FIVE CARDINALS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced today that the following cardinals will take possession of their Titular and Diaconate churches in coming days:

- Cardinal Edward Michael Egan, metropolitan archbishop of New York, U.S.A., Title of Sts. John and Paul, Piazza Santi Giovanni e Paolo, 13, on Friday, February 23, at 4:30 p.m.

- Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., Deaconate of the Most Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in Via Lata, Via del Corso, 45, on Friday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m.
- Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, metropolitan archbishop of Lima, Peru, Title of St. Camillus de Lellis, Via Sallustiana, 24, on Saturday, February 24, at 10:30 a.m.

- Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, Deaconate of St. Jerome of Charity, Via Monserrato, 62, on Saturday, February 24, at 6:00 p.m.

- Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Saenz, metropolitan archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, Title of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Piazza della Trasfigurazione, 2, on Sunday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m.

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HOLY SEE REPRESENTED AT WORLD CONFERENCE ON SPORT AND TOURISM

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2001 (VIS) - Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization, spoke today in Barcelona, Spain, at the World Conference on Sport and Tourism, organized by the WTO. In his speech he highlighted the role that ethics must play in both sport and tourism, and the roles that these sectors play in the formation of an individual.

Msgr. Monni remarked that "today, sports, along with tourism, are social and cultural phenomenon anchored to ancient values and are essential for human beings. These values must be protected from deleterious influences such as intolerance, doping, excessive commercialization, the present-day utilitarian tendencies, and evident private interests which aim at reducing sports to a mere show."

In sports, he said, "fair competition, the sacrifices connected to working out, and healthy competitiveness are the components of a formative path in life. This formation can offer the community strong, well-balanced, well-prepared personalities who can reach other positive goals." This is true, he said, for the adults who educate young people and for the young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerardo Humberto Flores Reyes from the pastoral care of Vera Paz, Coban (area 11,810, population 1,040,600, Catholics 908,600, priests 67, permanent deacons 1, religious 206) Guatemala, in conformity with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Nunez.

- Appointed Fr. Donal McKeown, president of St. Malachy's College, Belfast, as auxiliary to the bishop of Down and Connor (area 2,419, population 1,000,000, Catholics 307,394, priests 275, religious 453), Ireland. The bishop-elect was born in Randalstown, Ireland, in 1950, and ordained to the priesthood in 1977.

- Adopted the following provisions relative to the new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State which went into effect today:
- Confirmed Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka as president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, at the same time appointing him president of the Governorate.
- Confirmed Cardinals Andrzej Maria Deskur, Carlo Furno, and Lorenzo Antonetti, as members of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, and appointed Cardinals Angelo Sodano, Giovanni Battista Re, and Agostino Cacciavillan as members of the same Pontifical Commission.
- Confirmed Bishop Gianni Danzi as Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State and Msgr. Giorgio Corbellini as its Vice Secretary General.
- Appointed Giulio Sacchetti as Counsellor General of Vatican City State, and appointed Bishop Francesco Saverio Salerno, Alessandro Torlonia, Gian Carlo Perone, Alberto Quadrio Curzio, Francesco Rebecchini, Francesco Silvano, Angelo Caloia, and Virgil Dechant, as Counsellors of State.

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CARDINALS ARE DEFENDERS OF THE TRUTH, GUARDIANS OF THE FAITH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2001 (VIS) - During a ceremony held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of tens of thousands of faithful, Pope John Paul created 44 new cardinals from 27 countries in what is the eighth such consistory of his pontificate.

The Pope greeted the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, lay faithful and official delegations from the different countries represented, as well as fraternal delegations from several Churches and ecclesial communities. Of the latter he said: "I send a cordial greeting to you, in the certainty that even this delicate gesture of theirs will not fail to favor the ever better reciprocal understanding and progress towards full communion."

"Each Christian," affirmed the Holy Father, "knows he is called to a fidelity without compromises, which can even require the ultimate sacrifice. And this you know most especially, dear brothers elected to the dignity of cardinal. You commit yourselves to faithfully following Christ, the Martyr par excellence and the faithful Witness."

He recalled that "cardinals must assist and collaborate with the Successor of Peter to alleviate the burdens of a ministry which extends to the four corners of the earth. Together with him you must be strenuous defenders of the truth and custodians of the patrimony of faith and customs which has its origin in the Bible. You will thus be sure guides for everyone and, in the first place, for priests, consecrated persons and committed lay persons."

"As of today," continued John Paul II, "a special bond links you to the Successor of Peter. ... This tie makes you an eloquent sign of communion. You will be promoters of communion, and the entire Church will be the beneficiary." The Pope underlined that "today you have been proclaimed and created cardinals so that you will commit yourselves, in your respective fields of competence, to making sure that the spirituality of communion grows in the Church."

The Pope stated that "to be able to validly face the new duties it is necessary to cultivate an ever more intimate communion with the Lord. The very color of scarlet of the vestments you wear reminds you of this urgency. Is that color not perhaps a symbol of a passionate love for Christ? Do we not see indicated in that bright red the burning fire of love for the Church which should nourish in you the willingness, if necessary, to give the supreme witness of blood?"

Observing that the new cardinals come from 27 countries, Pope John Paul asked: "Is there not perhaps in this fact a sign of the Church's capacity ... to understand peoples with different languages and traditions, to bring to everyone the proclamation of Christ? In Him, and in Him alone, is it possible to find salvation. This is the truth that today we wish to reaffirm. Christ walks with us and guides our steps."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Celso Jose Pinto da Silva of Vitoria da Conquista, as metropolitan archbishop of Teresina (area 26,995, population 1,183,327, Catholics 986,108, priests 86, permanent deacons 1, religious 209), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1933, ordained to the priesthood in 1959, and elevated to the dignity of bishop in 1978. He succeeds Archbishop Miguel Fenelon Camara Filho, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.
- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Joaquim Rufino do Rego from the pastoral care of Parnaiba (area 20,565, population 590,000, Catholics 530,000, priests 32, religious 74), Brazil, in accordance with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Alfredo Schaffler.

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