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FIDES Service – 30 September 2005

FIDES SPECIAL ISSUE

INSTRUMENTUM MENSIS SEPTEMBRIS PRO LECTURA MAGISTERII

SUMMI PONTIFICI BENEDICTI XVI, PRO EVANGELIZATIONE IN TERRIS MISSIONUM

Annus I – Numerus VI, September A.D. MMV

Although Pope Benedict XVI spent most of September at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo, he continued is normal activity of meeting visitors from all over the world on Sundays for the midday Angelus prayer, he received bishops and ambassadors, prominent figures in the world of culture and science. Every Wednesday he flew by helicopter to Rome for the audience in St Peter’s Square. The celebration of the 11th Synod of Bishops and the conclusion of the special Year of the Eucharist were recurrent themes in his reflection before the Angelus prayer. The Pope encouraged Catholics to accompany the work of the synod with prayer, he spoke of the sanctification of priests in the sacrament of the Eucharist and the bond between the Eucharist and charity. In Castel Gandolfo the Pope held an important interreligious meeting with Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar and Rabbi Yona Metzger. He recalled the 40 th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate issued by Vatican II. A text still useful today for Catholic relations with members of other religions, Jews in particular. During this month the Holy Father received four different groups of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit. He spoke profoundly on the situation and the situation of the Church in Mexico, and formation of clergy. He reminded the Bishops of the need to base missionary activity on the sacrament of the Eucharist, “source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”.

SYNTHESIS INTERVENTUUM

4 September 2005 – Angelus4 September 2005 – Message 9th Inter-Christian Symposium7 September 2005 – General Audience8 September 2005 – Audience first group of Mexican Bishops on Ad limina visit11 September 2005 – Angelus14 September 2005 – General Audience15 September 2005 – Audience second group of Mexican Bishops on Ad limina visit” 15 September 2005 – Audience Chief Rabbis of Israel16 September 2005 – Audience Congress on ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’18 September 2005 – Angelus21 September 2005 – General Audience23 September 2005 – Audience third group of Mexican Bishops on Ad limina visit 25 September 2005 – Angelus

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28 September 2005 – General Audience29 September 2005 – Audience fourth group of Mexican Bishops on Ad limina visit 30 September 2005 – Address at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital

VERBA PONTIFICIS

DialogueNatural disastersEucharistTrust in the LordMissionSacred Scripture

INTERVENTUS SUPER QUAESTIONESNatural disasters – “We are deeply grateful for the many prayers assured and offerings sent to our offices and other Church offices all over the country” Mgr John E. Kozar national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United StatesNatural disasters – local Salesians with numerous other organisations in rescue, aid and rebuilding,Natural disasters: Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum carries Pope’s solidarity to people affected by Hurrican KatrinaNatural disasters: Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans has appealed to Catholics the world over for prayers and material aid to support efforts 90% of church structures damagedNatural disasters: Despite this major catastrophe preparations for Mission Sunday 23 October continue, indeed the tragedy prompted more in-depth reflectionNatural disasters: As the archbishop of New Orleans, and a fellow evacuee, I share in your sufferings, hold you in prayer and want to serve you in your needs” said archbishop Alfred HughesEucharist: Eucharist, heart of Christian life and source of the Church’s mission: 1st University Eucharistic Congress in SpainEucharist: Pakistan holds 1st National Eucharistic Congress attended by 20,000 people, great media coverageEucharist: Year of the Eucharist Bishops of Mozambique stress importance of authentic inculturation and liturgical renewalMission: National Missionary Formation and Spirituality Week in Assisi issues Letter to our Parish PriestsMission: Marianist Missionaries in Solomon Islands form 200 young evangelisersMission: The whole continent at the service of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes: goal of CAM3Mission: The encounter with Peter strengthens the bonds of communion between our local Churches and the Church of Rome” said Archbishop Héctor González Martínez of Durango Mexico. Diocesan mission, catechesis, parishes pastoral priorities for coming yearsMission: Local Church of vitality and hope but need to improve formation for clergy and laity say Portuguese speaking Bishops meeting in MaputoMission: Three quarters of Africans surveyed in different countries said religious leaders were the most trustworthy. “An encouragement for our work” says missionaryMission: S. African Cardinal Napier in Australia presents mission month theme ‘Proclaiming Life for All – Witness, Liberate, Teach and Celebrate’Mission: Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo celebrates 20th anniversary.Peace: After peace accord new hope for Aceh: everyone must work to start new page in the history of SumatraPeace: Maoist rebels in Nepal announce truce, country searching for peace: millions of displaced persons are a serious problem say local Catholic sources Peace: Scourge of sexual violence focus of meeting organised by Congo Bishops Justice and Peace commission Peace: Catholics have always worked hard to educate to peace and reconciliation in Burundi

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Peace: Appeal for Peace 2005 issued at the end of the annual Meeting of People and Religions in Lyon, France Peace makes a better world possible. The path to peace is dialogue Sacred Scripture: International Congress on the theme ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’ for 40th anniversary of the Constitution Dei VerbumSacred Scripture: Promote Bible Centres in Africa says President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Democratic Congo when at Meeting of Catholic Exegetes in KinshasaSacred Scripture: Month of the Bible in the Prelature of Moyobamba, 10,000 Bibles to people in rural districts, especially poor families in forest areas

QUAESTIONES

Cardinal Sepe presides ordination of new Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait: “the duty to proclaim the Gospel belongs in a special way to the bishop who assumes it as a primary duty on the day of his Ordination”.“Mission remains the Church’s most pressing urgency”: Cardinal Sepe sends message to Meeting of Portuguese speaking Bishops Conferences in Maputo Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe to bless foundation stone for a church in Baku: after decades of persecution little flock of 150 Catholics takes new hope Cardinal Sepe praises Catholics in Azerbaijan for keeping the faith “despite long decades of violent persecution” and “for building constructive interreligious dialogue, peaceful co-existence among Muslims, orthodox Christians, Jews and CatholicsThe laying of the foundation stone for a new church in Baku “is a dream come true for the local Catholic community” said Cardinal Sepe who also blessed building site for a new Home for the Poor to be entrusted to Mother Teresa’s Sisters Marian Day of the Family presided by Cardinal Sepe at the Marian shrine of Torreciudad: the family institute is the future of the Church and humanityChina and Europe “different but united”: Cardinal Sepe addresses participants at 5th European Ecumenical Conference on spiritual and cultural relations between China and Europe“Today Christian witness of family love and communion has unequalled potential for evangelisation”: Cardinal Sepe presides 16th Family Marian Day at Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad October 2005 missionary prayer intention: “For all Christians: besides praying for the missions may they also support missionary activity with material offerings.” Comment by Archbishop Robert Sarah secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples appoints new Pontifical Mission Societies general secretaries

SYNTHESIS INTERVENTUUM

4 September 2005 – AngelusVATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI asks the entire Church to be involved in preparations for the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist “with prayer and reflection, giving value to every opportunity, event and meeting”. He also has a special word for hurrican victims in the United States and people in IraqCastel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – In his reflection before the Angelus prayer on Sunday 4 September Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the entire Church to feel involved in preparation for the Synod of Bishops 2-23 October on the theme “The Eucharist: source and summit of the life and mission of the Church “and to take part with prayer and reflection, giving greater value to every opportunity, event and meeting”.

Speaking at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father remarked on the imminent conclusion of the special “Year of the Eucharist called by the late dearly beloved Pope John Paul II to revive Christian faith, wonder and love for this important sacrament which constitutes the very treasure of the Church”. The Pope recalled the devotion with which John Paul II celebrated Mass “and how much time he spent in adoring, silent prayer in front of the Tabernacle”, and at the hour of his death he offered his life with that of Christ in the Mass

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being celebrated at his bedside. “His earthly life came to an end on the Octave of Easter, right at the heart of this Eucharistic Year in which we have passed from his great pontificate to mine. With joy therefore, from the beginning of this service to which the Lord has called me, I reaffirm the centrality of the Sacrament of the real presence of Christ in the life of the Church and that of individual Christians.”

The Pope went on to recall references to the mystery of the Eucharist also on the occasion of World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, during the Vigil on Saturday 20 August, at Marienfeld, “which has adoration of the Eucharist as its culmination”. Several churches in Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf organised twenty-four hour adoration with the participation of many young people. Lastly Benedict XVI said he hoped that in every community participation in the Eucharist would be “ever more fervid and frequent”, and in particular he urged Catholics “make holy with joy the ‘Lord’s Day’ Sunday, a holy day for Christians”.

After the Angelus prayer the Pope turned his thoughts to the hurricane victims in America and the people killed in a panic stampede in Baghdad: “In recent days we were all saddened by the disaster caused by a hurricane in the United States of America, New Orleans especially. I wish to assure my prayers for the dead and their families, for the injured and the displaced, for the sick, the children, the old people; I bless those involved in difficult work of rescue and rebuilding. I have charged the President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes to carry my solidarity to the stricken people. My thoughts go also to the people in Iraq who last Wednesday saw hundreds of their fellow citizens , mostly old people, women and children, gathered in Baghdad for a religious commemoration, killed in an irreversible stampede of panic. May Almighty God touch every heart so that an atmosphere of reconciliation and reciprocal trust may be installed at last in that travailed land.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005; righe 38, parole 527)See the Pope address http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=351

4 September 2005 – Message 9th Inter-Christian Symposium VATICAN - “Achieving full communion among Christians must be a goal for all who profess faith in the Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic” Pope Benedict says in a message to 9th Inter-Christian Symposium Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI sent a message addressed to Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on the occasion of the 9th Symposium promoted jointly by the Franciscan Institute of spirituality at the pontifical Antonianum University and the Theology faculty at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The symposium which opened yesterday 4 September in Assisi will reflect this year on the theme «The Eucharist in eastern and western tradition with particular refernce to ecumenical dialogue». At the symposium the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is represented by the under secretary Mgr Eleuterio F. Fortino.

“The search for full visibile unity among all the disciples of Christ is perceived to be particularly urgent in our day and therefore a need is felt for deeper spirituality and stronger reciprocal love” the Pope wrote in his message underlining that the theme for study this year “is highly significant in the life of Christians and for the rebuilding of full communion among all the disciples of Christ”.

Benedict XVI said “the dialogue and comparison in truth and charity, which will be developed during the Symposium will certainly bring to the fore the common faith and theological and liturgial aspects proper to East and West which are complementary and dynamic for the edification of the People of God and are the treasure of the Church”… Achieving full communion among Christians must be a goal for all who profess faith in the Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic”. By way of conclusion the Pope wrote “The Symposium which follows similar fruitful ecumenical initiatives brings to light common commitment, research and study aimed at clarifying differences and overcoming misunderstandings”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005 – Righe 22, Parole 295)See the Pope’s message in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=352

7 September 2005 – General AudienceVATICAN - The Pope’s teaching at the general Wednesday audience: “Christ is the principle of unity, the mediator, the final destination towards whom all creation converges. He is the Son par excellence in the great family of the children of God in which Baptism inserts us ” Vatican City (Fides Service) – “Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (vespers Wednesday week 3; reading: cfr Col 1,3.12.15.17-18): this Canticle was the subject of the teaching given by Pope Benedict XVI at the weekly audience this morning, 7 September. The Holy Father flew by helicopter from his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo to address several thousands visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square.

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http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=352



“The heart of the hymn consists of verses 15-20 with the direct and solemn entrance of Christ referred to as the ‘image’ of the ‘invisible God’”, the Holy Father explained. More than once in his Letters St Paul uses the word “icon”, “applying it both to Christ, perfect icon of God, and to man, image and glory of God. However man with sin « exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of mortal man» (Rom 1,23), choosing to adore idols and becoming similar to them”. The Pope said: “We must continue to shape our image to that of the Son of God, because we have been «freed from the power of darkenss», «transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son ».”

Christ is before all creation, generated from all eternity and for St Paul , “he is principle of unity («in him all things hold together»), mediator («through him»), and the final destination towards which all creation converges. He is «firstborn of many », that is, Son par excellence in the great family of God in which Baptism inserts us.”

The Cantical passes then to the world of history: “Christ is «the head of the Church» through his Incarnation. In fact he entered the human community, to sustain it and make it hold together in one «body», or in harmonious and fruitful unity. The consistence and growth of humanity are rooted in Christ, the vital hub, «the beginning». Precisely because of this preeminence Christ is able to become the beginning of the resurrection of all, the «firstborn from the dead», because «all will have life in Christ”.

In the conclusion the hymn celebrates the «fullness» of Christ, as gift of love from the Father. “He is the fullness of divinity which irradiates both in the universe and on humanity, becoming the source of peace, unity, perfect harmony”. Through the blood shed by Christ on the cross we were justified and sanctified: “Shedding his blood and giving himself Christ effused peace which, in biblical language is the sum of messianic goods and the fullness of redemption extended to all creation. The hymn ends therefore with a bright horizon of reconciliation, unity, harmony and peace over which there rises the solemn figure of its author, Christ, «beloved Son» of the Father.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2005, righe 31, parole 459)See the Pope’s teaching in various languageshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=353

8 September 2005 – Audience with 1st group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visitVATICAN - The Pope reminds first group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit to Rome that “present day society questions and observes the Church, demanding coherence and courage in the faithCastel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “Meetings among bishops are precious opportunities to experience and deepen unity. In this sense the Bishops’ Conference of Mexico is called to be a bright sign of ecclesial communion aimed to facilitate the ministry of the bishop and strengthen collegiality. Today it is more than ever necessary to unite efforts and share experiences”. This was the exhortation the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI addressed to a first group of Bishops from Mexico («Norte Occidente») received in ad limina visit on Thursday 8 September at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo.

After recalling that “Mexico was born of the encounter of peoples and cultures whose physiognomy was marked by the living presence of Jesus Christ and the mediation of Mary” the Pope said: “In our day Mexico is in a process of transition characterised by the appearance of groups which, at times in a more or less ordered manner, demand more participation and representation. Many of them make strong claims for the poor and those excluded from development, in particular the indigenous peoples. A profound longing to consolidate a culture and democratic, economic and social institutions which recognise the people’s human rights and cultural values, should find an echo and an illuminated response in the pastoral activity of the Church.”

The Holy Father went on to underline the urgent need for formation in every area of the Church to help individual believers “live the Gospel in the different dimensions of life … the traditional forms of living the faith, handed on with sincerity and spontaneously through family customs and teaching, must mature to become a personal and community option”. In particolar Pope Benedict said this formation is necessary for young Mexicans “who stop frequenting the church community after the Sacraments of initiation and find themselves faced with a society marked by growing cultural and religious pluralism.”

