AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 24, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received a group of prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference (second group, Piedmont region), on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Severino Poletto of Asti.
- Bishop Fernando Charrier of Alessandria.
- Bishop Diego Natale Bona of Saluzzo.
- Bishop Sebastiano Dho of Alba.
- Bishop Natalino Pescarolo of Cuneo and Fossano.
- Bishop Giuseppe Anfossi of Aosta.
- Bishop Luciano Pacomio of Mondovi.
- Bishop Piergiorgio Debernardi of Pinerolo.

AL;...;...;...;VIS;19990324;Word: 70;

POPE APPROVES ACADEMIES' NEW STATUES IN APOSTOLIC LETTER

VATICAN CITY, MAR 24, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio "Inter Munera Academiarum," in which he defines the basis and mission of the Pontifical Academies of St. Thomas Aquinas and of Roman Theology, and approves the new statutes of both institutions.

The Latin-language letter is dated January 28, 1999, memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of the Church. The Letter was accompanied by an explanatory note written by Fr. Bernard Ardura, O.Praem., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Fr. Ardura, calling the Letter "one of the first fruits of the Encyclical 'Fides et Ratio', published six months ago," adds: "On this occasion the Holy Father reiterates the importance and dignity of the mission of theologians, especially in the field of dialogue between theology and philosophy, and refers explicitly to the thought and work of St. Thomas Aquinas, rightly called 'the Apostle of Truth'."

"In the Apostolic Letter 'Inter Munera Academiarum', the Holy Father takes note of the profound cultural changes, especially in the field of anthropology, which have modified the perception that men have of the relationship between the human person and God, between human persons and between the human person and creation."

Fr. Ardura refers briefly to the history of each academy. He recalls that it was Pope Leo XIII who, three months after the publication of his Encyclical "Aeterni Patris," created the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas on October 15, 1879, "with the specific duty of enacting what he himself had established in his encyclical."

"The Pontifical Academy of Theology," the note continues, "was founded in Rome and received its first statutes from Clement XI, in 1718. Created as a seat of sacred sciences with the aim of forming well-prepared theologians, the Academy has the mission of promoting dialogue between faith and reason, as well as a deeper study of Christian doctrine following the indications of the Holy Father, ... to present the Christian message in such a way that it corresponds to the exigencies of our times."

Fr. Ardura observes that "the Holy Father ... reminds academicians and all theologians that faith does not fear reason and reason does not fear faith. Indeed, reason itself trusts in faith because faith elevates reason and advances it, just as grace elevates and perfects nature."

In concluding remarks, the council secretary writes: "Renewing his faith in the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas and in the Pontifical Academy of Theology, John Paul II ... wishes to communicate to us his passion for truth, his love for truth and his personal commitment to the study of truth."

LIT;PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES;...;...;VIS;19990324;Word: 420;

OTHER PONTIFIC AL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 24, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Arusha, Tanzania, elevating the same episcopal see to the rank of metropolitan church, making the dioceses of Mbulu, Moshi and Same suffragen to it. He appointed Bishop Josaphat Louis Lebulu of this same diocese as first metropolitan archbishop of Arusha.

- Appointed Fr. Jacob Koda as bishop of Same (area 10,000, population 540,000, Catholics 42,000, priests 40, religious 55), Tanzania. The bishop-elect was born in Kilomemi, Tanzania, in 1957, was ordained a priest in 1987, and since 1995 has been professor of Pastoral Theology at St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary in Segerea, Dar es Salaam.

- Appointed Fr. Bruno Pedron, S.D.B., as coadjutor bishop of Jardim (area 69.972, population 200,000, Catholics 192,000, priests 9, religious 39), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Torreglia, Italy, in 1944, made his religious profession in 1963, was ordained a priest in 1974, and was recently transferred to Lins where he was director of the magazine "Presenca Salesiana."

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial abbey of Claraval, Brazil, presented by Dom Domenico Carmelo Recchia, O.Cist., on having reached the age limit. He appointed Bishop Orani Joao Tempesta, O.Cist., of Rio Preto, as apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of this same territorial abbey (area 844, population 12,500, Catholics 10,625, priests 7, religious 19).

ECE; NER; NEC; RE;...;...;...;VIS;19990324;Word: 210;

HOLY FATHER TO INAUGURATE ROME-ARMENIA EXHIBITION

VATICAN CITY, MAR 23, 1999 (VIS) - Tomorrow morning in the Regia Hall, Pope John Paul will inaugurate the "Rome-Armenia Exhibition" in the presence of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin I, and Armenian President Robert Kocharian, it was announced this morning during a press conference.

Presiding at the conference to present the exhibit were Archbishop Jorge Maria Mejia, archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, and Armenia's ambassador to the Holy See, Armen Sarkissian.

Highlighting the long-standing relations between the Church in Rome and the Church in Armenia and the Armenian people, Archbishop Mejia observed that "an ancient and venerable Church which has inspired and continues to inspire an intense and many-faceted cultural life in a number of milieux of human knowledge and activity, will become even more present and better known and appreciated by the many visitors who are expected." He added that "the importance which the Holy See gives to this exhibition is underlined by the presence of the Holy Father at the solemn opening tomorrow."

Ambassador Sarkissian stated that "the Rome-Armenia exhibition in the magnificent Sistine Hall of the Vatican displays as never before the great historical and cultural relationship between these two ancient civilizations which stretches back nearly 2,000 years and is now enjoying a renaissance following the return to the world community of an independent Armenia."

"Key to its unique identity," added the ambassador, "has been Armenia's unswerving adherence to Christianity." In 301 A.D., Armenia adopted Christianity as the state religion, he said, adding that "this act of self-determination ... made Armenia the first country in the world to declare Christianity as its state religion. ... Its faith in the values and principles of Christ has reinforced its support for the fundamental ideas of freedom, human dignity and the self-determination of free people."

The exhibit, he remarked, "will help to create an atmosphere of greater understanding and cooperation which, I am convinced, is the way to a better world of peace, harmony and goodwill among peoples in the Third Christian Millennium."

OP;ROME ARMENIA EXHIBIT;...;MEJIA; SARKISSIAN;VIS;19990323;Word: 350;

MILLENNIUM OF BIRTH OF ST. JOHN GUALBERTO

VATICAN CITY, MAR 23, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Pope to Dom Lorenzo Russo, general abbot of the Benedictine Congregation of Vallombrosa, central Italy, on the millennium of the birth of their founder, St. John Gualberto.

John Paul II writes that St. John Gualberto "was chosen by God so that in a difficult moment for the history of the Church, in a period of profound transformation which was shaking the world of religious orders, he contributed to reawaken the desire of a Christian monastic life without compromise."

"Your founder's example should inspire you to commit yourselves to the task of spreading the spirituality of communion, first of all in your monastic family and then in the ecclesial community and beyond its boundaries."

The Holy Father expresses the hope that the millennium might intensify in the monks their following of Christ and, according to the saint's example, that their monasteries "might become ever more 'houses of God'."

"I wish to repeat," he concludes, "what I wrote in the Post-Synodal Exhortation 'Vita Consacrata': 'The Church ... wishes to hold up before the world the example of communities in which solitude is overcome through concern for one another, in which communication inspires in everyone a sense of shared responsibility, and in which wounds are healed through forgiveness, and each person's commitment to communion is strengthened.' May your father and founder's exhortation remain engraved on your hearts: inviolably safeguard charity!"

JPII-LETTER;ST. JOHN GUALBERTO;...;RUSSO;VIS;19990323;Word: 260;