OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Genival Saraiva de Franca, vicar general of Campina Grande, as bishop of Palmares (area 3,797, population 476,000, Catholics 352,000, priests 26, religious 72, permanent deacons 1), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Alcantil, Brazil, in 1938 and was ordained a priest in 1965. He succeeds Bishop Acacio Rodrigues Alves, whose resignation to the pastoral governing of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted for having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Matias Patricio de Macedo of Cajazeiras, Brazil, as coadjutor of Campina Grande (area 20,451, population 886,000, Catholics 771,000, priests 47, religious 187), Brazil.

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U.S. CONGRESS RESOLUTION FAVORS HOLY SEE PRESENCE AT U.N.

VATICAN CITY, JUL 12, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the declaration released today by Fr. Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Holy See Press Office, on the Resolution by the U.S. Congress favoring the Holy See presence at the U.N.:

"The Holy See has learned with satisfaction that the Congress of the United States of America on July 11 adopted a Resolution in favor of the presence of the Holy See at the United Nations. The text, voted by roll call, was adopted almost unanimously (416 in favor, one against).

"This Resolution takes on particular significance in that the American Congress not only expresses support for the presence and activity of the Holy See at the United Nations, but recognizes it as a sovereign entity, capable of acting in the international field and, in addition, pays tribute to its contribution in favor of peace and the promotion of human rights.

"The Holy See is grateful to the members of the United States Congress and applauds the promoters of this instance for their commitment in assuring the Resolution a full reception.

"Analogous initiatives had already been adopted by the Senate in Chile and the Philippine Parliament, in answer to the position taken by several groups which had criticized the presence of the Holy See in the Organization of the United Nations."

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TELEGRAM FOR DEATHS CAUSED BY LANDSLIDE IN THE PHILIPPINES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 11, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent in the Holy Father's name by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Cardinal Jaime Sin, archbishop of Manila, the Philippines, for the deaths caused by a landslide of a garbage fill on a shantytown in Payatas, near Quezon City, a suburb of Manila:

"The Holy Father was deeply saddened to learn of the death and destruction caused by the landslide at Payatas, and in the love of the Lord Jesus he asks you to convey his condolences to all who are suffering because of this tragedy. Conscious that the victims were among the poorest of the poor, His Holiness prays fervently that, like Lazarus who is poor no longer (Lk 16; 20-22), they will find eternal happiness in the embrace of God who 'will wipe every tear from their eyes'(Rev 21; 4), and he expresses the hope that the survivors will receive the prompt assistance and the support which their human dignity demands. Entrusting the people of Payatas to the loving care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in Jesus Christ, 'the firstborn from the dead'(Col 1; 18)."

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FRANCISCAN HERMITAGE INAUGURATED IN LITHUANIA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 11, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter written by Pope John Paul to Fr. Giacomo Bini, superior general of the Franciscan Friars Minor, for the July 8 inauguration of the Franciscan hermitage built on the Hill of Crosses in Siauliei, Lithuania. The letter is dated June 29.

The Pope wrote that "the building of this hermitage, in a place so charged with memories, reminds me of my prayerful visit on September 7, 1993 to the Hill of Crosses" and, ten days later, his pilgrimage to Verna. He said that be became more aware "of the great usefulness" of making "pilgrimages to Siauliei and Verna, places marked by the mystery of the Cross, to mediate with greater awareness on the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord and to open oneself to the grace of conversion."

Commenting on the "fraternal cooperation between the province of the Friars Minor in Lithuania and that in Tuscany," he recalled how, "in the times before communism, young Lithuanians, anxious to follow the Franciscan charism, were invited to Tuscany for their formation to the religious life."

"May the Crosses of the Hill of Siauliei," exhorted the Holy Father, "remain as witnesses to the tremendous trials suffered because of a dictatorial regime and may they constitute, at the same time, a sign of the greatness of soul of a people which knew how to draw from their own spiritual and cultural traditions the necessary strength to continue to hope in a better future. In the most difficult moments of the history of Lithuania, the Crosses of Siauliei have been a steady source of strength, an inner bulwark of faith in Christ and fidelity to the Church."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 11, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation to the office of auxiliary of the apostolic vicariate of Bagui, the Philippines, presented by Bishop Sebastian Dalis, in conformity with Canons 411 and 401, para 1, of the Code of Canon Law.

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