OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Townsville, Australia, presented by Bishop Raymond C. Benjamin, upon having reached the age limit.

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GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION IN SUPPORT OF HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 2000 (VIS) - The Congregation for Oriental Churches has sent a letter to the world's bishops, asking them to support and encourage members of the Church who live and work in the Holy Land, with the annual "Pro Terra Sancta" collection that will take place on Good Friday or another date the bishops may consider suitable.

In the letter, Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect of the congregation, writes that "this contribution will demonstrate to the Christians in the Holy Land that they are not forgotten, because their brothers and sisters scattered throughout the world look towards them with great kindness and they confidently entrust to them the task of representing them in that Land which is the homeland of all."

Cardinal Silvestrini goes on to affirm that "the material assistance coming from the collection 'Pro Terra Sancta' will promote initiatives that will sustain and encourage plans for peace and cooperation in order to render the Holy Land a land of encounter and dialogue, in mutual respect and loyal cooperation."

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COUNCIL SECRETARY TO RECEIVE DOCTORATE IN STRASBOURG

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2000 (VIS) - The theology faculty of the Marc Bloc Catholic University of Strasbourg will confer an honoris causa doctorate on Bishop Walter Kasper, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, on Friday, April 28, according to a communique published today by the pontifical council.

The preceding day, at 5 p.m. at the same university, Bishop Kasper will give a talk entitled "Ecclesial Unity and Ecclesial Communion in a Catholic Prospective."

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CARDINAL SODANO IS LEGATE TO CHURCH CENTENARY IN BRAZIL

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Letter to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, naming him as pontifical legate to the celebrations for the fifth centenary of the evangelization of Brazil, which will take place on April 26 in Porto Seguro. The letter, written in Latin, is dated March 25.

Also published today were the names of the delegation accompanying the cardinal: Msgrs. Timothy Broglio, nunciature counselor in the Secretariat of State, Andres Carrascosa Coso, counselor in the nunciature in Brazil and Stefano Migliorelli, an official in the Secretariat of State; Frs. Joelson Dias da Silva, coordinator of the commission of the diocese of Eunapolis for the fifth centenary of the evangelization of Brazil, and Marcony Vinicius Ferreira, pastor of the cathedral of Brasilia; Giampaolo Mattei, editor of the L'Osservatore Romano.

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REMAIN FIRMLY UNITED TO CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, APR 15, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received 5,000 pilgrims from the Italian diocese of Fabriano-Matelica as well as other groups from Turin and Milan, Italy, and from Marseille, France.

To faithful from the diocese of Fabriano-Matelica, the Pope said: "Strengthened by the ancient traditions that supported your ancestors on their journey in faith, advance confidently towards the future and transmit love for Jesus, man's only Redeemer, to the young generations. Remain firm in your devotion to Him and His Church."

John Paul II affirmed that "the great challenges of the modern age require courage and missionary daring. Dear brothers and sisters, do not flag in your efforts for the renewal of society through effective witness and clear proclamation, giving due regard to the signs of the times. Take every appropriate measure in the field of the apostolate."

He encouraged the faithful from parishes in Turin and Milan to find nourishment and strength "in the sacramental gifts, so that in your communities you may become instruments of God's tenderness, open to the needs of all humanity. May Mary, Mother of the Church, always accompany you on your way."

"On the eve of Palm Sunday, which introduces us to the central mystery of our faith," said the Holy Father to a group of young people from Marseille, "I invite you to follow Christ. ... In contemplating the cross of the Savior, may you discover the infinite love of God who sacrificed Himself in order to save us and who calls on you to make something beautiful of your lives."

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