PLENARY ASSEMBLY ON EMIGRANT AND ITINERANT FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, 13 MAY 2008 (VIS) - "The emigrant and itinerant family" is the theme of the 18th plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, which was inaugurated this morning by Cardinal Renato Martino, president of that dicastery.

  In his opening address, the cardinal drew from the most recent documents published by the pontifical council, in order to illustrate the pastoral guidelines it follows in the various areas in which it undertakes its mission.

  A communique released by the council explains that the plenary - which is being held in the Vatican from 13 to 15 May - is to be attended by 26 members, including cardinals, archbishops and bishops from various countries, and by 14 consultors, also of various nationalities, specialists in the various aspects of human mobility with which the council concerns itself. These aspects, listed by the communique, are: emigrants, refugees and displaced persons, foreign students, nomads, circus workers, tourists and pilgrims, seafarers, airport workers, drivers, women and children who live on the streets, and people of no fixed abode.

  Over these days the plenary assembly is also scheduled to include testimonies from people who work directly with families in certain sectors of human mobility, from various countries: Australia, U.S.A., Colombia, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
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HOLY SEE WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE IN LATIN

VATICAN CITY, 13 MAY 2008 (VIS) - As of 9 May, the Holy See website may also be accessed in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church.

  Alongside the other languages in which the website (www.vatican.va) has been available for many years (Italian, German, Spanish, French, English and Portuguese), a new option, "Sancta Sedes Latine", has now been added. Clinking on that link, users reach the "Documenta Latina" page where they may chose from a menu including: biographies of Popes ("Summi Pontifices"), the Bible ("Biblia Sacra"), the Catechism ("Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae"), the documents of Vatican Council II ("Concilium Vaticanum II"), and the Code of Canon Law ("Codex Iuris Canonici"). There is also a section entitled "Romana Curia" where documents concerning the activities of the dicasteries of the Holy See may be consulted.

  Also under "Romana Curia" is a subsection dedicated to "Latinitas", a foundation created in 1976 by Pope Paul VI with the Chirograph "Romani sermonis" and dedicated to the study of the Latin language, of classical and Christian literature and medieval Latin, and to the promotion of Latin through the publishing of books in the language, and through other means.
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CALENDARS WITH PHOTOS OF JOHN PAUL II AND BENEDICT XVI

VATICAN CITY, 13 MAY 2008 (VIS) - The photographic service of the "Osservatore Romano" newspaper has produced two versions of a calendar for 2009, each containing 13 photos. One version has photos from the pontificate of Benedict XVI, the other from that of Servant of God John Paul II.

  The photographs (42 x 30 cm) are not associated with particular events or identified by a specific time and place. Rather they represent - according to a communique accompanying the release of the calendars - a small gallery of the finest available close-up images of the two Popes, which may even be cut out and framed.

  The calendars have been produced by the Vatican Publishing House, they cost five euros each and may be purchased in the offices of the photographic service of the "Osservatore Romano", in the Vatican, or in the main newspaper kiosks and bookshops nearby. They may also be ordered by e-mail by contacting the address: photo@ossrom.va.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 13 MAY 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, apostolic nuncio to the Central African Republic and Chad, as apostolic nuncio to Costa Rica.
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