO THE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM TO BE WITH JESUS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2004 (VIS) - In the last general audience of this year, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father spoke about contemplating the birth of Jesus in the manger.

  Before a crowd of 6,500 people, John Paul II said that "on that holy night, God spoke his definitive Word of salvation to humanity in every age and place. ... The liturgy in this period is a meditation on the mystery of the Incarnation."

  "Let us linger before the nativity scene! In this traditional representation of the nativity 'the Eternal and Omnipotent Creator' speaks to us through His Son, Lord of the universe, who became a child living among us.  Mary, his mother, is the first to receive Him and present Him to the world.  Near her, we see St. Joseph, called to act as the father and guardian of our Redeemer."

  The Pope said that the scene is completed by the angels who "proclaim glory to God and peace to mankind, and the shepherds, who represent the humble and poor.  The Magi will soon arrive from afar to adore the King of the universe."

  "The liturgy of Christmastime invites us to go joyfully to the manger in Bethlehem to meet Jesus, our Savior.  Come all ye faithful! Come and let us adore Jesus the Lord!  Let us open the doors of our hearts so that He may accompany us now and during the new year which is about to begin."

  Throughout the 26 years of his pontificate, John Paul II has met with 17.5 million people in 1,160 general audiences.  In 2004, more than 2,200,000 faithful participated in public gatherings with the Holy Father.
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