OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Herve Giraud, superior of the University Seminary of Lyon, France, and Fr. Thierry Brac de la Perriere, vicar general of Lyon, as auxiliary bishops of the same archdiocese (area 5,087, population 1,733,500, Catholics 1,200,000, priests 545, permanent deacons 48, religious 2,198). Fr. Giraud was born in 1957 in Tournon, France and was ordained a priest in 1985. Fr. Brac de la Perriere was born in Lyon, France in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1988.

- Appointed Fr. Thomas Anthony Williams, canon and pastor of St. Anthony in Liverpool, England as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese (area 1,165, population 1,100,000, Catholics 508,000, priests 386, permanent deacons 91, religious 500). The bishop-elect was born in 1948 in Liverpool and was ordained a priest in 1972.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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VATICAN STUDYING WAY FOR POPE TO RETURN ICON TO RUSSIAN PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2003 (VIS) - In answer to press reports of a possible stopover by Pope John Paul in Russia during his August trip to Mongolia, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office, yesterday afternoon told journalists: "The Holy Father's desire to return the sacred icon of Our Lady of Kazan, which for years has been cared for in the Vatican, to the Russian people and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow is well known. The appropriate occasion and way of turning it over (to them) will be evaluated at the proper time."

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SOLIDARITY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DUE TO WAR

VATICAN CITY, APR 13, 2003 (VIS) - Today at 10 a.m., Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 50,000 young people from all over the world who were celebrating the 18th World Youth Day on the theme 'Behold your mother.'

In the homily, the Pope said that today's liturgy is "like a solemn portal to enter into Holy Week. It connects two contrasting moments: Jesus's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the drama of the Passion. ... It anticipates the 'hour' in which the Messiah will have to suffer so much, be killed and rise on the third day and it prepares us to live the Easter mystery in its entirety."

The Holy Father affirmed that Jerusalem "can be considered the city-symbol of humanity, especially in the dramatic beginning of the third millennium that we are living. Today we are celebrating because Jesus, King of peace, enters Jerusalem."

After greeting the many young people present, the Pope said: "How can I not express my fraternal solidarity to your peers who suffer due to war and violence in Iraq, the Holy Land, and in other regions in the world?"

"Today," he continued, "we welcome with faith and joy Christ, who is our 'king': king of truth, liberty, justice and love, which are the four 'pillars' on which it is possible to build the structure of true peace, as Blessed John XXIII wrote in the Encyclical 'Pacem in Terris' 40 years ago. I entrust it ideally to the young people from around the whole world. ... Read it, meditate on it, make an effort to put in into practice."

"'Behold your mother!' Jesus directs these words to each of you, dear friends. He also asks you to welcome Mary as mother in 'your home, among your goods.' ... May Mary help you to respond generously to the Lord's call and to persevere with joy and fidelity in the Christian mission! ... Young people of the third millennium," he concluded, "do not be afraid to offer your life as a total response to Christ! Only He changes the life and history of the world."

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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 3003 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, decrees relative to 16 Servants of God were promulgated in the presence of the Holy Father, members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the postulators of the respective causes. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation, read a speech detailing the lives of the Servants of God.

The decrees concern the following causes:

MIRACLES

- Venerable Servant of God Juan Nepomuceno Zegri y Moreno, Spanish, priest from the archdiocese of Granada, founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercede (1831-1905).

- Venerable Servant of God Luigi Talamoni, Italian, priest from the archdiocese of Milan, founder of the Congregation of the Merciful Sisters of St. Gerard (1848-1926).

- Venerable Servant of God Luigi Maria Monti, Italian, lay religious and founder of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (1825-1900).

- Venerable Servant of God Matilde of the Sacred Heart, nee Matilde Tellez Robles, Spanish, foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church (1841-1902).

- Venerable Servant of God Piedad de la Cruz, nee Tomasa Ortiz Real, Spanish, foundress of the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1842-1916).

- Venerable Servant of God Rosalie Rendu, nee Jeanne-Marie, French, of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent of Paul (1786-1856).

- Venerable Servant of God Maria Candida dell'Eucharistia, nee Maria Barba, Italian, professed religious of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (1884-1949).

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Luigi Boccardo, Italian, priest of the archdiocese of Turin, founder of the Sisters of Jesus, King, contemplative branch of the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of St. Gaetano (1861-1936).

- Servant of God Mose Tovini, Italian, priest of the diocese of Brescia (1877-1930).

- Servant of God Basile Antoine Marie Moreau, French, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Religious Sisters and Brothers of Holy Cross (1799-1873).

- Servant of God Filippo Bardellini, Italian, priest of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Holy Society of the Poor Sisters of the House of Nazareth (1878- 1956).

- Servant of God Eustace Van Lieshout, Dutch, professed priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus) (1890-1943).

- Servant of God Luigi della Consolata, ne Andrea Bordino, Italian, professed monk of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Joseph Benito of Cottolengo (1922-1977).

- Servant of God Anna Maria Fiorelli, Italian, widow Lapini, of the Third Order of St. Francis, foundress of the Congregation of the Poor Daughters of the Holy of St. Francis of Assisi (Stigmatines) (1809-1860).

- Servant of God Ascension del Corazon de Jesus, nee Florencia Nicol Goni, Spanish, co-foundress and first superior general of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (1868-1940).

- Servant of God Charles of Austria, Austrian, emperor and king (1887-1922).

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