IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2007 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

 - Cardinal Angelo Felici, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei," on June 24, at the age of 87.

 - Bishop Yves-Marie Guy Dubigeon, emeritus of Sees, France, on June 24 at the age of 80.

 - Bishop Rudolf Maria Koppmann O.M.I., apostolic vicar of Windhoek, Namibia, on June 24 at the age of 94.

 - Bishop Jacques Mbali, emeritus of Buta, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on June 24 at the age of 86.

 - Archbishop Adrian Mung'andu, emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia, on June 25 at the age of 87.

 - Archbishop Alojzij Sustar, emeritus of Ljubljana, Slovenia, on June 29 at the age of 86.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Fr. Emmanuel Kanyama of the clergy of the diocese of Dedza, Malawi, pastor and professor in the philosophical seminary of Kachebere, as bishop of Dedza (area 4,250, population 1,562,386, Catholics 449,632, priests 37, religious 108). The bishop-elect was born in Dedza in 1962 and ordained a priest in 1990.

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Lilongwe, Malawi, presented by Felix Eugenio Mkhori, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie M. Afr.
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POPE ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR WYD

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2007 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience, the Pope addressed young people who are currently preparing for the next World Youth Day (WYD), due to be held in July 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

  Speaking English, the Holy Father encouraged the young people "to prepare well for this marvelous celebration of the faith. ... Enter fully into the life of your parishes and participate enthusiastically in diocesan events! In this way you will be equipped spiritually to experience new depths of understanding of all that we believe when we gather in Sydney next July."

  "I know that already the ecclesial and government authorities, together with numerous young Australians, are working very hard to ensure an exceptional experience for us all. I offer them my heartfelt thanks.

  "World Youth Day is much more than an event," Pope Benedict added. "It is a time of deep spiritual renewal, the fruits of which benefit the whole of society."

  "Some of you have friends with little real purpose in their lives, perhaps caught up in a futile search for endless new experiences. Bring them to World Youth Day too! In fact, I have noticed that against the tide of secularism many young people are rediscovering the satisfying quest for authentic beauty, goodness and truth. Through your witness you help them in their search for the Spirit of God."

  The Holy Father concluded: "Be courageous in that witness! Strive to spread Christ's guiding light, which gives purpose to all life, making lasting joy and happiness possible for everyone."
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BASIL: LIGHT OF THE CHURCH AND WITNESS OF GOD'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2007 (VIS) - St. Basil, defined in Byzantine liturgical texts as a "light of the Church," was the subject of the Holy Father's catechesis during today's general audience. The audience, attended by 12,000 people, was held in the Vatican Basilica then continued in the Paul VI Hall.

  St. Basil, the Pope explained, was born in the 4th century. "Dissatisfied with his worldly successes and ... attracted by Christ, ... he dedicated himself to a monastic life in prayer ... and in the practice of charity." The Church in both East and West, he added, "looks to him admiringly for the sanctity of his life, the excellence of his doctrine and the harmonic blend of his intellectual and practical gifts."

  "Through his preaching and writing," this saint, who became bishop Caesarea in 370, "undertook an intense pastoral, theological and literary activity" and "supported the foundation of many 'fraternities' or communities of Christians consecrated to God, whom he visited frequently."

  St. Basil "is one of the fathers of monasticism. ... He created a special form of monasticism, not closed to the local church community but open to it. ... His monks formed part of the particular Church, the driving nucleus that preceded the faithful in discipleship of Christ, and not only in faith ... and love, ... but also through works of charity. The monks ran schools and hospitals and served the poor, thus demonstrating the integrity of their Christian life."

  "As bishop and pastor of his vast diocese, Basil was constantly concerned by the difficult conditions in which his faithful lived, firmly denouncing all evils. ... And he would intervene with government leaders to alleviate the sufferings of the people. ... He safeguarded the freedom of the Church, opposing even the powerful in order to defend the right to profess the true faith." St. Basil, who bore witness to the fact that "God is love and charity," also founded various institutions for the most needy, which became a model for modern hospitals.

  While maintaining his concern with charity as a sign of faith, Basil "considered the liturgy as the focus of his life," and "was also a wise liturgical reformer. ... At his encouragement, the people came to know and love the Psalms. ... He was able to oppose heretics ... and dedicated his energies to healing divisions within the Church."

  "Following a plan he himself had devised, he became apostle and minister of Christ, ... herald of the Kingdom of God, model and rule of piety, ... pastor of Christ's flock, pious doctor, father and nurse, God's helper and laborer, builder of the Lord's temple.

  "This," the Pope concluded, "is the plan that the holy bishop passes on to us, especially to those who announce the Word. He was a man ... who showed us how to be truly Christian."
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