POPE RECEIVES THE KING OF BAHRAIN

VATICAN CITY, 9 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI received in audience King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, according to a communique released by the Holy See Press Office. The sovereign subsequently went on to meet with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "In the course of the discussions, which took place in a cordial atmosphere", the text reads, "the Vatican authorities had the opportunity to thank the king for the welcome he has shown to many Christian immigrants.

  "Emphasis was given to the shared commitment in favour of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, and to the importance of collaboration between Christians, Muslims and Jews for the promotion - in the Middle East and throughout the world - of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values. The king invited the Holy Father to visit his country".
OP/AUDIENCE/BAHRAIN:AL-KHALIFA                VIS 20080709 (160)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 9 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Bishop David L. Ricken of Cheyenne, U.S.A., as bishop of Green Bay (area 27,775, population 1,008,000, Catholics 373,000, priests 293, permanent deacons 137, religious 698), U.S.A.

 - Appointed Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He succeeds Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J., professor of dogmatic theology at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University and secretary general of the International Theological Commission, as secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Manacor, Spain in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1973.
NER:NA/.../...                                VIS 20080709 (160)