OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Andre Vingt-Trois, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Paris, as metropolitan archbishop of Tours (area 6,158, population 545,500, Catholics 461,400, priests 182, religious 572), France. The archbishop-elect was born in Paris, France, in 1942, was ordained a priest in 1969, and since 1988 has been auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Paris.

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HOLY FATHER'S FIRST MEETING WITH VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATIONS

VATICAN CITY, APR 21, 1999 (VIS) - Today in the Holy See Press Office, Msgr. Francesco Azcona, under-secretary for the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," presented the program of the Pope's May 16 meeting with volunteers and members of associations who work in the sectors of social and charity work. The heads of thirteen of these organizations also attended the presentation.

Msgr. Azcona said that the Holy Father will preside at a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Square, where "people who have lived very different experiences and situations" will take part for the first time. Before Mass, a group of volunteers from Rwanda, Northern Ireland and the Holy Land will give witness to their experiences.

"Volunteer work," explained Cor Unum's under-secretary, "is an emerging sector of society: it covers various areas, from aid in hospitals to formation, and involves a growing number of people."

The meeting, whose theme is "Witnesses of Charity with the Pope," will be preceded by the World Meeting on Charity, which will be held in Rome from May 12 to 15.

Following Msgr. Azcona, there was an intervention by Gianpietro Cavazza, coordinator of the working group which drafted the document "Many Forms of Poverty, A Single Response: Points for Reflecting on Charity, Volunteerism and Service to People."

The aim of the six-page document is "to offer a break for reflection on the virtue of charity in relation to the mission of the Church," said Cavazza. It was drawn up by various volunteer associations from a number of countries in preparation for the May 16 meeting.

"The key to reading it," concluded Cavazza, "is the following: Christian charity, which has its origin and fulfillment in Christ, goes beyond doing good and providing assistance. ... The person can only become mature and truly fulfill themselves when there is someone who loves them. ... Charity overcomes the legalistic concept of justice: if this (justice) gives each person what is due to them, then charity does likewise. The time spent at the service of one's neighbor is the reference point for which the rest of the time will be spent, on how to use what we possess (culture, money, goods) and causes a change in relationships with family, friends and work."

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TELEGRAM FOR THE KILLING OF STUDENTS IN DENVER

VATICAN CITY, APR 21, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, in the Pope's name, to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver (U.S.A.), for the killing yesterday of 25 students in one of the city's schools:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II has been deeply shocked by news of the terrible tragedy which has caused many deaths and injuries at a school near Denver and he asks you to convey to the families and school community the assurance of his prayerful closeness at this very difficult time. He commends the victims to Almighty God and invokes divine strength and comfort on the injured and on all affected by this awful event. He expresses the earnest hope that American society as a whole will react to this latest act of violence among the young by committing itself to promoting and transmitting the moral vision and the values which alone can ensure respect for the inviolable dignity of human life."

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile, Chile, on April 9, aged 91.
- Archbishop Donato Ugo Bianchi of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, on April 5, aged 69.
- Bishop John Linus Paschang, emeritus of Grand Island, United States of America, on March 21, aged 103.
- Bishop Manuel Antonio Pires, emeritus of Kwito-Ble, Angola, on April 3, aged 84.
- Bishop Vartan Tekeyan of Ispahan of the Armenians, Iran, on April 12, aged 78.
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POPE AND THE WHOLE CHURCH PRAY FOR PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Holy Father to Archbishop Franc Perko of Belgrade, president of the Episcopal Conference of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which he expresses his spiritual closeness and the prayer of the whole Church for all those who suffer because of the war.

"It is with deep sorrow that I am following each and every day the worsening of the tragic humanitarian situation in the various regions of Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo. With special affection I am particularly close to the pastors and faithful of the Catholic communities, as well as to all people of good will who are making efforts to aid those who are suffering most at this time, because they have been deprived of the love of their families, forcefully made to leave their homes and unjustly made to live far from their land.

"At the same time, I wish to assure you, by dear Brother, and all the bishops of Yugoslavia that this Apostolic See will continue in its commitment to peace, so that these people, especially those in Kosovo, who have been so sorely tried, might be spared further suffering.

"Finally, all those responsible for national and international life must be reminded that the path of dialogue is always possible and that such a way can always lead to honorable solutions among the various parties, in the respect of men and women from the same land, who are all children of the same heavenly Father.

"Such is the prayer, at this tragic time, of the entire Church, who is closer than ever to you, invoking the Lord with a single voice, that He might soon let the star of peace shine on your beloved land, in the respect for the rights of every creature of God."

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