OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Anacleto Cordeiro Goncalves de Oliveira of the clergy of the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, Portugal, director of the inter-diocesan institute of Coimbra, and Msgr. Carlos Alberto de Pinho Moreira Azevedo of the clergy of the diocese of Porto, Portugal, vice rector of the Portuguese University, as auxiliary bishops of the patriarchate of Lisbon (area 3,735, population 2,267,397, Catholics 1,927,875, priests 622, permanent deacons 38, religious 1,718), Portugal. Bishop-elect Oliveira was born in Cortes, Portugal, in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1970. Bishop-elect Azevedo was born in Milheiros de Poiares, Portugal, in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1977.
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PRESENTATION OF INSTRUCTION ABOUT NORMS IN MARRIAGE CASES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2005 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday February 8, there will be the presentation of the Instruction "Dignitas connubii" ("Dignity of Marriage"), on the norms to be observed in ecclesiastical tribunals hearing marriage cases. The document has been prepared by the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, with the collaboration of other dicasteries.

  Participants include: Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments, Bishop Velasio De Paolis C.S., secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and Msgr. Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.
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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MEETS CARDINAL SODANO

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2005 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today, Josep Borrell Fontelles, president of the European Parliament, accompanied by Christine Verger, his cabinet director, and Giovanni Salimbeni, director of the parliament's Rome office, met this morning with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States.

  "The president," the communique reads, "above all wished to send greetings to the Holy Father John Paul II and best wishes for a speedy recovery, both from himself and from the European Parliament.

  "President Borrell Fontelles then explained some of the parliament's current activities and the prospects arising from the enlarging of the European Union, expressing the hope that the constitutional treaty will be ratified by all States. The president, in harmony with the position the Holy See has always maintained, was careful to underline the nature of the European Union as a 'moral force,' with its own message of  ever valid civilization, to be proposed even in the broader international context.

  "The conversation also touched on problems arising from the presence of three great European bodies - the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - with agreement on the need for a clarification of their relationship.

  "The cardinal Secretary of State also highlighted the importance of the apostolic nunciature accredited to the European Union, in order to favor fruitful dialogue on issues of current importance."
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POPE'S HEALTH IMPROVED, CLINICAL PICTURE IS STABLE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2005 (VIS) - Today at noon, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls read the following statement to journalists relative to the Holy Father's health:

  "The state of the Holy Father's health has improved.

  "John Paul II is eating regularly.

  "The instrument and laboratory exams confirm the stabilizing of the clinical picture.

  "In light of the favorable evolution of the respiratory pathology, a new communique will be released on Monday, February 7 at 12 noon."

   Navarro-Valls then proceeded to tell the journalists:

  "Tomorrow afternoon, the Pope will follow on television from his hospital room the ceremony for the feast of Our Lady of Trust, patroness of the Roman Major Seminary, which will take place in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. The speech prepared by the Holy Father will be read by the substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri.

  "As to the Angelus prayer on Sunday, February 6, it is well known that this is an appointment that is very dear to the Holy Father and one which he does not want to miss. Tomorrow I will be able to be more precise regarding the manner in which the Marian prayer will be recited."
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CARDINAL BAFILE DIES AT 101, FUNERAL MASS IS TOMORROW
VATICAN CITY, FEB 4, 2005 (VIS) - The following telegram was sent by Pope John Paul to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, upon learning of the death yesterday at 101 of  Cardinal Corrado Bafile:

  "Having learnt the sad news of the death of the venerable Cardinal Corrado Bafile, I wish to express to you and to the entire College of Cardinals my sadness for the demise of this dear brother who spent his whole life for the cause of the Gospel, for the good of the Church and in the service of the Holy See. With profound gratitude I recall his long and generous commitment - first in the Secretariat of State, then as an energetic and competent pontifical representative, and finally as a zealous and esteemed prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints - and I join the common prayer which, in the light of faith in the resurrection, is raised for the repose of the soul of the dear departed cardinal. And, as I invoke the well-deserved heavenly reward promised to His good and faithful servants by the One Who gives all goodness, I send to you, to the cardinals, to the late cardinal's relatives, and to all those who participate in the mourning, a comforting apostolic blessing."

  Tomorrow, Saturday, February 5, at 11 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Ratzinger will preside at the funeral Mass of Cardinal Bafile.
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