TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE FOR PLANE CRASH IN NORTHERN IRAN

VATICAN CITY, 16 JUL 2009 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. sent the following English-language telegram of condolence, in the Holy Father's name, to Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio to Iran, for the 168 victims of yesterday's plane crash in that country:

"Saddened by news of the great loss of life in the air tragedy over Jannatabad near Qazvin, the Holy Father offers heartfelt condolences to the civil authorities and the families of the victims. He prays for the eternal repose of the dead and implores the almighty and merciful God's gifts of comfort and strength on those who mourn the loss of their loved ones".

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SPECIAL OPENING OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

VATICAN CITY, 16 JUL 2009 (VIS) - On Friday 24 July, the Vatican Museums will remain open to the public in the evening and night.

On that day the Museum will remain open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last visitors being admitted at 9.30 p.m. Visitors will be able to enjoy the sight of the sunset over St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens from the Courtyard of the Cuirasses and from the windows of the Gallery of Maps. They will also have access to the Rooms of Raphael and to the Sistine Chapel, and be able to wander through the galleries of the Vatican Apostolic Library in the twilight.

It is obligatory to book this special visit in advance at the following address: http://mv.vatican.va/2_IT/pages/MV_Home.html. Booking costs four euros, while the entrance fee will be the usual 14 euros full price, 8 euros reduced.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 16 JUL 2009 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Gualtiero Bassetti of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, Italy, as archbishop of Perugia-Citta della Pieve (area 1,900, population 232,832, Catholics 229,500, priests 208, permanent deacons 10, religious 510), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in Popolano di Marradi, Italy in 1942, he was ordained a priest in 1966 and consecrated a bishop in 1994. He succeeds Archbishop Giuseppe Chiaretti, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Archbishop Riccardo Fontana of Spoleto-Norcia as archbishop-bishop of the diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro (area 3,425, population 305,000, Catholics 290,000, priests 331, permanent deacons 22, religious 577), Italy.

- Appointed Bishop Renato Boccardo, secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia (area 1,836, population 104,124, Catholics 101,707, priests 127, permanent deacons 7, religious 373), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in S. Ambrogio di Torino, Italy in 1952, he was ordained a priest in 1977 and consecrated a bishop in 2004.

- Appointed Bishop Gonzalo Restrepo Restrepo of Girardota, Colombia, as coadjutor archbishop of Manizales (area 3,848, population 791,600, Catholics 771,600, priests 219, permanent deacons 43, religious 585), Colombia. The archbishop-elect was born in Urrao, Colombia in 1947, he was ordained a priest in 1974 and consecrated a bishop in 2004.

- Appointed Archbishop Luigi Gatti, apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, as apostolic nuncio to Greece.

- Appointed Msgr. Gabriele Giordano Caccia, assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, as apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Milan, Italy in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1983.

- Appointed Msgr. Franco Coppola, nunciature counsellor at the section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, as apostolic nuncio to Burundi, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Maglie, Italy in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1981.

- Appointed Msgr. Peter Brian Wells, nunciature counsellor at the section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, as assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

- Appointed Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio and delegate for pontifical deputations, as secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

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