Families also “require adeguate pastoral care to help them discover and live their dimension of «domestic church»”. It is necessary to keep in mind that knowledge of the contents of the faith “can never be a subsitute for personal encounter with the Lord.”

Among the lights which show the richness of the Church in Mexico, the Holy Father mentioned over four hundred institutes of consecrated life, mainly of women, many founded in Mexico, “which evangelise all over the country in different areas, cultures and places”. In addition to be noted, increasing participation of lay Catholics, growing presence of national and international lay movements, greater community experience. “With regard to local and regional situations Bishops should promote certain organic pastoral processes to give deeper

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meaning to manifestations arising simply from tradition or custom. These processes should aim first of all to integrate the instructions of the Council with pastoral challenges arising in the different concrete situations”.

By way of conclusion Benedict XVI said “present day society questions and observes the Church demanding coherence and courage in the faith. Visibile signs of credibility will include witness of life, unity among beleivers, service of the poor and tireless promotion of their dignity. In the task of evangelisation it is necessary to be creative, always in fidelity to the Church Tradition and teaching.” Since we live in a culture marked by the means of social communications, the Pope urged the Mexican Bishops to take advantage “of the qualification of many men and women of culture and the opportunities offered by public institutions in this field”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2005; righe 41, parole 577) See the Pope’s address in Spanishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=354

11 September 2005 - AngelusVATICAN - The Pope’s Angelus reflection : “The Eucharist is a mystery of death and glory, like the Cross which was not accidentali but rather the passage for Christ to enter his glory and reconcile all humanity”. Special mention of victims of terrorism everywhere in the world. Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “Next Wednesday 14 September, we celebrate the feast of the Exhaltation of the Cross. In this Year dedicated to the Eucharist this recurrence acquires special significance and invites us to meditate on the profound and indissoluble bond between the celebration of the Eucharist and the mystery of the Cross. Each Mass in fact makes present Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.” Pope Benedict XVI said this on Sunday 11 September before leading the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer with visitors gathered in the courtyard of his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

Recalling John Paul II’s encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharist” the Holy Father said “the Eucharist is the memorial of the whole paschal mystery: passion, death, descent into hell, resurrection and ascension into heaven, and the Cross is the touching revelation of that act of total love with which the Son of God saved mankind and the world from sin and death. This is why the sign of the Cross is a fundamental part of Christian prayer … the Eucharist is a mystery of death and glory, like the Cross which was not accidentali but rather the passage for Christ to enter his glory and reconcile all humanity, defeating all enmity.”

Mary, present on Calvary at the foot of the Cross, is also present, “with the Church as as Mother of the Church in every one of our Eucharistic celebrations. Therefore no one better than Mary can teach us to understand and live the Holy Mass with faith and love uniting ourselves with the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.”

After the Angelus prayer the Pope mentioned the meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York of heads of state and government on certain fundamentally important matters starting 14 September at which the Holy See will be represented by Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Angelo Sodano. “I sincerely hope – the Pope said – the world leaders taking part will find suitable solutions to reach the goals set in a spirit of harmony and generous solidarity. I hope they will succeed in putting into practice concrete measures to solve the urgent problems posed by the extreme poverty, disease and hunger afflicting so many people.” Greeting those present in different languages the Pope said in English: “Today, 11 September, we remember the victims of terrorist violence throughout the world. May God inspire men and women of goodwill everywhere to renounce hatred and to build a world of justice, solidarity and peace.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2005; righe 29, parole 417)See text in various languageshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=355

14 September 2005 – General AudienceVATICAN - The Pope’s Weekly General Audience: “God and humanity walk together through history and the temple serves as a visibile sign of this communion” Vatican City (Fides Service) – This morning Pope Benedict XVI held his general weekly audience in St Peter’s Square. The Holy Father flew into Rome by helicopter from his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo to address thousands of visitors from all over the world. Continuing his teaching on the psalms and canticles prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours, this morning the Pope commented Psalm 131, 1-10: “God’s promises to David” (vespers Thursday week 3 -: Ps 131,1-3.5.8-9).

Some scholars say this psalm “resounded during celebrations for the solmen transfer of the arc of the covenant, a sign of God’s presence amidst the people of Isral, to Jerusalem, the new capital chosen by David” the Pope said, while according to other exegetes it is “a celebration to commemorate that event.” What ever the

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case, the hymn “would appear to refer to a liturgical dimension: probably a procession, with the presence of the priests, the people and a choir..”

The first ten verses of the Psalm contain the promise made by David: “the king will not set foot in the royal palace in Jerusalem, he will not rest until he has found a home for the arc of the Lord. At the centre of social life there must be a presence to evoke the mystery of the transcendent God. God and humanity walk together through history and the temple serves as a visibile sign of this communion.”

After David has spoken a liturgical choir recalls past events: how the arc was found in the countryside at Iaar and carried to the future holy city amidst festive celebrations on the one hand the adoring people, that is the liturgical assembly, on the other, the Lord once again present and active in the sign of the arc placed in Sion. “The soul of the liturgy lies in this meeting point of the priest and the people on one hand and on the other the Lord with all his power.”

The first part of the Psalm closes with a prayer for the kings who will succeed David which has been interpreted in a messanic key: “the eye of the Psalmist goes beyond the viscissitudes of the Kingdom of Juda tending towards the great waiting for the perfect ‘anointed one’, the Messiah who always be pleasing to God and loved and blessed by Him.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/9/2005, righe 25, parole 374)See the Pope’s teaching in various languageshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=356

15 September 2005 – Audience with second group of Mexican Bishops on ad liminaVATICAN - The Pope addresses second group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit to Rome: “As a missionary Church we are called to understand the challenges posed by post-modern culture to new evangelisation”Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “Mexico is faced with the challenge of transforming its social structures to render them more corresponding to the dignity and fundamental rights of every human person … and Catholics are called to collaborate in this task… discovering their faith commitments and the unitary significance of their presence in the world”. Pope Benedict XVI said this in his address to a second group of Mexican Bishops (north east central zone) on ad limina visit to Rome received in audience at Castel Gandolfo on 15 September. Speaking of certain serious problems in Mexico the Pope said that in some environments “healthy forms of co-existence and management of public affairs”, deteriorate and corruption, impunity, drug-trafficking organised crime increase. “This encourges various forms of violence, indifference and scorn for the inviolable value of human life” the Pope said.

Although many Mexicans are materially poor, they are rich in faith and sense of religion. However these values are at risk for those who emigrate and “work in precarious conditions in a state of vulnerability faced with difficulties in a new cultural context different from their own social and religious tradition”. When Christian emigrants are accepted and become part of the new community “emigration becomes positive and furthers the evangelisation of other cultures”. As the special Synod of Bishops for America underlined, human mobility “is a pastoral priority in relation to cooperation with the Churches of North America”.

Sad to say numerous baptised Christians today “influenced by various different proposals of thought and customs become indifferent to the values of the Gospel and are led to behave in ways which are contrary to the Christian vision of life”. This and in addition the activity of religious sects and new religious groups in America should make local Churches in Mexico “offer the faithful more personalised religious care, consolidating structures of communion and promoting purified popular religosity in order to vivify the faith of all Catholics " the Pope told the Bishops.

The Holy Father ended his address with this exhortation: “All this implicates for pastoral work the necessity to revise our mentality, attitudes and behaviour and broaden our horizons, committing ourselves to work together with enthusiasm to respond to the great questions of people today. As a missionary Church we are called to understand the challenges posed by post-modern culture to new evangelisation on your continent. Dialogue between the Church and culture is vital for the Church and for the world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2005; righe 31, parole 457) See the address in Spanishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=357

15 September 2005 – Audience Chief Rabbis of IsraelVATICAN - The Pope welcomes Chief Rabbis of Israel: “your visit is a further step forward in the process of building deeper religious relations between Catholics and Jews”

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Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) – “I see your visit as a further step forward in the process of building deeper religious relations between Catholics and Jews, a course which has received new impulse and energy from Nostra Aetate and from the many forms of contact, dialogue and co-operation that have their origin in the principles and spirit of that document. The Church continues to make every effort to implement the Council's vision of a new era of better mutual understanding, respect and solidarity between us”. Pope Benedict XVI said this in an address to the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Mr Shlomo Moshe Amar and Mr Yona Metzger who paid a visit to the Holy Father on Thursday 15 September at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

The audience was a reason to mention, in view of the 40 th anniversary of the Vatican II Declaration Nostra Aetate (The relation of the Church to non Christian religions), improved relations between Christians and Jews"", “Nostra Aetate has proven to be a milestone on the road towards reconciliation of Christians with the Jewish people” said Benedict XVI, repeating what he said when he visited the Synagogue of Cologne in August about the common responsiblity “of handing down to young people the torch of hope that God has given to Jews and to Christians, so that never again will the forces of evil come to power, and that future generations, with God's help, may be able to build a more just and peaceful world, in which all people have equal rights and are equally at homes”.

Lastly the Pope recalled that “The eyes of the world constantly turn to the Holy Land, the Land that is considered holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims Unfortunately our attention is too often drawn by acts of violence and terror, a cause of immense sorrow to everyone living there. We must continue to insist that religion and peace go together.” And he voiced concern for Christians in the Holy Land “face new and increasing challenges". (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2005, righe 32, parole 443)See the Pope’s address in Englishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=358

16 September 2005 – Audience participants at a Congress on ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’VATICAN - “The Church lives not of herself but of the Gospel and from the Gospel she continue sto draw new light for her journeying … only those who listen to the Word can then proclaim it”: the Pope addresses participants at partecipants at a Congress on “Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church”

Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “I offer heartfelt thanks to all who work at the service of translation and diffusion of the Bible, offering the means to explain, teach and interpret its message. In this sense I thank in a special way the Catholic Biblical Federation for its activity to promote biblical pastoral care and faithful coherence with the indications of the Magisteriaum and for its spirit of openness to ecumenical collaboration in the biblical field.” Pope Benedict XVI said this on September 16 in Castel Gandolofo when he received in audience participants at a Congress on ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’. The congress held in Rome was organised by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Catholic Biblical Federation to mark the 40th anniversary of the Dei Verbum issued by the Second Vatican Council.

The Pope said he was pleased to see participants included “Fraternal Delegates” from Churches and ecclesial communities of the East and the West as well as representatives of the great world religions. He told those present that as a ‘young theologian’ he was present at the ‘lively duscussions which accompanied’ the elaboration of the Council constitution Dei Verbum”. In the first words of that Constitution the Council affirmed a qualifying aspect of the Church: “a community which listens to the Word of God and proclaims it. The Church lives not of herself but of the Gospel and from the Gospel she continues to draw light for her journeying … only those who listen to the Word can then proclaim it”.

The Holy Father continued: “The Church and the Word of God are inseparabile linked together. The Church lives of the Word of God and the Word of God resounds in the Church, in her teaching and in her life.” Thanks to new impulse from the Council’s Dei Verbum constitution in these forty years “the fundamental importance of the Word of God has been reasserted” with a consequent movement of renewal in Church life, “above all in preaching, catechesis, theology, spirituality and ecumenical activity. The Church needs continually to renew and rejuvenate herself and the Word of God, which never grows old or runs dry, is the privileged means for doing this”. Lastly Benedict XVI recommended a return to the custom of Lectio divina: regular reading Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer. “This practice, if effectively promoted – I am convinced – will lead to a new springtime for the Church. As the anchor of biblical pastoral care Lectio divina should therefore be encouraged with new carefully pondered methods in keeping with the times.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/6/2005, righe 32, parole 443)

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See the Pope’s address in Italian http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=359

18 September 2005 – AngelusVATICAN - The Pope’s Angelus reflection: “The priest must be first of all a man who adores and contemplates the Eucharist, starting from the very moment in which he celebrates it. The validity of the Sacrament does not depend on the holiness of the celebrant but its effect for himself and for others will be all the greater the more he lives it with profound and ardent love and a spirit of fervid prayer”Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “As the Year of the Eucharist draws to a close I would like to return to a particularly important subject, which was very dear to the heart of my venerated predecessor John Paul II: the relation between holiness, life and destiny of the journeying of the Church and every individual Christian is the Eucharist. In particular, my thoughts today go to priests to underline that the secret of their sanctification lies precisely in the Eucharist.” Pope Benedict XVI said this in his Angelus reflection on midday Sunday 18 September at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope continued: “Thanks to his Ordination the priest receives the gift and the duty to repeat sacramentally the actions and words with which Jesus in the Upper Room instituted the memorial of his Passover. In his hands this great miracle of love is renewed, a miracle of which he is called to be an ever more faithful witness and herald. This is why the priest must be first of all a man who adores and contemplates the Eucharist starting from the very moment in which he celebrates it. We all know that the validity of the Sacrament does not depend on the holiness of the celebrant but its effect for himself and for others will be all the greater the more he lives it with profound and ardent love and a spirit of fervid prayer”.

The Pope then mentioned some of the Saints “who drew strength to imitate Christ from daily intimate communion with him in Eucharistic celebration and in adoration”: Saint John Chrysostom, also known as “doctor of the Eucharist” because of his extensive and profound treaching on the most Holy Sacrament; St Pio da Pietrelcina “who re-lived the mystery of Calvary with such fervour as the edify the devotion of those present” when he celebrated Mass; St Jean Marie Vianney, cure d’Ars, “rendered that little town a model of the Christian community animated by the Word of God and the Sacraments”. Pope Benedict XVI ended his address invoking the material intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for priests everywhere in the world: “that from this Year of the Eucharist they may reap the fruit of deeper love for the Sacrament they celebrate...and that they may always live and bear witness to the mystery entrusted to their hands for the salvation of the world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/9/2005; righe 27, parole 379)See the Pope’s address in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=360

21 September 2005 – General AudienceVATICAN -The Pope’s teaching on psalm 131: “a celebration of God-Emanuel who is with his creatures , he lives with them and blesses them as long as they remain united with him in truth and justice” Vatican City (Fides Service) – At the Wednesday general audience this morning, Pope Benedict XVI continued his reflection begun last week on Psalm 131: “Election of David and Sion” (Vespers Thursday week 3: Ps 131,11.13-14.17-18). The Pope said this second part of the psalm “evokes an important event in the history of Israel: the Ark of the Covenant is taken to Jerusalem”, as ordered by King David. “In fact the King had sworn that he would not reside in the royal palace until he had found a home for the Ark of the Covenant, the sign of the Lord’s presence with his people”.

