OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Bishop Gilio Felicio, auxiliary of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, as bishop of Bage (area 35,554, population 380,183, Catholics 304,146, priests 34, permanent deacons 1, religious 120), Brazil.

- Appointed Fr. Dominique Marie Jean Denis You, fidei donum in the archdiocese of Sao Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese (area 5,277, population 3,327,498, Catholics 2,661,998, priests 243, permanent deacons 44, religious 1,670). The bishop-elect was born in Gassin, France in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1981.

- Appointed Fr. Jan Babjak, S.J., professor of Eastern Spirituality in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Trnava, Slovakia, as bishop of the eparchy of Presov (Catholics 175,000, priests 263, permanent deacons 1, religious 167). The bishop-elect was born in Hazine nad Cirichou, Slovakia in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He succeeds Bishop Jan Hirka whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy the Holy Father accepted upon having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by Bishop Vincenzo Apicella, auxiliary of Rome for the pastoral care of the Western section, and by Fr. Danilo Bislacco, C.SS.R., parish priest of St. John Nepomuceno Neuman, and two coadjutors.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Miami, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Gilberto Fernandez in accordance with canons 411 and 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Kevin Michael Britt, auxiliary of Detroit, U.S.A., as coadjutor bishop of Grand Rapids (area 17,592, population 1,167,900, Catholics 158,050, priests 146, priests 18, religious 318), U.S.A.

- Appointed Fr. Pierre-Andre Dumas, rector of the Major Interdiocesan Seminary of Port-au-Prince, Haiti as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese (area 5,500, population 3,500,000, Catholics 2,500,000, priests 235, permanent deacons 4, religious 853). The bishop-elect was born in Saint Jean du Sud, Haiti in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1991.

- Appointed Fr. Simon Saint-Hillien, C.S.C., permanent secretary of the Episcopal Conference, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The bishop-elect was born in Gonaives, Haiti in 1951 was ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., emeritus of Vercelli, Italy and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as metropolitan archbishop of Genoa (area 966, population 831, 553, Catholics 773,325, priests 729, permanent deacons 21, religious 2001), Italy.

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BRAZILIAN BISHOPS: PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO CONSECRATED LIFE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2002 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received a group of prelates from the Northeast Region III of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil who just completed their "ad limina" visit.

Speaking about consecrated persons, the Holy Father said that "modern society must see in these men and women the harmony that exists between the human and the divine, between visible and invisible things."

"What we see today throughout the national geography," he affirmed, "is the fruit of the hidden, silent and worthy labor of many lay men and women and so many religious who have contributed and continue to contribute to the building of the Christian soul of the Brazilian."

After emphasizing that "many religious communities of active and contemplative life are without a doubt a great resource of the Churches" over which the bishops preside, John Paul II said: "The Church cannot but express joy and appreciation for everything that the religious have done through universities, schools, hospitals and other works and institutions. ... I ask God to abundantly reward all religious communities for their collaboration."

Referring to those who work in the media, the Pope stressed the importance that "they are not led by ideologies contrary to the Magisterium of the Church, and that they are committed to maintaining unity with the seat of Peter."

The Holy Father encouraged the heads of the congregations and institutes of the different Brazilian dioceses to "offer a human, intellectual and spiritual formation to novices, a formation that allows for a conversion of their entire being to Christ in order that consecration shapes ever more their oblation to the Father. The activities and programs of the National Conference of Religious," he added, "must be defined above all 'by respect and distinct obedience to the Successor of Peter and the directives' of the Apostolic See."

"As a conference and also as individual pastors," he indicated, "you will undoubtedly examine with objectivity and respect the scarcity of vocations that is being seen in many institutes, while others continually flourish. It is an essential part of your ministry," he said to the prelates, "to help and guide the observance of vows. ... Care of the religious life is especially urgent when discussing vocational identity."

The Pope concluded by recalling that "the renewal of religious life will depend on growth in God's love. ... The only effective way of discovering the identity of one's vocation is hard but consoling; it is a path of sincere and personal conversion, with humble recognition of one's own imperfections and sins. Confidence in the strength of Christ's resurrection will help to overcome all aridity and frailty, to eliminate the feeling of disappointment experienced on certain occasions."

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HOLY FATHER RECALLS HIS PILGRIMAGE TO KRAKOW IN AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience a group of faithful from the archdiocese of Krakow, with whom he recalled his pilgrimage to his native Poland this past August.

After reminiscing about his three-day stay in Krakow, the Pope said that his experiences "were re-awakened in a particular spiritual and theological context. They were continually inscribed in the immense mystery of Divine Mercy which we tried to study in depth, letting ourselves be carried with faith by the exceptional 'genius loci'."

John Paul II said that when he dedicated the Shrine of Divine Mercy, he was "aware that this place had a particular eloquence for the modern world. I did not hesitate in defining it as the world center of devotion to Divine Mercy, although I know that in different places around the world many shrines exist where Saint Faustina's message is spread, and where the faithful obtain so much grace."

"I cannot fail to mention Kalwaria Zebrzydowska," he added, "the shrine and its paths, which has also been a sign of Divine Mercy for four hundred years, thanks to Mary who was the first to participate in the fruits of the death and resurrection of her Son. I pray that in this shrine the faithful, looking toward Mary, learn to live the hope which we will find fulfilled in the house of the Father."

The Pope concluded by asking those present to convey his greetings to the inhabitants of Krakow, of the region of Malopolska and to all his compatriots: "Convey my gratitude for the spirit of prayer and the unforgettable atmosphere of faith that we lived during those days of the pilgrimage."

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