AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 22, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini, archbishop of Turin, Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.
- Eight prelates from the Ukranian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Marian Jaworski of Lviv of the Latin rite, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Stanislaw Padewski, O.F.M.
- Bishop Jan Olszanksi, M.I.C., of Kamyanets-Podilskyi, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Maksymilian Dubrawski, O.F.M.
- Bishop Jan Purwinski of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Stanislaw Szyrokoradiuk, O.F.M.
- Bishop Markijan Trofimiak of Lutsk.
- Bishop Antal Majnek, O.F.M, apostolic administrator of Zakarpattia.
- A group of eight prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Pier Giorgio Micchiardi, auxiliary of Turin.
- Archbishop Enrico Masseroni of Vercelli.
- Bishop Luigi Bettazzi, emeritus of Ivrea.
- Bishop Livio Maritano of Acqui.
- Bishop Massimo Giustetti of Biella.
- Bishop Vittorio Bernadetto of Susa.
- Bishop Renato Corti of Novara.
- Bishop Renato Zaccheo of Casale Monferrato.

On Saturday March 20, he received in separate audiences:

- Andres Pastrana-Arango, president of the Republic of Colombia, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, apostolic nuncio in Venezuela.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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CARDINAL CASSIDY MEETS ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, accompanied by Bishop Pierre Duprey, secretary of this same council, was "cordially" received in Athens by Archbishop Christodoulos, new Orthodox archbishop of Athens and All Greece, on the morning of Monday, March 15.

For his part, Bishop Duprey gave a talk in Greek on the theme "Sister Churches: What Catholics Understand by This Expression."

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TWO PRESS CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, will preside at a press conference on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the magazine "Civilta Cattolica" (Catholic Civilization). This will be held on Monday, March 22, at 11.30 a.m at the Holy See Press Office.

On Tuesday, March 23, at 11.30 a.m., Archbishop Jorge Maria Mejia, archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, will hold a press conference at the Holy See Press Office for the presentation of the "Rome-Armenia" exhibition.

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CARDINAL SODANO TO CELEBRATE MASS AT ABBEY OF MONTECASSINO

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 1999 (VIS) - On Sunday, March 21, the feast of St. Benedict, abbot, patron of Europe and founder of the abbey of Montecassino and of the Order that bears his name, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano will preside at a solemn Eucharistic liturgy in the church of the abbey of Montecassino.

Among those expected to attend are the president of the European Parliament, Italy's foreign affairs minister and European ambassadors accredited to Italy and to the Holy See.

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HOLY SEE: NO OBJECTIONS TO EXTRADITION OF POPE'S ASSAILANT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the declaration released this morning by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls concerning the possibility of extradition for Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turk who made an attempt on Pope John Paul's life in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981:

"On June 25, 1997, following a confidential request made from the then Minister for Justice Giovanni M. Flick, the (Holy See) replied that it had no objections to handing Ali Agca over to the Turkish authorities, and that it would leave the decision to the Italian authorities.

"On October 24, 1997, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, in reply to a letter sent through diplomatic channels by Minister Flick, assured (him) that:
a) the Holy See had no objections to the request for the extradition of Mr. Ali Agca presented to the Italian government by the Turkish government;
b) there also were no objections to the acts which would be necessary to be able to proceed to receiving the above-mentioned request for extradition."

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