OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Birmingham, U.S.A., presented by Bishop David E. Foley, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutierrez O.F.M., pastor of the parish of San Rafael del Norte, as bishop of Jinotega (area 11,630, population 354,015, Catholics 263,000, priests 23, religious 38), Nicaragua. The bishop-elect was born in Managua, Nicaragua, in 1948 and ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He succeeds Bishop Pedro Lisimaco de Jesus Vilchez Vilchez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Msgr. Denis James Madden, adjunct secretary general of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association of New York, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Baltimore (area 12,430, population 3,006,607, Catholics 506,587, priests 574, permanent deacons 183, religious 1,426), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Carbondale, U.S.A., in 1940 and ordained a priest in 1967.
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CARDINAL ARINZE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2005 (VIS) - A communique published today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff states that at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, will take possession of the suburbicarian Church of Velletri-Segni, in a ceremony to be held in the cathedral of Velletri.
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HOLY SEE AT U.N. MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF END OF WAR

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2005 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday in New York before the  59th session of the General Assembly which, in Resolution 59/26, declared May 8 and 9 as official days of remembrance and reconciliation in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

  "There is no doubt," said the nuncio, "that it was a terrible conflict, and it is both salutary and sobering to recall that it was the worst of several unnecessary, man-made global catastrophes that made the twentieth century one of the most bitter that humanity has ever known." He added that "responsibility in view of these previous catastrophes requires us to develop some considerations."

  "First of all," Archbishop Migliore stated, "among the roots of the Second World War was the exaltation of State and race, and the proud self-sufficiency of humanity based upon the manipulation of science, technology and force. The rule of law was no longer a vehicle for the application of justice. ... Secondly, even if we accept that, under some circumstances, a limited and strictly conditioned use of force could be inevitable in order to fulfill the responsibility to protect every State and the international community," no effort should be spared in seeking peaceful solutions.
 
  "Recognition of the tragic and devastating nature of war ... presses us to question not only whether war can be legal and legitimate, but above all, whether it can be avoidable."

  "Thirdly," the archbishop continued, "the time has now come to focus on and develop a third dimension of the law of war," that is, "how to achieve quickly and effectively the establishment of a just and lasting peace, which is the only admissible goal for the use of force. Thus, the existing international legal instruments covering conduct and activities after war need to be reinforced and extended, ... while also taking into consideration the ethical parameters that the modern conscience and sensitivities have developed, such as reconciliation."
 
  "Fourthly," he said in closing, "recently, new emphasis has been placed upon the role of the U.N. as a peace builder. ... The Holy See ... once again expresses full support for the creation of an intergovernmental Peace-building Commission."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by the prelates of the episcopal council.

- Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

- Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

- His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

On Saturday, May 7, he received in separate audiences:

- Walter Veltroni, mayor of Rome.

- Fr. Damian Fernando, diocesan administrator of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on his "ad limina" visit.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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HOLY SEE DELEGATION: CONFERENCE ON MISSION, EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - The World Conference on Mission and Evangelization, convened by the Department for Mission and Evangelization of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) starts today in Athens, Greece. For the first time the eight-day meeting is being held in a country whose majority is Orthodox, according to a communique published today by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

An estimated 600 delegates, representing Churches and ecclesial communities affiliated with the WCC are present for the meeting which will take place on the theme "Come Holy Spirit: Heal and Reconcile." The Catholic delegation, headed by Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the pontifical council, numbers 26 people, including representatives of the Mixed Working Group between the Catholic Church and the WCC, the Roman Curia, the Federation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, missionary orders, lay movements within missionary orders and movements committed to Christian Unity.

The Athens assembly follows the previous such meeting that took place in 1996 in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil on the theme "Called to One Hope - the Gospel in Diverse Cultures."

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in the course of its collaboration with the WCC, and through its consultors set up within the Department of Mission and Evangelization, has contributed to the process of reflection for the convocation and preparation of this meeting. The Catholic Church in Greece also gave a contribution and will be present at the conference with a delegate.

The delegation of the Catholic Church, which is not a member of the WCC, will participate in the assembly as an observer.
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