Holy Fathers current activities

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SUMMARY: MAY 5 - 6

- BENEDICT XVI MAKES HIS FIRST VISIT TO CASTELGANDOLFO
- HOLY SEE SPEAKS AT U.N. ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLFERATION TREATY
- CARDINAL POGGI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCH
- SWISS GUARDS: SERVE WITH YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM
- POPE STRESSES SOUTH AFRICAN ROLE FOR PEACE IN THE CONTINENT
- AUDIENCES

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BENEDICT XVI MAKES HIS FIRST VISIT TO CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2005 (VIS) - At 3:30 p.m. today, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled by helicopter to the town of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, on his first visit to the pontifical villas where Popes traditionally spend the summer months. He was accompanied by Archbishops Leonardo Sandri and James Harvey, respectively substitute of the Secretariat of State and prefect of the Pontifical Household.

On his arrival at Castelgandolfo, the Pope was received by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, the diocese in which Castelgandolfo is located, Saverio Petrillo, director of the pontifical villas, and by Maurizio Colacchi, mayor of the town. After meeting a group of representatives from the local religious communities - Salesians of the local parish, Jesuits of the Specola (the Vatican Observatory at Castelgandolfo), and Filippini Religious Teachers - the Pope greeted the people who work in the pontifical villas and then visited the Apostolic Palace.

At 5 p.m., the Pope appeared at the central balcony of the Apostolic Palace. Addressing the people gathered in the square below, he said, "I have come today to meet you for the first time, dear friends of Castelgandolfo. Thank you for your presence and for your cordiality. On this visit I wish to make contact with the apostolic palace and the pontifical villas where, God willing, it is my intention to spend the summer months, just as my venerated predecessors did. This is therefore the first of many appointments that I hope to have with you in this beautiful town of yours."

Benedict XVI then greeted Cardinal Angelo Sodano and the religious and civil authorities present, extending his greetings and "cordial wishes for serenity and peace" to all residents of both Castelgandolfo, "which always welcomes tourists and pilgrims," and of the surrounding hill towns.

After visiting the gardens, at 7.30 p.m. he returned to the Vatican by helicopter.
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HOLY SEE SPEAKS AT U.N. ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLFERATION TREATY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2005 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke in New York on May 4 to the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, calling on all State Parties to the NPT to uphold the integrity of the Treaty.

The Holy See, one of the 188 States Parties to the Treaty, adhered to it in 1971, he said, "convinced that it was an important step forward in the creation of a system of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, something that would be possible only if it were completely observed both in detail and in its entirety." Over the years, he added, "the Treaty has become a cornerstone in the global security framework since it has, to some extent, helped slow the arms race."

When it entered into force in the 1970s, there were "at the same time profound social and geopolitical changes. An awareness began to grow of the close correlation and interdependence between national and international security, while new challenges sprang up, like transnational terrorism and the illegal spread of materials for making weapons of mass destruction."

"Since the Treaty," stated Archbishop Migliore, "is the only multilateral legal instrument currently available, intended to bring about a nuclear weapons free world, it must not be allowed to be weakened. Humanity deserves no less than the full cooperation of all States on this grave matter." He stressed that "the non-proliferation side of the NTP must be strengthened" and "compliance with its nuclear disarmament provisions is also required."

"The time has gone," said the nuncio, "for finding ways to a 'balance in terror': the time has come to re-examine the whole strategy of nuclear deterrence. ... The Holy See has never countenanced nuclear deterrence as a permanent measure, nor does it today when it is evident that nuclear deterrence drives the development of ever newer nuclear arms, thus preventing genuine nuclear disarmament." He said in conclusion that "we must always remember that the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated."
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CARDINAL POGGI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2005 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced today that on Sunday, May 8 at 12 noon, Cardinal Luigi Poggi, archivist and librarian emeritus of Holy Roman Church, will take possession of the title of San Lorenzo in Lucina on Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome.
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SWISS GUARDS: SERVE WITH YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, the Pope received the 31 new recruits who this afternoon will take the oath as members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the swearing-in ceremony in the San Damaso courtyard of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. Family members and friends of the new recruits accompanied them in their meeting with the Pope.

Speaking in German, French and Italian, Benedict XVI expressed his joy "that the traditional oath of recruits is taking place a few days after the start of my pontificate, so I can express to you my recognition, my thanks and my encouragement."

After addressing a special greeting to the new recruits, the Holy Father expressed the desire that over these days "you may deepen your faith and your union with Peter's Successor, the visible head of the Universal Church. May your service further improve the liturgical acts and the numerous meetings."

Despite the fact that the reasons for joining the Swiss Guard "are different for each of you," the Pope pointed out that what is important now is to live the experience fully so as to "give rise to a true spiritual bond between you. This spirit of the Swiss Guard is nourished by the glorious tradition of almost five centuries of a small army with great ideals." These ideals, said the Pope are "firmness of Catholic faith, a convinced and convincing Christian way of life, unshakeable trust and a profound love for the Church and for the Vicar of Christ, conscientiousness and perseverance in the small and great tasks of daily service, courage and humility, attention to others and humanity."

