CARDINAL ABRIL Y CASTILLO APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF THE CARDINALS' COMMISSION FOR THE IOR

Vatican City, 4 March 2014 (VIS) – The members of the Cardinals’ Commission of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) have nominated Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello as their President.

According to the Institute’s Statutes, the members of the Cardinals’ Commission are appointed by the Holy Father for a period of five years. The Cardinals’ Commission is called to meet by its President at least twice a year. It reviews reports on major business processes and strategy presented by the President of the Board of Superintendence. The Commission further oversees the Institute’s adherence to statutory norms and appoints the members of the Board of Superintendence.

The Institute’s current Cardinals’ Commission was appointed in January 2014 by the Holy Father and is composed of Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello (Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major), Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins (Archbishop of Toronto), Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Titular Archbishop of Acquapendente and Secretary of State), Cardinal Christoph Schonborn (Archbishop of Vienna) and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue).

THE POPE OPENS THE GARDENS OF CASTEL GANDOLFO

Vatican City, 4 March 2014 (VIS) – Following a decision by Pope Francis, the gardens of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo will be open to the public starting from this month. Since last Saturday it has been possible to visit the Barberini Garden, with its beautiful natural landscapes and archaeological remains: the Paths of Roses, aromatic Herbs, and Lilies, the Square of holly oaks, and the Belvedere Garden, from where there is a panoramic view over Latium, out to the coastline. In the area of Villa Barberini there is the Villa of the Emperor Domitian, which faces Lake Albano, and the visitor may explore the remains of the imperial theatre and the crypto-portico or covered passageway of the imperial villa.

The Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo cover an area of 55 hectares in the area of the “Castelli Romani” in the province of Rome, and are part of the extraterritorial possessions of the Holy See in Italy. They were conceded to the Holy See by the Lateran Pacts of 1929, as they constitute the preferred suburban papal residence since the pontificate of Urban VIII in the 17th century.

The Castel Gandolfo gardens are open to the public in the morning from Monday to Saturday; bookings can be made on the Vatican Museums website.

IN MEMORIAM

Vatican City, 4 March 2014 (VIS) – The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Archbishop Benedict John Osta, S.J., emeritus of Patna, India, on 30 January at the age of 82.

- Bishop Cornelius John Pasichny, O.S.B.M, emeritus of Toronto of the Ukrainians, Canada, on 30 January at the age of 86.

- Bishop Prospero Nale Arellano, prelate emeritus of Libmanan, Philippines, on 1 February at the age of 77.

- Bishop Rosendo Alvarez Gaston, emeritus of Almeria, Spain, on 3 February at the age of 87.

- Bishop Hubert Luthe, emeritus of Essen, Germany, on 4 February at the age of 86.

- Bishop Deogratias Muganwa Byabazaire, of Hoima, Uganda, on 8 February at the age of 72.

- Fr. John Ikataere Rarikin, M.S.C., Superior of the Missio sui iuris of Funafuti, Tuvalu, on 8 February at the age of 70.

- Bishop Pius Suh Awa, emeritus of Buea, Cameroon, on 9 February at the age of 83.

- Bishop Pere Tena Garriga, auxiliary emeritus of Barcelona, Spain, on 10 February, at the age of 85.

- Bishop Leon Hegele, auxiliary emeritus of Strasbourg, France, on 11 February, at the age of 89.

- Bishop Jean-Louis Giasson, P.M.E., emeritus of Yoro, Honduras, on 12 February at the age of 74.

- Bishop Louis Nganga a Ndzando, emeritus of Lisala, Democratic Republic of Congo, on 13 February at the age of 91.

- Bishop Francisco Jose Arnaiz Zarandona, S.J., auxiliary emeritus of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 14 February at the age of 88.

- Bishop Raymond James Boland, emeritus of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, U.S.A., on 27 February at the age of 82.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 4 March 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Peter Leslie Smith as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Portland (area 85,541, population 1,379,000, Catholics 207,300, priests 168, permanent deacons 42, religious 347), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 2001. He holds a degree in law from the University of Natal Law School, a master's degree in theology from the Mount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon, a bachelor's degree in theology from the St. Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum, Rome, and a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, U.S.A. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including: priest of the “St. Rose of Lima” parish in Portland, archdiocesan delegate for the charismatic movement, adjunct judicial vicar, local superior of the Brotherhood of the People of Praise and vice chair of the presbyteral council. He is currently vicar general and moderator of the Curia.