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Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Special Editions
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Hello All.
          Vatican Information Service
             HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
             V.I.S.    VIS internet

      09.IV.2005
      Fifteenth Year  - N.69

      SUMMARY:

      - GRATITUDE OF HOLY SEE FOR EFFICIENCY IN WELCOMING PILGRIMS
      - CARDINALS UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE TO AVOID MEDIA INTERVIEWS
      - VACANT SEE 2005 STAMPS TO BE ISSUED APRIL 12

      ___________________________________________________________

++   GRATITUDE OF HOLY SEE FOR EFFICIENCY IN WELCOMING PILGRIMS

      VATICAN CITY, APR 9, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office
Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement
yesterday afternoon to journalists:

   "The Holy See feels a duty to thank the Italian government
and the city of Rome for the dedication and the efficiency with
which they welcomed the millions of pilgrims who came to Rome to pay
their final farewell to John Paul II and to participate in his
funeral. It was an exceptional event, and run in a truly exception
manner.

   "It also wishes to underline the availability and generosity
of all the people involved in organizing an event that was both
without precedent and unpredictable in all of its dimensions.

   "Special thanks go to the thousands of volunteers from all
of Italy who gave of themselves with tireless dedication, together
with the Italian Civil Protection and the forces of law and order to
assure an orderly and tranquil flow of pilgrims.

   "Lastly, special applause goes to all the citizens of Rome
for their collaboration and patience in accepting the inevitable
discomfort of these days. Rome has once again given proof of its
millennia-old civility and its attachment to the deceased Pontiff."
OP/ROME:WELCOME PILGRIMSNAVARRO-VALLS  VIS 050409 (210)

++   CARDINALS UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE TO AVOID MEDIA INTERVIEWS

      VATICAN CITY, APR 9, 2005 (VIS) - At the end of today's Sixth
General Congregation of Cardinals during the vacant see period, Holy
See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a briefing held
for accredited journalists in the press office, released the
following information:

   "The Sixth General Congregation of Cardinals during the
vacant see period was held this morning in the New Synod Hall.

   "After the opening prayer the cardinals who joined the
assembly today took their oath. There were 130 cardinals present.

   "Cardinal Trujillo expressed gratitude to many people for
yesterday's ceremony: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College
of Cardinals, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy
Roman Church, and the diverse Vatican services; the Secretariat of
State, the Office of the Master of Liturgical Celebrations for the
preparation, organization and unfolding of yesterday's intense
funeral ceremony

   "He then expressed a heartfelt thank-you to all the pilgrims
present, especially those from Poland and from all of Italy, just as
he gave thanks for the welcome provided by the city of Rome for this
exceptional pilgrimage.

   "At the meeting, particular thanks were expressed to the
Italian authorities for the perfect and much-appreciated
organization of the exceptional events of these days.

   "Certain considerations were then made concerning the
celebration, beginning with yesterday's funeral Mass, of the
'novendiali' (nine days of mourning) for the late Supreme Pontiff.

   "The cardinals examined certain questions concerning their
entry into the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' and the formal start of the
Conclave, due to begin on Monday, April 18 at 4.30 p.m.

   "The cardinals, after the funeral Mass of the Holy Father,
began a more intense period of silence and prayer, in view of the
conclave. They unanimously decided to avoid interviews and
encounters with the media. Journalists are therefore courteously
invited to abstain from asking the cardinals for interviews or any
other comments. This invitation should not be seen as an attitude of
discourtesy or disinterest with regards to the media - in fact the
cardinals wish to thank them for the enormous interest with which
they are following events in this period
 - but rather as a gesture
of great responsibility.

   "Chapters 1 and 2 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi
Dominici gregis' were read in the hall.

   "Two cardinals have communicated that they will be unable to
attend for reasons of health: Jaime L. Sin, archbishop emeritus of
Manila, the Philippines, and Adolfo Antonio Suarez Rivera,
archbishop emeritus of Monterrey, Mexico."

   Navarro-Valls added that the diplomatic corps accredited to
the Holy See will be invited to the Mass "pro eligendo  Summo
Pontifice" on Monday morning, April 18. He also said that anyone who
wished to attend any of the remaining eight Masses of the
novendiali, starting today at 5 p.m., may do so. There will be no
tickets for these celebrations.

   He also said that he had received countless questions about
the beatification process for John Paul II and noted that this is
entirely up to the new Supreme Pontiff. OP/SIXTH
CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS  VIS 050409 (500)

++   VACANT SEE 2005 STAMPS TO BE ISSUED APRIL 12

      VATICAN CITY, APR 9, 2005 (VIS) - The Philatelic and
Numismatic Office of the Governorate of Vatican City announced today
that on Tuesday, April 12 the series of stamps for the "sede
vacante" or vacant see 2005 will be issued.

    According to today's communique from the philatelic office,
the series, composed of three stamps which have the same subject and
bear the insignia of the Apostolic Camera, will be sold directly and
exclusively by the post offices of Vatican City and the sales
offices of the Office for Pilgrims and Tourists, located in St.
Peter's Square, according to their respective opening hours to the
public.

   This series of vacant see stamps will be valid only and
exclusively during the period of the vacant see.

   The communique adds that "the philatelic office will inform
users of its services, via bulletins and forms, how to acquire the
stamps and their price. Subscribers will receive the series
according to the quantity and established times for ordinary
issuances." SCV/VACANT SEE STAMPS/...     VIS 050409 (190)


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