OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father erected the Military Ordinariate in Slovakia and appointed Bishop Frantisek Rabek, auxiliary of Nitra, Slovakia, as military ordinary.

On Saturday January 18 it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa, Italy, as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region I) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Decio Pereira of Santo Andre, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Airton Jose dos Santos.

- Bishop Fernando Legal, S.D.B., of Sao Miguel Paulista.

- Bishop Osvaldo Giuntini of Marilia.

- Bishop Antonio Gaspar of Barretos.

- Archbishop Celestino Migliore, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer to the United Nations.

On Saturday January 18 the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Three prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region I) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Antonio Celso Queiroz of Catanduva.

- Bishop Emilio Pignoli of Campo Limpo.

- Bishop Amaury Castanho of Jundiai.

- Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, accompanied by family members.

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FINNISH ECUMENICAL DELEGATION: REAL BUT INCOMPLETE COMMUNION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2003 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received members of an ecumenical delegation from Finland who came to Rome to celebrate the feast of their patron, St. Henrik.

John Paul II recalled that the "Second Vatican Council committed the Catholic Church 'irrevocably to following the path of the ecumenical venture, thus heeding the Spirit of the Lord Who teaches people to interpret carefully the 'signs of the times'."

"This is an invitation," he continued, "that I have embraced throughout my Pontificate. At this time, we recognize a new ecumenical moment in which we can acknowledge a real, if still incomplete, communion. The Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification is a concrete sign of this new situation as a 'brotherhood rediscovered'."
The Holy Father expressed the hope that "by building on this brotherhood we can further promote a shared spirituality which will assist us in our pilgrimage towards full communion."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Tomislav Koljatic Maroevic, auxiliary of Concepcion, Chile, as bishop of Linares (area 15,110, population 395,574, Catholics 323,670, priests 57, permanent deacons 15, religious 146), Chile. He accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Carlos Marcio Camus Larenas upon having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:

- Seven prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region I) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Gilberto Pereira Lopes of Campinas.

- Archbishop Jose Lambert, C.S.S., of Sorocaba.

- Archbishop Arnaldo Ribeiro of Ribeirao Preto.

- Bishop Diogenes Silvas Matthes of Franca, accompanied by Coadjutor Bishop Caetano Ferrari.

- Bishop Antonio de Sousa of Assis, C.S.S., accompanied by Coadjutor Bishop Mauricio Grotto de Camargo.

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the Diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

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