AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Lawrence Gonzi, prime minister of Malta, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

 - Six prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Orazio Soricelli of Amalfi-Cava ce' Tirreni.

    - Bishop Gioacchino Illiano of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.

    - Bishop Angelo Spinillo of Teggiano-Policastro.

    - Bishop Giuseppe Rocco Favale of Vallo della Lucania.

    - Bishop Carlo Liberati, prelate of Pompei and pontifical delegate for the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary.

    - Dom Benedetto Maria Salvatore Chianetta O.S.B., abbot of Holy Trinity Abbey of Cava de'Tirreni.

  This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches.
AP:AL/.../...                                VIS 20070118 (140)

BRIEFING ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF ECUMENISM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - During a meeting due to be held in the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on January 23, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will hold a briefing for journalists on the current state of ecumenism, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Also participating in the event will be Bishop Brian Farrell and Msgr, Eleuterio F. Fortino, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.
OP/ECUMENISM/KASPER                        VIS 20070118 (100)

MEETING ON THE SITUATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, JAN 18, 2007 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. has made it known that on Friday January 19 and Saturday January 20, a meeting will be held in the Vatican to consider the situation of the Catholic Church in China. The event will be presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
OP/MEETING CHURCH CHINA/BERTONE            VIS 20070118 (80)