"In the person of the Pope," he concluded, "you serve the entire Church; put your youthful energy, and your interior vitality and freshness at her service. Looking at you, dear friends, I remember what I said during the inaugural liturgical celebration of my pontificate: 'the Church is young. She holds within herself the future of the world and therefore shows each of us the way towards the future.' You, dear guards, can and must provide an example and a living witness of this."
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POPE STRESSES SOUTH AFRICAN ROLE FOR PEACE IN THE CONTINENT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2005 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"This morning, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Thabo M. Mbeki, president of South Africa, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

"During the meeting, the president explained the situation in South Africa to His Holiness, also with reference to the rest of the African continent.

"The Holy Father emphasized the role the Republic of South Africa can play as a factor for peace throughout the continent.

"He also underlined the Church's responsibility in promoting moral values in the Republic of South Africa and in the world."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Three prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, on their 'ad limina' visit:

- Bishop Anthony Leopold Raymond Peiris of Kurunegala.

- Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar.

- Bishop Joseph Kingsley Swampillai of Trincomalee-Batticaloa.

- Thabo M. Mbeki, president of South Africa, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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[Fidei Defensor]

SUMMARY: MAY 7 - 9

- BENEDICT XVI WELCOMES SRI LANKAN PRELATES ON "AD LIMINA"
- POPE EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR WARM WELCOME BY ROMANS
- BENEDICT XVI TAKES POSSESSION OF CATHEDRA AS BISHOP OF ROME
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
- THE MEDIA, A UNIQUE RESOURCE IN PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING
- CARDINAL SARAIVA MARTINS TO PRESIDE BEATIFICATION MASS
- CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE IN MAY AND JUNE
- HOLY SEE DELEGATION: CONFERENCE ON MISSION, EVANGELIZATION
- AUDIENCES

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BENEDICT XVI WELCOMES SRI LANKAN PRELATES ON "AD LIMINA"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2005 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the pastors of the Church in Sri Lanka on their "ad limina" visit this morning and noted in his speech to them in English that this is the first such visit since his election.

His opening words were dedicated to "the devastating effects of the tsunami last December, which claimed a vast number of lives in Sri Lanka alone, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. ... Please accept my profound sympathy and that of Catholics everywhere for all who have endured such terrible losses."

The Pope pointed out that "the Christian community has a particular obligation to care for those children who have lost their parents as a result of the natural disaster." He said that "these most vulnerable members of society ... so often are simply forgotten or shamelessly exploited as soldiers, labourers, or innocent victims in the trafficking of human beings. No effort should be spared to urge civil authorities and the international community to fight these abuses and to offer young children the legal protection they justly deserve."

Stating that "even in the darkest moments of our lives, we know that God is never absent," Benedict XVI spoke of the "unprecedented generosity of the humanitarian response to the tsunami," and commended the bishops "for the outstanding way in which the Church in Sri Lanka struggled to meet the material, moral, psychological and spiritual needs of the victims. We can recognize further signs of God's goodness in the partnership and collaboration of so many diverse elements of society in the relief effort. It was heartening to see members of different religious and ethnic groups in Sri Lanka and throughout the global community coming together to show their solidarity towards the afflicted and rediscovering the fraternal bonds that unite them. I am confident that you will find ways of building further on the fruits of this cooperation, especially by ensuring that aid is offered freely to all who are in need."

Benedict XVI then noted that "the Church in Sri Lanka is young - a third of the population of your country is under the age of fifteen - and this gives great hope for the future. Religious education in schools must therefore be a high priority. Whatever difficulties you may encounter in this area, do not be deterred from carrying out your responsibility. Seminaries, likewise, require particular attention on the part of the bishops, and I urge you to be ever vigilant in maintaining a sound spiritual and theological formation for your seminarians. They need to be inspired to exercise their future apostolate in a way that will attract others to follow Christ - the more holy, the more joyful and the more impassioned they are in their priestly ministry, the more fruitful it will be."
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POPE EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR WARM WELCOME BY ROMANS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2005 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"On the day of his enthronement on the 'Cathedra Romana' as bishop of Rome, the Holy Father received in audience the mayor of the city, Walter Veltroni.

"Benedict XVI expressed his gratitude to the mayor for the warmth with which the Romans have welcomed him, and again expressed his feelings of respect and affection towards the city and the diocese that have become his own.

"He also formulated his best wishes for prosperity and harmony to all the citizens of Rome, giving assurances - within the distinction of roles - of the Church's contribution to the spiritual and civil progress of the city."
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BENEDICT XVI TAKES POSSESSION OF CATHEDRA AS BISHOP OF ROME

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2005 (VIS) - This evening, Benedict XVI presided at a Eucharistic celebration in the basilica of St. John Lateran, on the occasion of his taking possession of the Cathedra of the Bishop of Rome. Forty cardinals, members of the diocesan episcopal council, the canons of the Lateran Basilica and the council of pastor prefects concelebrated with the Holy Father.

