SYNOD FATHERS OF THE THIRTEENTH ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed the following prelates as Synod Fathers for the forthcoming Thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, due to take place from 7 to 28 October on the theme: "The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith".

- Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.

- Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany.

- Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna-Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and president of SECAM/SCEAM (Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar).

- Cardinal Christoph Schonborn O.P., archbishop of Vienna, Austria.

- Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, Australia.

- Cardinal Josip Bozanic, archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia.

- Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary and president of CCEE (Council of European Episcopal Conferences).

- Cardinal Agostino Vallini, His Holiness' vicar general for the diocese of Rome.

- Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain.

- Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, France.

- Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India and secretary general of FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences).

- Patriarch Francesco Moraglia of Venice, Italy.

- Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria.

- Archbishop Hector Ruben Aguer of La Plata, Argentina.

- Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Guayaquil, Ecuador, president of the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference.

- Archbishop John Atcherley Dew of Wellington, New Zealand, president of FCBCO (Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania).

- Archbishop Jose Octavio Ruiz Arenas, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.

- Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles, U.S.A.

- Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlalnepantla, president of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council).

- Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England.

- Archbishop Ricardo Antonio Tobon Restrepo of Medellin, Colombia.

- Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Manila, Philippines.

- Archbishop Filippo Santoro of Taranto, Italy.

- Bishop Javier Echevarria Rodriguez, prelate of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei.

- Bishop Dominique Rey of Frejus-Toulon, France.

- Bishop Menghisteab Tesfamariam M.C.C.J., eparch of Asmara, Eritrea.

- Bishop Benedito Beni dos Santos of Lorena, Brazil.

- Bishop Santiago Jaime Silva Retamales, auxiliary of Valparaiso, Chile and secretary general of CELAM.

- Bishop Luigi Negri of San Marino-Montefeltro, Italy.

- Bishop Alberto Francisco Sanguinetti Montero of Canelones, Uruguay.

- Bishop Enrico Dal Covolo S.D.B., rector of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

- Fr. Julian Carron, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation.

- Fr. Renato Salvatore M.I., superior general of the Clerks Regular Ministers to the Sick (Camillians).

- Fr. Heinrich Walter, superior general of the Schoenstatt Fathers.

- Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil C.M.I., prior general of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate.

EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS: 30 SEPTEMBER

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The Holy See will once again take part in the celebration of European Heritage Days, an initiative of the Council of Europe in which more than fifty countries on the continent participate. The celebrations this year will take place on Sunday 30 September and have as their theme: "The Image of the Faith in European Heritage". The Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church and the Vatican Museums are both collaborating in the event and, on 30 September, entrance to the Vatican Museums will be free of charge.

IN MEMORIAM

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Joseph Banchong Aribarg, emeritus of Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, on 1 September at the age of 85.

- Bishop Xavier Baronnet S.J., emeritus of Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 8 September at the age of 85.

- Bishop Luis D'Andrea O.F.M. Conv., emeritus of Caxias do Maranhao, Brazil, on 8 September at the age of 78.

- Bishop Lucas Luis Donnelly O. de M., prelate emeritus of Dean Funes, Argentina, on 31 August at the age of 91.

- Bishop Jose Foralosso S.D.B., emeritus of Maraba, Brazil, on 22 August at the age of 74.

- Bishop Helio Goncalves Heleno, emeritus of Caratinga, Brazil, on 4 September at the age of 77.