AUDIENCES

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:

- Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, Italy.

- Eleven prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Jairo Jaramillo Monsalve of Barranquilla, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Victor Antonio Tamayo Betancourt.

- Bishop Hector Ignacio Salah Zuleta of Riohacha.

- Bishop Hugo Eugenio Puccini Banfi of Santa Marta.

- Bishop Oscar Jose Velez Isaza C.M.F. of Valledupar.

- Archbishop Dario de Jesus Monsalve Mejia of Cali, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jose Daniel Falla Robles.

- Bishop Jose Roberto Ospina Leongomez of Buga.

- Bishop Jose Alejandro Castano Arbelaez O.A.R. of Cartago.

- Bishop Edgar de Jesus Garcia Gil of Palmira.

- Bishop Hector Epalza Quintero P.S.S. of Buenaventura.

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER

Vatican City, 1 September 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for September is: "That politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth".

His mission intention is: "That Christian communities may have a growing willingness to send missionaries, priests, and lay people, along with concrete resources, to the poorest Churches".

CARDINAL MARTINI: FAITHFUL SERVANT AND DISTINGUISHED PASTOR

Vatican City, 1 September 2012 (VIS) - Today Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, Italy, on the death yesterday of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop emeritus of that diocese, at 85 years of age.

"I received with sorrow", the Pope writes, "news of the death of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, after a long illness that he lived with serenity of spirit and complete trust in the Lord's will. I wish to express, both to the diocesan community as well as the family members of the lamented cardinal, my deepest sharing in their sorrow, recalling affectionately this beloved brother who so generously served the Gospel and the Church. I recall with gratitude his intense apostolic work extended as religious dedication, this spiritual son of St. Ignatius, experienced teacher, accredited Biblicist, and appreciated rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Biblical Institute as well as caring and wise archbishop of this Ambrosian archdiocese. Also brought to mind is his competent and fervent service given to the Word of God, opening the treasures of Sacred Scripture more and more to the ecclesial community, especially through his promotion of 'lectio divina'. I lift fervent prayers to the Lord that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, He may welcome this faithful servant and distinguished pastor to the heavenly Jerusalem and I wholeheartedly impart the consolations of apostolic blessing to all those who mourn his loss".

Likewise, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone sent a telegram to Cardinal Scola expressing, in his name, in that of the secretariat of state, and in that of the entire Roman Curia, deepest condolences on the death of the cardinal who "witnessed and taught the primacy of the spiritual life and, at the same time, the attentive listening to the human being in its various existential and social conditions". The secretary of state recalled Cardinal Martini as an "expert and passionate scholar of Sacred Scripture, who knew how to teach it to and meditate upon it with all those who make up the people of God and all persons in search of truth".

CARDINAL SODANO PONTIFICAL LEGATE TO KARAGANDA AND CARDINAL TOMKO SPECIAL ENVOY TO LEOPOLI OF THE LATINS

Vatican City, 1 September 2012 (VIS) - The letter naming Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, as pontifical legate for the dedication of the cathedral of Karaganda, Kazakhstan scheduled for 9 September was released today. The letter, written in Latin, is dated 27 July. The members of the pontifical mission who will accompany the cardinal are Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary of Astana, Kazakhstan, Msgr. Konraad Krajewski, and Dr. Giovanni Rocchi.

Also today was released the letter, written in Latin and dated 8 August, in which Benedict XVI designates Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, as his special envoy to the 600th anniversary of the creation of the archdiocese of Leopoli of the Latins, which celebration will take place in Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday, 8 September. Also named are the members of the mission who will accompany the cardinal: Fr. Gerard Liryk, and Fr. Anatol Szpak.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 1 September 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has named Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, Great Britain, as his special envoy to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the archdiocese of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the fourth centenary of the evangelisation of the Bengal region scheduled for 9 - 10 November, 2012.