OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Earl Boyea, president-rector of Josephinum Pontifical College in Columbus, U.S.A., as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Detroit (area 10,106, population 4,266,651, Catholics 1,443,651, priests 781, permanent deacons 146, religious 2,333), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1951 in Pontiac, U.S.A., and was ordained a priest in 1978.

On Saturday July 20th, it was made public that the Holy Father nominated Bishop Peter Kang U-il, auxiliary of Seoul, Korea, as bishop of Cheju (1,845, population 543,323, Catholics 52,468, priests 31, religious 109), Korea.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Florencia, Colombia, presented by Bishop Fabian Marulanda Lopez, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Cristian Enrique Contreras Molina, O.M., prelate of Calama, Chile, as bishop of San Felipe (area 10,223, population 310,000, Catholics 248,000, priests 55, permanent deacons 7, religious 154), Chile.

- Erected the diocese of Chingleput (area 4,888, population 1,605,129, Catholics 130,000, priests 65, religious 645), India, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Fr. Anthonisamy Neethinathan, professor and vice-rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary, as the first bishop of the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born in 1955 in Kakkanur, India and was ordained a priest in 1987.

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STATISTICS ABOUT THE CHURCH IN CANADA, GUATEMALA AND MEXICO

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office published statistics about the Catholic Church in the three countries that the Holy Father will visit from July 23 to August 2: Canada, Guatemala and Mexico. The main reason for this apostolic trip is the celebration of World Youth Day and the canonization of Blesseds Pedro de San Jose de Betancur and Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.

Canada, which the Pope visited in 1984 and in 1987, has a population of 30,750,000, of which 13,453,000 are Catholics, 43.75 % of the total population. There are 137 bishops, 9,832 priests, 26,171 religious and 985 seminarians.

On the second leg of his trip, John Paul II will visit Guatemala for the third time during his pontificate. He previously visited the country in 1983 and 1996. Guatemala has 11,390,000 inhabitants. The 9,471,000 Catholics represent 83.15% of the population. There are 21 bishops, 970 priests, 2,242 religious and 967 seminarians.

The Pope will then travel to Mexico. This will be his fifth time in the country following trips in 1979, 1990, 1993 and 1999. Mexico has 97,020,000 inhabitants, with 89,664,000 Catholics who constitute 92.42% of the total population. There are 132 bishops, 14,049 priests, 30,320 religious and 12,192 seminarians.

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MESSAGE TO THE URSULINES: CHALLENGE OF INCULTURATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 18, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II wrote a message to Sister Carmela Distefano, superior general of the Congregation of the Ursuline Religious of the Holy Family on the occasion of the general chapter of the institution, dedicated to the theme: "The mission that is confronted with the charisma and eye toward the future."

The Holy Father recalls that the order, according to what their constitutions establish, wants "to expand the Kingdom of God through the apostolate of education, assistance and missionary work" and underlines that the foundress, Rosa Roccuzzo, "was inspired for her tireless service of her neighbor in the spirit of the Holy Family, striving to confront ... the typical forms of the poverty of her time: from economic and moral to poverty provoked by the lack of adequate health care."

He then exhorts the religious to be "daily witnesses to the Gospel ... capable of distinguishing themselves by intense communion and active cooperation with the Church."

"The great challenge of inculturation," he concludes, "today requires that believers announce the Good News with language and ways comprehensible to the men and women of these times. An urgent mission and vast apostolic perspectives are opening up before you ... Be willing to offer your existence for the service of the poor; cultivate a true passion for educating young people, dedicate yourself with generosity to people, especially the sick and those who are suffering. So many are still waiting to get to know Jesus and His Gospel! So many need to feel the love of God."

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GENERAL CHAPTER: ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST & ST. CATHERINE RELIGIOUS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 18, 2002 (VIS) - Today a message was made public from the Pope to Reverend Mother Maria Floriana Pasqualetto, superior general of the Congregation of the Religious of St. John the Baptist and St. Catherine of Siena who are celebrating their general chapter this month. The theme of the chapter is: "From the structure, the Institute's new vitality for the good of the Church and of society in the present and future."

John Paul II writes in the message, dated July 11, that the religious, "reflecting on the enthusiasm with which their order was founded, want to reaffirm their interior energy in order to project brave new missionary goals."

The foundress of the congregation, Medea Ghiglino Patellani, "set out to translate the great 'lesson' of the exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola into everyday life. ... Communion lived integrally and the education of young people, considering the human person in his entirety, constituted since then the center of your charisma." And he adds: "I am sure that the general chapter" will help the religious family "to take the next step, adapting natural law to the demands of our time, without betraying its substance."

The Holy Father urged the religious to take care, above all, of "communion, a central element, and at the same time, the synthesis of your charisma. The apostolic service," he concluded, "in which the glory of God shines, comes from communion really lived out."

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