In his 2006 Lenten Message, Pope Benedict XVI begins “Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him who is the fount of mercy. It is a pilgrimage in which He Himself

accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter. Even in the “valley of darkness” of which the Psalmist speaks (Ps 23:4), while the tempter prompts us to despair or to place a vain hope in the work of our own hands, God is there to guard us and sustain us. Yes, even today the Lord hears the cry of the multitudes longing for joy, peace, and love. As in every age, they feel abandoned. Yet, even in the desolation of misery, loneliness, violence and hunger that indiscriminately afflict children, adults, and the elderly, God does not allow darkness to prevail. In fact, in the words of my beloved Predecessor, Pope John Paul II, there is a “divine limit imposed upon evil”, namely, mercy (Memory and Identity, pp. 19ff.). It is with these thoughts in mind that I have chosen as my theme for this Message the Gospel text: “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity” (Mt 9:36). For the complete text visit www.usccb.org/index.shtml or contact the New Ulm Diocesan Office of Communications, (507) 359-2966.

"The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) strongly supports Holly's Law (H.R. 1079), legislation to suspend FDA approval of the drug RU-486," said Deirdre A. McQuade, Director of Planning and Information at the Pro-Life Secretariat of the USCCB. "We oppose every abortion as the innocent taking of human life. But the RU-486 method compounds this offense by also threatening the lives and well-being of women."

"Women deserve far better from their federal government," Ms. McQuade said. "We urge Congressional leadership to bring this measure to a vote at the earliest opportunity."

Holly's Law is named in memory of Holly Patterson, a young California woman who had barely turned 18 when she died from toxic shock after being given RU-486. Eight women in the United States are reported to have died after RU-486 abortions.

Vatican City - On February 22, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Benedict XVI announced the names of 15 prelates who will be created cardinals in a consistory due to be held on March 24. Following the March 24 consistory, the first of his pontificate, the College of Cardinals will number 193 members of whom 120, under the age of 80, will be electors.

The new cardinal electors are: Archbishop William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Archbishop Franc Rode C.M., prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life;Archbishop Agostino Vallini, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; Archbishop Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino of Caracas, Venezuela;Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales of Manila, Philippines; Archbishop Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux, France; Archbishop Antonio Canizares Llovera of Toledo, Spain; Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul, Korea; Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley O.F.M. Cap., of Boston, U.S.A.; Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland; Archbishop Carlo Caffarra of Bologna, Italy; and Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun S.D.B. of Hong Kong, China.

The new cardinals, said the Pope, "well reflect the universality of the Church. In fact, they come from various parts of the world and undertake different duties in the service of the People of God.”