OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 24, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Fr. Salvador Emilio Riveron Cortina as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of San Cristobal de La Habana (area 7,542, population 3,010,000, Catholics 1,375,000, priests 129, religious 352), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in Florida, Cuba, in 1948, was ordained a priest in 1982, and since 1996 has been episcopal vicar and parish priest for the forementioned archdiocese.

- Fr. Wlodzimierz Roman Juszczak, O.S.B.M., as bishop of the eparchy of Wroclaw-Gdansk (Catholics 53,000, priests 23, religious 14), Poland. The bishop-elect was born in Legnica, Poland, in 1957, made his perpetual vows in 1983, was ordained a priest in 1983, and since 1994 has been provincial superior of the Order of St. Basil the Great and pastor of Warsaw.

- Fr. Tadeusz Pikus as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Warsaw (area 3,350, population 1,526,000, Catholics 1,457,050, priests 1,004, religious 3,249), Poland. The bishop-elect was born in Zbiele, Poland, in 1949, was ordained a priest in 1971, and is currently dean of fundamental theology at the Metropolitan Seminary of Warsaw.

- Fr. Grzegorz Balcerek as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Poznan (area 9,700, population 1,624,000, Catholics 1,559,500, priests 1,084, religious 2,163), Poland. The bishop-elect was born in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland, in 1954, was ordained a priest in 1979, and is currently pastor of San Stanislao Kostka in Poznan, and dean of the Sociology of Religion at the Faculty of Theology of the Adam Mickiezicz University in Poznan.

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HOLY FATHER TO VISIT TOR VERGATA UNIVERSITY THURSDAY

VATICAN CITY, APR 24, 1999 (VIS) - On Thursday April 29, the Pope will visit the Roman University of Tor Vergata, where at 11 a.m. he will meet with students, academic staff and university personnel in the square in front of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

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POPE GREETS CATHOLIC SCHOOL MARATHON PARTICIPANTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 24, 1999 (VIS) - This morning at 10 Pope John Paul, speaking from his study window overlooking St. Peter's Square, addressed the thousands of young boys and girls participating in the "Spring Marathon," organized by the Association of Catholic Schools of Rome.

"The word 'spring'," said the Pope, "indicates the reawakening of nature and the will to live; the word 'marathon', on the other hand, evokes the dynamism of change and growth. These are precisely the characteristics of youth. May your friendly event, as it goes through the streets of the city with a message of trust and fraternity, contribute to realizing a world where violence is banned and solidarity and peace reign."

The Holy Father concluded, speaking of the "problems regarding Catholic schools," which he said he is closely following and which he hopes are resolved by leaders "for the good of the entire civic and ecclesial community."

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DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS, INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF PRIESTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 1999 (VIS) - In remarks preceding the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Pope spoke of his "joy (this morning) at conferring priestly ordination on 31 deacons from the diocese of Rome, ... a great gift for the Roman ecclesial community and for the universal Church."

He then pointed to the celebration today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, of "the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, whose theme this year is 'The Father calls to eternal life'. ... God continues to show Himself as a Father through those persons who witness, by word and deed, sometimes to the point of martyrdom, their resolute dedication to the service of their fellow man."
"The Fourth International Meeting of Priests," the Holy Father affirmed in concluding, "organized by the Congregation for the Clergy in the Holy Land from June 22 to 27, will be a privileged occasion for the priests of all nations walk together towards the Great Jubilee and to enter the new millennium with renewed fidelity and an ardent missionary spirit. I assure my prayers for the successful outcome of this encounter, for which I hope there will be many representatives of various nations of the continents.

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THIRTY-ONE NEW PRIESTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROME

VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and conferred priestly ordination on 31 deacons from the diocese of Rome.

In the homily, the Pope asked the new priests "to be faithful to their mission, and to renew every day their 'yes' to Christ and be a sign of His love for each person."

"The Eucharist, source and summit of Christian life," he said in his talk to the ordained, "will be the crystal spring which will unceasingly nourish your spirituality as priests. From this spring you will draw strength and inspiration for your daily ministry, apostolic zeal for the work of evangelization and spiritual consolation in inevitable moments of difficulty and inner struggle. Approaching the altar, where the Sacrifice of the Cross is renewed, you will discover ever more the riches of the love of Christ and you will learn to use them in your lives."

John Paul II highlighted that it is very significant that the new ministers received the Sacrament of Holy Orders "on this Sunday of the 'Good Shepherd', in which we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations."

"The call to the priesthood is a great gift and a great mystery. It is a gift, above all for divine benevolence, because it is the fruit of grace. It is also a mystery, because vocation is linked to the depths of human awareness and freedom. With this (vocation)," concluded the Pope, "begins the dialogue of love which day after day molds the personality of the priest through a path of formation begun in the family, which continues in the seminary and is extended right through his lifetime."

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