At the beginning of the celebration, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of the diocese of Rome expressed the joy of the Church of Rome for her new pastor. The Pope then sat in his cathedra for the first time while the choir and congregation sang: "Joy, peace and life to you Benedict, bishop of Rome." After this, the Holy Father received expressions of "obedience" from a group of representatives of the Roman Church: Cardinal Ruini in his capacity as archpriest of the basilica of St. John Lateran; Archbishop Luigi Moretti, vicegerent of the diocese; two priests; a permanent deacon and a deacon preparing for the priesthood; a male and a female religious; a layman and a laywoman, and two young people who had received the rite of Confirmation.

At the beginning of his homily, the Holy Father spoke of the Ascension of the Lord, which in many places is celebrated this Sunday, saying that Christ, "thanks to His being with the Father, is close to each of us forever. Each of us can address Him as a friend, each of us can call on Him." Although "we can live with our backs turned to Him, He always awaits us, He is always close to us."

Benedict XVI emphasized that the Risen Christ "has need of witnesses who have met Him, of men and women who have known Him intimately through the power of the Holy Spirit. ... The successors to the Apostles - that is, the bishops - have the public responsibility to ensure that the network of this testimony endures over time. ... And in this network of witnesses, a special task falls to Peter's Successor."

The Pope "must be aware that he is a weak and fragile man," in constant need of "purification and conversion. Yet he may also be aware that from the Lord comes the strength to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith, and to keep them united in confessing the Crucified and Risen Christ."

"The bishop of Rome sits in his cathedra to bear witness to Christ," said the Pope. "Thus the cathedra is the symbol of the 'potestas docendi,' that authority to teach which is an essential part of the mandate to bind and to loosen conferred by the Lord on Peter and, after him, on the Twelve." On this subject, the Pope affirmed that "where Holy Scripture is disjoined from the living voice of the Church, it falls prey to the disputes of experts."

"This authority to teach frightens many people, both within and outside the Church. They ask themselves whether it does not threaten freedom of belief, whether it is not a presumption that goes against freedom of thought. It is not so. ... The Pope is not an absolute sovereign whose thoughts and will are law. Quite the contrary, the ministry of the Pope is a guarantee of obedience to Christ and to His Word. He must not proclaim his own ideas, but constantly bind himself and the Church in obedience to God's Word in the face of all attempts to adapt that Word or to water it down, and in the face of all forms of opportunism."

Benedict XVI emphasized that this is what John Paul II did "when, in the face of all apparently benevolent attempts, in the face of erroneous interpretations of freedom, he unequivocally underlined the inviolability of the human being, the inviolability of human life from conception to natural death. The freedom to kill is not true freedom, but a tyranny that reduces human beings to slavery."

"The Pope is aware of being bound - in his important decisions - to the great community of the faith of all times, to the binding interpretations that have developed during the Church's pilgrim journey." He has the responsibility to ensure that the Word of God "continues to be present in its greatness and to sound forth in its purity, so that it is not dismembered by constant changes in fashion."

At the end of his homily, the Holy Father assured Romans: "Now I am your bishop. Thank you for your generosity! Thank you for your kindness! Thank you for your patience! As Catholics we are all, in some way, also Romans."

After Mass, the Pope traveled in an open car to the basilica of St. Mary Major to venerate the "Salus Populi Romani" icon of the Virgin Mary which is conserved in the Borghese Chapel. This act of veneration by a new Pope represents an unbroken tradition of supplication by the people of Rome to the Mother of Salvation.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Manuel Hilario de Cespedes y Garcia Menocal, vicar general of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, as bishop of Matanzas (area 8,444, population 690,400, Catholics 478,000, priests 20, permanent deacons 1, religious 64), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in San Cristobal de la Habana, Cuba, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1972.

- Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio to El Salvador, as apostolic nuncio to Belize.
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THE MEDIA, A UNIQUE RESOURCE IN PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING

VATICAN CITY, MAY 8, 2005 (VIS) - Appearing at his study window to recite the noon Regina Coeli with the faithful in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict reflected on the solemnity of the Ascension, which is being celebrated today in Italy and in many other countries and also on the 39th World Day of Social Communications which is marked worldwide today.

The Pope said that Jesus, "ascending into heaven, re-opened the path to our definitive homeland which is paradise. Now, with the power of His Spirit, He sustains us in our daily pilgrimage on earth." He added that "after the Lord ascended into heaven, the disciples gathered in prayer in the Cenacle with the Mother of Jesus, invoking together the Holy Spirit. ... Every Christian community is reliving in these days this singular spiritual experience in preparation for the solemnity of Pentecost."

