OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Joseph Mitsuaki Takami P.S.S., professor of dogmatic theology and Holy Scripture at the major interdiocesan seminary of Fukuoka, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Nagasaki (area 4,192, population 1,527,138, Catholics 69,025, priests 148, permanent deacons 1, religious 987), Japan. The bishop-elect was born in Nagasaki in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1972.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Roberto Rodriguez of Villa Maria.
- Bishop Pedro Luis Ronchino S.D.B., of Comodoro Rivadavia.
- Bishop Marcelo Angiolo Melani S.D.B., of Neuquen.
- Bishop Jose Pedro Pozzi of Alto Valle S.D.B., del Rio Negro.

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SERVE YOUR FELLOWS WITHOUT LIMIT OR RESERVE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto who have been holding their General Chapter in Rome. The Pope recalled his joy in proclaiming the foundress of the order, Frances Rubatto, as blessed on October 10, 1993, and emphasized that her life had been sustained by two pillars: "ardent love for God, perceived as 'highest good,' and tireless service of her fellows, especially the most needy and abandoned."

"As her spiritual daughters, may you too know how to render yourselves poor in your individual lives and daily activities. ... In this way you will be the missionary sisters of the people, committed to announcing and witnessing the Gospel to all those you meet on your journey."
John Paul II highlighted the fact that "Mother Frances had an ardent and lively faith in Jesus of the Holy Sacrament and wished the Eucharist to be the heart of the religious family she founded;" and he invited the religious to "share the bread" of their lives in the various sectors of their service to others: from catechesis to school education; from assisting the sick to solidarity with the needy; from collaborating in parish pastoral care to the 'ad gentes' mission. ... In the face of modern-day challenges, revive the fundamental inspiration of Mother Frances, translating it for the new apostolic fields that open before you."

At the close of his address, the Holy Father recalled the members of the order who, in Alto Alegre, Brazil, on March 13 1901, "with the supreme sacrifice of their lives," bore witness "to faith in Christ and love for others." He affirmed that they had been animated by the same spirit that inspired Mother Frances to "serve our fellows without limit or reserve" thus opening "her heart and the life of the institute to the missionary dimension."

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ULTIMATE DESTINY OF HISTORY IS THE MEETING WITH GOD

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2002 (VIS) - In the general audience which was held today in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father spoke on Psalm 42: "Longing for God's holy Temple."

The Pope stated that in this Psalm "the Psalmist addresses God and begs Him for defence against the foe. ... He feels that the dark interlude of absence is about to end and expresses the certainty of a return to Zion in order to rediscover the divine dwelling place. The holy city is no longer the lost motherland, as was the case in the lament of the preceding Psalm, but the joyful destination towards which he is directed."

He continued: "'Truth,' in other words, the Lord's loving faithfulness, and 'light,' that is, the revelation of His benevolence, are described as messengers that God Himself will send from heaven to lead the faithful by the hand and conduct him towards the longed-for destination."

John Paul II indicated that "the initial lament of the antiphon of Psalms 41-42 resounds for the last time at the end of the Psalm. The Psalmist has still not reached God's Temple, he is still entangled in the darkness of tribulation; yet already the light of the future meeting shines in his eyes, and his lips know the tonality of the song of joy."

"The Psalm, then, becomes a prayer for the pilgrim on earth, who is still in contact with evil and suffering but who has the certainty that the goal of history is not the abyss of death but the salvific encounter with God."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, accompanied by Msgr. Pietro Maria Fragnelli, rector of Rome's Major Pontifical Seminary and his assistants.

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