AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Fouad Siniora, prime minister of Lebanon, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

 - Six prelates from the Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar.

    - Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye of Kaolack.

    - Bishop Jean-Pierre Bassene of Kolda.

    - Bishop Ernest Sambou of Saint-Louis du Senegal.

    - Bishop Jean-Noel Diouf of Tambacounda.

    - Bishop Jacques Sarr of Thies.

  This evening, he is scheduled to meet Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, apostolic nuncio to France.
AP:AL/.../...                                    VIS 20060216 (110)

VATICAN RADIO: NEW WAYS TO SERVE THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2006 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, a press conference will be held to mark the 75th anniversary of Vatican Radio. The conference is entitled "Vatican Radio at 75. New ways to serve the Church and future prospects."

  Participating in the event will be Frs. Federico Lombardi S.J. and Andrzej Koprowski S.J., respectively director general and director of programs; Sandro Piervenanzi, technical vice-director, and Pietro Cocco, head of the Vatican Radio Web Team.
OP/VATICAN RADIO/LOMBARDI                        VIS 20060216 (100)

LEBANESE PEOPLE CONFIRM THEIR DEVOTION TO THE POPE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 16, 2006 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique released by the Holy See Press Office following today's visit to the Vatican by Fouad Siniora, prime minister of Lebanon:

  "Today, February 16, 2006, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Fouad Siniora, prime minister of Lebanon. The prime minister subsequently went on the meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.

  "The visit of the head of the Lebanese government and of the official delegation accompanying him, had the aim of confirming the great devotion of the Lebanese people towards the Roman Pontiff, and towards the Holy See in general, which has always remained close to that noble country.

  "In the course of the discussions, opinions were exchanged concerning the current situation in Lebanon and in the Middle East in general, highlighting the joint commitment to work towards educating people in reconciliation and peace, while respecting human rights, especially that of religious freedom.

  "Particular attention was reserved for the situation of Christians and for the contribution they intend to make to the progress of the country, in keeping with the guidelines laid down, prior to the Jubilee 2000, by the Apostolic Exhortation "A new hope for Lebanon," of Pope John Paul II, of blessed memory."
OP/.../SINIORA                                    VIS 20060216 (220)