OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 30, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Colorado Springs, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Richard Charles Hanifen, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Michael John Sheridan.

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GIVE ME WISDOM, SO I MAY KNOW WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul II welcomed several thousand pilgrims to the weekly general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall this morning, and focussed his catechesis on the canticle "Lord, give me wisdom," found in the ninth chapter of the Book of Wisdom of Solomon. Solomon, said the Pope, "in biblical tradition, is considered the just and wise king par excellence."

He explained that the Book of Wisdom is "a writing of the Old Testament composed in Greek, probably in Alexandria, Egypt, on the threshold of the Christian era. ... This book proposes to us basically three paths of theological thought: blessed immortality as the final destination of the existence of the just; wisdom as a divine gift and guide for the life and choices of the faithful; the history of salvation, above all the fundamental event of the exodus from Egyptian oppression, as a sign of struggle between good and evil, that flows into full salvation and redemption."

King Solomon, stated the Holy Father, in a "dream-revelation, at the request of God, Who invited him to ask for a gift, answered: give your servant a gentle heart so that he will know how to render justice to his people and know how to distinguish good from evil."

And, as we see in the canticle today, said John Paul II, King Solomon implored: "'Give me wisdom. ... Send her forth from the holy heavens and from thy throne send her forth'." This wisdom, "he added, "is not just knowledge or talent or skill, but rather is a sharing in the mind of God Himself. In fact King Solomon asks the Lord to send forth the gift of wisdom so that he may learn what is pleasing to God."

"Without this wisdom," remarked the Holy Father, "we amount to nothing. But with it we are guided to holiness and righteousness. It allows us to understand history, helping us to look beyond mere appearances and to appreciate the deepest meaning of life. With Solomon, let us beg the Lord for His gift of wisdom, to enlighten our hearts and minds in the ways that are pleasing to Him."

Let us view wisdom as Solomon did, concluded the Pope: "I loved her and sought her from my youth, and I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the ecclesiastical province of Samarinda (area 114,810, population 1,538,601, Catholics 100,000), taking territory from the ecclesiastical province of Pontianak, Indonesia. The new province will include as suffragans the dioceses of Banjarmasin, Palangkaraya and Tanjung Selor.

- Appointed Bishop Florentinus Sului Hajang Hau, M.S.F. of Samarinda, Indonesia as metropolitan archbishop of the same diocese.

- Appointed Fr. Harold Anthony Perera, director of studies at the National Major Seminary in Sri Lanka, as bishop of Ratnapura (area 4,968, population 1,766,800, Catholics 25,525, priests 27, religious 88), Sri Lanka. The bishop-elect was born in Bopitiya, Sri Lanka in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Fr. Abraha Desta, chancellor and secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of the Eparchy of Adigrat, Ethiopia as apostolic vicar of Meki (area 156,000, population 5,474,070, Catholics 20,107, priests 29, religious 65), Ethiopia. The bishop-elect was born in 1951 in Medea-Sebea, Ethiopia and was ordained a priest in 1980.

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DOCUMENT ON CHRISTIAN REFLECTION ON THE NEW AGE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2003 (VIS) - On February 3 at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office there will be a conference to present the document "Jesus Christ, Bearer of Living Water. A Christian Reflection on the 'New Age'."

Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, will preside at the conference. These two councils produced the document. Joining them will be Fr. Peter Fleetwood of the secretariat of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences and Teresa Osorio Goncalves, an official of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue who coordinates a work group on sects and new religious movements.

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"PROGRESS" BETWEEN CATHOLICS AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2003 (VIS) - Members of the Preparatory Committee charged with preparing the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches were welcomed this morning in the Vatican by Pope John Paul.

The Pope extended greetings to the representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and to "my venerable Brothers, the heads of the Churches which you represent," saying he "recalled with gratitude the various opportunities I have had to meet them." He welcomed the Catholic members of the committee, "representing various communities from both East and West."

"Substantial ecumenical progress has already been made between the Catholic Church and the different Oriental Churches," affirmed the Holy Father. "Essential clarifications have been made with regard to traditional controversies about Christology, and this has enabled us to profess together the faith we hold in common. ... May your efforts to establish a Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue prove a major step forward towards full communion in truth and charity."

"Many of you come from the Middle East and surrounding countries," noted John Paul II. "Let us pray together that this region will be preserved from the threat of war and further violence. May our ecumenical endeavors always be directed to the building up of a 'civilization of love', founded on justice, reconciliation and peace."

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