OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Msgr. Stephen Brislin, apostolic administrator of Kroonstad, South Africa, as bishop of the same diocese (area 30,248, population 946,000, Catholics 87,000, priests 17, religious 13). The bishop-elect was born in Welkom, South Africa, in 1956 and ordained a priest in 1983.

 - Appointed Bishop Leonardo Yuson Medroso of Borongan, Philippines, as bishop of Tagbilaran (area 1,734, population 623,000, Catholics 553,000, priests 153, religious 90), Philippines.

 - Appointed Fr. Abdo Arbach B.C., director of the school of Choueirite Basilian Order in Zahle, Lebanon, as apostolic exarch to the Greek-Melkite faithful resident in Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Yabroud, Syria, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1980.

 - Appointed Bishop William Kenny C.P., auxiliary of the diocese of Stockholm, Sweden, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Birmingham (area 8,735, population 5,245,000, Catholics 286,442, priests 358, permanent deacons 76, religious 705), Great Britain.

 - Gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church of Fr. Michel Abrass, professor of liturgy at the University of Kaslik, as titular bishop of Abido. The bishop-elect was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1981.

  On October 14, His Beatitude Gregoire III Laham, Greek-Melkite Catholic patriarch, with the consent of the Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church and in accordance with canon 85 para. 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, transferred Msgr. Georges Haddad, from the office of titular bishop of Mira to that of archbishop of Baniyas of the Greek-Melkites (Catholics 1,300, priests 2, religious 12), Lebanon.
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ANTITERRORISM MEASURES MUST NOT JEOPARDIZE HUMAN RIGHTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2006 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, yesterday addressed the sixth committee, of the 61st U.N. General Assembly, which is discussing measures to eliminate international terrorism.

  Terrorism, said the papal nuncio speaking English, "has developed into a sophisticated network of political, economic and technical collusion which crosses national borders to embrace the whole world." This illustrates, he continued, "the importance of an internationally binding Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism."

  "It is fundamental to affirm from the very outset that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals," said the archbishop. "The absolute unacceptability of terrorism lies precisely in the fact that it uses innocent people as means to obtain its ends." However, "counter-terrorism strategy must not sacrifice fundamental human rights in the name of security. Rather, it must refrain from selective implementation of measures; otherwise, it would corrode the very values that it intends to protect."

  "Terrorists must never be allowed to point to this kind of deficiency on the part of States for their actions. ... On the other hand, not even the terrorists' contempt for human life and dignity can justify denying them treatment according to international humanitarian and human rights norms."

  "The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism should make clear that no cause, no matter how just, can excuse or legitimize the deliberate killing or maiming of civilian populations. Even the legitimate right to resist unjust authorities and the right to self-determination and national liberation, must not threaten social fabric and domestic public order."

  "Terrorism," Archbishop Migliore went on, "is a cultural manifestation ... of warped perceptions of reality, of xenophobic complexes, of contempt for the other, ... of cynical abuse of religion," and must be faced with "cultural instruments," and with "a courageous and resolute political, diplomatic and economic commitment to relieve situations of oppression and marginalization which facilitate the designs of terrorists."

  "It must be firmly stated that the injustices existing in the world can never be used to excuse acts of terrorism, and it should be noted that the victims of the radical breakdown of order which terrorism seeks to achieve include above all the countless millions of men and women who are least able to withstand a collapse of international solidarity. The terrorist's claim to be acting on behalf of the poor is a patent falsehood."

  "Religions and inter-religious dialogue," he concluded, "have a fundamental role to play in contrasting the terrorists' preaching of hate and violence as antithetical to authentic religion."
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CALENDAR OF CELEBRATIONS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2006 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff made public today the calendar of celebrations to be presided over by the Holy Father in the months of November and December 2006:

NOVEMBER

- Thursday, 2: All Souls Day. At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Grottoes, a moment of prayer for deceased Supreme Pontiffs.

- Saturday, 4: At 11.30 a.m. at the altar of the Cathedra in the Vatican Basilica, Mass for the repose of the souls of cardinals and bishops who died during the course of year.

- Tuesday, 28 to Friday, December 1: Apostolic trip to Turkey.

RITES OF BEATIFICATION APPROVED BY THE HOLY FATHER

- Sunday, 5: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. At 10 a.m. in the cathedral of Sao Paulo, Brazil, beatification of Servant of God Mariano de la Mata Aparicio.

DECEMBER

- Saturday, 2: At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, First Vespers for the first Sunday of Advent.

- Friday, 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 4 p.m. in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, homage to Mary Immaculate.

- Sunday, 10: 2nd Sunday of Advent. At 9 a.m., pastoral visit and Mass at the Roman parish of "S. Maria Stella d'Evangelizzazione."

