VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for June is: "That our every activity may have its beginning and its end in Christ present in the Eucharist."
His missionary intention is: "That in Vietnam Catholic citizens may be granted to cooperate more towards the development of their country in cultural, educational and social welfare services."
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Friday, June 1, 2001
CHRIST MUST BE AT CENTER OF INDIVIDUAL, COMMUNITY LIFE
VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - Forty-five participants in the 12th general chapter of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) were welcomed today by the Holy Father as they conclude both the chapter and the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the institute's founding.
"The days and the centuries pass," the Pope began his talk to them. "Christ remains the same yesterday, today and always. He is the center of individual and community life of all those who belong to Him. ... If it is your intention to rethink the charism proper to your institute in order to revitalize it, it is essential ... to start from the centrality of Christ in community life and personal witness. When a 'christological weakness' is insinuated in your action, then your work of evangelization risks being reduced to prevalently social or charitable activity, or pastoral organization."
The Holy Father admitted that the problems which mankind faces, and which must be taken into consideration in missionary work, are many: globalization, ethnocentrism, the temptation to build 'do-it-yourself' religions and "the closing of many countries to the presence of missionaries and direct evangelization." With specific reference to PIME, he cited the ageing of members as well as a decline in their numbers.
John Paul II then highlighted "the four strong dimensions which mark the identity of your institute": PIME missionaries are envoys "ad extra"; their mission is "ad gentes"; they are consecrated "ad vitam" and their apostolic mission must be accomplished together.
As envoys "ad extra," affirmed the Pope, PIME missionaries "leave their own land ... to go where the Lord calls them." In their mission "ad gentes," they must reach those who are "'far', especially those who do not know the Gospel. This demands a creative effort to be able to inculturate the Gospel, an intense capacity for dialogue and constant attention to the demands of human promotion, of the struggle against injustice, of the defense of the poor and of those without rights."
Recalling that their consecration is "ad vitam," that is, for life, the Pope said their call "involves their entire existence and lasts their entire life. It is a total giving to Christ for mission." And lastly, he remarked that their work "must be done together. You are missionaries of various nationalities, priests and lay people who live in communion, in a style totally oriented to mission. The spirituality of communion is the truest witness to Christ that you could give the world."
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THE VISITATION: FAITHFUL PROCESS, SAY ROSARY IN VATICAN GARDENS
VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - At 8 p.m. yesterday, feast of the Visitation of Mary, there was the traditional end-of-May procession in the Vatican Gardens from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians to the Grotto of Lourdes during which the faithful recited the rosary. Pope John Paul arrived at the Grotto at 9 for prayers and then addressed those present, including several cardinals and bishops.
The Pope said that "Mary's encounter with her cousin Elizabeth is like a 'little Pentecost'. I would like to emphasize this on the vigil of the great solemnity of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel account the Visitation immediately follows the Annunciation: The Virgin Mary, who is carrying in her womb the Son conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, radiates grace and spiritual joy around her. It is the presence of the Spirit in her that makes Elizabeth's son, John, destined to prepare the path for the Son of God made man, leap for joy."
"Where Mary is," added the Holy Father, "there is Christ; where Christ is, there is His Spirit which proceeds from the Father and from Him in the sacrosanct mystery of the Trinity. The Acts of the Apostles underline, rightfully so, the prayerful presence of Mary in the Cenacle, together with the Apostles who have gathered to await to receive 'power from on high'."
He ended his brief remarks by saying: "Thus concludes our Marian pilgrimage in the quiet of the evening and this induces us to think about the final horizon of our existence. ... May the Holy Spirit strengthen our steps on this path which leads us to heaven."
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AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in separate audience:
- His Grace Dr. George Leonard Carey, archbishop of Canterbury and primate of the Anglican Communion, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau and Msgr. Giuseppe Baldanza, respectively prefect, secretary and under-secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, emeritus of Vercelli, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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- His Grace Dr. George Leonard Carey, archbishop of Canterbury and primate of the Anglican Communion, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau and Msgr. Giuseppe Baldanza, respectively prefect, secretary and under-secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
This evening he is scheduled to receive Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, emeritus of Vercelli, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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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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