“That promise made by the sovereign is now answered with the promise from God: «The Lord promised David he would never withdraw his word» … the promise and gift of God, which has nothing magic about it, calls for a humanity’s faithful and industrious response in a dialogue which interlaces two freedoms, the divine and the human.” The psalm then praises “both the wondrous works of God and the fidelity of Israel. In fact the people will experience God’s presence in their midst: he will be as one of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a citizen who lives with the other citizens the vicissitudes of history, but who offers the power of his blessing”. God will bless harvests, care for the poor, extend his mantle of protection over his priests, he will ensure that all the faithful live with joy and confidence, in particular he will bless David and his descendants. As in the first part of the psalm, also in the second part we have the entrance of the figure of the «Consacrated one», in Hebrew «the Messiah», “and this ties the descendance of David to messianic teaching which, read in the light of Christ, finds full actuation in the figure of Jesus Christ. Psalm 131 becomes thus a celebration of God-Emanuel who is with his creatures , he lives with them and blesses them as long as they remain united with him in truth and justice. The spiritual heart of this hymn is already a prelude to St John’s proclamation: «The Word was made flesh and lived among us ».”

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Concluding his catechesis the Pope said “the beginning of this second part of psalm 131 was used by the Fathers of the Church to describe the incarnation of the Word in the womb of the Virgin Mary” and he quoted Saint Ireneus who spoke of the prophecy of Isaiah about the Virgin giving birth. “In the psalm the mystery of God living with us, becoming one with us in the Incarnation, appears and is visible. And this fidelity of God and our confidence in the changes in history are our joy (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2005, righe 28, parole 459)See the Pope’s teaching in various languageshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=361

23 September 2005 – Audience third group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visitVATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI addresses third group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit: “I urge you not to be discouraged but to continue the mission of teaching and announcing the Gospel of Christ … we must not lose our courage or enthusiasm in our pastoral programming”Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – “Your pastoral ministry should be addressed to everyone, the faithful who take an active part in the life of the diocesan community and those who have distanced themselves and are searching for a meaning to life. This is why I urge you not to be discouraged but to continue the mission of teaching and announcing the Gospel of Christ to all peoples … In present day society which reveals many visible signs of secularism we must not lose our courage or enthusiasm in our pastoral programming. Remember that the Lord gives you the necessary strength. Trust Him.” Pope Benedict XVI said this in his address to a third group of Mexican bishops on their ad limina visit received in audience at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo on 23 September.

The Bishops are in charge of dioceses in central east Mexico (Jalapa, Mexico City, Puebla, Tlalnepantla and suffragans). “The central area of Mexico – the Pope said – is the region in which the indigenous peoples first settled and where the missionary activity of the Church first started and then spread to the other regions. Urban life is marked by a co-existence of many different cultures and customs… life is difficult for people of different social classes and for all without discrimination the diocese must provide pastoral care with special concern for those in situations of dire poverty, solitude or exclusion. These different social groups forge the image of the city and present a constant challenge for pastoral activity. Pastoral plans should include the growing number of people who move from rural to urban areas in search of a more worthy life”. This situation and its pressing problems must the centre of attention for the bishop called to “promote and consolidate communion, so the faithful will realise they are called to live a more intense community life and the Church may become «house and school of communion».”

The Pope urged the Bishops to devote "special care and energy” to priests, the Bishop’s first co-workers in the pastoral ministry: “I therefore encourage you to be close to each of them and to maintain with them a relationship of priestly friendship, following the example of the Good Shepherd. Help them to be men of assiduous prayer … the priest’s prayer is a demand of his pastoral ministry because for the community the testimony of a priest who prays, proclaims transcendence and immerses himself in the mystery of God is indispensable. Be concerned with the situation of each of your priests, encouraging them to proceed with joy and hope on the path to priestly holiness, offering all the help necessary need and at the same time fostering fraternity among them.” Benedict XVI also urged the Bishops to give “special care” for the formation of seminarians and to promote vocation pastoral care .

The Pope ended his address on a note of joy: “In the face of today’s changing and complex panorama in the Christian community the virtue of hope is put to hard test. Precisely for this reason we must be apostles filled with hope who trust with joy in the promises made by God. He never abandons his people, indeed he calls them to conversion so that his Kingdom may become a reality. Kingdom of God means not only that God exists, but that he is present and active in the world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2005; righe 38, parole 571) See the Pope’s address in Spanishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=362

25 September 2005 - AngelusVATICAN - In his Angelus reflection the Pope speaks about Eucharist and charity: “The Eucharist is a source of spiritual energy which renews the world with the love of Christ”. Special mention of victims of natural disasters in America and in other parts of the world.Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) – Addressing the people gathered yesterday for his last Sunday Angelus prayer at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI continued his reflections on the bond between the Eucharist and charity. “Charity – agape in Greek, caritas in

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Latin – does not mean primarily a good act or sentiment – the Pope explained -, it refers to the spiritual gift of God’s love poured into the human heart by the Holy Spirit which moves the heart to make an act of self-giving to God and neighbour.

The whole earthly life of Jesus was “one act of love”: “Jesus’ words in the Upper Room anticipate his death and show the attitude with which he faced it transforming it into a gift of self, an act of total self-giving love. In the Eucharist the Lord gives himself to us with his body, his soul, his divinity and we become one with him and among ourselves. Therefore our response to his love must be concrete and expressed through authentic conversion with love, forgiveness, reciprocal acceptance and attention for the needs of all. There are many different forms of service we can render to neighbour in every day life. The Eucharist is a source of spiritual energy which renews the world with the love of Christ.”

The Pope recalled some of the Saints “who drew strength from the Eucharist for a life of active charity and not rarely heroic”: St Vincent de’ Paul, Blessed Mother Teresa. In particular the Blessed Virgin Mary who after the Annunciation went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. “Let us pray that every Christian nourished by the Body and Blood of the Lord – the Holy Father said -, may grow in ever deeper love for God and generous service of brothers and sisters”.

After the prayer, the Pope addressed the different groups of visitors and said among other things “I greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Angelus. Our thoughts go especially to those who are affected by the natural disasters in the United States and other parts of the world. I invite you to join me in prayer to the Lord for all who suffer, for the victims and their loved ones, and for the rescue workers. May God grant them consolation and strength in their trials.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2005; righe 25, parole 379)See the Pope’s addresshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=363

28 September 2005 – General AudienceVATICAN - The Pope’s teaching at the general audience: “God’s love becomes concrete and almost tangible in history and all its vicissitudes bitter and glorious” Vatican City (Fides Service) – In his teaching this morning at the general audience Pope Benedict XVI dwelt on the first part of psalm 134 (134,1-12 – “Praise the Lord for his wondrous works” – vespers Friday week 3), “a liturgical hymn interwoven with allusions, reminiscences and references to other biblcal texts”. The first section opens with a passionate call to praise God. “We are therefore in the atmosphere of worship in the temple, the privileged place for community prayer – the Pope explained - and where it is possible to experience effectively the presence of our God, a good and loving God, the God of vocation and Covenant”.

After the call to praise, a soloist voice proclaims the profession of faith. “Divine omnipotence is continually revealed in the whole world, in heaven, on earth, in the sea and in the depths … But it is above all another divine aspect which is celebrated in this profession of faith. The wonderful intervention in history where the Creator reveals himself as redeemer of his people and sovereign of the world. The great events of the exodus pass before the eyes of Israel in prayer”. So we have the plagues of Egypt, Israel’s victory after the wandering in the desert and at last the long desired destination, the promised land. “God’s love becomes concrete and almost tangible in history and all its vicissitudes bitter and glorious – said Benedict XVI -. The task of the liturgy is to render God’s gifts ever present and effective, above all in the great Passover celebration which is the origin of all solemnities and constitutes a supreme emblem of freedom and salvation.”

At the end of the audience the Pope greeted different groups including “priests staying at the pontifical colleges of St Paul, St Peter, St Francis of Assisi and Pio Brasiliano who have come from various countries to study at Pontifical Universities in Rome” and he urged them: “use wisely the time you spend in the eternal City so you may return to your countries with the sound spiritual and theological formation necessary for the apostolic task awaiting you.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2005, righe 26, parole 377)See the Pope’s address in different languageshttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=364

29 September 2005 – Audience with 4th group of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI addresses Mexican Bishops: “The bishop’s duty to teach consists of handing on the Gospel of Christ and its moral and religious values keeping in mind the different emerging realities and aspirations in present day society”.Vatican City (Fides) – ““The bishop’s duty to teach consists of handing on the Gospel of Christ and its moral and religious values keeping in mind the different realities and aspirations which emerge in present day society, a situation with which Bishops must be familiar...at the same time, as in the early Christian communities, the Bishops of Mexico must give special care to those groups who are most vulnerable and poor. They still

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constitute a large part of the country’s population, victims at times of insufficient and unacceptable structures. In the Gospel the proper answer is to promote solidarity and peace to render justice truly feasible.” Pope Benedict XVI said this on 29 September when he addressed the last of four groups of Mexican Bishops received on their ad limina visit in the Vatican over the past few weeks. The Bishops who included Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara, were from the dioceses and ecclesiastical provinces of Acapulco, Antequera and Yucatán in south east Mexico.

The Holy Father recalled the Church’s efforts to “eradicate all form of marginalisation urging Christians to practice justice and love” also by sharing resources with more needy brothers and sisters. “It is necessary not only to alleviate the most serious needs but to go to the root of the problem proposing measures to ensure more fairness and solidarity in social, political and economic structures. In this way charity will be at the service of culture and politics, the economy and the family becoming a force of authentic human and community development”.

The riches of the culture, history and traditions of the people of Mexico is manifested also in their profound sense of festivity. “Since the times of first evangelisation this has been an expression of Christian joy – the Pope said - which gives exceptional expressiveness to celebrations and manifestations of popular religiosity. It is up to Bishops to orient this characteristic common to so many Mexican Catholics towards a firm and mature faith able to shape a conduct of life coherent with what one professes with joy. This will also revive the growing missionary impulse of Mexicans”.

In the last part of his address the Holy Father said that also in Mexico “feminine ‘genius’ manifests itself in many expressions” and in this regard he added: “it is still a challenge of our times to change mentality so that women may be treated with full dignity in every environment and be protected in their indispensable mission as mother and first educator of children”. Another important area is pastoral care for young people: “Many of them mistakenly think that making an effort to reach a decision means loss of freedom. It is good to remind them that a person is free when decisions taken are according to the truth and good. Only if they put Jesus Christ at the centre of their existence can they give meaning to life and build something great and lasting”. The Holy Father concluded urging the Bishops to “proceed and act together in a spirit of communion which has its summit and inexhaustible source in the Eucharist”. The International Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara, “left a deep impression on the people of believers which must be preserved as a gift of faith celebrated and shared". (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/9/2005; righe 39, parole 566) See the Pope’s address in Spanishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=365

Address at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital “outpost of the evangelising activity of the Christian community in this city of ours”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – “Besides being an immediate and concrete work of the Holy See to help children who are ill, Bambino Gesu Hospital is also an outpost of the evangelising activity of the Christian community in this city of ours. Here you can offer concrete and effective testimony of the Gospel in contact with suffering humanity; here with facts you proclaim the power of Christ and his Spirit who heals and transforms human existence. Let us pray that, together with the cure, the love of Jesus is imparted to the young guests”, Pope Benedict XVI said during his visit on 30 September to the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome where he was welcomed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, Camillo Ruini, Vicar of Christ for the diocese of Rome, Francesco Marchisano, adminstration advisor, Francesco Silvano, president of the hospital; managing Director Massimo Spina, and medical director Dr. Tommaso Langiano. After visiting a number of the hospital's departments and greeting many sick children and their families, and stopping for a prayer in the chapel, the Pope moved to the lecture hall where he greeted the hospital president, members of the administrative council, medical staff and the civil authorities.Benedict XVI thanked them for their commitment and warm welcome and said he chose to make his first hospital official visit to Bambino Gesù for two reasons: because this institution belongs to the Holy See," and "so that I too can bear witness to Jesus' love for children. ... In everyone who suffers, even more so if they are small and defenseless, there is Jesus Who welcomes us and awaits our love."

The Pope praised the quality of care offered to patients and family members: “Here you concern yourselves with ensuring excellent treatment, not just from the point of view of healthcare, but also in human terms. You strive to be a family for the patients and accompanying persons and this calls for contribution from all...this

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approach, which is valid for all healthcare centers, must especially distinguish those that are inspired by evangelical principles. No resource must be spared in helping children. At the centre of every project and programme there must also be the good of the patient, the child who is ill”. In this difficult mission the Pope encouraged those present to see in every patient the face of Christ and to draw spiritual strength from Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, “to comfort and care for the patients”. At the end of his address the Pope invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus infirmorum – Health of the Infirm Mother of the Child Jesus and all children, that she may protect the patients, families, staff and doctors, the entire hospital community. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2005, righe 33, parole 473)See Pope’s address in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=367

VERBA PONTIFICIS

Dialogue

“The restoration of full Christian communion must be a goal for all who profess faith in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, "faithful and clergy alike. It extends to everyone, according to the talent of each, whether it be exercised in daily Christian living or in theological and historical studies" (Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 5). The Symposium, which follows the course of other such fruitful ecumenical initiatives, brings into the limelight the common commitment, research and study which aim to clarify differences and surmount misunderstandings. Along these lines, the institutes that teach theology can play a fundamental role in the formation of the new generations and in offering a renewed Christian witness to the contemporary world.” (4 September 2005 – Message 9th Inter-Christian Symposium).

Natural disasters

“In the past few days we have all been distressed at the disaster caused by a hurricane in the United States of America, especially in New Orleans. I would like to assure you of my prayers for the deceased and their relatives, for the injured and the homeless, for the sick, the children and the elderly; I bless all those who are involved in the difficult task of rescue work and rebuilding. I have charged Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, to take a sign of my solidarity to the peoples affected. My thoughts also turn to the Iraqis who, last Wednesday, saw hundreds of their fellow citizens - for the most part, elderly people, women and children - perish as victims of a wave of panic. They had gathered for a religious commemoration. May the Almighty move everyone's heart so that an atmosphere of reconciliation and reciprocal trust may at last take root in that troubled Country. ” (4 September 2005 – Angelus).

