OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Msgr. Jesus Gonzalez de Zarate of the clergy of the archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela, vicar general, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 790, population 4,150,000, Catholics 3,528,000, priests 559, permanent deacons 13, religious 2,062). The bishop-elect was born in Cumana, Venezuela in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1986.

 - Accepted the resignation from the office of apostolic nuncio to Germany presented by Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender.

 - Appointed Archbishop Jean-Claude Perisset, apostolic nuncio to Romania and to Moldova, as apostolic nuncio to Germany.

  On Saturday, October 13, it was made public that he:

 - Accepted the resignation from the office of president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, presented by Archbishop Justo Mullor Garcia, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Archbishop Beniamino Stella, apostolic nuncio to Colombia, as president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

 - Accepted the resignation from the office of vice-president of the Central Labor Office of the Holy See, presented by Archbishop Giovanni De Andrea.

 - Appointed Bishop Franco Croci, former secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as vice-president of the Central Labor Office of the Holy See.

 - Appointed Msgr. Massimo Boarotto, bureau chief at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as delegate of the Ordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

 - Appointed Msgr. Gianpietro Rampin, official of the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, as bureau chief for the archives of the contemporary period in the Vatican Secret Archives.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences eight prelates from the Episcopal Conference of the Congo on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Anatole Milandou of Brazzaville.

    - Bishop Louis Portella Mbuyu of Kinkala.

    - Bishop Daniel Mizonzo of Nkayi, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Bernard Nsayi.

    - Fr. Yves Marie Monot C.S.Sp., apostolic administrator of Ouesso, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Herve Itoua.

    - Bishop Jean-Claude Makaya Loemba of Pointe-Noire.

    - Fr. Jean Gardin C.S.Sp., apostolic prefect of Likouala.

  On Saturday, October 13, he received in audience Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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CONCLUSION OF PLENARY OF CATHOLIC-ORTHODOX COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2007 (VIS) - The 10th plenary assembly of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, held in the Italian city of Ravenna last week, came to an end yesterday.

  During the gathering, the Catholic and Orthodox members of the commission turned their attention to the theme of "the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of the sacramental nature of the Church - conciliarity and sinodality in the Church," and approved a joint document.

 A communique made public at the end of the plenary assembly affirmed that "the delegate of the Patriarchate of Moscow presented the decision of his Church to withdraw from the meeting of the commission because of the presence thereon of delegates from the Church of Estonia, which has been declared 'autonomous' by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a status not recognized by the Patriarchate of Moscow." This happened "despite the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the agreement of all the Orthodox members present, had offered a compromise solution, that of recording the non-recognition by the Patriarchate of Moscow of the autonomous Church of Estonia."

  The theme of the next plenary session, the date and location of which are shortly to be decided, is: "The role of the bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church in the first millennium."
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APPEAL FOR LIBERATION OF TWO PRIESTS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2007 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope made an appeal for the liberation of two Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq.

 "Serious news of attacks and violence continues to arrive daily from Iraq," he said, "shaking the conscience of all people who have the good of that country and the peace of the region to heart. Among this news, I learned today of the kidnapping of two good priests of the Syrian Catholic archdiocese of Mosul, who have been threatened with death.

  "I appeal to the kidnappers to release the two religious immediately and, in underlining once again that violence does not resolve tensions, I raise to the Lord a heartfelt prayer for their liberation, for all those suffering from violence, and for peace."
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FAITH IS EXPRESSED THROUGH GRATITUDE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2007 (VIS) - Today at midday, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with thousands of pilgrims gathered below in St. Peter's Square.

  The Pope commented on today's Gospel reading of the cleansing of ten lepers, of whom just one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus for having cured him. "Complete and radical healing is 'salvation'," said the Holy Father. "Everyday language itself, by distinguishing between 'health' and 'salvation,' helps us to understand that salvation is much more than health: it is, in fact, new, full and definitive life. Furthermore, here, as in other circumstances, Jesus uses the expression: 'your faith has made you well.'

  "It is faith that saves man," he added, "re-establishing him in his profound relationship with God, with himself and with others; and faith is expressed through gratitude. People who, like the healed Samaritan, know how to give thanks, show that they do not consider everything their due, but as a gift which, even when it reaches them through man or through nature, comes in the final instance from God."

  Benedict XVI went on: "The leprosy that truly defaces mankind and society is sin; it is pride and egoism that generate indifference, hatred and violence in the human soul. This leprosy of the spirit which disfigures the face of humanity can only be healed by God, Who is Love. By opening their hearts to God, people who convert are internally healed from evil."

  The Holy Father then went on to recall the apparitions of the Virgin Mary from May 13 to October 13, 1917 in Fatima, Portugal, where Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. today presided at a celebration in the Pope's name marking that anniversary. "We ask the Virgin Mary," said Benedict XVI, "that all Christians may receive the gift of true conversion, so as to announce and bear witness coherently and faithfully to the perennial evangelical message, which shows humanity the path of authentic peace."
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SACRED MUSIC: AN INTEGRAL PART OF LITURGY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, Benedict XVI visited the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, the headquarters of which has recently been completely refurbished, at the initiative of the Holy See and thanks to the support of various benefactors including the "Fondazione pro Musica Sacra e Arte Sacra."

  At his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and chancellor of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, and by Msgr. Valentin Miserachs Grau, president of the institute. The Holy Father paused a few moments before the Blessed Sacrament in the institute's church before moving on to the library, which has also been restored recently.

  In his brief address Benedict XVI highlighted the fact that sacred music, as Vatican Council II had made clear, "is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy."

  John Paul II, said Pope Benedict, "observed that today, as always, three characteristics distinguish sacred music: its 'sanctity,' its 'true art,' and its 'universality,' in other words the fact that it can be presented to any people or assembly.

  "Precisely for this reason," he added, "the ecclesial authorities must undertake to guide ... the development of such an important form of music, not by 'freezing' its heritage but by seeking to combine the legacy of the past with the worthwhile novelties of the present, so as to achieve a synthesis worthy of the exalted mission [sacred music] has in the service of God.

  "I am certain, "Benedict XVI concluded, "that the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, in harmony with Congregation for Divine Worship, will not fail to contribute to an 'aggiornamento' ... of the precious traditions of which sacred music is so rich."
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