OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Jozef Tomko as a member of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the commission of cardinals that oversees the activities of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR).

NA;...;...;TOMKO ;VIS;20020108;Word: 50;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Patriarch Angelo Scola of Venice, Italy.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20020108;Word: 20;

COMMUNIQUE FROM COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 8, 2002 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique, made public this morning by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity following the news of the upcoming retirement of Archbishop George Carey of Canterbury, England, primate of the Anglican Communion.

"With the formal announcement that Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey will retire later this year, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity remembers with gratitude his commitment to fostering and deepening Anglican-Roman Catholic relations. Archbishop Carey visited the Holy Father on several occasions over his ten years as Archbishop of Canterbury, indeed more than any of his predecessors. The image of him kneeling with an Orthodox leader alongside the Holy Father as they together opened the Holy Door at St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls to begin the Jubilee Year is firmly planted in our memories. We know he has a very full schedule ahead of him prior to his retirement, but would like at this time to express our profound thanks for the many blessings of his years of leadership as Archbishop of Canterbury."

CON-UC;...;...;CAREY;VIS;20020108;Word: 190;

ANGELUS: WORLD MISSION DAY OF CHILDHOOD

VATICAN CITY, JAN 6, 2002 (VIS) - Following this morning's mass during which he ordained ten new archbishops and bishops, John Paul II appeared at his study window to pray the angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled that Epiphany coincides with the World Mission Day of Childhood that has as its theme this year "kindle hope," and that invites "'boy and girl missionaries' to spread the light of solidarity, especially where the shadows of poverty, of pain and of war are particularly dense." John Paul II emphasized that the new bishops will also dedicate "all their energy" to the missionary task.

In closing, the Holy Father mentioned that "some Oriental Churches, such as the Russian Orthodox Church and the venerable Churches of the East such as the Coptic, Ethiopian and Armenian Churches celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ in these days. ... May the celebration of the coming of the Word of God among men be a source of new spiritual strength ... and of communion among all of us who recognize Him as Lord and Savior."

ANG;CHILDHOOD MISSION DAY;...;...;VIS;20020107;Word: 190;

NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS BOTH NEED A GUIDING STAR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 6, 2002 (VIS) - Today, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, during the course of a Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican Basilica, John Paul II conferred episcopal ordination upon ten presbyters from Italy, the Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Portugal.

In his homily, the Holy Father recalled that today's liturgy speaks of the light of Christ: "Today the Messiah, who in Bethlehem showed Himself to the humble local shepherds, continues to reveal Himself as the light of peoples in all times and places."

He went on to exclaim: "How evocative is the symbol of the star that appears throughout the iconography of the Nativity and the Epiphany! Today it still evokes profound feelings even though, like so many other sacred symbols, it at times risks being trivialized by the commercial use to which it is put. Nonetheless, restored to its original context, the star we contemplate in the nativity scene also speaks to the minds and hearts of men and women of the third millennium. It speaks to secularized men and women ... who long for the absolute. ... Who does not feel the need of a 'star' to guide them on their earthly journey? This need is felt by both individuals and nations."

The Pope then addressed the new bishops. Some of them, he said, "will exercise 'the stewardship of God's grace' as Pontifical representatives in other States: you, Msgr. Giuseppe Pinto, in Senegal and Mauritania; you, Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti, in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; you, Msgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana, in Papua New Guinea and you, Msgr. Giovanni d'Aniello, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Others will be pastors of particular churches: you, Msgr. Daniel Mizonzo, will guide the diocese of Nkayi in the Republic of the Congo; you, Msgr. Louis Portella, that of Kinkala in the same country. To you, Msgr. Marcel Utembi Tapa, I have entrusted the diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to you, Msgr. Franco Agostinelli, that of Grosseto in Italy. You, Msgr. Amandio Jose Tomas, will assist the archbishop of Evora in Portugal as auxiliary and, finally, you Msgr. Vittorio Lanzani, as delegate of the Fabric of St. Peter's, will continue to serve the Church here in the Vatican, in this Patriarchal Basilica so dear to your heart."

HML;EPIPHANY;...;...;VIS;20020107;Word: 400;