December 2005″ “

European and international Christian Churches and institutions 3 Jubilee celebrations in the Sanctuary of Mariapócs (Hungary), in the presence of the special envoy of the Holy Father, Cardinal Péter Erdö, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. Opening of the “Saverian Year”, jubilee celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Ignatius and the 5th centenary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier and the Blessed Pierre Favre, at Javier (Spain). 4 Opening Mass of the jubilee year for the Jesuits, Ignatian women religious and the Ignatian family, officiated by the Provincial of France of the Society of Jesus, Fr. François-Xavier Dumortier, in the church of Saint-Ignace on the rue de Sèvres (at 6.00 pm), in Paris. 5 International Conference (5-7 December) at the Romanian Academy, the Pontifical Oriental Institute and the Austrian Historical Institute, on “The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople between the 14th and 16th century: breach and continuity”, in Rome . Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (5-6), at Ljubljana. International Day of Voluntary Service for Economic and Social Development. Opening of European Youth Week (until 11 Dec.). 8 Eucharistic celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of Vatican Council II, presided over by Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles, and concelebrated by the Swiss Bishops in the Abbey of Einsiedeln. Conclusion of the “Year of the Immacolata”, convened by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference on 8 December 2004, to mark the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. 9 Ceremony for the “Right Livelihood Award”, also known as the “Alternative Nobel“, at the Parliament in Stockholm. 10 Ceremony for the award of the Nobel Prizes. Ceremony for the award of the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament to the “Women in White” – wives, mothers and sisters of Cuban political prisoners -, at the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg . Human Rights Day. 11 European Convention of University Students (11-15), organized by the diocesan Office for university apostolate of the Vicariate of Rome, on: “Christian humanism: means for a new cooperation between Europe and Africa”, in Rome . International Congress on intercultural and interfaith dialogue (11-15), with the title “New challenges in a world that yearns for peace”, at Bilbao (Spain), promoted by the “Haretxa” Association for intercultural and interfaith dialogue. International Mountain Day, on “Sustainable tourism to alleviate poverty in the mountainous regions”. 12 Visit “ad Limina Apostolorum” of the Bishops of Poland (3rd Group) (12-17). 15 Parliamentary elections, in Iraq. Expiry of the mandate of the UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus. 17 Audience of the Holy Father to a delegation from Austria for the gift of the traditional Christmas tree. 18 Mass for the Austrian delegation received in audience yesterday by the Pope on the occasion of the gift of the Christmas tree, celebrated by the Bishop of Linz, Ludwig Schwarz, in St. Peter’s . 25 Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. Christmas message of the Holy Father and Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (12.00 midday). 26 1st anniversary of the Tsunami that struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean. 28 28th European Youth Meeting (28 Dec-1st January 2006), animated by the Taizé Community, in Milan.