OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop John Hung Shan-chuan S.V.D. of Kiayi, Taiwan, as archbishop of Taipei (area 4,590, population 7,206,365, Catholics 84,575, priests 258, religious 678), Taiwan. The archbishop-elect was born in Penghu, Taiwan in 1943, he was ordained a priest in 1973 and consecrated a bishop in 2006. He succeeds Archbishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Brazil, president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), accompanied by Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Merida, Venezuela, and Archishop Andres Stanovnik O.F.M. Cap. of Corrientes, Argentina, vice-presidents, and by Bishop Victor Sanchez Espinosa, auxiliary of Mexico, Mexico, and Bishop Emilio Aranguren Echeverria of Holguin, Cuba, respectively secretary general of CELAM and president of the economic committee of that episcopal council.

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

    - Bishop Ilidio Pinto Leandro of Viseu.

    - Archbishop Maurilio Jorge Quintal de Gouveia of Evora, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Amandio Jose Tomas.

    - Bishop Antonio Vitalino Fernandes Dantas O. Carm. of Beja.

    - Bishop Manuel Neto Quintas S.C.I. of Faro, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Manuel Madureira Dias.

  This evening the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in separate audiences four prelates from the Portuguese Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Manuel da Rocha Felicio of Guarda, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Antonio dos Santos.

    - Bishop Gilberto Delio Goncalves Canavarro dos Reis of Setubal.

    - Bishop Januario Torgal Mendes Ferreira, military ordinary.

  Yesterday evening, he received in audience Giovanni Maria Vian and Carlo di Cecco, respectively director and vice-director of "L'Osservatore Romano."
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IN BRIEF

ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, yesterday participated in the fourth committee of the U.N. General Assembly which met to reflect on the activities of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Speaking English, the prelate highlighted how "the centrality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the continuing instability in the Middle East and its impact on the whole international community cannot be ignored. ... My delegation remains convinced that the two-State solution has the best chance to settle the crisis. ... While the international community can only do so much in providing all the support needed to bring together those in conflict, it is indispensable that the parties must set aside the pretense of peace-making and start full negotiations for a two-State solution."
 
ON NOVEMBER 8, DURING THE 62ND SESSION OF THE U.N. General Assembly, which is meeting to consider the report of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Archbishop Celestino Migliore expressed his concern over the plight of people forced by various causes to leave their homes, "especially when they move across frontiers of countries or regions with rigid migration policies. Concerns increase when doubts arise regarding the applicability of existing international instruments, or when no legal instruments of protection exits. It seems therefore urgent to consider a coordinated international effort, with a view to seeking greater clarity in existing legal instruments of protection or, if need be, to establishing new ones."
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UNITING MATURITY IN FAITH WITH STUDY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Benedict XVI received a delegation from the Italian Catholic University Federation (FUCI) for the occasion of the organization's 110 anniversary.

  FUCI, said the Pope, "has contributed to the formation of entire generations of exemplary Christians who have proved capable of translating the Gospel into life and with life, dedicating themselves in the cultural, civil, social and ecclesial fields." In this context he recalled Blesseds Piergiorgio Frassati and Alberto Marvelli, the Italian politicians Aldo Moro and Vittorio Bachelet, "both barbarously murdered," and Paul VI "who was the principal ecclesiastical assistant to FUCI during the difficult years of fascism."

  "In the mid 1990s," the Holy Father went on, "the academic system in Italy underwent a radical reformation, and today has an entirely different aspect, full of promise for the future but also having elements that give rise to legitimate concern."

  "It is precisely in this field that FUCI can, even today, fully express its original and ever-valid charism: a convinced witness to the 'possible friendship' between knowledge and faith. This involves incessant efforts to unite maturity in faith with growth through study and the acquisition of academic knowledge."

  "Study," said Benedict XVI, "also represents a providential opportunity to progress along the road of faith, because well-cultivated intelligence opens man's heart to listening to the voice of God, highlighting the importance of discernment and humility."

  "Today as in the past, people who wish to be Christ's disciples are called to go against the tide" and not to let themselves be influenced by messages that propagate "arrogance and the achievement of success at all costs.

  "In modern society," the Holy Father added, "there exists a race, sometimes a desperate race, towards appearance and possession at all costs, at the expense, unfortunately, of being. The Church, teacher of humanity, never tires of exhorting people, especially the young of whom you are a part, to remain watchful and not to fear choosing 'alternative' paths which only Christ can indicate."

  "Jesus calls all His friends to live in sobriety and solidarity, to create sincere and disinterested emotional relationships with others. From you, dear young students, He asks for honest commitment to study, cultivating a mature sense of responsibility and a shared interest in the common good. May your years at university be, then, training for a convinced and courageous evangelical witness. And to realize your mission, seek to cultivate an intimate friendship with the divine Master, enrolling yourselves in the school of Mary, Seat of Learning."
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