Eucharist

“The Year of the Eucharist is now reaching its end. It will close this coming month of October with the celebration in the Vatican of the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops whose theme will be: "The Eucharist: source and summit of the life and mission of the Church". It was our beloved Pope John Paul II who desired this special year dedicated to the Mystery of the Eucharist in order to reawaken in the Christian people faith, wonder and love for this great Sacrament, which constitutes the true treasure of the Church. How deep was the devotion with which he celebrated Holy Mass, the centre of every one of his days! And how much time he used to spend in silent, adoring prayer before the Tabernacle! In his last months, illness brought him ever more closely to resemble the suffering Christ. It is a striking thought that at the moment of his death he must have found himself uniting the offering of his own life with that of Christ's in the Mass being celebrated at his bedside. His earthly existence ended during the Octave of Easter in the very heart of this Year of the Eucharist, in which the passage from his great Pontificate to my own occurred. From the very beginning of this service which the Lord has asked of me, I therefore joyfully reaffirm the centrality of the Sacrament of the Real Presence of Christ in the Church's life and in every Christian's life.” (4 September 2005 – Angelus).

“With a view to the Synodal Assembly in October, the Bishops who will be its members are examining the working document that has been specially prepared for it. However, I ask the entire Ecclesial Community to

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http://212.77.1.245/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20050707_instrlabor-xi-assembly_en.html

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/special_features/eucharist/index_en.html

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html



feel involved in this phase of immediate preparation and to take part in it with prayer and reflection, making the most of every opportunity, event and meeting. At the recent World Youth Day there were also many references to the Mystery of the Eucharist. I am thinking back, for example, to the evocative Vigil at Marienfeld on Saturday evening, 20 August, which culminated in Eucharistic adoration: a courageous choice that brought the eyes and hearts of the young people to converge on Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I also remember that during those memorable days there was perpetual adoration, day and night, in certain churches in Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf, with the participation of numerous young people who were thus able to discover together the beauty of contemplative prayer! I am confident that with the commitment of Pastors and faithful, there will be an increasingly assiduous and fervent participation in the Eucharist in every community. Today in particular, I would like to urge people to sanctify with joy the "Lord's Day", Sunday, a holy day for Christians. In this context, I would like to recall St Gregory the Great, whose liturgical Memorial we celebrated yesterday. That great Pope made a historically effective contribution to promoting various aspects of the liturgy and in particular, the proper celebration of the Eucharist. May his intercession, together with that of Mary Most Holy, help us every Sunday to live to the full the joy of Easter and of the encounter with the Risen Lord.” (4 September 2005 – Angelus).

Trust in the Lord“We have already reflected earlier on the grandiose fresco of Christ, Lord of the universe and of history, that dominates the hymn St Paul placed at the beginning of the Letter to the Colossians. This canticle, in fact, punctuates all four of the weeks spanned by the Liturgy of Vespers.The heart of the hymn consists of verses 15-20, into which Christ enters directly and solemnly as the "image" of "the invisible God" (v. 15). The Greek term ekon, "icon", is dear to the Apostle: in his Letters he uses it nine times, applying it both to Christ, the perfect icon of God (cf. II Cor 4: 4), and to man, the image and glory of God (cf. I Cor 11: 7). However, by sin, men and women "exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images representing mortal man" (Rom 1: 23), choosing to worship idols and become like them. We must therefore continuously model our being and life on the image of that of the Son of God (cf. II Cor 3: 18), so that we may be "delivered... from the dominion of darkness" and "transferred... to the Kingdom of his beloved Son" (Col 1: 13). This is a first imperative in this hymn: to model our life on the image of the Son of God, entering into his sentiments, his will and his thoughts. Christ is then proclaimed the "firstborn" of "all creation" (v. 15). Christ is before all things (cf. v. 17) because he has been begotten since eternity, for "all things were created through him and for him" (v. 16). The ancient Jewish tradition also says that "the whole world was created in view of the Messiah" (Sanhedrin, 98b).” (7 September 2005 – General Audience). “The divine oath, however, involves a human commitment inasmuch as it is conditioned by an "if": if your sons "keep my covenant" (Ps 132[131]: 12). Men and women must respond with faithful and active loyalty to God's promise and gift, which have nothing magic about them, in a dialogue in which are interwoven two freedoms, the divine and the human.” (21 September 2005 – General Audience).

St Irenaeus, referring to the prophecy of Isaiah about the Virgin in labour, had already explained: "The words: "Listen, then, O house of David!' (Is 7: 13), indicate that the eternal King, whom God had promised David would be "the fruit of [his] body' (132[131]: 11), was the same One, born of the Virgin and descended from David. "Thus, God promised him that a king would be born who was "the fruit of [his] body', a description that indicates a pregnant virgin. Scripture, therefore,... sets down and affirms the fruit of the womb to proclaim that the One to come would be begotten of the Virgin. "Likewise, Elizabeth herself, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified, saying to Mary: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb' (Lk 1: 42). "In this way the Holy Spirit points out to those who want to hear him that in the Virgin's, that is, Mary's, giving birth is fulfilled God's promise to David that he would raise up a king born of his body" (Contro le Eresie, 3, 21, 5: "Già e Non Ancora", CCCXX, Milan, 1997, p. 285). And thus, we see God's faithfulness in the great span of time that goes from the ancient Psalm to the Incarnation of the Lord. The mystery of a God who dwells among us, a God who becomes one with us in the Incarnation, already appears and transpires in the Psalm. And this faithfulness of God and our trust throughout the changes of history contribute to our joy. ”. (21 September 2005 – General Audience).

Divine omnipotence is continually manifested throughout the world, "in heaven, on earth, in the seas". It is he who produces clouds, lightning, rain and wind, imaginarily contained in "treasuries" or storehouses (cf. vv. 6-7). Primarily, however, another aspect of divine activity is celebrated in this profession of faith; it is the marvellous intervention in history, where the Creator reveals his face as redeemer of his people and king of the world. Before the eyes of Israel, gathered in prayer, the great events of the Exodus unfold. Here, in the first

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http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/august/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20050820_vigil-wyd_en.html

http://www.vatican.va/gmg/documents/gmg_2005_en.html


place, is the concise and essential commemoration of the "plagues" of Egypt, the scourges inflicted by the Lord to break down the oppressor (cf. vv. 8-9). It is followed afterward with the evocation of the victories of Israel after the long march in the desert. They are attributed to the powerful intervention of God, who struck many "nations in their greatness" and slew many "kings in their splendour" (cf. v. 10). Finally, there is the long-awaited and hoped-for destination, the promised land: "He let Israel inherit their land; on his people their land he bestowed" (v. 12). Divine love becomes concrete and can almost be experienced in history with all of its bitter and glorious vicissitudes. The liturgy has the duty to make present and efficacious the divine gifts, especially in the great paschal celebration that is the root of every other solemnity and is the supreme symbol of freedom and salvation. (28 September 2005 – General Audience).

Mission “May we let ourselves be illuminated by Christ so we may bear witness to his saving presence everywhere” (7 September general audience)

"Take this and eat it, this is my body... all of you must drink from it, for this is my blood" (Mt 26: 26-27). Jesus' words in the Upper Room are a prelude to his death and manifest the awareness with which he faced it, transforming it into a gift of self in the act of love that gives completely. In the Eucharist the Lord gives himself to us in his body, soul and divinity, and we become one with him and with others. Our response to his love must then be concrete and expressed in an authentic conversion to love, in forgiveness, in welcoming one another and being attentive to the needs of everyone. The kinds of service that we can render to our neighbour in everyday life, with a bit of attention, are many and varied. The Eucharist thus becomes the source of spiritual energy that renews our life each day, and in this way also renews the world in Christ's love. ” (25 September 2005 – Angelus).

“The saints are exemplary witnesses of this love; from the Eucharist they drew the strength of living a charity that was difficult and oftentimes heroic. I think of St Vincent de Paul, whose liturgical memorial we celebrate the day after tomorrow. St Vincent de Paul said: "What a joy it is to serve the person of Christ in his poor members!". And this he did with his entire life. I also think of Bl. Mother Teresa, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity; she loved Jesus in the poorest of the poor, and received and contemplated him every day in the consecrated Host. Before and more than all the saints, divine charity filled the heart of the Virgin Mary. After the Annunciation, moved by the One she carried in her womb, the Mother of the Word-made-flesh hurriedly set out to visit and help her cousin Elizabeth. Let us pray so that every Christian, nourished by the Body and Blood of the Lord, may ever more grow in their love towards God and in generous service towards one's neighbours. ” (25 September 2005 – Angelus).

Sacred Scripture

“The Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, whose drafting I personally witnessed as a young theologian, taking part in the lively discussions that went with it, begins with a deeply meaningful sentence: "Dei Verbum religiose audiens et fidenter proclamans, Sacrosancta Synodus..." ["Hearing the Word of God with reverence, and proclaiming it with faith, the Sacred Synod..."] (n. 1). With these words the Council points out a descriptive aspect of the Church: she is a community that listens to and proclaims the Word of God. The Church does not live on herself but on the Gospel, and in the Gospel always and ever anew finds the directions for her journey. This is a point that every Christian must understand and apply to himself or herself: only those who first listen to the Word can become preachers of it. Indeed, they must not teach their own wisdom but the wisdom of God, which often appears to be foolishness in the eyes of the world (cf. I Cor 1: 23)”. (16 September 2005 – Audience International Congress “Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church”).

“The Church knows well that Christ lives in the Sacred Scriptures. For this very reason - as the Constitution stresses - she has always venerated the divine Scriptures in the same way as she venerates the Body of the Lord (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 21). In view of this, St Jerome, cited by the conciliar Document, said that ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 25).” (16 September 2005 – Audience Congress on ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church”).

“The Church and the Word of God are inseparably linked. The Church lives on the Word of God and the Word of God echoes through the Church, in her teaching and throughout her life (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 8). The Apostle Peter, therefore, reminds us that no prophecy contained in Scripture can be subjected to a personal

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interpretation. "Prophecy has never been put forward by man's willing it. It is rather that men impelled by the Holy Spirit have spoken under God's influence" (II Pt 1: 20). (16 September 2005 – Audience Congress on ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church”).

INTERVENTUS SUPER QUAESTIONES

Natural disastersNew York – “We are deeply grateful for the many prayers assured and offerings sent to our offices and other Church offices all over the country” Mgr John E. Kozar national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States told Fides. “Catholics and members of other confessions are responding with great generosity to help those suffering under these tragic circumstances. We have all been affected in some way by such devastation. Our ‘brothers and sisters’ in the archdiocese of New Orleans and the diocese of Biloxi, had to evacuate offices, churches, homes, presbyteries and convents” Mgr. Kozar said stressing that most of the affected dioceses are the most needy even under normal circumstances. “Catholics in the United States have always offered aid spontaneously and generously. We feel the sense of loss and grief of people of Luisiana, Mississipi and Alabama. Most Catholics are deeply aware of the meaning of the Lord’s words: ‘Whatever you did to one of these little ones you did it to me’ and they act accordingly”.

Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans who joined thousands of displaced people and is helping to assist the hurricane victims has called for nation wide prayers, Mgr. Kozar said. Both Archbishop Hughes and Bishop Robert W. Muench of Baton Rouge went to pray with people in makeshift shelters. Bishop Thomas Rodi of Biloxi, Mississipi, who contacted the Bishops Conference on his mobile, said 20% of the churches and one third of the schools in his diocese were destroyed.

Bishop William Skylstad of Sposane, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the United States said “the disaster concerns every bishop because of the high number of church personnel now isolated and working under the most difficult conditions and perhaps not even aware that the entire country is praying for them. We have no means of knowing even if they are well”. The Bishops’ Conference has started a nation wide collection and called for prayers for the victims of hurrican Katrina.

The Knights of Colombus have launched a programme to assist hurricane victims in Luisiana, Mississipi, Alabama and Florida. Mgr John Kozar keeps PMS staff, benefactors and friends continually informed of the situation in order to help in the best possible way these brothers and sisters, mainly through prayer. “Every day at the national PMS office Mass is offered for the people in the affected areas. The national office and all our diocesan directors are encouraging people to help in this disaster reminding them that parishes will take special collections, as requested by the Bishops’ Conference and we ask them to pray to God for the victims and their families”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005, righe 34, parole 497)New Orleans – From the stricken city of New Orleans local Salesians involved with numerous other organisations in rescue work, aid and rebuilding, called on their counterparts in Italy for help. VIS Volunteers for International Development, NGO connected with the Salesians, lost no time and sent a first donation of 10.000 US$ to help repair or rebuild buildings damaged by hurricane Katrina. Shaw High School run by the Salesians for boys and girls in one of the poorest New Orleans districts is a priority.

“Solidarity knows no boundaries it is a universal sentiment which pulls down walls and views the world in global vision eliminating north and south. Humanity can survive only if we help one another: this is the universal lesson of hurricane Katrina”, said Antonio Raimondi, VIS president. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/9/2005 righe 15 parole 175)Vatican City – The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has charged Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum with a message of solidarity and material help for the people affected by Hurrican Katrina in various parts of the United States of America especially in and around New Orleans. The Holy See press office said that on Saturday 10 September in Baton Rouge the Archbishop will meet the local Bishop Roberth Muench and the President of Catholic Charities USA, Rev. Larry Snyder.

During Mass in Baton Rouge cathedral on Sunday September 11 special prayers will be said for the victims of this natural disaster and, since it will be the 4th anniversary of the Twin Tower terrorist atttacks, for all victims of violence: the community in prayer will shoulder the burden of all human suffering in the light of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. In the afternoon in Baton Rouge after meeting Archbishop Alfred

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Hughes of New Oreans and Bishop Thomas Rodi of Biloxi and the governor of Louisiana, the Holy See Delegation – which will include Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Archbishop Washington – will visit homeless people from Mississipi Delta and speak with some of the numerous people involved in the work of rescue and assistance.

On Monday 12 September after a meeting with local authorities there will be a press conference. In the afternoon Archbishop Cordes will visit Biloxi diocese in Mississipi. On Tuesday 13 he will go to Washington DC for a meeting with Federal authorities. He is expected to return to the Vatican on 14 September. The Pope asked Archbishop Cordes to carry out this mission to offer on his behalf spiritual and material solidarity to the hurricane victims and encourage Catholic institutions involved in emergency assistance and helping to prepare and hasten the time for rebuilding. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2005 – Righe 22; Parole 303)New Orleans - Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans has appealed to Catholics the world over for prayers and material aid to support efforts by the archdiocese to meet the many needs victims of Hurricane Katrina. The archdiocese has established a Fund to provide short term aid of basic necessities and long term projects for rebuilding ruined church buildings. The Archbishop said over 90% of places of worship, church run schools, parishes and other buildings are seriously damaged and no longer able to serve the diocese’s 150,000 Catholic families.

