INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN GENOME

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 2005 (VIS) - The twentieth international conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for Heath Care Ministry is due to be held in the Vatican from November 17 to 19, 2005, on the theme of the "human genome."

  In his written presentation of the program of the conference, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the pontifical council, affirms that although "this is a very broad topic and to a large extent subject to new research and discovery," the conference aims to consider the subject "from the specific perspective of health," stressing its therapeutic aspects.

  The participants, world specialists in this field, will consider the theme "according to our usual method," writes the cardinal, "we will begin with a vision of the genome in the light of the Word of God, and from this we will develop our exploration of it in three stages: reality, illumination, action.

  "In the first part of our conference we will consider the current reality of genetics, genomic studies and post-genomic studies; chromosome aberrations and congenital disorders; ... genetic predisposition to cancer; ... medical care for patients with these diseases and their families; judgement, error and negligence in genetic aspects of maternal fetal medicine; ... human genetics and its international juridical status; genetic research and international cooperation."

  During the second part of the conference, reflection will focus on "the historical process of human genetics; ... the ethics of medical genetics; the path of liberal eugenics and the ethics of medical consultancy in the field of genetics." Attention will also be given to "the application of the knowledge of human genetics according to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as genetics according to the thought of post-modernity."

  In the last stage of the conference, the cardinal concludes, "we will examine genetics and the new culture, the pastoral vision of genetic research, medical genetics and ethical committees in hospitals, law and genetics, ... education and the updating of pastoral workers in the field of genetics, and the prevention of genetic diseases from the point of view of pastoral care."
.../CONFERENCE HUMAN GENOME/CON-AVA                VIS 20050906 (360)

TELEGRAM FOR AUSTRIAN CABLE CAR ACCIDENT

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 2005 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano has sent a telegram of condolence, in the Pope's name, to Bishop Manfred Scheuer of Innsbruck, Austria, for yesterday's accident on the cable car linking the Austrian localities of Rettenbach and Tiefenbachferner, which left nine people dead. The Holy Father gives assurance of his prayers for the victims, the majority of them children, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
TGR/CABLE CAR ACCIDENT AUSTRIA/SODANO            VIS 20050906 (90)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, accompanied by an entourage.

 - Two prelates from the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Fernando Mario Chavez Ruvalcaba of Zacatecas.

    - Archbishop Jose Ulises Macias Salcedo of Hermosillo.

 - Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

 - Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome.

  On Sunday, September 4, he received in audience Cardinal Jozef Tomko, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and special envoy to the closing celebrations of the Slovak National Eucharistic Congress.
AP:AL/.../...                                    VIS 20050905 (120)

INTER-CHRISTIAN SYMPOSIUM ON ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 2005 (VIS) - The ninth Inter-Christian Symposium, promoted by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at the Antonianum Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome, and by the faculty of theology at the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece, is taking place in the Italian town of Assisi from September 4 to 7.

  The inter-Christian symposia began in 1992 and are celebrated on alternate years in Greece and in Italy. The theme of this year's meeting - "The Eucharist in the eastern and western traditions, with particular reference to ecumenical dialogue" - will be introduced by Archbishop Yannis Spiteris O.F.M. Cap. of Corfu, Greece, and expounded by twelve scholars, six Orthodox and six Catholic. The symposium will also be attended by Msgr. Eleuterio F. Fortino, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

  At the opening session of the symposium, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the same pontifical council, read out a message from Benedict XVI.

  "The symposium," writes the Pope in his message, "represents a joyful opportunity for fraternal exchange, in which important themes from the heritage of shared faith may be reflected upon and given profound consideration. ... The search for full and visible unity among all Christ's disciples is felt as a particularly urgent need of our times."

  Benedict XVI goes on to point out that this year's theme "is highly significant for the life of Christians and for the recomposition of full communion among all the disciples of Christ. ... Dialogue and discussion in truth and in charity ... will surely bring out our shared faith as well as those theological and liturgical aspects particular to the East and to the West, complementary aspects that have a dynamic effect in forming the People of God, and that represent a treasure for the Church."

  "Achieving the full communion of Christians must be the objective of all those who profess faith in the Church. ... This concern extends to everyone, according to their talents, whether they be exercised in daily Christian life or in theological and historical research."

  Although the absence of communion means that concelebration is not possible, Benedict XVI observes that this "will in any case be an appeal to intensify prayer, study and dialogue with the aim of resolving the differences that still remain."
MESS/INTER-CHRISTIAN SYMPOSIUM/ASSISI:KASPER        VIS 20050905 (390)

POPE PRAYS FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS AND FOR IRAQ

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 2005 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus at midday today at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo, the Pope gave assurances of his prayers for the victims of the hurricane that recently struck the U.S.A.: for the dead and their families, the injured, the homeless, the sick, children and the elderly.

  After blessing "those involved in the difficult work of rescue and rebuilding," he said that he had entrusted Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," to bring testimony of the Pope's solidarity to the people stricken by the disaster.

  The Holy Father concluded: "My thoughts also go to the Iraqi people who last Wednesday witnessed the deaths of hundreds of their fellow citizens - mostly elderly people, women and children - who had gathered in Baghdad for a religious ceremony, victims of an unstoppable moment of panic. May the Almighty touch everyone's hearts so that a climate of reconciliation and reciprocal trust may finally be instated in that troubled country."
ANG/HURRICANE U.S.A.:IRAQ/...                        VIS 20050905 (180)