POPE TO VISIT MILAN FOR WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES

Vatican City, 15 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father will visit the archdiocese of Milan on the occasion of the 7th World Meeting of Families to take place in that Italian city.

Benedict XVI will depart from Rome's Ciampino Airport on 1 June at 4:00pm and will arrive an hour later in Milan. At 5:30pm he will address those gathered in the Piazza del Duomo and, at 7:30pm, will attend a concert in his honour and that of the official delegations to the World Meeting of Families at the Scala Theatre.

On Saturday, 2 June, at 10:00am, the Pope will participate in the "Hora Media" at the cathedral. He will read the meditation and will venerate the relics of St. Charles Borromeo. At 11:15am in Meazza Stadium, he will greet children who are being confirmed and will then give a speech and pray the Angelus. At 5:00pm in the Throne Room of the bishop's palace he will meet with civil authorities and, at 8:30pm, will address the participants of the "Celebration of Witnesses" that will take place in the metropolitan park of Bresso.

On Sunday, 3 June, at 10:00am in Bresso's park, he will celebrate Holy Mass and will pray the Angelus. At 1:15pm, after lunch in the bishop's palace with cardinals, bishops, and some families, he will greet members of the Family Foundation 2012 and the organizers of the visit.

Benedict XVI's return flight to Rome will arrive at Ciampino Airport at 5:30pm, from where he will travel by helicopter to the Vatican heliport where he is expected to arrive at 6:45pm.

UNLAWFUL USE OF POPE'S IMAGE: BENETTON RETRACTION

Vatican City, 15 May 2012 (VIS) - This morning a note from the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., was issued on the conclusion of the legal conflict between the Holy See and the Benetton Group, due to its unlawful use of Pope Benedict XVI's image in the "Unhate" ad campaign.

"Last Friday," reads the communique, "the Benetton Group published a note ... reaffirming its 'regret for having offended His Holiness Benedict XVI and believers', and assuring that it 'guarantees and maintains that all photographic images of the Holy Father have been retracted from commercial distribution and promises not to use the image of the Holy Father in the future without authorization from the Holy See'". It ends with stating that "the Benetton Group will use its resources to stop the further use of the image by third parties on internet sites and in other places".

"The communique of the Benetton Group," emphasizes Fr. Lombardi, "represents the conclusion, based on an agreed settlement, of the conflict between the lawyers of the Holy See ... and those of the Benetton Group, a conflict that took place, as announced, and has been open until now. The Benetton Group recognizes therefore ... that the Pope's image must be respected".

"The Holy See did not seek monetary compensation. Nevertheless, moral compensation in recognition of the abuse committed has been sought as well as affirming the desire to defend, even by legal means, the Pope's image. In place of monetary compensation it has asked and received from the Benetton Group an act of generosity, effective even if limited, toward one of the Church's charitable activities".

CARITAS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO SHORES

Vatican City, 15 May 2012 (VIS) - The 2012 meeting of MigraMed for all the Caritas organizations that operate in the Mediterranean countries will open in Cagliari, Italy tomorrow, 16 May. This year's forum is dedicated to the dialogue between the two shores of "Mare Nostrum" and will touch on, among other themes, the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa as well as the reception of emigrants and perspectives of emigration.

"A year after the Arab Spring and during the financial, economic, and social crisis that Europe is undergoing, Caritas in the Mediterranean, North African, Middle Eastern, and European areas will meet with Caritas Italy and the diocesan Caritas organizations on the theme of emigrants and the politics of development and welcome", reads a communique from Caritas Italy.

From 16 to 18 May will see the discussion on, among other themes to be analysed, Italy's system of welcome to those who have fled Libya: 3,000 of the 20,000 reception points in this country are administered under the umbrella of diocesan Caritas throughout the Italian territories.

The topic of interreligious dialogue will also be addressed because the Caritas organizations on the southern shore of the Mediterranean are found in countries that are, for the most part, Islamic. In this context, Caritas organizations from Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Tunisia will take part. Likewise Caritas from France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Albania as well as representatives from Caritas in the Middle East will participate.

The meeting will provide the opportunity to evaluate the present and future of emigration in the Mediterranean in light of the transformation in the Middle East and North Africa, along with Europe's role during this economic crisis and the humanitarian emergency of refugees.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 15 May 2012 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kumasi (area 5,118, population 1,744,000, Catholics 401,000, priests 112, religious 615), Ghana. He succeeds Archbishop Thomas Kwaku Mensah, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Kannur, India, as bishop of Calicut (area 12,505, population 10,453,000, Catholics 50,201, priests 125, religious 833), India. Concurrently he is named as the apostolic administrator "sede vacanate et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the diocese of Kannur.

- Bishop Roberto Calara Mallari, previously auxiliary of San Fernando, Philippines, as bishop of San Jose (area 2,540, population 819,000, Catholics 725,000, priests 33, religious 34), Philippines.