AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Region VIII) on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Harry Joseph Flynn of St. Paul and Minneapolis, with Auxiliary Bishop Richard Edmund Pates.

    - Bishop Paul Albert Zipfel of Bismarck.

    - Bishop Victor Herman Balke of Crookston.

    - Bishop Dennis Marion Schnurr of Duluth.

    - Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo.

- Birger Dan Nielsen, ambassador of Denmark, accompanied by his wife on their farewell visit.

  On Saturday December 4, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Luigi Gatti, apostolic nuncio in Lebanon.

- Archbishop Thomas E. Gullickson, apostolic nuncio in Trinidad, Tobago, Bahamas, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadine.

- Three prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Region V) on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Joseph Latino, with Bishop Emeritus William Russel Houck.

    - Msgr. David R. Choby of Nashville.

- Archbishop Francisco Javier Lozano, apostolic nuncio in Croatia.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
AP:AL/.../...                                VIS 20041206 (190)

LITHUANIA'S NOBLE LEGACY OF HUMAN AND GOSPEL VALUES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 2004 (VIS) - Algirdas Saudargas, the new ambassador to the Holy See from Lithuania, presented his Letters of Credence today to Pope John Paul who, addressing the ambassador in his native tongue, recalled his 1993 visit to Lithuania, and said he prayed daily for Lithuanians "to whom I am linked by cultural and spiritual ties."

  "It is part of the mission of the Successor of Peter," said the Pope, "to sustain believers in every part of the world and, at the same time, to constantly remind them of those universal values on which it is possible to build a just and solidary society. Supported by the centuries-old conviction that the universal moral law is a sure path for civil coexistence, the Holy See never tires of defending the rights of peoples to present themselves on the stage of history with their own characteristics, in respect for the legitimate freedom of each one."

  Underscoring the Christian roots that have inspired Lithuanians for centuries, the Holy Father said he hoped that "the representatives of Lithuanian citizens, continuing to draw upon the noble legacy of human and Gospel ideals that mark Lithuania's history, will commit themselves with a sincere spirit to building a free society on solid ethical and moral foundations." He exhorted Catholics "to  collaborate with all persons of good will to see that Lithuanian society avoids being strongly influenced by the secular hedonistic model of life with its fallacious seductions."

  He said he hoped believers would "walk side by side with all those ... who promote the defense of the family and of life, from its conception to its natural end."

  In closing remarks, John Paul expressed pleasure that Lithuania has been inserted "into the assembly of Nations of a united Europe. ... May the continent know how to find the ways and means to build peace and prosperity in a climate of fruitful collaboration, respecting cultures and the legitimate rights of everyone and pursuing the objective of the good of the person and of all of Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals."
CD/LETTERS CREDENCE/LITHUANIA:SAUDARGAS    VIS 20041206 (360)

ANGELUS REFLECTIONS ON DOGMA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

 CONCEPTIONVATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2004 (VIS) - Pope John Paul dedicated today's Angelus reflections entirely to the upcoming feast of the Immaculate Conception, as this year marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of this dogma by Pope Pius IX.

  "We prepare to celebrate with intimate joy," he said, "the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary which this year takes on special meaning. We will commemorate, in fact, the 150 years since the proclamation of this important Marian doctrine.

  "We will remember this anniversary on December 8 with a solemn Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Basilica where, in 1854 my venerated predecessor, Blessed Pius IX, proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, together with many bishops from every part of the world. Thus we will honor 'Tota pulchra', she whom God chose as the Mother of His only begotten Son."

  The Holy Father closed by reminding everyone that in the afternoon, as he does every year, he will go to Rome's famed Piazza di Spagna for the traditional homage to Mary Immaculate. "I invite all of you, dear Romans and pilgrims, to join me in this act of filial veneration to our heavenly Mother."
ANG/IMMACULATE CONCEPTION/...                VIS 20041206 (210)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2004 (VIS) -  Today the Holy Father appointed Bishop James Liu Tankuei, auxiliary of Taipei, Taiwan, as bishop of Hsinchu (area 4,750, population 3,184,845, Catholics 52,923, priests 86, religious 217), Taiwan.  He accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Lucas Liu Hsien-tang upon having reached the age limit.
NER:RE/.../LIU TANKUEI:LIU HSIEN-TANG             VIS 20041206 (60)

MEETING OF GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF ASIA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2004 (VIS) - The council of the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops for the Special Assembly for Asia celebrated its eighth meeting in the Vatican on November 18 and 19. Joining Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, the secretary general, were two cardinals and twelve archbishops and bishops.

  A communiqué made public today notes that the council members exchanged information and observations on the situation of the Church in the different political, social and civil sectors in the Asian nations, especially in terms of the acceptance and application of the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Asia." 

  It also highlighted "the growth of the Catholic Church on the continent despite  conditions that are often difficult, especially the lack of religious freedom. Those present spoke about inter-religious dialogue and they pointed out that, despite difficulties caused mostly by radical groups, there are encouraging examples of collaboration between representatives of various religions in society and in promoting ethical and moral values as much as possible."

 The next meeting will be November 18-19, 2005.
SE/SYNOD ASIA/ETEROVIC                            VIS 20041206 (200)