Turning to the celebration of the World Day of Social Communications, Benedict XVI noted that the theme chosen last year by Pope John Paul for this occasion is "The Communications Media: At the Service of Understanding Between Peoples." He said that, "in the current era of images, the mass media are effectively an extraordinary resource in promoting solidarity and understanding in the human family. We recently had extraordinary proof of this on the occasion of the death and solemn funeral of my beloved predecessor John Paul II.

Stating that "everything depends, however, on the way they are used," he underscored how "these important instruments of communications can promote reciprocal knowledge and dialogue or, on the contrary, feed prejudice and disdain among individuals and peoples: they can contribute to spreading peace or to fomenting violence. This is why personal responsibility is always important: it is necessary for everyone to do their part to assure, in every form of communications, objectivity, respect for human dignity and attention to the common good. In such a way this contributes to knocking down the walls of hostility that still divide mankind and to consolidating those bonds of friendship and love that are signs of the Kingdom of God in history."

Following the Regina Coeli prayer, the Pope briefly greeted pilgrims in Italian, English and Spanish. "I greet the participants in the Spring Marathon - School Fest which took place this morning in Rome, Trent and other Italian cities. I hope the formation of the younger generations is always at the center of attention of the ecclesial community and of public institutions."
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CARDINAL SARAIVA MARTINS TO PRESIDE BEATIFICATION MASS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - A communique from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced today that "Saturday, May 14, solemnity of Pentecost, at 5 p.m. at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at a Eucharistic celebration and, as charged by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, will read the Apostolic Letter with which the Supreme Pontiff has inscribed in the book of Blesseds the Servants of God: Ascension Nicol Goni, virgin and co-foundress of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary and Marianne Cope, virgin, of the Sisters of St. Francis, Syracuse, U.S.A."
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CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE IN MAY AND JUNE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 - Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided over by the Holy Father during the months of May and June.

MAY

- Sunday 15: Pentecost Sunday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordination of deacons of the diocese of Rome.

- Thursday 26: Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Mass at 7 p.m. in the square of St. John Lateran, followed by a procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major for Eucharistic blessing.

- Sunday 29: Pastoral visit to Bari, Italy, for the closure of the National Eucharistic Congress. Mass at 10 a.m.

JUNE

- Wednesday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Mass at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica. Blessing and imposition of the pallium on metropolitan archbishops.
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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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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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SUMMARY:

- BENEDICT XVI MEETS DIPLOMATIC CORPS ACCREDITED TO HOLY SEE
- CONFIRMATION OF SYNOD ON THEME OF THE EUCHARISTIC
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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BENEDICT XVI MEETS DIPLOMATIC CORPS ACCREDITED TO HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2005 (VIS) - At 11 this morning, in the Regia Hall, Pope Benedict addressed members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, in his first meeting with them as a group since his April 19 election to the papacy. In his speech in French, The Pope thanked the ambassadors and authorities of the countries they represent for their participation in the funeral of John Paul II and the celebrations for his election and the start of his pontificate.

The Holy Father said his thoughts also go "to the nations with whom the Holy See does not yet have diplomatic relations," pointing to their participation as well in the ceremonies for the funeral of John Paul and his own election to the Chair of Peter. "Appreciative of such gestures, I wish today to express my gratitude and to send greetings to the civil authorities of these countries, hoping to see them represented very soon to the Holy See. Messages that I especially appreciated arrived from these countries, notably from those whose Catholic communities are numerous. I would like to say how dear these communities and their people are to me, and I assure them they are present in my prayers."

Benedict XVI underscored "the long and fruitful ministry of the beloved John Paul II," as a "tireless missionary of the Gospel to the many countries he visited, rendering a unique service to the cause of unity of the human family." John Paul, he added, "invited all people of good will ... to build a society of justice, peace, and solidarity in charity and mutual pardon."

"For my part," remarked the Pope, "I come from a country where peace and fraternity are dear to the hearts of the people, notably those who, like me, have known war and the separation among brothers belonging to the same nation because of devastating and inhuman ideologies which, masked by dreams and illusions, brought down the yoke of oppression upon men and women. You will therefore understand that I am especially sensitive to dialogue between people in order to overcome all forms of conflicts and tensions and to make our earth a land of peace and fraternity."

Everyone, he went on, "is called to realize a peaceful society in order to vanquish the temptation of clashes between cultures, ethnic groups and different worlds. Thus, each people must draw from its spiritual and cultural patrimony the best values of which it is a bearer."

"To pursue in this direction," stated Pope Benedict, "the Church never ceases to proclaim and to defend basic human rights, unfortunately still violated in different parts of the earth, and she works towards assuring respect for every person's right to life, food, a home, work, health care, protection of the family and the promotion of social development, in respect for the dignity of men and women, created in the image of God."

He added that the Catholic Church will continue to help safeguard "the dignity of every human person and service to the common good ... without seeking any privilege for herself, but only the legitimate conditions of freedom and action for her mission."
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CONFIRMATION OF SYNOD ON THEME OF THE EUCHARISTIC

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father has confirmed that the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be celebrated on the theme: "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church," and has decreed that it will be held in the Vatican from October 2 to 23, 2005.

