POPE RECEIVES PRIME MINSTER OF SPAIN

VATICAN CITY, 10 JUN 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

  "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain. The prime minister 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.

  "The cordial discussions provided an opportunity to exchange opinions on Europe, the current economic-financial crisis and the role of ethics. Reference was also made to countries of Central America and the Caribbean as well as to other situations, in particular the Middle East.

  "As the conversation continued, attention turned to bilateral relations, and to matters of current interest for the Church in Spain such as the possible presentation of a law on freedom of religion, the sacredness of life from conception, and the importance of education. Concerning the Holy Father's visit to Santiago and Barcelona this year, and to Madrid next year for World Youth Day, it was recognised that the Spanish government has shown great readiness to collaborate in the preparation and realisation of these events".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 10 JUN 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Joao Alberto Bacelar da Rocha Paris, ambassador of Portugal, accompanied by his wife, on his farewell visit.

 - Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director general of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), accompanied by Walter Friedemann Eder, delegate for relations with host countries.

 - Three prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo of Belo Horizonte, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Joaquim Giovanni Mol Guimaraes.

    - Bishop Werner Franz Siebenbrock S.V.D. of Governador Valadares.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 10 JUN 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Archbishop Luigi Moretti, vice gerent of the vicariate of Rome, as metropolitan archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno (area 1,398, population 548,000, Catholics 536,000, priests 334, permanent deacons 46, religious 401), Italy. He succeeds Archbishop Gerardo Pierro, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Francisco Antonio Ceballos Escobar C.Ss.R., pro vicar of the apostolic vicariate of Puerto Carreno, Colombia, as apostolic vicar of the same apostolic vicariate (area 71,368, population 42,000, Catholics 31,000, priests 8, religious 6).The bishop-elect was born in Genova, Colombia in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1985.

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