TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF ATTACK IN JERUSALEM

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2004 (VIS) - The following telegram of condolences was sent in Pope John Paul's name by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, to Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, for the victims of this morning's suicide bomber in Jerusalem:

"The Supreme Pontiff expresses his firm condemnation of the latest brutal attack carried out in Jerusalem and, while assuring the family members of the victims of his spiritual closeness, he urges the authorities and citizens not to allow themselves to be carried away by the absurd dynamics of violence but to intensify their commitment to hasten the much desired hour of peace."
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ANGELUS REFLECTIONS ON THE CHAIR OF PETER, LENT AND LATIN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2004 (VIS) - In his traditional Sunday address to the faithful who came to St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus with him, Pope John Paul spoke of today's feast of the Chair of Peter, the start of Lent this coming Ash Wednesday and the study of Latin.

He remarked that "the liturgical feast of the Chair of Peter underscores the singular mystery, entrusted by the Lord to the leader of the Apostles, of confirming and guiding the Church in the unity of faith. This is what the 'ministerium petrinum' is, that particular service that the Bishop of Rome is called to render to all Christians. An indispensable mission that is not based on human prerogatives but on Christ Himself as the cornerstone of the ecclesial community. Let us pray that the Church, in the variety of cultures, languages and traditions, will be unanimous in believing and professing the truth of faith and morals transmitted by the Apostles."

The Holy Father then noted that "Lent, which will start next Wednesday with the austere and significant rite of the imposition of ashes, is a privileged time to intensify this commitment of conversion to Christ. The Lenten itinerary will thus become a propitious time to examine ourselves with sincerity and truth and to return order to our own lives and to our relations with others and with God."

In greetings following the Angelus, the Pope, speaking Latin, addressed a group of professors and students from the Pontifical Superior Institute of Latin, created forty years ago today by Pope Paul VI with his Motu Proprio "Studia Latinitatis," as part of the Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 23, 2004 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

- Three prelates from the French Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit.

- Archbishop Andre Lacrampe of Besancon.

- Bishop Claude Schockert of Belfort-Montbeliard.

- Bishop Jean-Louis Papin of Nancy.


- Bishop Yves Patenotre of Saint-Claude.

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference with Bishop Paolo Schiavon, auxiliary of the diocese of Rome for the Southern Pastoral Sector; Fr. Mario Sanfilippo, pastor of St. Anselmo alla Cecchignola Parish, with the parochial vicar; Fr. Fernando Altieri, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, with the parochial vicar; Fr. Ilija Perleta, pastor of St. John the Baptist de la Salle Parish and Fr. Francesco De Franco, pastor of St. Mary, Star of Evangelization Parish, with the parochial vicar.

On Saturday February 21, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE FOR LENT

VATICAN CITY, FEB 23, 2004 (VIS) - As Wednesday, February 25 marks the beginning of Lent, we would like to advise our readers that the Pope's Message for Lent is available in its entirety as of today on the Vatican web site. Click here to retrieve the complete text.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 23, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father confirmed Bishop Francesco Lambiasi, emeritus of Anagni-Alatri, Italy, as general ecclesiastical assistant of Italian Catholic Action for the next three years.

On Saturday February 21, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Hector Sabatino Cardelli of Concordia, Argentina as bishop of San Nicolas de los Arroyos (area 14,500, population 427,000, Catholics 390,000, priests 114, permanent deacons 6, religious 95), Argentina.
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