OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Bishop Donald W. Wuerl of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., as metropolitan archbishop of Washington (area 5,447, population 2,630,894, Catholics 578,796, priests 1,166, permanent deacons 187, religious 1,677), U.S.A. The archbishop-elect was born in Pittsburgh in 1940, he was ordained a priest in 1966 and consecrated a bishop in 1986. He succeeds Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Bishop James Peter Sartain of Little Rock, U.S.A., as bishop of Joliet in Illinois (area 10,920, population 1,768,390, Catholics 636,862, priests 293, permanent deacons 178, religious 779), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Pablo Jaime Galimberti Di Vietri of San Jose de Mayo, Uruguay, as bishop of Salto (area 49,295, population 368,372, Catholics 278,000, priests 31, religious 91), Uruguay. He succeeds Bishop Daniel Gil Zorrilla S.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
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CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRACY, INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2006 (VIS) - "Democracy, Institutions and Social Justice" is the theme of an international congress, being promoted by the "Centesimus Annus-Pro Pontifice" Foundation, and due to be held in the Vatican on May 18 and 19.

  The foundation, which was established in 1993, draws the inspiration for its activities from the 1991 Encyclical "Centesimus annus," with which Pope John Paul II wished to commemorate the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical "Rerum novarum." The aims of the non-profit foundation concern religion, worship and charity, its specific purpose being to collaborate in spreading the human, ethical, social and Christian values laid down in "Centesimus annus," of which the Supreme Pontiff is guarantor.

  Following an opening greeting by Count Lorenzo Rossi di Montelera, president of the foundation, there will be talks from, among others: Fr. Mario Toso, rector of the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, on the subject of "Democracy and Social Justice;" Robert George of the department of politics of Princeton University, U.S.A., on "Democracy, Law and the Human Person;" and Stefano Zamagni of the University of Bologna, Italy, on "Democracy and Economics."

  On the afternoon of May 18, Paolo Garonna, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, will address the gathering on the topic of "International Organizations and Economic Democracy." This will be followed by a round table discussion to consider the theme: "authentic democracy is possible only in a State ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person." Participating in the discussion will be Francesco Paolo Casavola, president emeritus of the Italian Constitutional Court; Carlo Fratta Pasini, president of the "Banco Popolare Verona e Novara; Domingo Sugranyes, executive vice-president of the MAPFRE Corporation; and Bishop Reinhard Marx of Trier, Germany.

  On Friday, May 19, the last day of the meeting, the participants will be received in audience by the Holy Father.
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DIALOGUE WITH AND WELCOME FOR IMMIGRANTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 15, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant peoples, the theme of which is: "Migration and mobility from and to countries with a Muslim majority."

  The Pope highlighted the Catholic Church's awareness of the fact that "inter-religious dialogue is part of her commitment to serve humanity in the modern world." In our time, "Christians are called to cultivate a form of open dialogue on religious problems, not renouncing the presentation ... of the Christian message in keeping with their own identity."

  After stressing the importance of reciprocity in dialogue, Benedict XVI praised the efforts being made "to create, with immigrants, relations of mutual knowledge and respect, which are extremely useful in overcoming prejudices and closed minds."

  "In this activity of welcome and dialogue with migrants and itinerant peoples, the Christian community has as its constant point of reference Christ Who left His disciples, as a rule for life, the new commandment to love." For this reason, the Pope added, "believers are called to open their arms and hearts to everyone, whatever their country of origin, leaving the task of formulating appropriate laws for promoting healthy coexistence to those responsible for public life."

  "Christians," the Pope continued, "must particularly open their hearts to the lowliest and the poorest, in whom Christ Himself is especially present. ... Obviously, it is to be hoped that Christians emigrating to countries with Muslim majorities, find there welcome and respect for their religious identity."

  In closing his address, the Holy Father thanked the dicastery for their efforts in favor of "an organic and effective form of pastoral care for migrants and itinerant peoples. ... No one should doubt that this is an important frontier in the new evangelization of the modern globalized world."
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CHRISTIAN LIFE IS MYSTERY OF COMMUNION WITH JESUS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 14, 2006 (VIS) - The Eucharist and the intercession of the Virgin Mary provided the theme for Benedict XVI's remarks prior to praying the "Regina Coeli" today.

  "On this fifth Sunday of Easter," said the Holy Father to thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, "the liturgy presents us with the episode from the Gospel of John in which Jesus, talking to His disciples at the Last Supper, exhorts them to remain united to Him as the branch to the vine."

  This, he continued, "is a truly significant parable because it very effectively expresses how Christian life is mystery of communion with Jesus. ... The secret of spiritual fecundity is union with God, a union achieved above all in the Eucharist, which is also rightly called 'Communion'."

  Benedict XVI recalled the fact that, during this period, many children are receiving First Communion, and he greeted them expressing the hope that they may become "branches of the vine, which is Jesus, and grow as His true disciples."

  The Pope then went on to highlight how to rely upon the intercession of Mary is "a sure way to remain united to Christ." He also recalled the apparition of the Virgin to the shepherd children at Fatima on May 13, 1917. "The message she entrusted to them," the Holy Father said, "was a powerful call to prayer and conversion; a truly prophetic message if we consider the twentieth century's burden of unprecedented destruction caused by wars and totalitarian regimes, as well as the widespread persecutions against the Church."

  Benedict XVI also mentioned the attack against John Paul II on May 13, 1981 when the Pope "felt he had been saved from death by the intercession of 'a maternal hand,' ... and his entire pontificate was marked by what the Virgin had announced at Fatima."

  He concluded: "Although there has been no lack of worries and suffering, and if there are still reasons for apprehension over the future of humanity, there is comfort to be had in what the 'White Lady' promised the shepherd children: 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph'."
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SPECIAL ENVOY TO 17TH CENTENARY MARTYRDOM ST. LIBERATORE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2006 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Pope, written in Latin and dated March 25, appointing Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace and for the Pastoral Care of migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the 17th centenary of the martyrdom of St. Liberatore, co-patron of the Italian diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia. The event is due to take place in Ariano Irpino on May 20.

  Accompanying the cardinal on his trip will be Msgrs. Antonio Blundo and Donato Minelli, respectively vicar general and head of the cultural office of the diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia.
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