According to the National Catholic Register 30% of the people in the archdiocese of New Orleans are Catholic. Before the hurrican hit there were 140 parishes, 90 chapels for adoration (49 in town and 41 in the area) 3 Catholic universities; 14 high schools; 15 middle schools; 38 institutes of Brothers and 25 of Sisters.

Archbishop Hughes calls on Catholics all over the world to join a “community prayer network for the victims of Hurricane Katrina with the slogan “One church - one community”. He says the goal is “20 million prayer intentions”.

Caritas offices in north America have launched an “operation home” asking families to find temporary accomodation for the homeless. Already 60 diocesan Caritas offices have had offers of accommodation in good condition. The Bishops of Mexico have asked for a special collection in aid of hurrican Katrina victims on Sunday 25 September. Caritas Mexico has opened a bank account for donations to help the victims and Cardinal Noberto Rivera Archbishop of Mexico City said he is sure Mexicans will give generously. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/9/2005 righe 23 parole 325) New Orleans – It is still difficult to estimate the total damage caused by hurricane Katrina and the second one Rita, fortunately less serious. Mgr John E. Kozar national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States told Fides that “in New Orleans only about a dozen of 140 Catholic parishes were left standing and even the Archbishop had to evacuate his residence and take shelter in another diocese from where he is now directing the work of rebuilding”.

Despite this major catastrophe preparations for Mission Sunday 23 October continue, indeed the tragedy prompted more in-depth reflection according the PMS diocesan director Fr Wayne and his assistant Sr. Judy, a member of the PMS National Council. Sr. Judy, a Sister of the congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross founded in New Orleans, said the convent where she and 25 other sisters live was flooded. For his part Fr Wayne wanted initially to stay with his parishioners and celebrate Mass but in the end he had to abandon the church taking with him the Blessed Sacrament, a few vestments and the parish registers.

Although the PMS offices, Immaculate Heart of Mary parish church, school and priest’s house were totally devastated Sr Judy and Fr. Wayne have carried on promoting awareness in view of Mission Sunday “Now our people, our children have experienced situations which are daily living conditions for so many poor people in mission countries – said Sr. Judy - . We belong to the Body of Christ and we must teach our children that when one person suffers, all suffer. Now that we are suffering the consequences of this disaster we can appreciate the difficulties of so many people in many parts of the world. Despite our own need we cannot forget the needs in mission territories”. Fr Wayne said “I never actually realised what it meant to be poor until the first day of the tragedy when I had to wait many hours for something to eat”. As Sr Judy and Fr Wayne continue to provide assistance and comfort to flood victims evacuated from New Orleans they are fully supported by PMS offices in neighbouring dioceses.

"In his message for Mission Sunday this year the Pope laid much emphasis on the celebration of the Eucharist and the Mass is the best way to present our needs at the altar. This is why we have launched a campaign of prayer and especially the celebration of Mass. We have had messages of solidarity from PMS national directors in other countries and this was most encouraging. We were moved especially by help coming from Sri Lanka and India, two countries which we helped after the tsunami tragedy. Now they are supporting us with prayer. The poor of Sri Lanka and India are our evangelisers they help us to pray and stay firm in our faith” – said Mgr. Kozar. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/9/2005, righe 39 parole 563)

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New Orleans – “As the archbishop of New Orleans, and a fellow evacuee, I share in your sufferings, hold you in prayer and want to serve you in your needs” said archbishop Alfred Hughes presently a guest in Baton Rouge diocese, Louisiana, in a letter to “displaced New Orleanians” now sheltering in various parts of the United States. He thanks the hosting dioceses and in particular “Bishop Muench and the Diocese of Baton Rouge for the extraordinary way in which they have received more than 200,000 New Orleanians and facilitated the development of a central administration in exile for the archdiocese”. “Hurricane Katrina has caused enormous suffering in the overwhelming loss of life, loss of homes, churches, schools and way of life Our first concern has been for people: their rescue, their basic physical needs, medical care and communications with loved ones,” the Archbishop said praising the work of Catholic aid agencies and also efforts to “resume activity in as many parishes and schools as possible” recalling that other structures will need major repairs.

The Archbishop said one main difficulty is how to connect with the people of the diocese now spread all over the country and he said the diocesan web site is a valid source of communication and information (http://www.archdiocese-no.org.). He added that he hoped soon to return to the diocese and celebrate Mass again in Saint Louis Catholic Cathedral which will mark the “resurrection of New Orleans.” But in the meantime he said: “Although it is necessary for the immediate future to continue to guide the church from Baton Rouge, we are seeking every possible way to be pastorally present in those communities that have resumed some normal activity as well as those communities that are displaced”. “Being exiled from our homes and workplaces is not easy. Even as we express appreciation for the provision of a home away from home, I share with you the challenges of exile. Like the Jews of old, we long for a return to our holy city. I pray for you and I ask you to pray for me.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2005, righe 25, parole 318)

EucharistMurcia – To honour the memory of Pope John Paul II and inspired by his Encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” and his gift of this past ‘Year of the Eucharist’, the Catholic University of Murcia in Spain has decided to organise a University Eucharistic Congress 9 to 13 November at its own site the Monastery of Los Jerónimos and in a number of parishes in Murcia. The slogan for the congress is “The Eucharist, heart of Christian life and source of the Church’s mission to evangelise” and participants will reflect on the Mystery of the Eucharist from the theological, liturgical and pastoral point of view.

This event is unprecdented, as Pope Benedict XVI has commented, because this is the first time that a university organises a Eucharistic Congress and according to the organisers it could “open a new path in the Church for the celebration of Congresses ". The Pope has appointed a papal Commission presided by Cardinal Jozef Tomko, President of the Pontifical Commitee for Eucharistic Congresses, to represent him at the Congress and follow its organisation.

Cardinals who have assured their presence include, besides, Cardinal Jozef Tomko Cardinal Paul Poupard, President Pontifical Council for Culture; Cardinal Julián Herranz, President Pontifical Council Legislative Texts; Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, President Pontifical Council for the Family; Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, President Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral; Cardinal Darío Castrillón, Prefect Congregation for the Clergy; Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, archbisop of Seville, and Cardinal Ricardo María Carles emeritus archbishop of Barcelona; Cardinal Nicolás Jesús López, archbishop of Santo Domingo and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone archbishop of Genoa; rectors of Catholic Unviersities in various countries. Other participants will include Mgr. Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei; Kiko Argüello, founder of the Neo Catechumen Way; Jesús Carrascosa, international director of Communion and Liberation; Andrea Riccardi, founder of the S. Egidio Community; Salvatore Martínez, representing Charismatic Renewal; Salvatore Corcuera, director general of Legionaries of Christ; Nunziatina Cilento, co-foundress of the Focolari movement. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2005 righe 28 parole 368) Lahore – The country’s 1st National Eucharistic Congress organised by the local Catholic Church 9-11 September at the Marian Shrine of Mariamabad, Lahore diocese, was a great success. It drew at least 20,000 participants and attracted ample media coverage local and national. “Mary and the Eucharist” was the theme of this important Church event held in this last month of the special Year of the Eucharist, gift to the universal Church of the late beloved Pope John Paul II. The event was organised under the guidance of Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana, of Lahore who is president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan.

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More than 20,000 people came to Mariamabad from all over Pakistan and the event was given ample sPeace by national media, Christian and non, according to local Church sources in Lahore. During three days of prayer and reflection participants focussed on the relationship between Mary and the Eucharist with the help of conferences by Fr. Younan Shahzad a teacher at Christ the King Seminary in Karachi. The priest referred to the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Our Lady of the Eucharist”.

The Conference was also an occasion of evangelisation since it drew many non Christians attracted by the devotion of Catholic pilgrims.

The national marian strine of Mariamabad is situated 90 km from Lahore, capital of Punjab state. Every year it draws thousands of people clergy, religious and laity, families, other Christians and Muslims. Many see it as a sign of gorwing harmony between the two religions.

Mariamabad shrine was opened in 1949 by a Belgian Cappuchin Friar Frank who died a martyr.(PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/9/2005 righe 24 parole 249)Maputo – “We start this pastoral statement on the Celebration of the Eucharist with the words used by the disciples of Emmaus who urged the Lord to remain with them, the same words used by Pope John Paul II at the beginning of his Apostolic Letter for the Year of the Eucharist “Stay with us Lord!”. The Catholic Bishops of Mozambique wrote in a recent Pastoral Statement based on the Apostolic Letter “Mane nobiscum Domine”, which affirms “The Eucharist is a great mystery! And it is one which above all must be well celebrated. Holy Mass needs to be set at the centre of the Christian life and celebrated in a dignified manner by every community, in accordance with established norms, with the participation of the assembly, with the presence of ministers who carry out their assigned tasks, and with a serious concern that singing and liturgical music be suitably “sacred”.” (Mane nobiscum Domine, 17)

The Bishops said the Second Vatican Council gave new impulse to liturgical celebrations in Mozambqie promoting active participation of the laity and the start of a process of adaptation and inculturation in the field of liturgy. They recalled that Bishops are responsible for the liturgy of the Church and as such they have followed this process with attention to ensure that liturgical renewal serves to strengthen the faith of Christians. However they lament unfortunate cases of abuse or mistaken interpretations of creativity which have caused much suffering. This abuse is seen in the manner of celebration, choice of vestments, manner liturgical dancing, exercise of ministries, loss of the sense of the sacred, use of songs not properly liturgical, failure to act in accordance will established liturgical norms. The Pastoral Statement was drafted after several years of investigating the situation and study and with it the Bishops intend to “encourage efforts to ensure that the principles of liturgical renewal is properly applied in our dioceses and that our liturgies are actions of beauty and unity”.

The Bishops dwelt on aspects of liturgical adaptation and inculturation: that is adapting the Roman Rite to Mozambican culture; translation of liturgical texts which demands theological-liturgical expertise, knowledge of the original language and the language into which the text must me translated; music and hymns, essential elements of the liturgy must be in keeping with the Mystery celebrated; gestures and attitudes of the body should help to render the liturgy beautiful, noble in its simplicity, able to express the meaning of the liturgy, adapted to the local culture but without exaggeration; priests and other persons carrying out a ministry must wear liturgical vestments in keeping with established norms. Lastly they recall that the competent Authority for approving any adaptation is the national Bishops’ Conference and the local Bishop with regard to his own diocese.

In the third and final part of the statement the Bishops focus on the Revised Adaptations to the Institutio generalis Missalis Romani which regard the celebration of Mass as well as preparations and attitude of the faithful… The Bishops conclude thanking all who strive to make the liturgy alive, beautiful and participated because “Christian communities draw life from the liturgical celebration of the Mass and Celebrations of the Word”. This task is immense and calls for the assistance of the Spirit and collaboration of all. However the Church in Mozambique must not fall behind on the path of liturgical renewal and inculturation, “in order to reach to the destination prepared by God, the celebration of the Heavenly Liturgy”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2005, righe 45, parole 619)

MissionAssisi – A “Letter to our Parish Priests” was issued at the end of the National Week of Missionary Formation and Spirituality held in Assisi 26 to 31 August organised by the Italian national office for missionary cooperation among Churches. Some 192 pastoral workers, religious and lay, reflected on the theme "The laity in

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the missionary parish". As the director of the office for missionary cooperation Mgr Giuseppe Andreozzi underlined “this third edition of the Week certainly received more attention and this means people feel the need to reflect on the subject of the missionary parish. We started with a sociological reading of the parish and worked our way to the theological contents of missionary ministry and a proposal for pastoral guidelines. The basic element emerging from the week was that lay people will be really co-responsibilie in the Church if the Church opens to mission because only mission allows the ministerial role of the laity to emerge”.

Conferences, discussion, testimonial were all inspired by the icon of the apostolic experience of Philip who meets the Ethiopian (Acts 8, 26-40), and this passage of scripture is quoted in the Letter to Parish Priests fruit of the work of the participants in three workshops: a sort of concluding document on the co-responsibility of the laity for mission in a parish which must be authentically missionary. “Dear brother parish priest we offer you our willingness to comunicate the faith, to shoulder with you responsibility for evangelisation” the letter says, stressing that the mission dimension is a call to the entire community. “We must not resign ourselves to a decline in participation… to the fact that many, including the faithful, look at the parish simply as a place which dispenses religious services and alms” the participants write, urging Catholics to undertake the ‘fatigue of renewal’ so as ‘to reach out’ with courage to the men and women who want to find in us a home and a school in which to grow in the faith”.

“We need to become ever more familiar with the Word, understood and lived individually and as a community, to live authentic experiences of prayer” says the letter and it concludes: “We may never know how far the good news travels once it is put on the roads of the world. And this we find is a reason to be happy and proud to work for the Kingdom. The Gospel of Jesus is a treasure offered to all men and women. We are ready for demanding proposals, for more radical commitment so as not to soffocate with the shallow breath of conservation pastoral. Mission brings fresh air to our communities, it fosters the lay ministry and develops the resource of youth. The more the Church is missionary the more it will be able to make prophetic gestures which give hope.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/9/2005, righe 32, parole 456) Honiara – A formation seminar for young catechists and evangelisers was organised recently by the Marianist Missionaries in Honiara, Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Some 200 enthusiastic young people from parishes all over the region gathered for the seminar at Holy Cross church: “Sometimes we young people are changeable. This seminar reminded us that spiritual values must be the foundation of life”, the participants said.

The seminar was the concluding event in courses of formation offered over past few months in different places aimed at giving young people the opportunity to increase their knowledge of Holy Scripture, learn how to pray and how to spread the message of Christ in the third millennium.

The seminar was given by Marianist Fathers Titmothy Driscoll and Michael Mac Award from the United States who came to spend a few months in Solomon Islands to offer a contribution in the field of education. The seminar reflected on the themes “Stay with us Lord” in keeping with this Year of the Eucharist and “We have come to adore Him” the theme of the recent World Youth Day held in August in Germany.

Besides offering spiritual formation the seminar aimed to develop young people’s awareness that their service as catechists and evangelisers is both a gift and the responsibility.

The identity of the young Catholic was also a subject for discussion to the participants responded with original contributions. The workshop also helped build communion among the young participants coming from different islands. “Inter-action and local community building is crucial in the process of rebuilding Catholic schools in Solomons”, said the organisers who hope to train qualified adult Christian teachers to teach in Catholic schools.

