AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 27, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:

- Six prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto of San Fernando.

- Archbishop Diosdado A. Talamayan of Tuguegarao.

- Bishop Jesus C. Galang of Urdaneta.

- Bisho Honesto P. Ongtioco of Cubao.

- Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes of Antipolo.

- Bishop Antonio R. Tobias of San Fernando de la Union.

On Saturday October 25 the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Bishop Francisco C. San Diego of Pasig, the Philippines, on his "ad limina" visit.

- Bishop Jesse E. Mercado of Paranque, the Philippines, on his "ad limina" visit.

- Ambassador Mbaya Boaz Kidiga of Kenya on his farewell visit.

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HOLY FATHER'S APPRECIATION FOR FINANCIAL HELP FOR HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 27, 2003 (VIS) - Today at midday in the Clementine Hall, the Pope received members of the "Pro Petri Sede" and "Etrennes Pontificales" Associations from Belgium who offer their financial help annually for the needs of the Holy See.

In his speech in French, the Pope said: "I am grateful to you for the generous and faithful help that your associations contribute to the Church so that she can pursue, in her communities and in the world, her spiritual and material activities in favor of everyone, and principally in favor of the poorest of our brothers and sisters, so that their dignity be ever-more respected. I ask you to transmit to all the members of your associations my great gratitude for your gifts and your commitment. May they know how to always be attentive to the needy in their everyday life in order to express to them the love of God 'who shows no partiality'!"

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JERUSALEM CONFERENCE CELEBRATES POPE'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2003 (VIS) - A conference organized by the Italian foreign ministry and entitled "Do not be Afraid: John Paul II, Prophet of Dialogue," was held on October 22 in Jerusalem at the Notre Dame Pontifical Institute to celebrate the Holy Father's 25 years of pontificate.

At the end of the conference, which was attended by representatives of both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio in Israel, read a Message from Pope John Paul. In it, the Pope repeated the appeal he made 25 years ago to all people of good will: "Do not be afraid to serve the human person. Do not be afraid to open borders with States, to open economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development to the power of divine grace."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation to the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Detroit, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Moses B. Anderson upon having reached the age limit.

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AUDIENCE WITH NEW CARDINALS AND THEIR FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received the cardinals who were created in the consistory on October 21 and their family members.

After greeting everyone present in different languages, John Paul II said: "Upon renewing my fraternal greetings to you and my fervent desire for the mission that has been given to you in service of the Church, I entrust you and your ministry to the heavenly protection of the Blessed Virgin."

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