VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 120   
   DATE 27-06-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND SERBIA   
   - CANONICAL TRIAL OF EX NUNCIO JOZEF WESOLOWSKI   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND SERBIA   
    Vatican City, 27 June 2014 (VIS) - Today in Belgrade a framework Agreement   
   was signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Serbia on collaboration in   
   higher education, which confirms the principles and defines the arrangement of   
   duties between both parties in the field of higher education. The Agreement   
   was signed on behalf of the Holy See by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,   
   secretary for Relations with States, and for the Republic of Serbia by the   
   vice president of the government and minister of the Exterior, Ivica Dacic.   
    According to the terms of the Agreement, the Parties will undertake to   
   collaborate in the sector of higher education and to promote direct contract   
   between institutions of this type. Furthermore, they will undertake to   
   standardise the questions regarding mutual recognition of academic   
   qualifications and public documents attesting to higher instruction. To   
   implement this agreement, the two Parties will subsequently stipulate related   
   additional protocols, by which the activities, as well as the organisational   
   and financial conditions of implementation, shall be defined. The Agreement   
   also recognises the right of the Catholic Church in Serbia to establish and   
   direct Institutions of higher education both for ecclesiastical disciplines   
   and other subjects of higher study.   
    The Agreement will come into force on the date of receipt of the final   
   information, by diplomatic means, pertaining to the fulfilment of all the   
   requisites of the national legal systems of the two Parties for its   
   implementation.   
      
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    CANONICAL TRIAL OF EX NUNCIO JOZEF WESOLOWSKI   
    Vatican City, 27 June 2014 (VIS) - The first stage in the canonical trial   
   against the former apostolic nuncio in the Dominican Republic, Josef   
   Wesolowski, has been concluded with the laicisation of the prelate.   
    From this moment, the accused has two months in which to make an eventual   
   appeal. The penal trial before the Vatican judicial authorities will continue   
   as soon as the canonical sentence has been made definitive.   
    Finally, with reference to recent media reports, it is necessary to specify   
   that until now Msgr. Wesolowski has been granted relative freedom of movement,   
   as he awaits the verification by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith   
   of the basis of these accusations made against him.   
    Considering the sentence passed by the aforementioned dicastery, all the   
   necessary procedures will be adopted in relation to the former nuncio, in   
   conformity with the gravity of the case.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    AUDIENCES   
    Vatican City, 27 June 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council   
   "Justice and Peace".   
    - Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.   
    - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Evangelisation of Peoples.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
    Vatican City, 27 June 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Steven   
   John Raica as bishop of Gaylord (area 28,932, population 546,000, Catholics   
   75,100, priests 80, permanent deacons 22, religious 33), U.S.A. The   
   bishop-elect was born in Munising, U.S.A. in 1952, and was ordained a priest   
   in 1978. He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Michigan State   
   University, a master's degree in religious studies from the University of   
   Detroit, and a licentiate and doctorate from the Gregorian Pontifical   
   University of Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including   
   priest of the "Holy Family Parish", Ovid; co-rector of the St. Mary Cathedral,   
   Lansing; priest of the "St. Mary Parish", Charlotte; judge of the diocesan   
   tribunal; diocesan consultor; member of the presbyteral council, priest of the   
   "St. Ann Parish", Bellevue; chaplain of the Olivet College, Olivet; and   
   superior of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Rome. He is currently chancellor of the   
   diocese of Lansing.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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