PROMOTE LAY SPIRITUALITY IN LITHUANIA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 1999 (VIS) - At Castelgandolfo this morning, the Pope received prelates from the Lithuanian Episcopal Conference who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

The Holy Father recalled his 1993 pastoral visit to Lithuania, where "I had the opportunity to observe with how much vitality the faith of Lithuanians had survived the period of trial. Of course, as always occurs in times of persecution, there was some yielding. Even today, in your reports, you make clear that years of atheistic propaganda have had devastating effects which are not easy to rectify. Yet at the same time, the faith of many, having passed through the fire, has come out stronger."

After referring to the dangers that "a secularist and hedonistic model of life" entails for the faith, he affirmed that "some of the ethical problems that, unfortunately, are spread throughout the world - from the crisis in the family to scant consideration for the value of life - also have a notable presence in Lithuania." He recalled that what he said in 1993 remains valid: "New evangelisation is the first and most pressing need of pastoral care in Lithuania."

John Paul II underlined the importance that catechesis "help people to 'meet' Jesus Christ. ... What is necessary is a proposal of faith adapted to those who have fallen away," as well as, for those who already believe, one that "guides along the Christian road until full maturity."

Furthermore, the Pope continued, "the formation of lay people is imperative, as is the promotion of lay spirituality. ... It is up to well-trained lay people in particular to be leavening in society, in order to protect those human and Christian values upon which the future of man depends." He made particular reference to respect for human life and the family.

"One significant lay commitment, of particular urgency in the young Lithuanian democracy, regards politics. This requires Christians to be fully coherent with evangelical values as laid down in the Church's social doctrine."

The Holy Father concluded by stressing that "the formation of a mature laity is the true 'secret' for the Church to have a significant presence in Lithuanian society. ... The laity cannot be passive in the Church! ... On this road to maturity they may find support in those forms of association, traditional or modern, which under the guidance of their pastors, offer them secure opportunities for formation and orient them towards valid forms of witness."

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NEW ENCHIRIDION INDULGENTIARUM IS PRESENTED TODAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 1999 (VIS) - The new "Enchiridion Indulgentiarum" was presented this morning in the Holy See Press Office by Cardinal William Baum, major penitentiary, and Msgr. Dario Rezza, Vatican canon.

An enchiridion is a manual or handbook. The 127-page volume in Latin presented today is the fourth edition of the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum. Cardinal Baum, who was also joined by Bishop Luigi De Magistris and theologian Fr. Ivan Fucek, S.J., both of the Apostolic Penitentiary, pointed out that the Latin version of the third edition has been sold out since 1986.

In his introduction, Cardinal Baum said that "indulgences, correctly understood and piously obtained, are a vital moment of continual conversion, of the continual process of sanctification with which supernatural life on earth is identified."

Msgr. Rezza highlighted how, from the first Jubilee in 1300, under Boniface VIII, to the imminent 26th ordinary Holy Year, the "indulgence is one of the constitutive elements of the Jubilee event." He reiterated the cardinal's point that the indulgence "is intimately linked with the sacrament of reconciliation."

The Enchiridion, citing canon 992 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, defines an indulgence as follows:

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain and definite conditions and with the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

Fr. Rezza remarked that the "two principal causes that a veil of silence was thrown over indulgences were their refusal by the Reformed Churches, ... and several recent historical studies on the medieval period, which considered them to be 'devotional abuses', which came out at the same time as the 'medieval invention' of purgatory."

He said that the misunderstandings which occurred throughout history have been overcome and clarified. Today, he stated, "the Catholic doctrine on indulgences is based on very precise theological premises and well documented historical precedents from tradition."

Msgr. Rezza confirmed that there are three new innovations in this fourth edition of the Enchiridion Indulgentarium: "A re-explication both of the unchangeable principles that regulate the discipline of indulgences and of the specific norms, in the light of recent documents from the Apostolic See; The systematic manner of exposition which allows for more rapid consultation; The method, which aims to underline how the concession of indulgences serves to increase 'the pious affection of supernatural charity both in individual faithful and in the ecclesial community itself'."

Regarding the new concession of indulgences, the following are mentioned: "Participation in days or weeks of prayer dedicated to specific religious ends, the cult of the Eucharist, the extension of plenary indulgence for group recitation of the rosary and the Akathistos (ancient hymn to the Virgin). Particular reference is also made to the faculty of various episcopal assemblies, both in the Oriental and Latin-rite Churches, to determine the prayers most widely diffused in their own territories."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Two prelates from the Lithuanian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Juozas Zemaitis M.I.C., of Vilkaviskis.
- Bishop Eugenijus Bartulis of Siauliai.
- Four prelates from the Latvian Episcopal Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Janis Pujats of Riga.
- Bishop Janis Bulis of Rezekne-Aglona.
- Bishop Antons Justs of Jelgava.
- Bishop Arvaldis Andrejs Brumanis of Liepaja.
- Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia and apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the apostolic administration of Estonia.

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COUNCIL SECRETARY ADDRESSES CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIAN RADIOS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 1999 (VIS) - Bishop Pierfranco Pastore, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, is attending the European Conference of Christian Radio Stations, which began yesterday in Vienna, Austria, and closes September 19. His address tomorrow morning focusses on "The Year 2000: A Chance for Europe." He will also deliver a homily tomorrow evening.

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