AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Natsagiin Bagabandi, president of Mongolia, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Theophilos V. Theophilou, ambassador of Cyprus, on a farewell visit.

This evening at 6:30 he is scheduled to receive Vladimir V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, accompanied by his entourage.

On Saturday, June 3, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., apostolic nuncio in Ethiopia and Eritrea and apostolic delegate in Djibouti.
- Msgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana, charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Taipei.
- Archbishop Frane Franic, emeritus of Split-Makarska, accompanied by his entourage.
- Bishop Lubomyr Husar M.S.U., auxiliary of the major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, Ukraine.
- Cardinal Virgilio Noe, vicar general of Vatican City, accompanied by his entourage.
- Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, accompanied by Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the same council.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Friday, Jun 2, he received Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ZOUNGRANA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram of condolences sent by the Pope to Archbishop Jean-Marie Untaani Campaore of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, upon hearing of the death of Cardinal Paul Zoungrana, M.Afr., archbishop emeritus of this archdiocese, at the age of 82:

"Having learned with emotion of the death of Cardinal Paul Zoungrana, I wish to tell you of my deep union in prayer with the archdiocese of Ouagadougou, with the family of the deceased and with all persons touched by this mourning. I pray to All Merciful God to receive in the light and peace of His Kingdom this zealous and faithful servant of the Church. I give thanks to God for the long and fruitful years of the episcopal ministry of this eminent son of Burkina Faso and of Africa, who tirelessly spent himself to proclaim the Good News of salvation to everyone, for his fraternal service and for promoting the least advantaged peoples, especially in the Sahel region. To you, to the other bishops of Burkina Faso, to the family of the deceased, to the priests, religious, catechists and all the faithful of the archdiocese, as well as to those who will take part in the funeral liturgy, I send, as a sign of comfort, my apostolic blessing."

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POPE THANKS ST. PETER'S CIRCLE FOR THEIR SUPPORT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope received the presidency and members of the Circle of St. Peter which dedicates itself to works of charity and assistance. This year, the organization has been entrusted with the distribution of meals in the canteens for the poor which have been set up near the patriarchal basilicas.

John Paul II thanked them for their voluntary work in the canteens as well as for their activities in parishes, hospitals and welcome centers, "never tiring of standing alongside those who suffer in body and in spirit, in order to bring them the consoling certainty that Christ is the Savior of all."

"Peter's Pence which, as every year, you consign to me personally, constitutes a further sign of your silent but substantial participation in the concerns of the Holy See, which is called to intervene ever more incisively in response to the growing appeal of the poorest people in so many parts of the world. Your praiseworthy willingness to collect funds for the Pope's charity represents a much appreciated sign of communion with the universal ministry of Peter's Successor."

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PRIVATE MASS FOR PONTIFICAL ECCLESIASTICAL ACADEMY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2000 (VIS) - At 7:30 this morning, feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in his private chapel for the community of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. This is the academy where ecclesiastics are trained as future Holy See diplomats, after they have received their degree in canon law.

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FEAST OF VISITATION: PROCESSION AND ROSARY IN VATICAN CITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2000 (VIS) - This evening, feast of the Visitation and the end of the month dedicated to Mary, there was the traditional procession in Vatican City from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians to the Grotto of Lourdes, during which the faithful who were present prayed the rosary. The procession was led by Cardinal Virgilio Noe, archpriest of the Vatican Basilica. When the pilgrims reached the grotto, Pope John Paul II joined them.

"In this event," he told them, referring to the Visitation, "an even more profound 'visitation' shines through: that of God to His people, greeted by the exultation of little John - the greatest of those born of woman - from his mother's womb. The Marian month thus concludes in the sign of 'gaudio' - the second joyful mystery - in the sign, that is, of joy, of jubilation."

"We thank God because in this month of May of the great Jubilee, he gave us a way to feel, with special intensity, the presence of the Mother of the Redeemer, an assiduous and prayerful presence, as in the first community of Jerusalem."

"As you return home," the Holy Father concluded, "bring the joy of this encounter with you and keep your soul fixed on Jesus, in the hopes of one day being able to be with Him, united in the same glory."

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