NEWS IN BRIEF

Cardinal dies
FILIPINO Cardinal Julio Rosales who defended martial law In the Philippines has died aged 76. Cardinal Rosales died less than a year after resigning as archbishop of Cebu, the second most important diocese In the Philippines. In a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Ricardo Vidal of Cebu, the cardinal's successor, Pope John Paul said Cardinal Rosales' "pastoral kindness and zeal were known to all the faithful and experienced by myself during my visit to Cebu" in February 1981.
Identical priests
IDENTICAL TWINS have been ordained to the priesthood at the cathedral of La Crosse, Wisconsin, by Bishop John J Paul, Auxiliary of La Crosse. Frs Leo and Larry Schneider say that they never discussed with each other the possibility of becoming priests, but came to their decisions quite independently.
Pope plea on Chad
THE POPE has appealed for priests, members of religious orders and lay people to join the missions in the central African country of Chad. The appeal came after a private audience given to the four bishops of Chad, who were in Rome making their regular five-yearly visit In report on the state of their diocese.
Pope `important'
AN OPINION POLL published in France last week rates the role of Pope John Paul in world affairs as more important than that of either President Reagan of the United States or the Soviet leader Yuri Andropov. But 59 per cent of those questioned said that they regarded the Pope as a spiritual leader, while 27 per cent saw his function as political.