The charisma of the Marianists is in fact education of youth especially in mission territories. This aspect is most important in Solomon Islands where the Church is giving special attention to formation of local clergy, religious and a competent Catholic laity.(PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/9/2005 righe 26 parole 273)Quito – In keeping with the 5th General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences which will have the theme “Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ that our peoples may have life in Him”, the 3rd American Mission Congress CAM 3 to be held 11 al 16 August 2008 in Quito, Ecuador, has adopted the following objectives: “To form disciples, missionaries of the Gospel of Life and Hope to put themselves at the service of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes”; “involve Christian families in the evangelising mission of the Church helping them to rediscover their identity and put themsleves at the service of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes”; “Promote the missionary dimension of the parish as a community of communities and lay movements so that the People of God may shoulder the responsiblity for new evangelisation and mission ad gentes”; “promote a missionary spirit in the ministries and charisma of Particular Churches so pastoral operators and church structures and instances may be at theservice of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes”; “animate the Church in America to help it become ‘home and school of communion’ at the service of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes”.

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The main themes for CAM 3 are the following: “revive the fundamental event of Pentecost in Particular Churches so that the People of God may recall with gratitude the past, live with passion the present and open with trust to the future shouldering the Church’s historical responsiblity to announce the Gospel (NMI 1); promote new evangelisation in the context of a globalised world with renewed impulse and creativity …; help local Church of America open to the vast horizons of mission ad gentes Gentes (RM 31.33).

CAM 3, the initial project states, will give special attention to demands stemming from the missionary mandate of Christ the Redeemer: “On the basis of ecclesial experience of Pentecoste we want the entire American continent to put itself in a ‘state of mission’…”. Hence the need to “render every particular Church an ambit and context of new evangelisation and mission ad gentes, and at the same time the receiver and agent of the proclamation of Christ”. To take up the challenge of new evangelisation in order to counter secularisation and materialism, CAM 3 wishes to “promote personal and community experience of God, an encounter with Christ and opening to the Spirit, which gives meaning to the life of the individual and peoples orienting them towards the Kingdom, through the proclamation of the Gospel, human promotion and the evangelisation of culture”. Starting from the anthropological experience of Pentecoste towards mission Ad Gentes to build up the Kingdom of God, CAM 3 intends to promote opening to “the mystery of Triune God who reveals his plan for redemption in the life of individuals and peoples, in a special way to the poor and to “non Christian groups and environments”. They must hear explicit proclamation of Corist and his Gospel, with them the local Church must grow and promote the values of the Kingdom (RM 34)”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005; righe 37 parole 501) Rome - “The encounter with Peter, today in the person of Benedict XVI strengthens the bonds of communion between our local Churches and the Church of Rome and with the Holy Father” said Archbishop Héctor González Martínez of Durango Mexico, in Rome on the ad limina visit with several other Mexican prelates”. Speaking to Fides the Archbishop said: “I noted that the Holy Father is truly gifted with many qualities and charisma and that God has blessed the Church with this Pope. We know that God always gives the Church the right Pope for the times and this is true again with Benedict XVI. He is the Pope we needed, with his ability, his vision and his gentle kindness, respect and humility, as the vicar of Jesus Christ, Head of the Church”.

With regard to pastoral priorities in his area the archbishop mentioned a diocesan pastoral plan launched some years ago focused on six priorities: evangelisation, catechesis and liturgy, social pastoral, family, youth and formation ad gentes. “We have been working in these areas for the past few years and one important result is that the Plan is gradually building a mentality, a culture, of pastoral planning”. The Plan has several new projects for the coming years. “In 2006 we will launch a year long Diocesan Mission from 6 January to 12 December. We intend to involve our own parish and community pastoral operators in the mission – the Archbishop explained -. Rather than ask other priests and religious to come from outside. In 2007 we plan to launch an intense Campaign of Catechesis on the basis of the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church throughout the territory. In 2008 we hope to start work on parishes to help them gradually become a ‘community of communities’, that is, a series of small communities which vivify the parish community”.

Although in Durango compared to other parts of Mexico, violence is not such a serious phenomenon, there exists a problem of drug trafficking and drug abuse with peddlers even at school gates. The Archbishop said that his archdiocese “like many other parts of the country, feels the influence of ideological currents of weak post-modern thought including currents which attack the family, marriage and human life. In Durango the family institution is still valued in theory but in pratice there is a sort of division, on the one hand families bear the sign of baptism, but on the other they are subject to strong influence from outside and consume all society has to offer. This is why many dioceses including Durango, have the family as a priority because today it is the institute most threatened in its foundations, its nature. We urge parishes to encourage people to protect and promote families although not all our priests are really aware of the real danger in the present situation” the Archbishop concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2005, righe 34, parole 503) Maputo - Signs of vitality and hope in the local Churches but also a need to improve formation for clergy and laity. This emerged from a meeting of Portuguese speaking Bishops’ Conferences in Maputo, capital of Mozambique, 6 to 9 September (see Fides 31 August 2005). We give parts of a final statement issued by the Bishop who participated.

“We note with joy signs of vitality and hope in our Churches: active lay participation in the life of the Church; formation of new movements of Christian spirituality and life; increase in lay missionaries; significant number of religious missionaries in most of our countries; in Africa increasing numbers of faithful, clergy and religious and also growing attendence of Sunday Mass.” However, the statement reads, “we also note a lack of maturity in the faith and even loss of faith which has made many leave the Church and join new Pentecostal type sects.

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This situation, present in every country, calls for a revision of the pastoral process of evangelisation at the level of catechesis and greater efforts for on-ging formation of laity, clergy and other pastoral operators”.

The Bishops also discussed the different social and political situations and the overall importance of education and in particular to promote the Social Doctrine of the Church in view of the formation of Christian leaders, men and women, in the fields of education, business, politics and public life in general”.

The main challenges facing these countries afflicted by many wars and political disputes, “include urgent education to peace, defence and promotion of human rights, the right to life first of all, and that of equal opportunities, political activity understood as service for the common good instead of search for personal or party gain as well as total rejection of violence, corruption and political patronage in the exercise of public functions”.

Participants also discussed development in Portuguese speaking countries, request for the cancellation of foreign debt, increasing urbanisation in Africa and Latin America and how to make better use of Portuguese speaking Catholic radio stations.

The Bishops thanked Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evamgelisation of Peoples for his “encouraging messagge” on the occasion of the meeting.

The next meeting of Portuguese speaking Bishops’ Conferences will be held in Fatima (Portugal) 9 to 12 October 2006. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/9/2005 righe 40 parole 458)

Rome - “This is good news. It means we religious and Africans understand one another” said Italian Xaverian missionary Fr Giuseppe Berton, with years of experience in Sierra Leone, commenting the findings of a BBC survey that most Africans trust religious leaders more than anyone. “The news should not be surprising because it is part of our mission to be close to people and share their suffering and joy. So the fact that Africans trust religous ledesr is a call to be true to our mission. We must make sure this trust is not betrayed”.

“Day after day we must follow Jesus Christ who shared everything with humanity except sin. In brief: while this news is encouraging at the same time it is a challenge to carry on my mission” said Fr Berton.

Three quarters of Africans surveyed in different countries said religious leaders were the most trustworthy. Asked which was the most important in defining themselves, a majority of Africans put religion above any other factor. Surprisingly few identified ethnicity as the most significant factor - just 6%. “I thnik this proves the profound sense of religion in Africa” said Fr Berton who has experience of one of Africa’s greatest tragedies: child soldiers, “a situation which can only be faced with faith” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2005 righe 25 parole 313)Wollongong - A celebration of the universality of the Church’s mission and the fact that in the Catholic world north and south do not exist. The event was a ceremony to launch the missionary month of October in the Australian diocese of Wollongong on September 4. Special guest South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier Archbisop of Durban offered a touching testimonial on the diocesan mission month theme ‘Proclaiming Life for All – Witness, Liberate, Teach and Celebrate’.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, including many children. Cardinal Napier told school children and parishioners about growing-up in South Africa under the oppressive Apartheid regime and the maltreatment of black and mixed-race South Africans. He gave a deeply personal meaning to the theme ‘Proclaiming Life for All – Witness, Liberate, Teach and Celebrate’.

He described the determination on the part of many church leaders, after the 1994 African Synod in Rome, to make the Catholic Church in Africa truly relevant, to be prepared to journey with its own people and be a dissenting voice for the oppressed. As the Church in South Africa built upon its already well established missionary history and values, it continued to play a crucial role in helping break the shackles of Apartheid and preparing South Africans to move forward from the nation’s violent and racist past.

“Interestingly”, the Cardinal commented, “these same values were not so new … they had been clearly stated by Pope Paul VI as early as 1969 in his message to the African Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Uganda”. “Follow me”, the Holy Father had said, “you Africans must be missionaries to yourselves”. The challenge was

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for the Church in South Africa to become self-reliant. To go forward it had to recognise the needs and aspirations of its oppressed people, maintain its limited resources and make itself characteristically African.

“We realised that Apartheid worked because victims complied with the laws of Apartheid,” Cardinal Napier said. “If they refused to comply, then Apartheid could not function. The Standing for the Truth campaign deemed all people equal, all life sacred and all people should be respected equally.”

Cardinal Napier visited Australia in 1986 and raised awareness of the need on the part of the international community to apply external pressure to effect change in South Africa through economic sanctions. In 1990, the ecumenical church leadership in South Africa declared apartheid was a sin; it could not be justified in the Bible. And so the resistance continued until the democratic election of Nelson Mandela in 1994 as the country’s first black president.

Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong Diocese said Cardinal Napier’s words highlighted how “reconciliation and love, not manipulation” could instigate change”. Bishop Ingham took the opportunity to re-commit the diocese to the values and objectives of the global network of Pontifical Mission Societies and especially the work of Catholic Mission in Australia.(L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2005 righe 42 parole 493)Rome – “Cardinal Ratzinger promised to preside this celebration. We are happy that the reason for his absence is his election as Bishop of Rome” said Mgr. Massimo Camisasca, Founder and Superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo which is celebrating its 20th anniversary today.

So it will be Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s Vicar for the diocese of Rome who presides a solemn anniversary Mass in the Basilica of St Mary major this evening at 6pm.

Mgr Camisasca said this means “the Pope is even more rpesent and we are happy to have Cardinal Ruini in his place: we were born of the diocese of Rome and this Church helped us to embrace the entire world”.

The superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo makes special mention of John Paul II and don Giussani, “whose departure from this life calls us to be more adult and to have no fear, seeing the great promise made to us”.

The Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo is present in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Austria, Kenya, Canada, Russia and Argentina and other countries with 25 houses. (AP) (17/9/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:21; Parole: 236

PeaceBanda Aceh – The travailed Indonesian region of Aceh in the north of the island of Sumatra looks to the future with new hope after the peace agreement signed between separatist rebels and the government on August 15. Local Jesuit Father Sutri Janta says prospects are encouraging but much work remains to be done in the area among the most seriously damaged in the December 26 tsunami last year.

The priest who coordinates assistance for the homeless and rebuilding projects told Fides that not everyone is happy with the agreement: “Many are pleased and hope it means the end of decades of conflict. But some in the army and politics reject the agreement. It will not be easy to put it into practice and build a society of justice and harmony in Aceh where there are different groups, moderates and extremists. Aceh needs to rediscover its unity”.

“The tsunami also brought a blessing – Fr Sutri told Fides. The tragedy pulled the sides in conflict together making it possibile to reach the agreement signed on 15 August. However efforts to provide aid have slowed down. The homeless are neglected. The government says funds are scarce. Aceh must not be left alone: to restore peace and prosperity the people still need help” he said.

According to the amnisty part of the peace pact the government has already released 1,500 rebels. The agreement signed on 15 August in Helsinki, Finland, was made possible by the decision taken by GAM Gerakan Aceh Merdeka Movement for Free Aceh to renounce its years old claim to independence.

The agreement authorised the formation of regional political parties (in theory anti-costitutional) to take part in local elections in 2006. The government agreed to let GAM change to a political party. In exchange GAM renounced its claims for seccession and request for a popular referendum while the government said it would consider forms of de-centralisation of power.

Although it sparked criticism from extremists on both sides and complaints that too much had been granted, the compromise offers hope for a future of peace in northern Sumatra after a conflict which lasted thirty years.

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The pact includes cessation of all hostilites and gradual reduction of the number of army troops and police in Aceh (respectively 14,000 and 9,000). GAM said it will disarm and the government promised an amnisty for rebel soldiers and assignment of land to help their reintegration into civil society.

The peace agreement will be monitored by AMM Aceh Monitoring Mission comprising 250 officials of the five member countries of ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations and the European Union.

Aceh was among the areas worst hit by the exceptional tsunami in December last year. But the tragedy drew international attention to the zone and gave new impulse to the peace process.(PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2005 righe 34 parole 377)Kinshasa - Every year in the Democratic Republic of Congo RDC mainly in western regions tens of thousands of women are raped by members of the many different troops fighting in the area: regular army of RDC, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and various Conogolese, Rwandan and Burundian rebel groups. Sadly there are even reports of rape by UN peace keepers MONUC supposed to guarantee respect for the cease fire agreement in eastern Congo.

The scourge of sexual violence was at the centre of a recent meeting organised by the Justice and Peace commission of the Catholic Bishopss’ Conference of Congo with the title “Dynamic Women for Peace”, held in 29 August to 2 September. According to the local news agency DIA, the aim of the meeting was how to stop this serious phenomenon. Sr Marie-Bernard Alima Mbalula, secretary of the Justice and Peace commission said the meeting drafted a plan for 2006 which the Bishops of Congo named after Blessed Anuarite Nengapeta Clementine, Africa’s “Maria Goretti” martyred on 1 December 1964 in Paulis (today Isiro). Sr Marie-Bernard Alima Mbalula described Blessed Anuarite as a “model of fidelity, of respect for promises, of self-giving to the end of working to defend the dignity of women and for commitment to promoting reconciliation and peace”.

“During the meeting” the nun told DIA “after hearing terrifying stories of sexual violence and how these women suffer all agreed on the urgent need to unite efforts to put an end to the situation”.

The participants affirmed their commitment to fight sexual violence and listened to the reading of a letter from three women raped in 2003 during the fighting in in eastern Congo who are in desperate need of medical assistance. The case of these three women is so serious that the participants urged the government of Congo and MONUC to see they are admitted to Bukavu hospital immediately. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005 righe34 parole 413) Kathmandu – The three month truce announced by Maoist rebels is a shot in the arm for Nepal, but solutions must be found for the serious problems of violence and millions of displaced persons, local Catholc Church sources underline.

