ACADEMY FOR LIFE ON THE HUMAN EMBRYO

VATICAN CITY, 7 FEB 2006 (VIS) - The Pontifical Academy for Life, on the 27th through the 28th of February, will celebrate in the New Synod Hall of the Vatican a congress dedicated to the theme "The Human Embryo Before Implantation: Scientific Update and Bioethical Considerations" following the XII General Assembly of this institution (March 1st).

  The opening of the symposium will be led by Bishop Elio Sgreccia, President of the Academy for Life. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Heath Pastoral Care will subsequently address the symposium on the theme "The Culture of Death Against the Culture of Life in the Teachings of Evangelium Vitae."

  The sessions will deal with, among other topics, the development of the human embryo prior to implantation, the diagnostic of the embryo, both prenatal and before implantation, and the bio-anthropological status of the embryo prior to implantation. In the afternoon of February 28th, there will be a round table discussion in which diverse academics will discuss the question: "Is the Human Embryo a Person?"
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TELEGRAM REGARDING ASSASSINATION OF A JESUIT IN BURUNDI

VATICAN CITY, 7 FEB 2006 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, has sent the following telegram of condolences, on behalf of the Holy Father, to Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, regarding the assassination of Fr. Elie Koma, S.J., on Saturday, February 4th.

  "Upon learning about the tragic death of Fr. Elie Koma, S.J., the Holy Father asked me to express to all the members of his family and to his brother Jesuits his profound sorrow, offering a fervent prayer to the Lord of Life for the dead and for all of those in mourning. The Pope gives thanks for all the work accomplished by Fr. Koma in the service of the spiritual growth of those who have benefited from his apostolate. His Holiness also exhorts those who continue committing acts of violence to definitively renounce such works of death, so that the inhabitants of this country may live in peace and security. Trusting in the maternal solicitude of Mary for those coming together in faith for the funeral, the Holy Father sends you, as a sign of consolation, a special apostolic blessing, so that God may guard you in peace and in hope."
TGR/ASSASSINATION OF PRIEST/BURUNDI:GALLAGHER VIS 20060207 (215)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences: 

- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church with Father Sergio Pagano, B., Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives.

- Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio in Italy and in the Republic of San Marino.

  On Saturday, February 4, he received in separate audiences:

 - Seven prelates from the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Jean-Anatole Kalala Kaseba of Kamina.

    - Bishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Kilwa-Kasenga.

    - Bishop Nestor Ngoy Katahwa of Kolwezi.

    - Bishop Jerome Nday Kanyangu Lukundwe of Kongolo.

    - Bishop Vincent de Paul Kwanga Njubu of Manono.

    - Bishop Gaston Kashala Ruwezi S.D.B., of Sakania-Kipushi.

    - Bishop Francois Xavier Maroy Rusengo, diocesan administrator of Bukavu

 - Archbishop William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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MEETING OF BISHOP'S SYNOD OVER THE EUCHARIST

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique regarding the second meeting of the XI Ordinary Council of the secretary general of the Bishop's Synod regarding the Eucharist, which took place on the 30th and 31st of last January.

  In this second meeting, presided over by the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, 15 members of the ordinary council participated, elected during the last phase of the XI General Assembly, which was celebrated from the 2nd to the 23 of October, 2005. The theme was "The Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church."

  In the communique, it is revealed that the members of the council reflected over the 50 propositions presented by the Holy Father at the conclusion of the synod, so as to elaborate further on the post-synodal exhortation.  Furthermore, suggestions were made to improve the innovations inserted in the last general assembly, such as individual interventions within the synod hall, open debate and the work of the lesser circles or groups.
 
  The next meeting will be celebrated on the first and second of June, 2006.
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POPE'S SORROW OVER THE ASSASSINATION OF A PRIEST IN TURKEY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2006 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolences to Cardinal Ruini, Vicar General for the diocese of Rome, regarding the assassination of an Italian priest, Andrea Santoro, yesterday in Trabzon (Turkey). The assassination took place while Fr. Santoro was praying in the Church where he had just celebrated mass.

  The Pope brought together the sorrow of the Church of Rome, of which Fr. Andrea was a missionary fidei donum. "While I hope that his blood shed may be a seed of hope for the building of authentic fraternity among people, I raise fervent prayers for the brave witness to the Gospel of love, and I impart with all my heart the consoling apostolic blessing on his family, in particular, the elderly mother so saddened, and others who mourn his violent death."

  In another telegram addressed to Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia (Turkey), the Pope highlighted the generosity and apostolic dedication with which the priest carried out his ministry "in favor of the Gospel and in service of those marginalized and in need." The Holy Father expressed, "in this sad moment" his particular closeness to this Christian community, "reaffirming my firm condemnation of all forms of violence."
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