IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2007 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

 - Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler S.D.B., archivist and librarian emeritus of Holy Roman Church, on December 12 at the age of 97.

- Bishop Gaetano Michetti of Pesaro, Italy, on December 12 at the age of 85.

- Bishop Roger Mpungu, emeritus of Muyinga, Burundi, on December 6 at the age of 83.

- Bishop Henri Salina of the Canons Regular of the Swiss Congregation of Saint-Maurice, former abbot of the territorial abbey of Saint-Maurice, Switzerland, on December 3 at the age of 80.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Gaspard Beby Gneba, professor of spiritual theology and liturgy at the "Notre Dame" major theological seminary of Gagnoa, Ivory Coast, as bishop of Man (area 30,750, population 1,500,000, Catholics 76,200, priests 33, religious 47), Ivory Coast. The bishop-elect was born in Tehiri Guitry, Ivory Coast in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1992. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Niangoran Teky, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday morning, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes:

MIRACLES

 - Servant of God Michael Spocko, Polish priest (1888-1975).

 - Servant of God James Ghazir Haddad (ne Khalil), Lebanese professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins and founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Cross in Lebanon (1875-1954).

 - Servant of God Maria Maddalena dell'Incarnazione Sordini (nee Caterina), Italian foundress of the Order of Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (died 1824).

 - Servant of God Jeanne Emilie de Villeneuve, French foundress of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1811-1854).

 - Servant of God Vincenza Maria Poloni (ne Luigia), Italian foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona (1802-1855).

 - Servant of God Maria Giuseppina di Gesu Crocefisso Catanea (nee Giuseppina), Italian professed nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (1896-1948).

HEROIC VIRTUES

 - Servant of God Francesco Mottola, Italian priest and founder of the Secular Institute of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart (1901-1969).

 - Servant of God Serafino Morazzone, Italian priest (1747-1822).

 - Servant of God Raphael Louis Rafiringa, Madagascan professed religious of the Institute of Brothers of Christian Schools (1856-1919).

 - Servant of God Stephen Nehme (ne Joseph), Lebanese professed religious of the Order of Maronites (1889-1938).

 - Servant of God Anna Maria Marovich, Italian member of the Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Immaculate (1815-1887).

 - Servant of God Maria Piera De Micheli (nee Giuseppa Maria), Italian professed sister of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Buenos Aires (1890-1945).

 - Servant of God Manuel Lozano Garrido, Spanish lay person, (1920-1971).

 - Servant of God Antonia Meo (known as Nennolina), Italian person (1930-1937).
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