IN BRIEF

CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE ANGELO SODANO sent a telegram of condolence, in the name of the Holy Father, to Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas S.D.B., of Maasin, Philippines for the huge landslide which engulfed two villages in that country. The Holy Father offers fervent prayers for the dead, invoking divine consolation upon the relatives of the victims and calling for relief efforts to be swift and generous.

MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS, FOREIGN MINISTER OF SPAIN, met this morning with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano. During the cordial meeting, bilateral relations between Spain and the Holy See were examined. The minister guaranteed the complete readiness of his government to welcome Benedict XVI when he visits the Spanish city of Valencia in July for the 5th International Meeting of Families, and invited the Holy See to support the Spanish-government initiative: "An Alliance of Civilizations between the Western World and the Arab-Islamic World."
.../IN BRIEF/...                                    VIS 20060217 (160)