At the same time, Benedict XVI confirmed the appointments of the presidents delegate, the relator general and the special secretary, as well as confirming the appointments of the delegates and substitutes of the synod, as ratified by the late John Paul II.

The presidents delegate are: Cardinals Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico and Telesphore Placidus Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, India. The relator general is Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy and the special secretary is Archbishop Roland Minnerath of Dijon, France.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Brooklyn, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Frs. Joseph J. Tyson, pastor of the parishes of St. Edward, St. George and St. Paul, and Eusebio L. Elizondo M.Sp.S, pastor of the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Seattle (area 64,269, population 4,755,500, Catholics 904,000, priests 313, permanent deacons 98, religious 585), U.S.A. Bishop-elect Tyson was born at Moses Lake, U.S.A., in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1989. Bishop-elect Elizondo was born in Victoria, Mexico, in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1984.
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SUMMARY:

- BENEDICT XVI ANNOUNCES CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION OF JOHN PAUL II
- CATHOLICS, ANGLICANS TO PRESENT JOINT DOCUMENT ON MARY
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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BENEDICT XVI ANNOUNCES CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2005 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today announced the opening of the cause of beatification of John Paul II, waiving the normal waiting period of five years after the death of a Servant of God. The Pope made the announcement in the course of a meeting with the Roman clergy in the basilica of St. John Lateran.

The rescript - or document authorizing the act - is dated May 9, 2005 and is signed by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins and Archbishop Edward Nowak, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

This morning, after traveling by car to the Vicariate of Rome, the Pope, in a ceremony in the Hall of Conciliation, greeted the staff who work there and visited the pontifical apartments.

Benedict XVI then went to the basilica of St. John Lateran where he met the clergy of his diocese. After a brief greeting pronounced by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, the Pope delivered his address.

He said that "the extraordinary experience of faith that we experienced with the death of our much-loved Pope John Paul II, has shown us a Roman Church profoundly united, full of life and rich in enthusiasm; all this is the fruit of your prayers and your apostolate."

After underlining the need "to always go back to the roots of our priestly calling," in other words, "Jesus Christ, the Lord," Benedict XVI pointed out that as priests "we are charged not to say many words, but rather to echo and to be bearers of a single 'Word,' that is the Word of God, made flesh for our salvation. ... We have to be His true friends, to share His feelings, to want what He wants and not want what He does not want."

The Pope invited the priests to make their own these words of John Paul II: "Mass is, in an absolute way, the center of my life and of each of my days." Speaking of obedience to Christ, he recalled that this "takes concrete form in ecclesial obedience, which for a priest is, in everyday practice, above all obedience to his bishop."

Benedict XVI also recalled what he had said in his homily prior to the conclave, when he referred to "holy restlessness; a restlessness to bring everyone the gift of faith." After highlighting that Christ "calls us to be His witnesses," the Pope mentioned the necessity of "being with God," of seeking "intimate communion with Christ," in order "not to give in to fatigue, but to resist and, even more so, to grow as people and as priests."

"Time to be in the presence of God is a true pastoral priority," he continued, "in the final analysis, the most important priority. John Paul II demonstrated this to us in the most tangible and luminous of ways in all the circumstances of his life and his ministry."

The Holy Father affirmed that "our personal response to the call of sanctity is fundamental and decisive. This condition is essential, not only for our personal apostolate to be fruitful but also, and more broadly, for the Church's face to reflect the light of Christ."

"My ministry as bishop of Rome follows in the footsteps of my predecessors, in particular taking up the precious heritage left by John Paul II. Dear priests and deacons, let us walk together along this path with serenity and trust."

After his address, Benedict XVI listened attentively to questions and reflections presented by various priests and religious, and thanked them for the remarks. He then returned to the Vatican by car.
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CATHOLICS, ANGLICANS TO PRESENT JOINT DOCUMENT ON MARY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2005 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Anglican Communion Office announced in a communique today that the most recent report of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), entitled "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ," will be presented on May 16, 2005 in Seattle, U.S.A., where the Commission last met and completed its work on the document. Cardinal Walter Kasper is the president of the pontifical council.

Pointing to relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, the text notes: "Over the past two years, the Pontifical Council has been concerned by the impact of recent developments in Anglicanism in North America on our relations. The publication of 'The Windsor Report' and the communique issued by the Anglican Primates on February 24 have sought to clarify the direction (in which) the Anglican Communion wishes to move" and "have offered new hope that our dialogue can continue to make progress towards the full communion which has been its aim since it was first conceived in March of 1966" by Pope Paul VI and then Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey.

The statement says, in an overview of recent developments: "In 2003, the decision of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America to ordain as bishop a priest in an active homosexual relationship, as well as the introduction of a rite of blessing for same sex couples in the Diocese of New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada, created new obstacles for relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. As a result of these actions and the uncertainty they created, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity agreed with representatives of the Anglican Communion to put on hold the plenary meetings of the International Anglican - Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) while maintaining close communication with the Anglican Communion Office and with Lambeth Palace."

