OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the from the office of auxiliary of Buenos Aires, Argentina, presented by Bishop Horacio Benites Astoul, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Bishop Jaime Prieto Amaya of Barrancabermeja, Colombia, as bishop of Cucuta (area 2,200, population 816,000, Catholics 734,000, priests 129, permanent deacons 7, religious 277), Colombia.

  On Saturday 29 November it was made public that he accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Sacramento, U.S.A. presented by Bishop William K. Weigand, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Francis Eugene George O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago, U.S.A.

 - Bishop Cristian Enrique Contreras Molina O.M. of San Felipe, Chile, on his "ad limina" visit.

  On Saturday 29 November he received in separate audiences five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Chile, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Juan Florindo Agurto Munoz O.S.M. of San Carlos de Ancud.

    - Bishop Tomislav Koljatic Maroevic of Linares.

    - Bishop Enrique Troncoso Troncoso of Melipilla.

    - Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic of Rancagua.

    - Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez Errazuriz of San Bernardo.
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PLENARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - The International Theological Commission is celebrating its plenary session from 1 to 5 December in the Vatican's "Domus Sanctae Marthae", under the chairmanship of Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J., secretary general of the commission.

  The commission, which has a five-year mandate that expires this year, will study the matters presented for it to examine, says a communique published today. In particular, a draft document on natural moral law entitled "The search for universal ethics. A new look at natural law", will be presented for members' approval. The draft document will still have to follow the procedures laid down in the Statutes before any publication. This will be followed by a detailed discussion on the theme: "Meaning and method of theology".

  At the end of their plenary assembly, the members of the International Theological Commission will be received in audience by the Holy Father.
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HOLY FATHER RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received Mahinda Rajapaksa, president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The president subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "The cordial discussions took into consideration the present situation in Sri Lanka", reads an English-language communique, "in order to underline the necessity of meeting the basic needs of the deeply-affected civilian population and consolidating the path of dialogue and negotiation, which is the only way to reach a just and lasting political solution to the ongoing conflict.

  "The hope was also expressed that the Catholic Church would continue to enjoy the full right to religious freedom, thus enabling her to make a significant contribution to the life of the country through her religious witness, her educational, healthcare and charitable initiatives, and her commitment to work for the common good, reconciliation and peace".
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BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities".

  His mission intention is: "That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of brotherliness that the Child born in the grotto in Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world".
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