POPE RECEIVES UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, immediately following the weekly general audience, the Holy Father received the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sadako Ogata who then met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, according to a communique published this afternoon.

The communique continues: ""During the talks, the high commissioner illustrated the tragic data of the humanitarian catastrophe of Kosovo and the measures taken to face it, which were adopted by the summit that the UNHCR called yesterday in Geneva.

"The Holy See, for its part, expressed appreciation for the mobilization by the international community and for the quick assistance given by many countries, groups and individuals, and gave assurance of the solidarity of Catholic humanitarian organizations. Already last week, the Holy Father had sent Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', to Albania to bring his comfort and to coordinate the efforts of ecclesial organisms."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD'S DEMANDING LOVE FOR US

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 1999 (VIS) - At today's weekly general audience, which began at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul focussed on God's love for us which, he said, "cannot leave us indifferent, rather it asks us to reciprocate with a constant commitment of love."

"In the Old Testament," he observed, "the Law was seen as a sign of God's paternal love for His people, showing them how to live correctly in order to inherit the divine promises. Obedience to God is the source of life and blessings; separation from God causes man to fall under the power of evil and death."

The Holy Father then pointed out that "Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to bring it to fulfillment. He teaches us that the heart of the Law is the commandment to love God and to love our neighbor by treating others as we would want them to treat us. This is the path to follow if we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father."
In concluding remarks on the love of God the Father, John Paul II said: "While he proclaims the Father's love, Jesus never fails to remind us that this is a demanding love. ... In all His words and actions, Jesus seeks only to do the Father's will. In obedience to the Father Jesus gives up His life for us. 'Greater love than this has no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends'."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio in Ukraine, as apostolic nuncio in the Philippines.

- For the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops which will take place in the Vatican October 1-23 1999:
- President delegates: Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, archbishop of Cracow, Poland; Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany; Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Vatican City.
- Relator general: Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, Spain.
- Special secretaries: Archbishop Josef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin, Poland; Bishop Vincent Nichols, auxiliary of Westminster, Great Britain.
- Commission for the Message: President: Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, Italy; Vice-president: Archbishop Audrys Juozas Backis, archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Commission for Information: President: Archbishop Istvan Seregely of Eger, Hungary; Vice-president: Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, Germany.

On Saturday, April 3, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Sergio Alfredo Fenoy as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Rosario (area 13,500, population 1,600,000, Catholics 900,000, priests 267, religious 533), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1959, was ordained a priest in 1983 and since 1995 has been rector of the Major Seminary of the same archdiocese.

On Friday April 2, it was made public that Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris, France, was appointed as the Pope's special envoy at the third centenary commemorative celebrations of the cathedral of Nice, France, which will take place on Sunday May 2, 1999.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF BISHOP CLEMENTE RIVA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was the telegram sent by Pope John Paul to Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of Rome, for the death yesterday of Bishop Clemente Riva, former auxiliary of the diocese of Rome.

The Pope especially recalled Bishop Riva's "profound spirituality," his "drive in evangelization and the generous and abounding pastoral commitment, especially in inter-religious dialogue and with the world of culture."

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ALBANIA: ARCHBISHOP CORDES CONVEYS POPE'S SOLIDARITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" is today in Albania to "bring to the refugees of such an inhumane tragedy" as that of Kosovo, writes John Paul II in a message to the prelate, "my spiritual and material solidarity and that of the entire Christian people."

Having stated that the conflict in Kosovo "is causing untold suffering to peoples, and is sowing hate, violence and death," the Pope adds: "I am closely following the development of the situation and I pray to the Lord, Father of Mercy, that He take pity on his children who are being so sorely tried."

"Tell the children, mothers and elderly people that you meet," he writes, "that the Pope is with them, and that he will continue to be with them until a just and lasting peace reigns in the lands of the Balkans. In this twentieth century, those peoples have seen too much bloodshed and too many tears. May the peace so longed-for finally be established."

The Cor Unum president, who will convey the Pope's message, will visit refugees at the Kukes camp and will meet with the president of the Republic of Albania and with those responsible for the local church, and particularly with Caritas.

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