HOLY FATHER RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA

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

  "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Dalia Grybauskaite, president of the Republic of Lithuania. 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.

  "During the cordial discussions attention was focused on the positive presence of the Catholic Church in the life and history of the country, with the joint desire being expressed to strengthen existing bilateral relations. Furthermore a fruitful exchange of opinions took place on the role of Lithuania as it prepares to assume the presidency of the OSCE, as well as on the current economic and social situation, with particular reference to families and young people".
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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, 10 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with Cardinal 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 Guido Maria Conforti, Italian archbishop-bishop and founder of the Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (1865-1931).

 - Servant of God Francesco Paleari, Italian priest of the "Cottolengo" Institute (1863-1939).

 - 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 Marie Clare of the Child Jesus (nee Libania do Carmo Galvao Meixa de Moura Telles e Albuquerque), Portuguese foundress of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1843-1899).

 - Servant of God Dulce (nee Maria Rita Lopes Pontes), Brazilian religious of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God (1914-1992).

MARTYRDOM

 - Servant of God Alois Andritzki, German diocesan priest who died in the concentration camp of Dachau (1914-1943).

 - Servants of God Jose Nadal y Guiu (1911-1936) and Jose Jordan y Blecua (1906-1936), Spanish diocesan priests, killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain.

 - Servants of God Antonio (ne Miguel Faundez Lopez), Spanish professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor (1907-1936) and Bonaventura (ne Baltasar Mariano Munoz Martinez) Spanish cleric of the Order of Friars Minor (1912-1936), as well as Pedro Sanchez Barba (1895-1936) and Fulgencio Martinez Garcia (1911-1936), Spanish priests and pastors of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain.

HEROIC VIRTUES

 - Servant of God Antonio Palladino, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (1881-1926).

 - Servant of God Bechara (ne Selim Abou-Mourad), Lebanese religious of the Basilian Salvatorian Order of the Melkites (1853-1930).

 - Servant of God Maria Elisa Andreoli, Italian foundress of the Congregation of Reparatrix Sisters Servants of Mary (1861-1935).

 - Servant of God Maria Pilar of the Sacred Heart (nee Maria Pilar Solsona Lamban), Spanish religious of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Religious of Pious Schools (1881-1966).
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MEETING OF PERMANENT WORKING COMMISSION HOLY SEE-ISRAEL

VATICAN CITY, 10 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was an English-language communique concerning the plenary meeting of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel, which was held at the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs on 9 December.

  "The meeting of the plenary commission took place in a good and open atmosphere", the communique reads. "The delegation of the Holy See was headed by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, under secretary for Relations with States, and the delegation of the State of Israel was headed by Danny Ayalon, MK, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs.

  "At the start of the meeting, reference was made to the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. to Benyamin Netanyahu, prime minister of the State of Israel, conveying Pope Benedict XVI's assurances of his prayers and his solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives, to the wounded and to all who were affected by the recent forest fire in northern Israel, as well as 'his appreciation for the rescue efforts which were carried out with such selfless dedication', and his prayers 'that those who have lost their homes in this tragedy may soon be able to rebuild their lives'.

  "The Plenary discussed the next steps towards conclusion of the Agreement.

  "The Plenary will hold its next meeting on 16 June 2011 at the Vatican. The next 'Working Level' meeting will take place on 3 February 2011.
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AUDIENCES

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

 - Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

 - Archbishop-Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicilia of Urgell, Spain, co-prince of Andorra, accompanied by an entourage.

 - Antonio Zanardi Landi, Italian ambassador to the Holy See, accompanied by his wife, on a farewell visit.

 - Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress.

  This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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