NEWS ABOUT BENEDICT

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The Holy Father met today with
- The officers of the Conference of Latin American and Caribbean bishops (CELAM)
- Bishops of Portugal, Group 3, on ad-limina visit
- Members of the Federazione Universitaria Cattolica Italiana (FUCI). Address in Italian.
In the afternoon:
- Bishops of Portugal, Group 4, on ad-limina Visit

It was announced the Pope met yesterday afternoon with
- Giovanni Maria Vian and Carlo Di Cicco, editor and deputy editor of L'Osservatore Romano.

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THE POPE MOURNS
THE DEATH OF CARDINAL YAMAO

The Holy Father sent telegrams of condolence on the death of Japanese Cardinal Stephen Hamao, emeritus President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, who died n Tokyo yesterday. The elegrams were sent to the Bishop of Yokohama and the cardinal's sister.

THE MOST REVEREND RAFAEL MASAHIRO UMEMURA
BISHOP OF YOKOHAMA

HAVING LEARNED WITH SADNESS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL STEPHEN FUMIO HAMAO, I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF YOKOHAMA WHERE HE MINISTERED AS BISHOP FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.

WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE LATE CARDINAL'S DEVOTED WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL, HIS LIVELY CONCERN FOR THE POOR AND HIS GENEROUS SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AS PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANTS, I WILLINGLY COMMEND THE SOUL OF THIS PROUD SON OF THE JAPANESE PEOPLE TO THE LOVING MERCY OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

TO ALL WHO MOURN HIM IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI


MRS. TERESA TERUKO UEMATSU

SADDENED AT THE NEWS OF YOUR DEAR BROTHER’S DEATH, I EXPRESS MY DEEP SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR HIS ETERNAL REST AND I ASK OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO GRANT YOU THE CONSOLATION AND PEACE BORN OF OUR FIRM HOPE IN HIS PROMISES. WITH MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI


Tokyo, Nov. 9, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, died in Tokyo on November 8 at the age of 77.

Cardinal Hamao, who had resigned his Vatican post in March 2006, was a cancer victim. Appointed an auxiliary bishop of Tokyo in 1970, he had been named Bishop of Yokohama in 1979. After serving as president of the Japanese bishops' conference he was called to Rome in 1998 to become president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II (bio - news) in 2003.

In a message of condolence, Pope Benedict XVI praised the Japanese prelate for his "devoted witness to the Gospel, his lively concern for the poor, and his generous service to the universal Church."

Cardinal Hamao had been one of two cardinals from Japan; he is survived by Cardinal Peter Shirayanagi, the former Archbishop of Tokyo, who will be 80 on November 26.

Shortly after resigning his Vatican post, Cardinal Hamao had said that the Vatican has "great difficulties understanding" the Christians of Asia, and should make a greater effort to adapt Church teachings to the Asian cultural context.

With the death of Cardinal Hamao, there are now 178 living cardinals, of whom 103 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate in a papal election. At a consistory scheduled for November 23, Pope Benedict will elevate 23 new cardinals, of whom 18 will be cardinal-electors


POPE ADDRESSES ITALIAN UNIVERSITARIANS:
UNITE MATURITY IN FAITH WITH STUDY



VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 2007 (VIS) - At midday today in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Benedict XVI received a delegation from the Italian Catholic University Federation (FUCI) for the occasion of the organization's 110 anniversary.

FUCI, said the Pope, "has contributed to the formation of entire generations of exemplary Christians who have proved capable of translating the Gospel into life and with life, dedicating themselves in the cultural, civil, social and ecclesial fields."

In this context he recalled Blesseds Piergiorgio Frassati and Alberto Marvelli, the Italian politicians Aldo Moro and Vittorio Bachelet, "both barbarously murdered," and Paul VI "who was the principal ecclesiastical assistant to FUCI during the difficult years of fascism."

"In the mid 1990s," the Holy Father went on, "the academic system in Italy underwent a radical reformation, and today has an entirely different aspect, full of promise for the future but also having elements that give rise to legitimate concern."

"It is precisely in this field that FUCI can, even today, fully express its original and ever-valid charism: a convinced witness to the 'possible friendship' between knowledge and faith. This involves incessant efforts to unite maturity in faith with growth through study and the acquisition of academic knowledge."

"Study," said Benedict XVI, "also represents a providential opportunity to progress along the road of faith, because well-cultivated intelligence opens man's heart to listening to the voice of God, highlighting the importance of discernment and humility."

"Today as in the past, people who wish to be Christ's disciples are called to go against the tide" and not to let themselves be influenced by messages that propagate "arrogance and the achievement of success at all costs.

"In modern society," the Holy Father added, "there exists a race, sometimes a desperate race, towards appearance and possession at all costs, at the expense, unfortunately, of being. The Church, teacher of humanity, never tires of exhorting people, especially the young of whom you are a part, to remain watchful and not to fear choosing 'alternative' paths which only Christ can indicate."

"Jesus calls all His friends to live in sobriety and solidarity, to create sincere and disinterested emotional relationships with others. From you, dear young students, He asks for honest commitment to study, cultivating a mature sense of responsibility and a shared interest in the common good. May your years at university be, then, training for a convinced and courageous evangelical witness. And to realize your mission, seek to cultivate an intimate friendship with the divine Master, enrolling yourselves in the school of Mary, Seat of Learning."