AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 9, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, apostolic nuncio in Ukraine.
- Seven prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M., of Porto Velho.
- Archbishop Luiz Soares Vieira of Manaus, accompanied by his auxiliary Bishop Mario Pasqualotto, P.I.M.E.
- Bishop Geraldo Verdier of Guajara-Mirim, accompanied by his auxiliary Bishop Jose Maria Pinheiro.
- Bishop Evangelista Alcimar Caldas Magalhaes, O.F.M.Cap., of Alto Solimoes.
- Bishop Antonio Possamai, S.D.B., of Ji-Parana.
- Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

On Saturday September 7, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Francesco Canalini, apostolic nuncio in Australia.
- Five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina on their "ad limina" visit: - Bishop Ramon Artemio Staffolani of Villa de la Concepcion del Rio Cuarto.
- Bishop Juan Carlos Maccarone of Santiago del Estero.
- Bishop Gustavo Arturo Help of Venado Tuerto.
- Bishop Andres Stanovnik, O.F.M.Cap., of Reconquista.
- Bishop Pedro Olmedo Rivero, C.M.F., prelate of Humahuaca.

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CARDINAL LUCAS MOREIRA NEVES DIES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 9, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II will preside on Wednesday September 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Altar of the Confession in the Vatican Basilica at the funeral for Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, O.P., who died yesterday in Rome at age 76 after a long illness. The eucharistic liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, along with other cardinals. The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence on this occasion.

The Brazilian cardinal was titular of the suburbicarian church of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto and archbishop emeritus of Sao Salvador da Bahia, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Beniamino Stella, apostolic nuncio in Colombia.
- Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, apostolic nuncio in Burundi.
- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Argentina on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Edgardo Gabriel Storni of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz.
- Archbishop Carmelo Juan Giaquinta of Resistencia.
- Bishop Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto of San Isidro.

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POPE EXPRESSES HIS CLOSENESS TO URUGUAYAN PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 2002 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the new ambassador of the Republic of Uruguay, Daniel Perez del Castillo, on the occasion of the presentation of his Letters of Credence.

The Pope expressed his "closeness to the Uruguayan people whom I entrust to the Almighty so that, in their current social and economic situation, they may find better solutions to reach higher goals of justice, solidarity and progress, according to the Christian spirit which has contributed so much to forge the national identity."

After referring to the recent "social and economic crisis of unusual proportions, which have seriously affected so many households," the Holy Father said: "It is fitting to remember that the social situation will not improve by applying only technical means. As you have made clear, the cultivation of values and respect for the ethical dimension of the person, the family and society must be cared for. For the authentic progress of people honesty, austerity and responsibility for the common good, solidarity, the spirit of service and the culture of work must be fostered. In this way, it will be easier to guarantee complete development for all members of the national community."

John Paul II assured the ambassador that the Church would always defend the inalienable rights of all human beings, "such as the right to life from conception to natural death, the right to be born and raised in a family, to build a stable home and to profess one's religious faith without obstacles, privately and publicly. Fundamental rights of the person cannot be sacrificed for other objectives which are mistakenly considered benefits, for this would attack the true dignity of all human beings."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed the following prelates members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinals Polycarp Pengo, archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Claudio Hummes, archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Mario Francesco Pompedda, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. Archbishops Henryk Muszyniski of Gniezno, Poland; Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux, France; Salvatore Fisichella, rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.

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