In a statement issued on 3 September announcing a cease fire the rebels said that three month for three months they will “remain in defence positions” and “refrain from unilateral offensives”. The announcement came after a recent meeting between the rebels and the leaders of the seven main democratic opposition parties to discuss collaboration between opposition and insurgents against King Gyanendra accused of using anti-democratic, authoritarian and repressive methods.

“Nepal is engulfed by conflicts which have produced at least 2 million displaced persons. The problem of internally displaced persons and refugees from Bhutan is an ulterior threat to peace and harmony in Nepal”, said Fr.Varkey Perekatt SJ, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Nepal.

About 13,000 people have died in 10 years of insurgency which has had serious consequences for the country. In the last twelve months with the political parities unable to reach agreement the situation has worsened. Fr Varkey said the people are dissatisfied with the government and this gives new impulse to the claims of the anti-royal insurgents who want Nepal to be a republic.

Another problem is the presence in eastern Nepal of numerous political refugees from Bhutan. “Neither government wants to accept these people”, Fr Varkey said.

In the meantime although the situation is relatively calm in and around Kathmandu, tension in the rest of the country remains high despite the announced cease fire. The situation is difficult and the people suffer because of the civil conflict which affects the eastern region of Udayapur and the western region of and Rukum the rebel stronghold.

In recent monthe several international organisations denounced a dangerous lack of respect for human rights in Nepal. The United Nations Commission for Human Rights has said it wants to send a mission to Nepal the assess the level of respect for human rights, reported to be considerably lower than universal standards.

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In this context the Catholic community of 7,500 people strives to carry on as usual particularly with its service of education. Catholic schools are open in some areas but because of fighting others are closed for the safety of the children. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2005 righe 29 parole 308)Bujumbura - “Catholics have always worked hard to promote peace and reconciliation in Burundi and will continue to do so” say local Church sources in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi where newly elected President Pierre Nkurunziza urged local religious leaders to help former combatents to confess the atrocities committed during the civil conflict which started in 1993.Burundi is striving make the conflict a thing of the past with a series of agreements which led in August to the election as president of Pierre Nkurunziza former leader of Democratic Forces for Defence rebel main Hutu group. The last rebel group FNL (National Liberation Forces) which still fights in various parts of the country has refused to sign any agreement.President Nkurunziza has said he intends to form a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission similar to the one formed in South Africa at the end of Apartheid. The president has asked everyone including the Churches to help him restore peace in the hearts of the people.“The Church has worked at this task for some time focussing catechesis on forgiveness and reconciliation. And in collaboration with the Catholic Church in the United States we have started a propgramme to promote reconciliation at grass roots level among individuals” the source told Fides.“In October there will be a Catholic Church Synod on Peace and Reconciliation with the participation of delegates from every diocese ” the source said”.Besides pastoral work the Church in Burundi offers important social services. At a recent meeting the Catholic Bishops and President Nkurunziza discussed how the Church could increase her contribution to education , so neceesary to restore peace. “President Nkurunziza asked religious leaders to offer church institutions as class rooms since schools are scarce in Burundi. The Church has built schools in many parts of the country. The President’s new request will not go unheeded although it will not be easy to combine demands of school activities with the needs of pastoral work” the source told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2005 righe 33 parole 397)Lyon – “It is time to stop the use of violence! Human life is sacred. Violence humiliates human beings and diminishes the cause of those who make use of it. The world is tired of living in fear. Religions do not want violence, war or terrorism. We proclaim this with conviction!.” This is part of an Appeal for Peace 2005 issued at the end of the annual Meeting of People and Religions promoted by the Rome based S. Egidio community held this year in Lyon, France 11 to 13 September on the theme “The Courage to forge a spiritual humanism of peace”.

The appeal reads: “Those who legitimate their interests or justify violence in the name of God debase religion. No war is ever holy. Humanity is not improved by violence or terror..” the participants recall that Peace is a gift of God and a gift which God gives to those who believe in him. In Lyon they prayer that Peace may spread to all men and women, embracing all the peoples of the world, stopping.”

Faced with so much sorrow in the world and poverty affecting millions of people the participants demand “that all energies and resources be brought together to make the world of the 21st century more human and less poor”. The appeal continues “Peace increases the chances for a better world, and dialogue is the path to peace. Dialogue does not lower one’s defences, rather it is a protection. Dialogue transforms strangers into friends and enables people to work together and fight against poverty and evil..”

Dialogue among members of different religions and with humanists of the present day revealed the profound differences of religious and cultures, “Nevertheless, we now clearly see that there is a single destiny. It is time to work together courageously to forge a spiritual humanism capable of building peace among nations and individuals. The aim is not the triumph of one or the other, but the creation of a civilization where people live together. The art of dialogue is the patient way to build this civilization of coexistence.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/9/2005 - Righe 24; Parole 369)

Sacred ScriptureVatican City - Over 400 participants from 98 different countries including about a hundred cardinals and bishops, will gather in Rome 14 to 18 September at the Aurelia Convention Centre for an International Congress on the theme ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’. The congress is organised jointly by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to mark the 40 th

anniversary of the Constitution Dei Verbum promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. A statement released today by the Holy See Press Office said the congress is for people who operate in various areas of biblical work: pastoral, translation and studies and that representatives of other Churches and other religions will be among the participants.

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Conferences and discussion groups will focus on various aspects of biblical work: exegetics, catechesis and liturgy; ecumenical dialogue, relations with Judaism, interreligious dialogue; the challenge of new religious movements and the growing problem of fundamentalism; the question of religious values in a secularised context, the theme of justice and peace in a globalised world. The programme includes prayers, liturgies and cultural events as well as a Seminar on «Creative methods for proclaiming the Word of God», presenting the variety and vast scope of concrete biblical work all over the world.

Rather than look back on the past forty years the aim of the Congress is to consider the present situation, discuss fundamental problems and challenges in this 21st century which must be met with biblically inspired pastoral which takes into consideration the ecclesial context, ecumenical dialogue, dialogue with different cultures and religions, with society, with the world. The Congress intends to be an internal platform of exchange on ways to foster access to the Bible and develop biblical work in ways suited to our times.

The apex of the congress will be a Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica followed by a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI. In conjunction with the Congress there will be an exhibition «Ut Dei Verbum currat (2 Ts 3,1)» involving about 30 organisations. Exhibits will include material and information on the Bible: biblical translations and specialised publications for courses of biblical formation, material for diffusion via the Internet, radio and television. For more information see the web site of the Catholic Biblical Federation www.c-b-f.org or the Congress web page www.deiverbum2005.org. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2005 Righe 34; Parole 488)Kinshasa - Promote national and diocesan Bible Centres in view of organising Bible apostolate. This proposal was launched by Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani who is President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Democratic Congo when he gave the opening address at the 12th Meeting of the All African Association of Catholic Exegetes being held in Kinshasa, 4 to 10 September on the theme “Human and Divine Wisdom in the Bible. Bible reading in the context of the Church family of God in Africa”.According to the local Catholic new agency DIA in his intervention Archbishop Monsengwo Pasinya stressed the necessity of catechesis on Sacred Scripture and Salvation History to promote the inculturation of Bible and Gospel values in order to build an African society of respect for human dignity, justice and peace. The All African Association of Catholic Exegetes was established in Yaounde, Cameroon in 1987, but its roots date to Africn Bible Days in Kinshasa in 1978. The members are people with degrees and doctorates in Sacred Scripture and Biblical Theology. They are bishops, priests, men and women religious and laity from Africa and also from Europe and Asia.The task of the Association is biblical exegetics with rigorous application of the methods of biblical science and exegetics in the context of African reality. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/9/2005 righe 23 parole 246)Moyobamba– In the context of the Month of the Bible in the Prelature of Moyobamba, Peru, and with the help of Toledo diocese in Spain, the local Catholic Church authorities have launched an America’s Bible” project to spread the Word of God in every community of this vast ecclesiastical which covers an area of 45,775 sq km. The project entails the distribution of 10,000 Bibles to people in rural districts, especially poor families in forest areas.

The initiative undertaken by the local Church is particularly praiseworthy given the scarcity of church personnel and important because the population of 692,232 has little instruction in the faith and is an easy prey for numerous sects present in this region. The diffusion of the Bible aims to strengthen the work of evangelisation entailing great sacrifice on the part of a handful of pastoral workers and catechists. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2005, righe 11 parole 136)

QUAESTIONES

VATICAN - Cardinal Sepe presides ordination of newVicar Apostolic of Kuwait: “the duty to proclaim the Gospel belongs in a special way to the bishop who assumes it as a primary duty on the day of his Ordination”.Kuwait City – “I turn to you dear Father Camillo, and I wish to thank you for having accepted the Holy Father’s decision in faith - in Verbo Tuo – as your motto indicates, and for wanting to be ordained here in the cathedral in Kuwait City before your chosen people. As Jesus said to the apostles on the banks of the Sea of Galilee he says to you today: "come, follow me!" In your youth you received the gift of the priesthood and in the spirit of the founder of your religious institute, Saint Daniel Comboni dedicated yourself to mission ad gentes. Today spiritually mature you will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in its fulness”.This was how Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples addressed the new Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait, Italian Comboni Fr Camillo Ballin, during a solemn

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concelebration of the Eucharist for the latter’s episcopal ordination at the Catholic cathedral in Kuwait City. After greeting those present in Arabic, in his homily delivered in English Cardinal Sepe thanked “Bishop Francis Mícallef who led the Church in Kuwait for 24 years with faith, responsiblity and great charity … helping this community to flourish. Today it numbers 160,000 Catholics and is well organised” and also Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea the Holy Father’s representative in this country, at the end of his mandate termine, to whom“the Holy See, our Congregation and this local Church are all very grateful”. Greeting the civil authorities the Cardinal said he was happy that the “country assures religious freedom and work opportunities for all” and after greeting men and women religious and members of Fr Ballin’s family present for the occasion, Cardinal Sepe said: “I bring to the Bishop elect and to you all the paternal greetings of the Holy Father present among us with his prayers and his blessing”.Cardinal Sepe then illsutrated the Bishop’s tasks and duties: “The Bishop is called to promote mature fruits of communion in the Church … In a world of individualism the Church must shine like a beacon of communion, brotherhood and peace… it will be necessary therefore to promote in this community in Kuwait City rich in many different nationalities, languages, cultures and rites, a spirituality of communion built day after day with love and truth in the awareness that truth without love generates conflict and division and that love without truth produces falsity”.

“Be aware – the Cardinal told the new Bishop – that the duty to proclaim the Gospel belongs in a special way to the bishop who assumes it as a primary duty on the day of his Ordination, as you do today . You must teach and sanctify the faithful and lead them to the house of the Father .” Lastly the commitment of prayer “a primary good of every believer, essential for the bishop and for all who receive the gift of a vocation to a life of special consecration”.

At the end of his homily Cardinal Sepe urged the new Bishop to start his ministry among his people with these words: “Lead them to the source of Grace, quench their thirst with the fresh Word of salvation, nourish them with the bread of the Eucharist, keep alive in them a longing for the Father in Heaven. May you be accompanied by the maternal protection of Most Holy Mary, Mother of the Redeemer and Star of new evangelisation.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/9/2005, righe 41, parole 578)See homily in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/congregazione/prefetto/prefetto.php?id=60#

VATICAN“Mission remains the Church’s most pressing urgency”: Cardinal Sepe sends message to Meeting of Portugues speaking Bishops Conferences in Maputo Vatican City– “Mission remains the most pressing urgency for the Church and there is nothing to show that the time for mission ad gentes is over. Indeed at this time in history, more than ever it is necessary to announce and proclaim God’s plan to save all humanity through Christ, the Son of God, made man, who died and is risen for us and is the sole mediator between God and mankind (1 Tim 2,5), present and living in his Church.” This passge was part of a message addressed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples to Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves of Beira and President of Mozambique, on the occasion of a meeting of Bishops’ Conferences of Portguese speaking countries in Maputo, capital of Mozambique (see Fides 31/8/2005).

“The Church is by nature missionary – the Cardinal wrote – and she lives this vocation when she realises this. Every Catholic can and must live this responsible communion with the universal mission of the Church. We find an encouraging missionary prospect today precisely in the many praiseworthy lay catechists, members of Church Movements and new Communities, missionary associations and families, men and women of great zeal and generosity committed in front line to proclaiming the Gospel. You, dear brother Bishops, as privileged witnesses of fruits of missionary activity maturing in the Church, be grateful and welcome these gifts of God, new carisma which are relaunching evangelisation in the world today and constitute an authentic “springtime of the Spirit”.

The meeting, the sixth of its kind, which brings together Bishops of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Portugal and East Timor, is held every five years. Its purpose is to offer the Catholic Bishops of all Portuguese speaking countries an opportunity to compare and share experience in the different local Churches and to promote evangelisation. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2005 Righe: 26 Parole: 345)

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ASIA/AZERBAIJAN - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe to bless foundation stone for a church in Baku: after decades of persecution little flock of 150 Catholics takes new hope Baku – “The laying of the foundation stone for a Catholic church in Baku, the first in 70 years of suffering, is an important event for the city and the nation: it is a sign that the Catholic Church here is alive and growing under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”: said Salesian Fr Jan Kapla, superior of the Catholic Mission of Baku capital of Azerbaijan preparing to welcome Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation, on a pastoral visit to that community 10-12 September. On Sunday 11 September the Cardinal will bless the foundation stone for the new church at the end of Mass attended by Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Papal Nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and local civil and political authorites as well as local Catholics and other belivers.

Fr Kapla said: “For our community the event is one of rejoicing, celebration and announcement.. We have prepared very carefully and joyfully for Cardinal Sepe’s arrival. Everyone has worked hard to make it a great event. There is an atmosphere of new life. Seventy years after the destruction of the church in 1935, the little flock of 150 Azerbaijan Catholics is still alive and now filled with new hope”.

The new church will in a semi-central part of Baku stand on a piece of land given by the government to the local Catholic community. It will be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and will be part of a complex of a pastoral centre and a house for priests.

The land was donated following Pope John Paul II’s history making apostolic visit here in May 2002. Formalities completed, plans approved, work can now begin. The church will be neo-Gothic style with a facade similar to that of the old church destroyed in the 1930s by order of Stalin.

