IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 1999 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Oscar Julio Alzamora Revoredo S.M., emeritus of Tacna, on May 19 at the age of 70.
- Bishop Paschalis Soedita Hardjasoemarta M.S.C., of Purwokerto, on May 23 at age 70.
- Bishop Jeronimo Mazzarotto, on May 23 at the age of 101.
- Bishop Miguel Pedro Mundo of Jatai, on May 19 at age 61.
- Archbishop Carlos Parteli Keller of Montevideo, on May 26 at the age of 89.
- Bishop Hector Gabino Romero of Rafaela, on May 23 at age 74.
- Bishop Xavier Tabao Manjarimanana S.J. of Mananjary, on May 24 at the age of 71.
- Archbishop Mario Tagliaferri, apostolic nuncio in France, on May 21 at the age of 71.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Edmonton, Canada presented by Archbishop Joseph Neil MacNeil upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Thomas C. Collins.

On Sunday, June 6, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. James Liu Tan-Kuei of the clergy of the diocese of Taichung, Taiwan, as auxiliary of the diocese of Taipeh (Taipei) (area 4,590, population 6,799,000, Catholics 80,947, priests 256, religious 663), Taiwan. The bishop-elect was born in Tungshih, Taiwan in 1953, was ordained a priest in 1981 and since 1996 has been priest of the parish of the 'Blessed Sacrament' in Yuan-lin.

On Saturday, June 5, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Jorge Ferreira da Costa Ortiga as archbishop of Braga (area 2,832, population 1,000,000, Catholics 995,000, priests 600, religious 1071), Portugal. The archbishop-elect was born in Brufe, Portugal, in 1944, he was ordained a priest in 1967 and since 1988 has been auxiliary of the same archdiocese. He succeeds Archbishop Eurico Dias Norgueira, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Archbishop Ramon Ovidio Perez Morales of Maracaibo, Venezuela as bishop of Los Teques (area 2,295, population 970,000, Catholics 900,000, priests 75, religious 360), Venezuela. He conserves the personal title of archbishop.

- Bishop Oscar Anibal Salazar Gomez, auxiliary of Barranquilla, Colombia, as bishop of La Dorada-Guaduas (area 8,040, population 330,000, Catholics 300,000, priests 58, religious 84), Colombia.

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HOLY SEE RATIFIES CONVENTION BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 1999 (VIS) - Last May 12, according to a communique published today, the Holy See ratified the Convention which bans the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical arms and envisages their destruction.

Following are excerpts from the statement made by Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Renato Martino, when he presented the instrument of ratification to the U.N. secretary general's office:

"By ratifying the 'Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction', which was ... signed by the Holy See on January 14, 1993, ... the Holy See, in conformity with the nature and particular condition of Vatican City State, intends to renew its encouragement to the International Community to continue on the path towards a situation of general and complete disarmament, capable of promoting peace and cooperation at world level."

"While not possessing chemical weapons of any kind, the Holy See accedes to the solemn act of ratification of the Convention in order to lend its moral support to this important area of international relations which seeks to ban weapons which are particularly cruel and inhuman."

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SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI: A CALL FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 3, 1999 (VIS) - At 7 p.m. today, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist on the square in front of St. John Lateran Basilica, and then presided at the traditional eucharistic procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major.

In the homily, the Pope indicated that both the Mass and the procession had a particular aim: "They seek to be a unanimous and heartfelt call for peace. ... We wish to pray together for peace, we wish to pray especially for peace in the Balkans."

He continued: "In order to have peace, which is the synthesis of all the good promised by God, it is first of all necessary not to forget past experience, but rather to treasure it. ... Looking at this century and at the millennium that draws to a close, how can we not recall the terrible trials that humanity has had to suffer? We cannot forget: On the contrary we must remember. Help us, God our Father, to draw the right lessons from our own circumstances and those of our forebears."
The Holy Father made clear that, "in giving Himself, Christ gave us peace. His peace is not the peace of the world, frequently composed of cunning and compromise, if not actually of oppression and violence. The peace of Christ is the fruit of His paschal mystery."

He said that, when the Eucharist is carried in procession, "we will walk questioning ourselves about our own personal testimony in favor of peace. In fact, it is not sufficient to talk of peace if afterwards we do not commit ourselves to cultivating peaceful sentiments in our hearts, and displaying them in our daily dealings with those who live around us. ... Our prayer is fortified this evening by the prospect of peace which seems finally to have been opened."

At the end of the Mass, the Holy Father presided at the procession that passed along Via Merulana to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Along the route, thousands of the faithful prayed and sang, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament. A covered vehicle transported the Sacrament in a monstrance, before which the Holy Father prayed, kneeling on a prie-dieu.

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JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 3, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the declaration made this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls following the Pope's audience with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan:

"Late this morning, June 3 1999, the Holy Father received United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, accompanied by Under-Secretary Kieran Prendergast and by Elizabeth Lindenmayer, special assistant to the secretary general. Also present at the meeting were Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Secretary for Relations with States.

"During the in-depth meeting attention was particularly given to the existing grave situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Particular consideration was given to the humanitarian drama of the Kosovar people and to the need for a negotiated solution, one that respects both history and law.

"After having recalled the role that Christians can play in respecting human rights and educating for peace, the Holy Father explained the Holy See's noted position with regard to the ongoing conflict. He underlined that the cessation of hostilities, under the auspices of the U.N., must be accompanied by a return of refugees to the Kosovo region, with the help of an international peacekeeping force accepted by all.

"Finally, His Holiness reiterated his appreciation for the role the U.N. carries out in the heart of the international community and said he hoped the United Nations would have an ever increasing role in the prevention and resolving of conflicts."

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