"Faced with major tensions within the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, established the 'Lambeth Commission', mandating it to prepare" The Windsor Report, which was published in October 2004 and "proposes various practical steps to situate the autonomy of Anglican provinces more clearly within the interdependence of the Anglican Communion." Archbishop Williams invited Cardinal Kasper to write a letter offering reflections on the report and to come to London for conversations at the Anglican Communion Office. On both occasions, Cardinal Kasper emphasized the importance of clarifying both ecclesiological and moral issues related to the current situation.

Following the publication of "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ," IARCCUM will resume its review of the work of ARCIC II, and present a synthesis of that work to respective Anglican and Catholic authorities.
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience this afternoon Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Archbishop William Joseph Levada of San Francisco, California, as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. For a biography of the prefect-elect click: [url="http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/16539.php?index=16539&lang=en#NOMINA%20DEL%20PREFETTO%20DELLA%20CONGREGAZIONE%20PER%20LA%20DOTTRINA%20DELLA%20FEDE"]http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin...%20DELLA%20FEDE[/url]

- Bishop Hector Salah Zuleta of Girardota, Colombia, as bishop of Riohacha (area 19,037, population 390,000, Catholics 320,000, priests 31, religious 99), Colombia.
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Benedict XVI Ordains 21 Priests on Pentecost
Urges Them to "Take the Peace of Christ to the World"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 15, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI ordained 21 priests for the Diocese of Rome on Pentecost, encouraging them to evangelize the world with the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance.

In the Pope's homily today in St. Peter's Basilica, he outlined the characteristic features of the Church, "which must again become what she already is; she must open the borders between peoples and break the barriers between classes and races."

"She cannot have any who are forgotten or disdained," he said, imploring a new effusion of the Holy Spirit that will open "those borders that we men continue to raise between us."

The newly ordained, ranging in age from 26 to 55, represent nine countries on three continents: Italy (11), Bolivia (2), Uruguay, Costa Rica, Peru, Ireland, Rumania, Kenya, Angola and Nigeria.

The 21 attended 4 different seminarians: the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary (6), Redemptoris Mater, initiative of the Neo-Catechumenal Way (9), the Priestly Fraternity of the Sons of the Cross (1), and the Sons of St. Anne (2).

The Holy Father invited the new priests to transform the world with the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance, of which they are now ministers after their priestly ordination.

In the name of Jesus, "you can say: 'This is my body,' 'This is my blood.' Let yourselves be attracted every time in the holy Eucharist by communion of life with Christ," recommended Benedict XVI.

"Consider as the center of every day your being able to celebrate Mass in a worthy manner. Lead men again to this mystery. Help them to start from it, to take the peace of Christ to the world," he added.

In this mission, the Pope continued, the new priests also have the "power of forgiveness."

"The sacrament of penance is one of the treasures of the Church, as only in forgiveness is the genuine renewal of the world effected. Nothing can improve the world, if evil is not overcome," he added.

"And evil can only be overcome with forgiveness. Of course, it must be effective forgiveness. But this forgiveness can only be given to us by the Lord, a forgiveness that does not remove evil only with words, but that really transforms it," he stressed.

After the homily, the 21 deacons knelt before the Pope for the imposition of hands. Then he pronounced the prayer of ordination.

After the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study to pray the Regina Caeli (which replaces the Angelus in Eastertide), and was surprised by the size of the crowd of nearly 50,000 pilgrims that filled St. Peter's square.

The Pope apologized for being a bit late for the midday appointment because of the ordinations.

In his brief message, the Pope linked Pentecost to the ordination of the new priests, reminding the faithful that "without the Holy Spirit, the Church would be reduced to a merely human organization, with the weight of its very structures."

"Moreover, in God's plans, the Spirit habitually makes use of human mediations to act in history. Precisely for this reason, Christ ... constituted his Church on the foundation of the apostles united around Peter," he added.

"May the ecclesial community remain always open and docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, in order to be a credible sign and effective instrument of God's action among men," he concluded.

The Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in Italian and German, in particular members of the Community of Sant'Egidio visiting from Germany.
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:



- Fr. Clarence Silva of the clergy of the diocese of Oakland, U.S.A., vicar general, as bishop of Honolulu (area 16,660, population 1,244,898, Catholics 234,588, priests 157, permanent deacons 51, religious 361), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Honolulu in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1975.



- Msgr. Kevin W. Vann of the clergy of the diocese of Springfield in Illinois, U.S.A., episcopal vicar for the clergy and pastor of the parish of the Blessed Sacrament, as coadjutor bishop of Fort Worth (area 62,007, population 2,770,961, Catholics 400,501, priests 115, permanent deacons 74, religious 160), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Springfield in 1951, and ordained a priest in 1981.

