DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorised the congregation to promulgate the following decrees:

MIRACLES

 - Blessed Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (nee Juana Josefa), Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (1845-1912).

 - Servant of God John Henry Newman, English cardinal and founder of the Oratories of St. Philip Neri in England (1801-1890).

 - Servant of God Angelo Paoli (ne Francesco), Italian professed priest of the Order of
Carmelites of the Strict Observance (1642-1720).

 - Servant of God Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas (nee Soultaneh Maria), co-foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem (1843-1927).

MARTYRDOM

 - Servant of God Jose Samso i Elias, Spanish diocesan priest, pastor and archpriest of Santa Maria de Mataro, killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain (1887-1936).

 - Servant of God Teofilo Fernandez de Legaria Goni (ne Beniamino) and four companions, professed priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (PICPUS), killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

 - Servant of God Georg Hafner, German diocesan priest, killed in hatred of the faith in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany (1900-1942).

 - Servant of God Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi, Hungarian titular bishop of Sinope and auxiliary of Esztergom, killed in hatred of the faith at Kistarcsa, Hungary (1892-1951).

HEROIC VIRTUES

 - Servant of God Engelmar Unzeitig (ne Uberto), German professed priest of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill (1911-1945).

 - Servant of God Anna Maria Janer Anglarill, Spanish foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family of Urgell (1800-1885).

 - Servant of God Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu Micheli (ne Clotilde), Italian foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Angels (1849-1911).

 - Servant of God Teresa Manganiello, Italian laywoman of the Third Order of St. Francis (1849-1876).
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PROGRAMME OF POPE'S TRIP TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) - The programme of the Holy Father's forthcoming trip to the Czech Republic, due to take place from 26 to 28 September, was made public today.

  The Pope will depart from Rome's Ciampino airport at 9.20 a.m. on Saturday 26 September, and is due to land in Prague two hours later. At 12.30 p.m. he will visit the city's Church of Our Lady Victorious where he will venerate the image of the "Infant Jesus of Prague". That afternoon he will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Czech Republic in the presidential palace and, at 5 p.m., meet with the political and civil authorities and members of the diplomatic corps. The Holy Father's day will end at 6 p.m. with the celebration of first Vespers at the cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert, where he will address priests, religious, seminarians and members of lay movements.

  On the morning of Sunday 27 September, the Pope will travel to Brno where he will celebrate Mass and pray the Angelus at the local Tufany airport. Returning to the archbishopric of Prague, at 5.15 p.m. he will meet with ecumenical representatives while at 6 p.m. he is due to address members of the academic community at Prague Castle.

  On Monday 28 September, the Holy Father will travel to Stara Boleslav to visit the church of St. Wenceslas. At 9.45 a.m. he will celebrate Mass for the feast day of that saint, who is also the country's patron, and address a message to young people. Returning to Prague, the Holy Father will lunch with bishops of the Czech Republic at the archbishopric of Prague, then travel to Stara Ruzyne airport. His return flight is due to depart at 5.45 p.m. and to land at Ciampino airport in Rome at 7.50 p.m.
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ANALYSIS OF THE TOMB OF ST. PAUL

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this morning Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, and Professor Ulderico Santamaria, director of the scientific laboratory of the Vatican Museums, hosted a presentation on the sarcophagus of St. Paul.

  Cardinal Cordero explained how two years ago he had suggested to the Pope that the tomb of St. Paul be subject to a scientific examination. Benedict XVI accepted the proposal but ordered that the outcome only be announced at the end of the Pauline Year. Hence it was necessary to keep the results secret until then.

  Professor Santamaria dwelt on the technical aspects of the survey, explaining how a small hole was made in the sarcophagus through which a probe was then introduced. Fragments of blue linen, purple linen interwoven with gold thread, grains of red incense and bone fragments were discovered. Carbon dating on organic elements from these finds suggest that they belong to a person who lived in the first or second centuries. "This", the Pope said on 28 June during the closing ceremony for the Pauline Year, "seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul, and it fills our heart with profound emotion".

  The cardinal also explained how the Pope does not exclude the possibility of undertaking a more detailed examination of the sarcophagus of St. Paul. However, he went on, the Holy Father did not wish this to take place during the Pauline Year because, in order to open the sarcophagus, it would be necessary to dismantle the papal altar and the thirteenth-century baldachin by Arnolfo di Cambio which, he concluded, would be a difficult and delicate task.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada.

 - Fifteen prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Vietnam, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man, archbishop of Thanh-Pho Ho Chi Minh, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Joseph Vu Duy Thong and Pierre Nguyen Van Kham.

    - Bishop Michel Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum.

    - Bishop Paul Nguyen Van Hoa of Nha Trang, accompanied by Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Vo Duc Minh.

    - Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tram of Ba Ria.

    - Bishop Pierre Nuguen Van Nhon of Da Lat.

    - Bishop Joseph Tran Xuan Tieu of Long Xuyen.

    - Bishop Paul Bui Van Doc of My Tho.

    - Bishop Paul Nguyen Thanh Hoan of Phan Thiet.

    - Bishop Pierre Tran Dinh Tu of Phu Cuong.

    - Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan of Vinh Long.

    - Bishop Dominique Nguyen Chu Trinh of Xuan Loc.

    - Bishop Stephanus Tri Buu Thioen, coadjutor of Can Tho.
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