AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

 - Five prelates of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Francisco Gil Hellin of Burgos.

    - Bishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Bilbao, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Carmelo Echenagusia Uribe.

    - Bishop Vicente Jimenez Zamora of Osma-Soria.

    - Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos of Palencia.

  On Sunday, January 16, he received Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Italian Republic, accompanied by his wife, with whom he had lunch.

  On Saturday, January 15, he received in separate audiences:

 - Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

 - Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, apostolic nuncio to India and Nepal.

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