MASS IN ST. PAUL'S OUTSIDE-THE-WALLS FOR OPENING OF SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, 23 SEP 2008 (VIS) - The Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced in a communique made public today that at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday 5 October, in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, the Holy Father will concelebrate the Eucharist with the Synod Fathers for the opening of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will have as its theme: "Verbum Domini in vita et missione Ecclesiae".
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EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS: 28 SEPTEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 23 SEP 2008 (VIS) - The Holy See will once again participate in the celebration of European Heritage Days, an initiative of the Council of Europe in which more than 40 countries on the continent take part. The celebrations this year will take place on Sunday 28 September and have as their theme: "European Heritage for Inter-cultural Dialogue".

  A communique made public today explains that the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, the Vatican Museums and the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology are all collaborating in the event.

  On 28 September visitors will be able enter to the Vatican Museums free of charge. Entrance to all catacombs in Rome that are normally open to the public will also be free.

  On the same day a photographic exhibition will be inaugurated at the San Callisto Catacombs on the Old Appian Way. The exhibition is entitled "Customs and Grave Goods of Rome in Late Antiquity: Christian, Pagan and Jewish tombs compared", and will remain open until 28 October.
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ADAPTING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO THE REALITY OF AFRICA

VATICAN CITY, 23 SEP 2008 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, head of the Holy See delegation to the 63rd session of the U.N. General Assembly, yesterday participated in a high-level meeting on the subject: "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward".

  "The successes obtained in the consolidation of independence, in the overcoming of the ideological conflicts of the twentieth century, in the abolition of apartheid, and more recently in the strengthening of the African Union and of many other regional structures of co-operation are a sign of hope in the potential of Africa", said the archbishop speaking English. "It is now high time to allow and encourage an African sense of ownership in leading a sustained and sustainable developmental process that frees all the peoples of Africa from the scourge of extreme poverty".

  "The Holy See ... encourages the participants in this high-level meeting to continue efforts to adapt the development programs to the reality of Africa and achieve an authentic partnership, in which African countries are not simply a receiver of ideas and aid programmed from the outside, but a true agent of their own development".
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