By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 17 February 2016 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Felice Accrocca of the clergy of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, Italy, as metropolitan archbishop of Benevento (area 1,691, population 273,700, Catholics 271,700, priests 207, permanent deacons 53, religious 315), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Cori, Italy in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He holds a degree in letters from the “La Sapienza” University of Rome and a doctorate in ecclesiastical history from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including deputy priest, parish priest,...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 17 February 2016 (VIS) – Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to Ban Ki-Moon, secretary general of the United Nations, following the death of former secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali.In the text, the Holy Father extends heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and his colleagues at the United Nations Organisation. Recalling Mr Boutros-Ghali’s generous service to his country and to the international community, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers for the late Secretary-General’s eternal rest, and invokes divine blessings...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 17 February 2016 (VIS) – Yesterday, Tuesday 16 February, the Pope arrived at 8.45 a.m. (local time, 3.45 p.m. in Rome) in Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacan, the geographical centre of Mexico and since 1991 a UNESCO World Heritage site on account of its Hispanic historic centre and baroque architecture, notably the Cathedral of the Transfiguration and the Palace of Justice. It is also the seat of an important university, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, founded in 1551 as the Colegio de San Nicolas, and currently attended by 45,000...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 17 February 2016 (VIS) – At 4 p.m. local time (11 p.m. in Rome), Francis arrived at the Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon stadium in the city of Morelia, where he was awaited by around fifty thousand young people. The festive encounter was filled with songs, dance and testimonies from Daniela, Alberto, Roberto and Rosario, all young people who told the Pope about the realities of their lives. The problems of work, the difficulties faced by families and the need for hope were the key themes. “Today the young people of Mexico see in...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 17 February 2016 (VIS) – The Holy Father has:– appointed Bishop John D. Deshotel, auxiliary of Dallas, U.S.A., as bishop of Lafayette (area 14,962, population 634,000, Catholics 332,000, priests 213, permanent deacons 94, religious 217), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Charles M. Jarrell, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.– appointed Fr. Ricardo Hoepers as bishop of Rio Grande (area 12,270, population 300,000, Catholics 211,000, priests 29, permanent deacons 29, religious 72), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Curitiba, Brazil in...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 16 February 2016 (VIS) – The Holy Father arrived shortly after 9 a.m. local time (4.10 p.m. in Rome) at Tuxtla Gutierrez, capital of the state of Chiapas. Given its high growth rate the city, usually referred to as Tuxtla, is one of the poles of attraction for clandestine immigration both from bordering Guatemala and other Latin American countries.Chiapas is Mexico’s southernmost state and, despite is great wealth of natural resources, it is one of the poorest with the lowest life expectancy. Thirty per cent of its four and a half million inhabitants speak...