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VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:



- Bishop Ramon del Hoyo Lopez of Cuenca, Spain, as bishop of Jaen (area 13,497, population 651,565, Catholics 630,000, priests 308, religious 717), Spain.



- As members of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and Jean-Louis Tauran, archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church.

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AUDIENCES



VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2005 (VIS) - This evening, the Holy Father is due to receive in audience Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS



VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., presented by Bishop William J. Winter, upon having reached the age limit.

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VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Martin Drennan, auxiliary of Dublin, Ireland, as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh (area 2,610, population 105,079, Catholics 102,425, priests 113, religious 277), Ireland. He succeeds Bishop James McLoughlin whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.



On Saturday, May 21, it was made public that he appointed Fr. Juan Jose Pineda Fasquelle C.M.F., professor at the major national seminary of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, director of pastoral care at the Catholic University of Honduras and secretary of the archbishop of Tegucigalpa, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Tegucigalpa (area 23,106, population 2,135,516, Catholics 1,601,637, priests 165, permanent deacons 1, religious 503). The bishop-elect was born in Tegucigalpa in 1960 and ordained to the priesthood in 1988.

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VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:



- Erected the new diocese of Cartago (area 3,105, population 378,523, Catholics 272,388, priests 70, religious 53), Costa Rica, with territory taken from the archdiocese of San Jose de Costa Rica and from the diocese of Limon, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of San Jose de Costa Rica. He appointed Bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa Rojas of Limon as first bishop of the new diocese.



- Appointed Msgr. Elmar Fischer, vicar general of Feldkirch (area 2,601, population 375,543, Catholics 267,950, priests 225, permanent deacons 18, priests 403), Austria, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Feldkirch in 1936 and ordained a priest in 1961.



- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Raymond James Boland in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Robert W. Finn.



- Appointed Msgr. Peter Doyle, of the clergy of the diocese of Portsmouth, Great Britain, vicar general, as bishop of Northampton (area 5,532, population 2,000,769, Catholics 173,539, priests 127, permanent deacons 25, religious 224), Great Britain. The bishop-elect was born in Blackburn, Great Britain, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1968.

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VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:



- Appointed Fr. Antonio Roberto Cavuto O.F.M. Cap., pastor and guardian of the Fraternity of St. Sebastian in the diocese of Uberlandia, Brazil, as bishop of Itapipoca (area 11,266, population 446,606, Catholics 402,933, priests 27, religious 55), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Espirito Santo do Pinhal, Brazil, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1971. He succeeds Bishop Benedito Francisco de Albuquerque, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.



- Appointed Bishop Fernando Mason O.F.M. Conv., of Caraguatatuba, Brazil, as bishop of Piracicaba (area 5,402, population 988,326, Catholics 763,246, priests 82, permanent deacons 34, religious 256), Brazil.

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Benedict XVI's Corpus Christi Homily
"Jesus Goes Before Us to the Father"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the homily Benedict XVI delivered last Thursday during the Mass on the solemnity of Corpus Christ, held in the square of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Afterward the Pope presided over the Eucharistic procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

* * *

On the feast of Corpus Christi, the Church relives the mystery of Holy Thursday in the light of the resurrection. On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic procession is also held, with which the Church recalls Jesus' departure from the Cenacle for the Mount of Olives. In Israel, Passover was celebrated at home, in the intimacy of the family, recalling the first Passover in Egypt, the night that the blood of the paschal lamb, sprinkled on the lintels and doorposts of homes, protected against the executioner. On that night, Jesus went out and handed himself over to the traitor, the executioner and, in this way, he triumphed over night and the darkness of evil. Only thus was the gift of the Eucharist, instituted in the Cenacle, brought to fulfillment. Jesus really gives up his body and blood. Crossing over the threshold of death, he becomes the living Bread, authentic manna, inexhaustible nourishment for ever. His flesh becomes the Bread of life.

During the Holy Thursday procession, the Church accompanies Jesus to the Mount of Olives. The praying Church feels the intense desire to watch with Jesus; not to leave him alone in the night of the world, in the night of betrayal, in the night of the indifference of many. On the feast of Corpus Christi, we resume this procession, but with the joy of the resurrection. The Lord has risen and goes before us. In the accounts of the resurrection there is a common and essential feature. The angels say: The Lord "is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him" (Matthew 28:7). Reflecting on this with greater attention, we can say that this "going before" of Jesus implies a double direction. The first is, as we have heard, Galilee. In Israel, Galilee was considered the gate to the pagan world. And, in fact, precisely in Galilee, on top of the mountain, the disciples saw Jesus, the Lord, who said to them: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

The other direction in which the Risen One goes before us appears in the Gospel of St. John, in Jesus' words to Magdalene: "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father" (John 20:17). Jesus goes before us to the Father, he ascends to God in the highest and invites us to follow him. These two directions of the way of the Risen One are not in contradiction, but together indicate the way to follow Christ. The real end of our journeying is communion with God, God himself is the house of many rooms (cf. John 14:2 and following). But we can only ascend to this room by walking "to Galilee," walking on the roads of the world, taking the Gospel to all nations, taking the gift of his love to the men of all times. Because of this, the apostles journeying extended "to the end of the earth" (cf. Acts 1:6 and following); this is how Sts. Peter and Paul reached Rome, the city that was then the center of the known world, the genuine "caput mundi."

