News From Vatican Information Services 02/02/2006

SUMMARY:

- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani.

- Bishop Dieudonne Uringi Uuci of Bunia.

- Bishop Joseph Banga Bane of Buta.

- Bishop Richard Domba Mady of Doruma-Dungu.

- Bishop Camille Lembi Zaneli of Isangi.

- Bishop Julien Andavo Mbia of Isiro-Niangara.

- Siba Nasser, ambassador of the Arab Republic of Syria, on her farewell visit.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

DATE The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Detroit, U.S.A., presented by Thomas J. Gumbleton, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Anthony Chirayath, bureau chief at the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as bishop of the eparchy of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (area 39,020, population 4,538,500, Catholics 6,710, priests 36, permanent deacons 1, religious 249), India. The bishop-elect was born in Aranattukara, India in 1941 and ordained a priest in 1970. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil, C.M.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

- Appointed Fr. Peter Machado of the clergy of Karwar, India, pastor at Kone, as bishop of Belgaum (area 44,215, population 11,939,363, Catholics 29,525, priests 120, religious 426), India. The bishop-elect was born in Honavar, India in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1978.

- Appointed Jose Colin Mendoza Bagaforo of the clergy of the archdiocese of Cotabato, Philippines, vicar general, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 8,889, population 1,809,618, Catholics 823,640, priests 71, religious 167). The bishop-elect was born in Cotabato in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1980.

- Archbishop Odon Marie Arsene Razanakolona of Antananarivo, Madagascar, as member of the Special Council for Africa of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
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Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

News From Vatican Information Services 02/01/2006

SUMMARY:

- The Lord's Mercy Is Even Greater Than His Works
- Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for February
- Other Pontifical Acts

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THE LORD'S MERCY IS EVEN GREATER THAN HIS WORKS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2006 (VIS) - In his catechesis during today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 8,000 pilgrims, Benedict XVI turned his attention to the first part of Psalm 144, "praise of divine majesty."

This psalm, said the Pope, "is an intense and impassioned celebration of divine regality. ... It is an expression of God's plan of salvation. He is not indifferent to human history, rather He desires to bring it into conformity with His design of harmony and peace. All humanity is called to put this plan into effect, that it might adhere to the divine salvific will, a will that extends to 'all men,' to 'all generations' and to 'all time.' A universal action that takes evil from the world and places there the 'glory' of the Lord, in other words, His effective and transcendent personal presence."

The Holy Father then went on to recall how, in the psalm, "the Lord is exalted as a loving and tender sovereign, concerned for all His creatures. ... We are not at the mercy of dark forces, nor are we alone with our freedom; rather we are entrusted to the action of the powerful and loving Lord Who has a plan for us, a 'kingdom' to establish. This 'kingdom' is not founded on power and domination, on triumph and oppression as is often the case of earthly kingdoms." It is a place of "piety, tenderness, goodness, grace and justice." As the psalm says, the Lord is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger."

Benedict XVI concluded his catechesis with a reference St. Peter Chrysologus, who noted that "even greater than the Lord's works is the Lord's mercy."

At the end of the audience, the Pope addressed a special greeting to heads of the Italian Prison Administration. "Your presence," he told them, "gives me an opportunity to remind individuals and the whole of society of respect for civil and ethical norms, which lie at the foundation of human coexistence."

In remarks to Polish pilgrims, he mentioned the celebration tomorrow, February 2, of the Day of Consecrated Life. "Let us thank God for religious vocations and ask Him to support with grace the sisters and brothers who have chosen chastity, poverty and obedience as the way of sanctity."
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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for February is: "That the international community may be ever more aware of the urgent duty to bring an end to the trafficking in human beings."

His mission intention is: "That in the missions the lay faithful may recognize the need to serve their own country with greater commitment, also in its political and social life."
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Jose Luiz Ferreira Salles C.Ss.r., master of novices in the Brazilian province of the Redemptorist Fathers, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Fortaleza (area 14,813, population 3,400,657, Catholics 2,406,000, priests 291, religious 1,152), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Itirapina, Brazil in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1985.
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V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City