BRIEF COURTESY VISIT BY DALAI LAMA TO POPE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2003 (VIS) - In reference to the Pope's meeting today with the Dalai Lama, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office, made the following statement: 'It was a brief courtesy visit in which religious topics were discussed exclusively.'

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY HONORED BY ARGENTINIAN EMBASSY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2003 (VIS) - On November 26 in the Embassy of Argentina to the Holy See, Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, was decorated with the Order of General San Martin. During the ceremony, the prelate gave a speech to express his gratitude.

Today, on the feast of Thanksgiving, the archbishop delivered the homily during a Mass at St. Susanna Church in Rome which is the North American parish in the capital city.

On Friday, November 28 the president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications will speak during a press conference on the presentation of the seventh edition of the Congress of Studies on Spiritual Film, organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture which will take place in the Vatican.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Georgi Parvanov, president of the Republic of Bulgaria, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

- Bishop Jean-Luc Bouilleret of Amiens, France on his 'ad limina' visit.

- Bishop Jean-Paul James of Beauvais, France on his 'ad limina' visit.

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: 'MESSIAH, KING AND PRIEST'

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2003 (VIS) - In this Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope spoke about the Psalm 109, 'The Messiah, king and priest,' which is read every Sunday during vespers.

John Paul II said that in the first part of the psalm there is an 'oracle by God directed to the sovereign of Jerusalem whom the psalmist calls 'my Lord.' The oracle proclaims the enthronement of the descendent of David 'at the right hand' of God.'

'In the distance,' he continued, 'hostile forces are seen, which are nevertheless offset by a victorious conquest.' There is a 'general contrast between the project of God who operates through His chosen people, and the plans of those who would like to affirm their hostile and abusive power. Therefore, there is the eternal clash between good and evil which occurs in the events of history, through which God manifests Himself and speaks to us.'

The Holy Father then referred to the second part of the Psalm which 'contains a priestly prophesy in which King David is once again the protagonist. Guaranteed by a solemn divine oath, royal dignity becomes one with priestly dignity. The reference to Melchizedek, priest-king of Salem, or Ancient Jerusalem, is therefore the way to justify the special priesthood of the king alongside the official levitical priesthood of the temple of Zion. ' The Letter to the Hebrews,' he concluded, 'begins with this prophesy: 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,' in order to illustrate the special and perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ.'

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BEAR WITNESS TO THE LORD'S COMPASSION FOR THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2003 (VIS) - The Religious Association of Social and Health Care Institutes (ARIS) is celebrating the 40(th) anniversary of its founding. On this occasion, the Holy Father sent the institute a message in which he urges members to 'continue to serve the sick with competence and dedication.'

'Frequently,' writes John Paul II, 'it is difficult for those who live in situations of intense pain and sorrow to understand the meaning and significance of life. It is therefore important that there is somebody by their side to support and help them, like the Good Samaritan. People like Mother Teresa, who was recently beatified, bear witness in a simple yet specific way to the charity and compassion of Our Lord toward those who are suffering, the sick and ostracized, and the dying. While they nurse their bodily wounds, they help them to encounter Christ who, through death, revealed the complete value of life in all its phases and conditions.'

The Pope concludes the message by expressing his appreciation for the association's work in many countries, 'especially in mission territories. You help young Churches to run homes for the sick and suffering and to prepare qualified health and pastoral care workers. This collaboration among ecclesiastical communities in the North and South of the world must intensify.'

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