OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Munchen und Freising, Germany, presented by Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Limburg, Germany, presented by Bishop Franz Kamphaus, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Bishop Abraham Escudero Montoya of Espinal, Colombia, as bishop of Palmira (area 4,796, population 711,000, Catholics 610,000, priests 71, religious 144), Colombia.
RE:NER/.../WETTER:KAMPHAUS:ESCUDERO                    VIS 20070202 (90)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
AP/.../...                                VIS 20070202 (40)

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY-APRIL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided over by the Holy Father between the months of February and April.

FEBRUARY

- Wednesday 21, Ash Wednesday. In the basilica of Santa Sabina at 5 p.m., blessing and imposition of the ashes.

- Sunday 25, first Sunday of Lent At 6 p.m. in the Apostolic Palace's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, beginning of the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

MARCH

- Saturday 3. At 9 a.m. in the Apostolic Palace's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

- Sunday, 25, fifth Sunday of Lent. Pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Felicity and her martyr children. At 9.30 a.m., celebration of the Eucharist.

- Thursday 29. At 5.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential celebration with young people from the diocese of Rome.

APRIL

- Sunday 1, Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, blessing of palms, procession and Mass.

- Monday 2. In the Vatican Basilica at 5.30 p.m., Mass for Pope John Paul II.

- Thursday 5, Holy Thursday. In the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m., Chrism Mass. In the Basilica of St. John Lateran at 5.30 p.m., the beginning of the Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.

- Friday 6, Good Friday. In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m., celebration of the Lord's Passion. Way of the Cross at the Colosseum at 9.15 p.m.

- Saturday 7, Holy Saturday. Easter vigil at 10 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica.

- Sunday 8, Easter Sunday. Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10.30 a.m. At midday, from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

- Sunday 15, second Sunday of Easter. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Mass for the 80th birthday of Benedict XVI (born on April 16, 1927).

- Saturday 21 - Sunday 22, pastoral visit to Vigevano and Pavia, Italy.

- Sunday 29, fourth Sunday of Easter. At 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordination of deacons from the diocese of Rome.

RITES OF BEATIFICATION APPROVED BY THE HOLY FATHER (APRIL)

- Saturday 14. At 3.30 p.m. in the church of the Holy Countenance in Turin, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Luigi Boccardo.

- Sunday 15, second Sunday of Easter. At 10.30 a.m. in the cathedral of Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Maria Maddalena della Passione (nee Costanza Starace).

- Sunday 29, fourth Sunday of Easter. At 10.30 a.m. in the cathedral of Rimini, Italy, beatification of Servant of God Maria Rosa Pellesi.
OCL/CALENDAR:FEBRUARY-APRIL/...                VIS 20070202 (450)

CARDINAL JAVIERRE SERVED THE CHURCH FAITHFULLY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today, at the altar of the Cathedra in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope presided at the funeral of Cardinal Antonio Maria Javierre Ortas S.D.B., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, who died yesterday in Rome a few weeks before his 86th birthday.

  In his homily, the Holy Father affirmed that the late Spanish cardinal, following the example of Don Bosco, would have wanted to live his Salesian vocation in direct contact with young people, in the mission lands, but Providence called him to other duties. Thus he became an apostle in the universities and in the Roman Curia, although without missing an occasion to continue his intense spiritual activity ... in the field of theology and in the wider field of culture, especially by animating groups of teachers and religious, and as chaplain to university students. His service to the Church was faithful and generous, always willing and cordial."

  "Cardinal Javierre Ortas," he continued, "wanted his personal life and his ecclesial mission to be a message of hope. Through his apostolate, following the example of St. John Bosco, he strove to communicate to everyone that Christ is always with us. How often did he - son of the land of St. Theresa and of St. John of the Cross - pray in his heart: 'Nada te turbe, / nada te espante. / Quien a Dios tiene / nada le falta / ... / Solo Dios basta'."

  "As a worthy son of Don Bosco," the cardinal "was profoundly devoted to the Virgin Mary, whom he loved and venerated as Our Lady of Help. He sought to imitate the manner of discreet and generous service of the Madonna, 'Ancilla Domini.' He left his functions as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 'on tiptoe,' in order to dedicate himself to another function, one that must never be abandoned: that of prayer."
HML/FUNERAL/JAVIERRE                    VIS 20070202 (340)