- Sunday, 24: Vigil of the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. Midnight Mass in the Vatican Basilica.

- Monday, 25: Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. At midday from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

- Sunday, 31: At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, First Vespers of thanksgiving for the past year.

RITES OF BEATIFICATION APPROVED BY THE HOLY FATHER

- Sunday, 3: 1st Sunday of Advent. At Ollur in the archdiocese of Trichur, India, beatification of Servant of God Eufrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Eluvathingal.
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TELEVISION MESSAGE FOR THE "DAY OF THE POPE" IN POLAND

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2006 (VIS) - For the occasion of the "Day of the Pope," which for the last six years has been celebrated in Poland every October 16, the day of Karol Wojtyla's election to the See of Peter, Benedict XVI recorded a video Message broadcast yesterday on Polish television.

  Recalling the day of John Paul II's election, Pope Benedict says he can "still hear the echo" of the words pronounced by Karol Wojtyla as he accepted the cardinals' decision, and also remembers his "prophetic call: 'Do not be afraid! Open the doors to Christ!'."

  The Holy Father continues: "I thank God that with these images in my heart I was able to pass more than two decades at his side enjoying his benevolence and friendship, and that today I can continue his work under his protective gaze from the house of the Father. I thank God for his life, passed in the love of Christ and of men, that enriched ... all humanity with the grace of the Holy Spirit .... Finally, I thank God for the witness of his suffering associated to Christ's own tribulation unto death - witness that gives us the strength to live, and secures in us the hope of eternity."

  Benedict XVI highlights John Paul II's devotion to the Church in Poland, which he "loved as a mother" and "as a community always united around its pastors;" a community "which in the past suffered various persecutions," but which always "remained faithful to evangelical values." When Poland regained its liberty, adds the Pope in his Message, John Paul II took care to ensure that "his countrymen learned to live in the freedom of the children of God and not of the children of this world, and that they upheld the faith.

  "Aware of this heritage that he left to the Church in Poland," Pope Benedict adds, "I came among you this year with Paul's words: 'remain strong in the faith.' ... I pray to God to preserve this faith for the future generations of this noble land. I thank you particularly for all your displays of loving union with the Pope who succeeded your great countryman, and I entrust my service for the Church and for the world to your spiritual support."

  The Pope concludes his Message by expressing the hope that "the memory of John Paul II, the study of his works and his teaching," may bring the Polish people closer to Christ. "May this be the bond of unity in a shared concern for the future of the Church and the nation."
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CARDINAL MONDUZZI: PATIENCE AND CONFORMITY TO CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2006 (VIS) - At 5 p.m. yesterday evening at the major altar of St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict XVI celebrated the funeral Mass for Cardinal Dino Monduzzi, prefect emeritus of the Pontifical Household, who died last Friday at the age of 84.

  "We like to think of dear Cardinal Monduzzi," said the Pope in his homily, "in the loving arms of the heavenly Father Who called him to Himself after a long and difficult illness. Let us call to mind his long life, which was animated by a simple and profound evangelical faith acquired in his family from his earliest infancy."

  The Holy Father recalled how the late cardinal, born in Brisighella, Italy, in 1922, joined Catholic Action while still very young, how he "responded with ready generosity to the call of God" and was ordained a priest in 1945. A short time later he moved to Rome as part of a group of priests and lay people involved in "pastoral activities of religious and moral reawakening, known as 'Social Missions'."

  This "modern form of evangelization" took the future cardinal to various regions of Italy where he embarked on "the almost pioneering role of chaplain to day laborers and peasants" in an institution for agrarian reform "which aroused so many hopes in an area of great human decline." In 1959, after ten years of "intense apostolic labors," he entered the service of the Holy See as secretary to the Chamberlain's office, and in 1967 was appointed as secretary and regent of the Apostolic Palace.

  "His was a long and much-appreciated service under four pontiffs," added Benedict XVI, a service that culminated in 1986 when he was appointed as prefect of the Pontifical Household. John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1998.

  "Cardinal Monduzzi, after a long human and priestly journey, now reaches the heavenly homeland, which is promised to those who spend their lives in the service of God and their fellows," said the Holy Father. "He worked for the Kingdom of heaven, considering his encounters with others as precious opportunities to arouse a sense of nostalgia for the things of heaven and love for the Church. ... As prefect of the Pontifical Household he had the chance to meet the most powerful men on earth, whom he welcomed with the courtesy, warmth and sympathy that arose from his strong faith and from his origins."

  The Pope concluded his homily by recalling how Cardinal Monduzzi drew "constant inspiration" from his motto "Patientiam praeficere caritati." In all circumstances "he discovered in the virtue of patience the best way to conform his life to Christ, bearing difficulties and suffering, and seeking to show charity to everyone."
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