AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Nine prelates from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare.

    - Archbishop Pius Alick Ncube of Bulawayo.

    - Bishop Michael Dixon Bhasera of Masvingo.

    - Bishop Angel Floro Martinez I.E.M.E., of Gokwe.

    - Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa of Mutare, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick Mumbure Mutume.

    - Fr. Alphonce Mapfumu, diocesan administrator of Gweru.

    - Fr. Alberto Serrano S.M.I.,  diocesan administrator of Hwange.

    - Fr. Matthew Jonga, diocesan administrator of Chinhoyi.

 - Afif E. Safieh, director of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Office of Representation to the Holy See, on his farewell visit.

  On Saturday, June 25, he received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada.

- Nine prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Karl Hesse M.S.C., of Rabaul, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick Taval M.S.C.

    - Bishop Paul John Marx M.S.C., of Kerema.

    - Bishop Henk Kronenberg S.M., of Bougainville.

    - Bishop Ambrose Kiapseni M.S.C., of Kavieng.

    - Bishop Alphonse Liguori Chaupa of Kimbe.

    - Archbishop Adrian Thomas Smith S.M., of Honiara, Solomon Islands.

    - Bishop Christopher Cardone O.P., of Auki, Solomon Islands.

    - Bishop Bernard Cyril O'Grady O.P., of Gizo, Solomon Islands.

    - Bishop Gerard-Joseph Deschamps S.M.M., emeritus of Bereina.
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POPE CALLS FOR PRUDENT DRIVING DURING VACATIONS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2005 (VIS) - Pope Benedict, in addressing tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square this morning as they gathered to pray the Angelus, spoke of the solemnity Wednesday of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles and patrons of Rome, and said this feast "will be a significant occasion to underline the unity and catholicity of the Church."

  "As has been done in the past," he noted, "there will be a special delegation present, sent by the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. I invite the faithful in Rome, who venerate the holy apostles Peter and Paul as their special patrons, pilgrims and the entire People of God to pray for heavenly protection on the Church and her pastors."

  Then, noting that summer holidays are starting in the countries of the northern hemisphere, the Holy Father said: "While I hope that everyone can live with serenity a period of well-earned rest and relaxation, I would like to make an appeal for prudence for all those who are starting their trip to vacation spots. Every day, unfortunately, especially over the weekend, there are many highway accidents with so many lives tragically cut short, more than half of whom are young people.

  "In recent years," added Benedict XVI, "much has been done to prevent such tragic accidents but more can and must be done, with everyone's contribution and commitment. Distraction and superficiality must be vanquished for, in a single moment, they can ruin one's own life and that of others. Life is precious and unique: it must always be respected and protected, even with a correct and prudent behaviour on the highway."
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial prelature of Juli, Peru, presented by Bishop Elio Alevi Perez Tapia S.D.B., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
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THEME OF WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2006: "IN TRUTH IS PEACE"

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2005 (VIS) - "In Truth is Peace" is the theme of the Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the 39th World Day of Peace, to be held on January 1, 2006.

  A communique announcing the theme recalls how the Pastoral Constitution "Gaudium et spes" affirms that humanity "cannot accomplish its task of building for all men everywhere a world more genuinely human unless each person devotes himself to the cause of peace with renewed vigor."

  The communique goes on: "Peace is true because it responds to a desire inscribed by the Creator in all men's hearts. ... Human rights cry out to be enforced. ... When human activity does not respect the order of things (that natural 'grammar' about which Pope John Paul II spoke to the General Assembly of the United Nations on October 5, 1995), when it restricts human life and impedes its development, when it imposes intolerable sacrifices on peoples, then peace does not exist, because there is no respect for the truth of things."

  The communique also highlights that "peace is the 'tranquillitas ordinis,' in other words the situation that allows the full extension of the truth of man. Man's thirst for truth as the fullness of being is translated into a desire for peace, for non-disorder, for true peace or the truth of peace.

  "Real truth," the communique concludes, "is also peaceful. It reconciles, puts an end to isolation. The truth illuminates, makes it possible to discern the path of true human relationships, enables errors to be corrected, it brings reconciliation with oneself and with others, transparency in one's dealings and faith to one's word."
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JUNE 29 MASS, CONFERRING OF PALLIUMS IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2005 (VIS) - On Wednesday, June 29, solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles, Pope Benedict XVI will preside at a Eucharistic concelebration with Cardinal Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and with a number of metropolitan archbishops upon whom he will confer the pallium near the 'confessio' of St. Peter in the Vatican Basilica. Mass will start at 9:30 a.m., according to a note from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, dated May 19 and published today.
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IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL, GO FORWARD IN HOPE!

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father welcomed 27 prelates this morning from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and, in his talk to them as they conclude their "ad limina" visit, encouraged them to be effective instruments of Christ and, "united in your proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ, go forward in hope!"

  The Pope noted that "Jesus Christ continues to draw the peoples of your two island nations to a still deeper faith and life in Him. ... The recent national 'General Assembly' in Papua New Guinea and the 'Seminar' in the Solomon Islands have addressed this task. From these two events clear signs of hope have emerged including the keen participation of the young in the mission of the Church, the outstanding generosity of missionaries, and the flowering of local vocations. At the same time you have not hesitated to recognize the difficulties which continue to afflict your dioceses. ... The faithful look to you to be courageous witnesses to Christ."

  "Priests are and must be a bishop's closest cooperators," underscored Benedict XVI. "Your interest in their well-being must be of the utmost importance to you. This special relationship is expressed most effectively through your assiduous care to uphold the unique identity of your priests, to encourage their personal sanctification in the ministry, and to foster a deepening of their pastoral commitment."

  The Holy Father stated that "priestly identity must never be likened to any secular title or confused with civic or political office. Rather, configured to Christ Who emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, the priest lives a life of simplicity, chastity and humble service, which inspires others by example. At the heart of the priesthood is the daily, devout celebration of Holy Mass. In this Year of the Eucharist I appeal to your priests: be faithful to this commitment."

   Noting that evangelization is one of the bishops' priorities, as is "concern for the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral development of your seminarians, as well as men and women religious in training," the Pope encouraged the bishops "to ensure careful selection of candidates, to supervise your seminaries personally and to provide regular programmes of ongoing formation so necessary for deepening priestly and religious identity and enriching joyful commitment to celibacy.  Finally in this regard, I offer my prayers of deep gratitude for those who serve in seminaries and houses of formation.  Please let them know that the Holy Father thanks them for their generosity."

  Pope Benedict told the bishops that if their catechists' "great zeal" for evangelization is to succeed, "then the pastoral priorities which you have identified - especially that of marriage and stable family life - will require corresponding, appropriate adult catechetical programmes."
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