AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 14, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Six prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil on their "ad limina" visit:

- Cardinal Aloisio Lorscheider, O.F.M., archbishop of Aparecida.

- Cardinal Claudio Hummes, O.F.M., archbishop of Sao Paulo, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Odilo Pedro Scherer and Benedito Beni dos Santos.

- Archbishop Aloysio Jose Leal Penna, S.J., of Botucatu.

- Bishop Luiz Demetrio Valentini of Jales.

- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY JAN 11, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed the following prelates as members of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples: Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State; Archbishop Robert Sarah, emeritus of Conakry, Guinea and secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Archbishop Csaba Ternyak, secretary of the Congregation for Clergy; Archbishop Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, C.P., emeritus of Camerino-San Severino Marche, Italy and secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J., secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Two prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (Southern Region I) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Nelson Jose Westrupp, S.C.I., of Sao Jose dos Campos.

- Bishop Bruno Gamberini of Braganca Paulista.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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PONTIFICAL PORTUGUESE COLLEGE CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall John Paul II received the community of the Pontifical Portuguese College on the occasion of the centenary of its founding.

The Pope thanked those in charge of the college "for the services and formation, diligence and competence that you demonstrate; and to the students for their seriousness and enthusiasm in corresponding to the expectations of their respective dioceses."

The Holy Father emphasized the "great utility that the college has and will continue to have in order to properly welcome priests who have the opportunity to continue their pastoral and theological formation as they take advantage of the resources that the Eternal City offers them."

"In the way of praise," he continued, "I cannot fail to mention that in the course of the first hundred years 867 students have studied at the college, the great majority of the priests becoming distinguished and dedicated pastors - among them 3 cardinals and 64 bishops - who received formation of the highest quality in this institution."

After expressing the desire that everyone know "how to make their own contribution in order to deepen and consolidate unity in the Church, of which Rome is the center and sign," John Paul II urged the priests "to continue, without getting weary, in the Christian and priestly, apostolic and cultural formation that the Church expects of you."

"As in the past," concluded the Holy Father, "this institution must continue to be a breeding ground for apostles, a point of union among Catholic Rome and your countries, a lively testimony to the commitment and faithfulness of priests to the Seat of Peter."

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GUIDE THOSE RECENTLY BAPTIZED IN THE WAY OF HOLINESS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2003 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic celebration in the Sistine Chapel during which he administered the sacrament of Baptism to 22 newborns from Italy, Poland and Lebanon.

In the homily, the Holy Father said that "with Baptism Christians encounter Christ in a personal way: they participate in the mystery of His death and resurrection and they receive new life which is the same life of God. What a great gift and great responsibility!"

Addressing the parents and godparents of the children, John Paul II said: "The Lord entrusts their lives, so precious in His eyes, to you as responsible guardians. Dedicate yourselves lovingly so that they grow 'in wisdom, age and grace'; help them to be faithful to their vocation. Shortly you will renew, also in their name, the promise to fight against evil and to adhere fully to Christ. May your lives always be marked by this generous commitment!"

"Be conscious," he concluded, "that the Lord asks of you new and deeper collaboration: He entrusts you with the daily task of guiding your children in the way of holiness. Make an effort to be saints yourselves in order to guide them toward this high goal of Christian life. Do not forget that to be saints what is needed is 'a christianity that is marked above all by the art of prayer'."

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