IN BRIEF

FOR THE OCCASION OF THE "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" RALLY in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Holy Father sent a message, through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, to Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. The rally was held on Saturday, July 2, in Edinburgh, in the lead up to the G8 summit meeting, due to be held near Edinburgh from July 6-8. In his message, the Pope writes that "people from the world's richest countries ... should urge their leaders to fulfil the pledges made to reduce world poverty, especially in Africa, by the year 2015." He also asks world leaders to "play their part in ensuring a more just distribution of the world's goods."

THE SPECIAL COUNCIL FOR AFRICA OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS, presided by Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, celebrated its 14th meeting on June 21 and 22 in the synod's Rome headquarters. The aim of the meeting - attended by four cardinals and seven archbishops and bishops - was to continue preparations for the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, called by John Paul II and confirmed by Benedict XVI. The participants presented various proposals concerning the themes of the forthcoming special assembly: evangelization, the social activities of the Church, reconciliation and peace. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on February 23 and 24, 2006.

A DELEGATION FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, headed by its director, Ngo Yen Thi, was in Rome from June 27 to July 2. According to a communique, the visit, the second since that of 1992, aimed to promote relations between Church and State and to achieve a more direct and deep understanding of the Holy See. During the work sessions in the Secretariat of State, attention was given to various aspects of the Catholic Church's activities in Vietnam, especially to advances made since the last meeting and problems that still remain. Special attention was given to a new Vietnamese government law concerning beliefs and religions published in November last year. The question of relations between Vietnam and the Holy See was also examined, in the hope that they become normalized as soon as possible.
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