IN BRIEF

MSGR. FRANCESCO FOLLO, HOLY SEE permanent observer to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), delivered an address on October 22 during the 34th UNESCO general conference, being held in Paris, France, from October 16 to November 3. In his talk, which was made public yesterday afternoon, Msgr. Follo highlighted such factors as the integral education of people, recognition of the religious dimension in the public sphere, urban development and the protection of the environment.

ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE, HOLY SEE permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, made a speech on October 19 before the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly concerning the role of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) in this its seventh year of existence. NEPAD was founded by the heads of State of South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria and Egypt, and one of its primary objectives, noted Archbishop Migliore, "is to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy."
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PRESENTATION OF "PROCESSUS CONTRA TEMPLARIOS"

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2007 (VIS) - At 11.30 a.m. this morning in the Vatican's Old Synod Hall, the presentation took place of the book "Processus Contra Templarios," the third volume of the Vatican Secret Archives' "Exemplaria Praetiosa" series, which is being issued in collaboration with the Scrinium publishing house.

  The book contains facsimile copies of the original acts of the hearing against the Knights Templar (1308-1311) which are kept in the Vatican Secret Archives, while an accompanying volume contains a critical edition of the transcription of the acts (from Schottmuller's transcription of 1877). The new book has a print run of just 799 copies and has already been ordered by collectors, scholars and libraries from all over the world.

  "Processus Contra Templarios" was presented by Archbishop Raffaele Farina S.D.B., archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church; Bishop Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives; Barbara Frale and Marco Maiorino, officials of the Vatican Secret Archives; Franco Cardini, a professor of mediaeval history; Valerio Massimo Manfredi, an author and archaeologist; and Ferdinando Santoro, president of Scrinium."
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HOLY SEE AND BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: AGREEMENT RATIFIED

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Zeljko Komsic, president of the rotating Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, exchanged the instruments of ratification of the Basic Agreement between the Holy See and Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in Sarajevo on April 19, 2006, and its Additional Protocol, signed on September 29 of the same year. Both documents come into effect today.

 According to a communique made public today, among those present at the ceremony were, for the Holy See, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna and president of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and Msgr. Pietro Parolin, respectively secretary and under-secretary for Relations with States. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, those present included Sven Alkalaj, minister for foreign affairs, and Miroslav Palameta, ambassador to the Holy See.

  In his address, Cardinal Bertone affirmed that with the signing ceremony "the norms approved in the Basic Agreement come into force, ... by which certain provisions of joint interest concerning the life and activity of the Catholic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been defined. They particularly refer to the recognition of the juridical status of the Catholic Church and her institutions in ... civil society, of her independence to worship and practice the apostolate, and of the specific contribution she makes in the cultural, educational, pastoral, military, ... and charitable fields, as well as in the country's mass media."
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BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

  "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Zeljko Komsic, president of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, for the exchange of the instruments of ratification of the Basic Agreement and the Additional Protocol between the Holy See and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also present was Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna.

  "During the cordial discussions consideration was given to questions concerning the implementation of the Agreement itself, and in particular to the Church's commitment in the fields of education, social and charitable activities, and pastoral assistance to the Catholic faithful. The Catholic community's contribution in favor of the peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic and religious groups in the country was also underlined.

  "President Komsic invited the Holy Father to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 25, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

 - Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, archbishop emeritus of Kampala, Uganda, accompanied by an entourage.

 - Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Gabon, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Basile Mve Engone S.D.B. of Libreville.

    - Bishop Timothee Modibo-Nzockena of Franceville.

    - Dominique Bonnet C.S.Sp. of Mouila.
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