The Holy Thursday procession accompanies Jesus in his loneliness to the "via crucis." The Corpus Christi procession, on the contrary, responds symbolically to the mandate of the Risen One: I go before you to Galilee. Go to the end of the earth, take the Gospel to the world. For faith, the Eucharist is certainly the mystery of intimacy. The Lord instituted the Sacrament in the Cenacle, surrounded by his new family, by the Twelve Apostles, a prefiguration and anticipation of the Church of all times. Because of this, in the liturgy of the early Church, the distribution of Holy Communion was introduced with the words "Sancta sanctis," the holy gift is destined for those who have remained saints. This was the response to the warning addressed by St. Paul to the Corinthians: "Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Corinthians 11:28).

However, from this intimacy, which is an extremely personal gift from the Lord, the force of the sacrament of the Eucharist goes beyond the walls of our churches. In this sacrament, the Lord is always coming to the world. This universal aspect of the Eucharistic presence is shown in the procession of our feast. We take Christ, present in the figure of bread, through the streets of our city. We entrust these streets, these homes, our daily life, to his goodness. May our streets be Jesus' streets! May our homes be homes for him and with him! May his presence penetrate our everyday life. With this gesture, we place before his eyes the sufferings of the sick, the loneliness of youth and the elderly, temptations, fears, our whole life. The procession is intended to be a great and public blessing for our city: Christ is, in person, the divine blessing for the world. May the ray of his blessing extend over all of us!

In the procession of Corpus Christi, we accompany the Risen One on his journey through the whole world, as we have said. And, in this way, we also respond to his mandate: "Take, eat ... Drink of it, all of you" (Matthew 26:26 and following). The Risen One, present in the form of bread, cannot be "eaten" as a simple piece of bread. To eat this bread is to commune, it is to enter into communion with the person of the living Lord. This communion, this act of "eating," is really a meeting between two persons; it is to allow oneself to be penetrated by the life of the One who is Lord, who is my Creator and Redeemer. The purpose of this communion is the assimilation of my life with his, my transformation and configuration with the One who is living Love. Therefore, this communion implies adoration, the will to follow Christ, to follow the One who goes before us. Adoration and procession form part, therefore, of only one gesture of communion. They respond to his mandate: "Take, eat."

Our procession ends before the Basilica of St. Mary Major, in our meeting with the Virgin, called by the beloved Pope John Paul II the "Eucharistic woman." Mary, Mother of the Lord, really shows us what it is to enter into communion with Christ: Mary offered her own flesh, her own blood to Jesus and became the living tent of the Word, allowing herself to be penetrated in body and spirit by his presence. Let us ask her, our Holy Mother, to help us to open our being ever more to the presence of Christ, to help us to follow him faithfully, day after day, on the paths of our life. Amen!

[Translation by ZENIT]
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:



- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados, presented by Bishop Malcolm Patrick Galt C.S.Sp., upon having reached the age limit.



- Appointed Julio Cesar Corniel Amaro of the clergy of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, director of diocesan social pastoral care and professor at the seminary of St. Thomas Aquinas in Santo Domingo, as bishop of Puerto Plata (area 2,700, population 346,520, Catholics 338,560, priests 24, permanent deacons 15, religious 50), Dominican Republic. The bishop-elect was born in Bodita, Dominican Republic, in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1986.



- In accordance with the new norms for the pontifical basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, appointed Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo as archpriest of the basilica.

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VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:



- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, presented by Bishop Sofron Stefan Mudry O.S.B.M., in accordance with Canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.



- Gave his assent to the election of Fr. Mykola Simkaylo, pastor of the cathedral church of Ivano-Frankivsk, as bishop of Kolomyia-Chernivtsi (area 14,095, population 384,000, Catholics 240,000, priests 215, religious 4), Ukraine. The election was carried out canonically by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek Catholic Ukrainian Church, meeting in Kiev from October 5 to 12, 2004. The bishop-elect was born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1974.



On May 30, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan, presented by Bishop James Liu Tan-kuei, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

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VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:



- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, presented by Bishop Sofron Stefan Mudry O.S.B.M., in accordance with Canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.



- Gave his assent to the election of Fr. Mykola Simkaylo, pastor of the cathedral church of Ivano-Frankivsk, as bishop of Kolomyia-Chernivtsi (area 14,095, population 384,000, Catholics 240,000, priests 215, religious 4), Ukraine. The election was carried out canonically by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek Catholic Ukrainian Church, meeting in Kiev from October 5 to 12, 2004. The bishop-elect was born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1974.



On May 30, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan, presented by Bishop James Liu Tan-kuei, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.