THE CHURCH AND HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER RELIEF

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2003 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke yesterday before the U.N. General Assembly on Item 40: Strengthening the Coordination of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance of the U.N., including special economic assistance.

He stated that "the world has advanced to such a degree that it is often possible to foresee natural disasters, thereby helping reduce harm to people and damage to property." Yet, he added, "emergencies are so numerous, intense and varied that the Secretary-General has quite fittingly noted that because of the severity and suddenness of these 'loud emergencies', others are reduced into 'forgotten' or 'silent' ones. This situation worsens when assistance is colored by partiality and incoherent policies, not to mention when crises are ignored or even put aside because of misrule and misguided politics."

Archbishop Migliore stated that the vastness of the problem, however, "should not paralyze us into inaction. ... Simple gestures of giving, oftentimes combined with rapidity and coordination will make a difference and bear fruit. ... The Holy See has taken an active role in this regard. More than 30 years ago, it established the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" to harmonize and encourage the activities of church organizations, associations, NGOs and other groups involved in the field of social and charitable assistance to people in countries hit by natural disasters and wars. In particular, the Pontifical Council has been engaged in intensifying its humanitarian action in favour of the victims of almost all types of natural catastrophes, especially in developing countries." The Church also, he noted, works through such agencies as Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Relief Services.

DELSS;DISASTER AID;...;UN; MIGLIORE ;VIS;20031022;Word: 280;

CARDINAL'S RING: SYMBOL OF UNION WITH THE CHURCH AND POPE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Basilica, John Paul II, who today commemorates the 25th anniversary of the beginning of his petrine ministry, presided at a Eucharistic concelebration with 30 of the 31 new cardinals, created in yesterday's consistory. The name of the "in pectore" cardinal will not be made public until the Pope wishes.

During the Mass, the Pope bestowed upon each of the new cardinals the cardinal's ring as a sign of dignity, pastoral solicitude and ever more solid communion with the See of Peter.

In the homily, which was read by Archbishop Leonardi Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Pope said: "Unity and openness, communion and mission: this is the life breath of the Church. This is the two-fold dimension of the petrine ministry: service to unity and missionary service. The Bishop of Rome has the joy of sharing this service with the other successors of the Apostles, bound to him in the one episcopal college."

"Following an ancient tradition," he continued, "in this service, the Successor of Peter is aided in a special way by the collaboration of the cardinals. In the college, the universality of the Church is reflected, the Church which is one People of God rooted in the multiplicity of the nations."

After expressing gratitude for the "valid help" that the cardinals provide him, he said: "The ring that I will bestow on you shortly, dear brothers, is a symbol of the renewed bond that joins you closely to the Church and to the Pope, its visible head."

John Paul II emphasized that in the face of fear or suffering, there is the "consoling promise of the Divine Master: 'In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!'"

"How much courage does the sustenance of the unanimous prayer of the Christian people provide! I myself have experienced the comfort of prayer. It is our strength, dearest brothers. And it is also one of the reasons why I wanted to dedicate the 25th year of my pontificate to the Holy Rosary: to highlight the supremacy of prayer, especially contemplative prayer, in spiritual union with Mary, Mother of the Church."

The Holy Father's homily concluded by inviting all to be close to "Christ, the living rock. ... Let us begin with Him, from Christ, in order to proclaim to all the wonders of His love. Without fear and doubts, because He assures us: 'Trust in me, I have overcome the world!"

As of yesterday, October 21, the College of Cardinals is composed of 195 cardinals, including one "in pectore." There are 135 electors: 66 are from Europe, 14 from North America, 24 from South America, 13 from Africa, 13 from Asia and five from Oceania. John Paul II has created 175 of the 195 cardinals. Of the 135 current cardinal electors, all but 5 have been named by him.

Following Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope went to the Paul VI Hall where a very large number of pilgrims awaited him. In a brief appearance, he imparted his apostolic blessing and joined them in singing "Salve Regina."

HML;CARDINAL RINGS;...;...;VIS;20031022;Word: 480;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Manfred Scheuer, professor of dogmatic theology of the Faculty of Theology of Trier, Germany, as bishop of Innsbruck (area 10,097, population 462,323, Catholics 412,871, priests 396, permanent deacons 54, religious 470), Austria. The bishop-elect was born in Hailbach ob der Donau, Austria in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1980.

NER;...;...;SCHEUER ;VIS;20031021;Word: 60;

TITULAR AND DIACONATE CHURCHES OF THE NEW CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2003 (VIS) - Following are the names of the 30 cardinals created by John Paul II in this morning's consistory as well as the titular or diaconate churches that were assigned to them:

1. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran: Diaconate of St. Apollinaris alle Terme Neroniane-Alessandrine.

2. Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace: Diaconate of the St. Francis of Paola ai Monti.

3. Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, archpriest of the Vatican Basilica: Diaconate of St. Lucy of Gonfalone.

4. Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts: Diaconate of St. Eugene.

5. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers: Diaconate of St. Michael the Archangel.

6. Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People: Diaconate of St. John Bosco in Via Tuscolana.

7. Cardinal Attilio Nicora, president of APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See: Diaconate of St. Philip Neri in Eurosia.

8. Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy: Title of the Seven Most Holy Apostles.

9. Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, archbishop of Lagos, Nigeria: Title of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano.

10. Cardinal Bernard Panafieu, archbishop of Marseille, France: St. Gregory Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane.

11. Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop of Khartoum, Sudan: Title of St. Anthanasius in Via Tiburtina.

12. Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M., archbishop of Seville, Spain: Title of St. Mary of Monserrat of the Spanish.

13. Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A.: Title of St. Prisca.

14. Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland: Title of Sts. Joachim and Anne at the Tuscolano.

15. Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., archbishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Title of Sts. Boniface and Alexis.

16. Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, archbishop of Florence, Italy: St. Andrew delle Fratte.

17. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., archbishop of Genoa, Italy: Title of St. Mary, Helper in Via Tuscolana.

18. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana: Title of St. Liborius.

19. Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, India: Title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony at Vitinia.

20. Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, Australia: Title of St. Mary Dominic Mazzarello.

21. Cardinal Josip Bozanic, archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia: Title of St. Jerome of the Croatians.

22. Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man, archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Title of St. Justin.

23. Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada Toruno, archbishop of Guatemala City, Guatemala: Title of St. Saturnius.

24. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, France: Title of the Most Holy Spirit al Monte Pincio.

25. Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary: Title of St. Balbina.

26. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada: St. Mary in Traspontina.

27. Cardinal Georges Marie Martin Cottier, O.P., theologian of the Pontifical Household, from Switzerland: Diaconate of Sts. Dominic and Sixtus.

28. Cardinal Gustaaf Joos of the diocese of Ghent, Belgium: Diaconate of St. Peter Damian ai Monti di San Paolo.

29. Cardinal Tomas Spidlik, S.J., of the Czech Republic: Diaconate of St. Agatha of Goti.

30. Cardinal Stanislas Nagy of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, (Dehonians), Poland: Diaconate of St. Mary of the Stairs.

...;DIACONATE; TITULAR CHURCHES;...;...;VIS;20031021;Word: 550;

CARDINALS ARE SERVANTS TO ALL IN ORDER TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2003 (VIS) - During a ceremony celebrated in St. Peter's Square this morning, John Paul II created 30 new cardinals from 23 countries in what was the ninth such consistory of his pontificate.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope read the formula for the creation of the new cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Then newly created Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran thanked the Pope on behalf of all the cardinals. Later the liturgy of the Word was celebrated and the homily was read by Archbishop Leonardi Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. The Holy Father began by noting that in this consistory he will impose the beret upon 30 "worthy churchmen, keeping 'in pectore' the name of another."

"Enriched by its new members, the College of Cardinals reflects the diversity of races and cultures that characterizes the Christian people, and highlights once again the unity of every part of the flock of Christ with the Seat of the Bishop of Rome."

The Pope affirmed that "in carrying out his ministry, the Successor of the Fisherman of Galilee counts on your faithful cooperation; he asks you to accompany him in prayer, while he invokes the Holy Spirit so that the communion among those whom the Lord 'has elected vicars of His son and has made pastors' may never be broken."

"The deep red of the cardinal's robe evokes the color of blood and recalls the heroism of the martyrs. It is the symbol of love for Jesus and for His Church, a love which knows no limits: love even to the point of sacrificing one's life, 'usque ad sanguinis effusionem'."

"For this reason, the gift that you receive is great, as is the responsibility that it comes with it." After underscoring the duty of "preaching with word and example," the Pope added that "this applies to every pastor, but especially to you, dear and venerated members of the College of Cardinals."

Pointing to the example of Jesus Christ Who became the servant of those around him, the Holy Father emphasized that this "logic" of service is "in clear contrast with that of the world: to die unto oneself in order to become humble and detached servants of your brothers and sisters, rejecting ever temptation to advance your career or benefit personally."

"Only if you become servants to all around you will you fulfill your mission and help the Successor of Peter to be the 'servant of the servants of God,' as my beloved predecessor Gregory the Great loved to call himself."

At the end of the homily, John Paul invited the new cardinals to make a profession of faith and to swear fidelity and obedience to the Holy Father and his successors. Then each cardinal, according to the order of creation, approached the Pope who imposed the biretta on him and handed him the Bull of Creation as cardinal and assignment of the title or diaconate church in Rome, as a sign of participation in the pastoral solicitude of the Pope in the city. After exchanging a sign of peace with the Pope, each new cardinal greeted all the others.

Prayers were offered for the Holy Father, the Church, the new cardinals and for peace during the universal prayer. John Paul II imparted the apostolic blessing upon all and at the end sang the Marian antiphon "Sub tuum praesidium."

JPII-CONSISTORY;...;...;...;VIS;20031021;Word: 600;