POPE RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION

VATICAN CITY, 6 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique today:

  "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Doris Leuthard, president of the Swiss Confederation. The president subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "In the course of the cordial meeting, apart from mentioning the president's participation later today in the swearing-in ceremony for new recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard, attention also turned to questions concerning social and economic life and the current international situation, with particular reference to inter-religious dialogue".
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EMIR OF KUWAIT RECEIVED IN AUDIENCE BY THE HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, 6 MAY 2010 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in audience His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, emir of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "During the cordial discussions", reads a communique on the meeting, "attention turned to certain questions of mutual interest, with particular reference to the promotion of peace in the Middle East, and of inter-religious dialogue. The positive contribution that the significant Christian minority makes to Kuwaiti society was also highlighted, and consideration given to the particular needs of that minority".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 6 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Belgium, on their "ad limina" visit:

 - Archbishop Andre-Mutien Leonard of Mechelen-Brussels, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Remy Victor Vancottem and Jozef De Kesel.

 - Bishop Johan Jozef Bonny of Antwerp.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 6 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Msgr. Liam MacDaid of the clergy of the diocese of Clogher, Ireland, chancellor of the diocesan curia, as bishop of Clogher (area 3,456, population 112,401, Catholics 86,483, priests 85, religious 140). The bishop-elect was born in Bundoran, Ireland in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1969. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Duffy, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ondo, Nigeria, presented by Bishop Francis Folorunsho Clement Alonge, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade.

 - Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Derry, Ireland, presented by Bishop Francis Lagan, in accordance with canons 411 and 401 para. 1 of the Code of Canon Law.

 - Appointed Fr. Gabriele Ferdinando Bentivoglio C.S., procurator general and secretary general of the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians), as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.

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