PUBLICATION OF "INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS" OF OCTOBER SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the "Instrumentum laboris" of the Tenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October on the theme: "The Bishop as Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World."

The 130-page document, published in English, French, Spanish, and Italian, consists of an introduction, five chapters, and a conclusion.

A synthesis follows:

The Introduction suggests "various reasons of a theological, ecclesiological, and economic character which illustrate the thematic of the Synod at this time."
In Chapter I, "A Ministry of Hope," a general vision is presented of the situation in today's world and the theme of Christian hope, proposing the figure of the Bishop as the promotor of hope. It outlines the current situation, shadows, religious and ethical problems, emerging ecclesial situations, signs of vitality and hope, the search for a new humanism, fruits and various signs of the presence of the Spirit, the request for spirituality, and the mission of the Bishop in this context.

Chapter 2, "The Mystery, Ministry, and Spirituality of the Bishop," illustrates in a unitary way the being, action, and spirituality of the bishop. The chapter is divided into three large sections with specific themes: "The Mystery and Grace of the Episcopate," "The Sanctification of His Ministry," and "The Spiritual Itinerary of the Bishop."

Chapter 3, "The Episcopate: The Ministry of Communion and Mission in the Universal Church," is divided into two parts: 1. the episcopal ministry in an ecclesiology of communion, and 2. several particular problems. The emphasis is placed on the Trinitarian mystery which is manifested in the Church and the ecclesiology of communion as well as in the ministry of the bishop in the universal Church and in the particular Churches. Certain aspects of communion are then underlined: the Successor of Peter, his mission, and the Holy See. The roles of the episcopal conferences and of the bishop in the service of the universal Church, are indicated under different points of view. Moreover, "it is asked that emeritus bishops be given appropriate economic support and a living situation which does not isolate them, but rather fosters their participation in ecclesial life."

The figure of the diocesan bishop is at the center of Chapter 4, "The Bishop in Service to His Church." A first part regards the role of the bishop with his particular Church and in relation to the Universal Church. The second part concerns the communion and mission starting from the relationship with priests and deacons, the laity, religious and the family. Finally, the three-fold ministry of the bishop in the local Church is mentioned: the ministry of the word (Gospel, catechesis, inculturation); the ministry of sanctification (Eucharist, attention to prayer and to popular piety) and the ministry of government: a ministry of guidance, pastoral visits, and economic administration.

In Chapter 5, "In the Service of the Gospel for the Hope of the World," are found the different themes of pastoral ministry in the world. It speaks of announcing and dialogue, missionary cooperation, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue and intervention against sects and satanism. Other themes include dialogue with people of other religious convictions, attention to new forms of poverty, problems of justice and peace, and the relationship with civil and political society.

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