During his pastoral visit Cardinal Sepe will meet local authorities and visit a camp of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees on Saturday 10 September. On the Sunday after presiding Mass in the community chapel he will meet a group of local young people. In the afternoon he will attend the ceremony for the laying of the church foundation stone and then bless the building site for a Home for the Poor to be run by the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa. On Monday 12 before departing the Cardinal will pay a courtesy call on the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev and have a meeting with Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders . (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2005 righe 32 parole 303)

ASIA/AZERBAIJANCardinal Sepe praises Catholics in Azerbaijan for keeping the faith “despite long decades of violent persecution” and “for building constructive interreligious dialogue, peaceful co-existence among Muslims, orthodox Christians, Jews and Catholics”Baku – “The totalitarian ideology of Communism, now in the past, tried with every imaginable and possibile means to remove every sign of the presence of God from these lands and to eradicate and uproot from your hearts all reference to Him, leaving a spiritual and cultural void marked by many victims and martyrs, human tragedies and suffering, churches and places of worship reduced to ruins or used even against religion. Despite long decades of violent persecution of every expression of belief, you kept the faith, you remained faithful to the Lord”. With these words yesterday 11 September Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples addressed the small Catholic community of Azerbaijan gathered in the community chapel for Sunday Mass. At the beginning of his homily the Cardinal greeted those present on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI - “his heart is with you and he looks at you with admiration and hope and sends you his Apostolic Blessing”. He then greeted civil and government authorities, representatives of various religious communities, the papal nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the Superior of the Catholic community in Azerbaijan, Fr. Jan Čapla his confreres and collaborators and the local Catholics.On the theme of forgiveness highlighted in the readings during the Mass Cardinal Sepe said in this territory “offenses and wrongs done to peoples, religious and their members have been truly many” and he added: “Although, I believe, the memory of the past is still vivid and it is not easy to forgive and forget, nevertheless Christians must always forgive, like Jesus... forgiveness is a sign not of weakness but of strength and it produces peace and reconciliation removing all temptation of intolerance and fundamentalism”. Underlining that “signs of this lofty human, cultural and spiritual teaching” are found also in the holy books of Jews and Muslims, Cardinal Sepe said: “this ideal opens the way for common commitment of people of different cultures and faiths to reciprocal acceptance, dialogue, search for the common good, with respect for

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differences without risk of attitudes of intolerance. This is a rule which builds social and religious harmony, imposes and composes unity in diversity”. He then, also on behalf of the Pope, praised the local community “for building constructive inter-religious dialogue, peaceful co-existence and reciprocal esteem among Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Jews and Catholics”. This harmony based not only on respect but also on various form of reciprocal help and on prayer “is a highly edifying example for many other peoples and multi-cultural and multi-religious societies. It is a conquest to be carefully guarded, a conquest which shows that it is possibile to live as brothers and sisters even for people of different religions.”Cardinal Sepe encouraged the young Catholic community of Azerbaijan – “young because recently re-established and young because of the young age of many of its members” – “to be always worthy of your tradition and even more of those who suffered persecution and martyrdom to keep the faith”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2005, righe 39, parole 535) See homily in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/congregazione/prefetto/prefetto.php?id=62#

ASIA/AZERBAIJAN - The laying of the foundation stone for a new church in Baku “is a dream come true for the local Catholic community” said Cardinal Sepe who also blessed building site for a new Home for the Poor to be entrusted to Mother Teresa’s Sisters

Baku–In the afternoon on Sunday 11 September in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, presided a ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone for a new Catholic church. The stone had been blessed by Pope John Paul II. The Cardinal said the important event was a reminder of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Azerbaijan (22 May 2002) and his meeting with the late President Heydar Aliev who offered him as a gift the piece of land on which the new church was to stand. “On this occasion the Catholic community is deeply grateful to everyone, beginning with the late President Heydar Aliev, today’s President Ilham Aliev, civil and government authorities, the mayor of Baku and his co-workers who contributed in various ways to help Catholics achieve their dream of having a church”. Cardinal Sepe thanked also other religious leaders in Azerbaijan, “for supporting and sustaining the project. This demonstrates the great respect which this country has and promotes for all religions”.The Christian presence in Azerbaijan can be traced to the first century but today the official religion in Islam and Christians are a minority. The Catholic community is very small. “Sad events of the last century and in particolar the rise of Communism prevented public profession of the Catholic religion, indeed of any religion – Cardinal Sepe said -. Persecution of all faiths brought destruction, death and martyrdom, destruction of places of worship of various religions. It was at that time that the Communist regime had the local Catholic church pulled down leaving Catholics with nowhere to celebrate their faith for sixty years”. He said he hoped “the material building of the church would coincide with spiritual and human growth of the Catholic community in Azerbaijan. To live as people of faith means first of all to form a living house of God of which the living stones are the hearts and the lives of the faithful”.

Later that afternoon the Cardinal blessed a building site where work is underway for a Home for the Poor. “For Christians it is very important to help the poor – the Cardinal said -, because charity is an expression of authentic faith and love. Jesus Christ told his disciples that the greatest of all God’s commandments is to love God and neighbour. Our neighbour whom we must love is first of all the person in need, suffering, sick, homeless, abandoned and irrespective of race, ethnic origin or religion.”

Faithful to the teaching of her Founder Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church engages in various forms of service “to alleviate human suffering and restore human dignity”. The Home for the Poor is a social work with which the local Catholic community wishes to meet the needs people in need irrespective of their faith, culture or language. “The Home will be entrusted to the Missionaries of Charity, the daughters of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, known the world over for her witness of love and service for the poorest of the poor”. The Cardinal then thanked all who helped the realisation of this project and assured everyone of the blessing of Pope Benedict XVI. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2005, righe 41, parole 605) See address in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/congregazione/prefetto/prefetto.php?id=63#See address in Italianhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/congregazione/prefetto/prefetto.php?id=64#

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EUROPA/SPAIN Marian Day of the Family presided by Cardinal Sepe at the Marian strine of Torreciudad: the family institute is the future of the Church and humanity. Huesca– On Saturday 17 at the Marian Strine of Torreciudad, Huesca, Spain Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, will preside the 16th Marian Day of the Family with the participation of thousands of Spanish families from parishes and associations all over the country. Participants will reflect on the need to promote solid families and the understanding that the family is the future of the Church and of humanity. The Day is particularly important at this time when the family and marriage is attacked on many sides in Spain and other countries of Europe and the rest of the world. The Day will also serve to promote the 5th World Meeting of Families scheduled for July 2006 in Valencia, Spain.

This Day of the Family will start at 12 noon with a prayer and offering of families followed by Mass presided by the Cardinal and the reading of a message from Pope Benedict XVI. In the afternoon there will be a Family Music Festival, the recitation of the rosary and the Day will close with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. The organisers have arranged an infant care centre where young children may take part in activities suited to their age. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2005, righe 17 parole 223)

EUROPE/ITALY - China and Europe “different but united”: Cardinal Sepe addresses participants at 5th European Ecumenical Conference on spiritual and cultural relations between China and Europe Rome– “Diversity in unity ” is the theme of the 5th European Ecumenical Conference on China being hosted 16-20 September by the Pontifical Unviersity S. Anselmo, in Rome focussing on spiritual and cultural relations between China and Europe. These conferences are organised by the German Ecumenical China Committee for representatives of the Chinese and European academic world, theologians, experts, members of the Catholic Church and Orthodox and Protestant confessions.

Speakers at this 5th edition incude Arif Dirlik from the University of Oregon, United States; Felix Wilfred from Madras University, India, Wong Wai Chin from Hong Kong University. On Sunday 18 September over 150 participants will take part in an ecumenical service at St Paul’s Basilica presided by Benedictine primate Abbot Notker Wolf and Lutheran Bishop from Hamburg.

In the opening address Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, expressed profound admiration and gratitude to all Christian missionaries Catholic and non Catholic for their tireless service and witness to the Gospel of Christ in mainland China, offering an appropriate example of diversity in unity for the good of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

The Cardinal said the bond of unity is charity which means promotion of the human person, human values and spirituality and transcendent calling. “Catholic communities all over the vast nation of China–– said Cardinal Sepe – offer vivacious witness of faith and charity with various initiatives: clinics, dispensaries, homes, hospitals, orphanages and centres for abandoned children and for people with leprosy or a disability”.

“The Holy See – he said – wishes to continue its work in the field of charity and to support projects to help the people of China as it does in other parts of the world”.

Cardinal Sepe encouraged the Catholic Church in China to offer witness of communion and to “grow in unity” recalling that the Pope, as Shepherd of the universal Church, is aware of “the duty which cannot be renounced to confirm Chinese Catholics in the faith and promote their unity with the means proper to the Church”, with activity which us “purely ecclesial and non political”.

The Cardinal expressed the wish, voiced also by the late Pope John Paul II, for dialogue with the authorities of the People’s Republic of China to overcome past misunderstandings and “work together for the good of the people of China and for peace in the world ”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2005 righe 32 parole 341)

EUROPE/SPAIN - “Today Christian witness of family love and communion has unequalled potential for evangelisation”: Cardinal Sepe presides 16th Family Marian Day at Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad Huesca– Thousands of families, more than 15,000 men, women and children gathered on Sunday 18 September at the Marian Shrine of Torreciudad, Huesca in Spain for the 16th Family Marian Day meeting presided by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples . The event began with the traditional offering of flowers and farm products to Our Lady of Torreciudad by a group families and individuals. This was followed by Mass presided by Cardinal Sepe.

In his homily the Cardinal underlined the importance of the family and the gifts it offers society and the Church. “Every citizen of every civil society comes from a family” the Cardinal said denouncing attacks “to weaken the institution of the family” because “totalitarian powers refuse to see their subjects as ‘persons’, and it is precisely the family which generates people who become what they are through the power of love”. Cardinal

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Sepe said “today many societies are trying to disarticulate the family inventing new models of family, alternative they say, ,promoting different forms of dissolution of marriage, such as free unions and trial marriages and even pseduo marriage between persons of the same sex and leading people systematically to close the union of spouses to the gift of life and even to suppres or manipulate unborn life”.

Speaking of the family’s mission to evangelise the Cardinal said “today Christian witness of communion and maternal, paternal, filial and fraternal love of each member individually and as a family community, is an uneqallled potential for evangelisation" and the Church needs the family to share her evangelising mission. The Cardinal then stressed the dimension of the family as a ‘domestic church’ and its important role in promoting vocations: “in the family environment of devotion it is possible to hear God’s call”. Lastly Cardinal Sepe said families deserve proper pastoral care “spiritual attention” warning that “attention only for the material wellbeing of the family may in the end destroy the family”.

Pope Benedict XVI sent a special Message for the occasion which was read out at the end of the Mass. The Pope encouraged the families gathered at the Shrine of Torreciudad “to shoulder the difficult task of promoting and strengthening laws and methods which guarantee the rights and duties of the family, community of life founded by the Creator and a permenant sign of hope for all peoples”.

During the event Henar Molinero secretary general of the organising Committee for the 5th World Meeting for Families to be held inValencia Spain in the first week of July 2006, presented the programme and encouraged families to take part. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/9/2005, righe 37 parole 494) See Cardinal Sepe’s homily in Spanishhttp://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/congregazione/prefetto/prefetto.php?id=65 #

INTENZIONE MISSIONARIA - October 2005: “For all Christians: besides praying for the missions may they also support missionary activity with material offerings.”Comment by Archbishop Robert Sarah secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Vatican City– United with Christ in Baptism Christians become children of God and members of the Body of Christ, that is the Church. They are directly involved in the mandate for mission which the Church received from her Lord: “Go therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28, 19). Having received the power of the Holy Spirit and acting under his impulse Christians are called to be witnesses to Christ in their families, districts, parishes, countries and even to the far corners of the earth (cfr. Acts 1,8). Through baptism they become like Christ and receive the gift of sharing his mission to evangeliste which is the mission of the Church. The mission consists fundamentally in professing before all men the faith received from God and in taking an active part in apostolic and missionari activity of the people of God (cfr. CCC 1270).

The first way to participate in the Church’s missionary activity is by offering spiritual means of prayer, sacrifice, daily efforts to life a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ (cfr. Phil. 1,27) and striving for holiness. Besides these spiritual means it is opportune to add real concrete material support, since faced with earthly realites the Church needs also material means to carry out her mission. It is therefore fundamental to underline in this context the importance of the Pontifcal Mission Societies which organise mission collections to help the Church meet material and financial demands inherent to her evangelising mission, above all in young Churches in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America many of which suffer from material poverty and political instability. It is there part of the duty of witness which every Chrisitian has by virtue of baptism to offer economic help for the missions. Following the example of the early Christians who, filled with faith in the Risen Christ and aware of being members of the same Body, sold their lands and possessions to share the profit to meet the needs of all (cfr. Acts 2,42), Chrisians today are called to have the same goodness of heart and generosity and to give to the Church, even from their poverty, that she may respond to hermissionary vocation.

In this month of the Rosary and at the end of the Year of the Eucharist may we with the same faith and love and readiness as the Blessed Virgin Mary welcome the Word of Life and share it with our brothers and sisters searching for salvation which only God can give. (+ Robert Sarah) (Agenzia Fides 20/9/2005, righe 32, parole 466)

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VATICANThe Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples appoints new Pontifical Mission Societies general secretaries Vatican City– Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples called a meeting with the staff of the Pontifical Mission Societies to announce the appointment of Secretaries General of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Fr Fernando Galbiati, (PIME), former Secretary general of the Pontifical Missionary Union and ad interim of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, has been appointed general secretary of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith “donec aliter provideatur”. The task of the Society founded in 1822 by venerable Pauline Jaricot is to promote missionary cooperation among Christian communities, sustain missionary vocations, educate to a spirit of mission and organise various initiatives to collect funds particularly on the annual World Mission Sunday.

Reverend Jan Dumon a member of the clergy of Bruges and since 1999 national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Belgium, has been appointed secretary general of the Pontifical Society St Peter Apostle. The Society was founded in 1889 in Caen, France by Madame and Mademoiselle Bigard to support local clergy in missionary territories and also candidates for the religious life.

Fr. Vito del Prete, PIME, since 2002 national secretary of the Pontifical Missionary Union in Italy has been appointed secretary general of the Pontifical Missionary Union. The Union was founded by Blessed Paolo Manna PIME in Italy in 1916 to promote missionary animation for priests, men and women religious and other people involved in the Church’s pastoral ministry

F. Patrick Byrne, Divine Word Missionary has been confirmed for another five year term secretary general of the Pontifical Holy Childhood Society. The Society was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop de Forbin Janson of Nancy to promote among children awareness of material and spiritual needs of less fortunate children in mission territories. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/9/2005; righe 29, parole 346)

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Agenzia FIDES - 30 luglio 2005 · Web viewFIDES SPECIAL ISSUE . Instrumentum mensis Septembris ....

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