VISIT OF HOLY SEE DELEGATION TO VIETNAM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a declaration released this morning, said that "a Holy See delegation made up of Msgrs. Celestino Migliore, under-secretary for Relations with States and Barnaba Nguyen Van Phuong, bureau chief at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, returned to Rome yesterday following a six-day visit to Vietnam."

The delegation met both religious and governmental authorities. With the latter, said Navarro-Valls, "the appointment of bishops was discussed; some of these will be made public shortly, while for others, a response from the Vietnamese side is expected in the near future."

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL WINNING

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - Given below is the text of the telegram sent by the Holy Father to the administrator of the archdiocese of Glasgow, Scotland, for the death yesterday of Cardinal Thomas Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, at the age of 76:

"Saddened to learn of the sudden death of Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning, archbishop of Glasgow, I extend heartfelt condolences and the assurance of my spiritual closeness to the clergy, religious and laity of the archdiocese and to the Catholic community in Scotland. In recalling Cardinal Winning's generous and committed service as priest and bishop, I join in giving thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed upon the Church through his ministry. During those long years, this zealous pastor encouraged the communities he served in faith and Christian living, and was particularly outstanding in defence of life and commitment to the poor. I am confident that his example will inspire all the members of the Church in Scotland to grow in their love of Christ and to increase their resolve to serve their brothers and sisters in a spirit of Christian charity. Entrusting all who are mourning the late cardinal to the protection of Mary, mother of the Redeemer, I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of comfort and strength in Our Lord Jesus Christ."

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CARDINAL CE TO MARK 16TH CENTENARY OF ST. VIGILIUS' DEATH

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was John Paul II's Pontifical Letter to Cardinal Marco Ce, patriarch of Venice and the Pope's special envoy to the June 26 celebration in Trent, Italy, of the 16th centenary of the death of St. Vigilius, bishop and patron of the archdiocese of Trent. The Letter, written in Latin, is dated May 20.

Also named today were the two priests from the archdiocese of Trent who will accompany the cardinal: Msgr. Valentino Felicetti, pastor and bishop's delegate from Rovereto, and Fr. Remo Vanzetta, pastor and bishop's delegate for Pergine.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Isaac Thottunkal, protosincello (vicar general) of the eparchy of Bathery, India, as auxiliary of the archieparchy of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars (area 8,684, population 8,350,000, Catholics 305,000, priests 227, religious 819), India, also giving him the office of apostolic visitator to Syro-Malankarese faithful in North America and Europe. The bishop-elect was born in Mukkoor, India, in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1986.

On Saturday, June 16, it was made public that he:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of Villavicencio, Colombia, presented by Bishop Alfonso Cabezas Aristizabal C.M., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Miguel Angel Alba Diaz, auxiliary of Antequera, Oaxaca, Mexico, as bishop of La Paz en la Baja California Sur (area 73,677, population 395,500, Catholics 375,500, priests 60, religious 220), Mexico.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio in the Czech Republic.
- Jacques Bihozagara, ambassador of Rwanda, on a farewell visit.
- Cardinal Luigi Poggi.

On Saturday, June 16, he received in audience Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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