INSTRUCTION ON MISSIONARY COOPERATION BETWEEN CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples today published its "Instruction on the Sending Abroad and Sojourn of Diocesan Priests from Mission Territories." The 14-page document, approved by Pope John Paul, is dated April 25, 2001 and is signed by former prefect, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, and by the congregation's adjunct secretary, Archbishop Charles Schleck. It was published in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

A note from Cardinal Tomko, entitled "Reasons for the Instruction," accompanied the document.

The cardinal opens the commentary by underscoring the missionary nature of the Church, and states that the Church "is growing in the so-called mission territories and its numerical weight is moving towards the southern hemisphere of our planet."

He also refers to the "innate missionary vocation of the priesthood," noting that many priests in mission countries are sent abroad to further their studies and that many remain abroad, especially in Europe and North America. "This phenomenon," he writes, "has taken on such dimensions that it calls for an attentive evaluation in the context of the ecclesial situation as well as a regulation asked for by various parties so that such mobility does not damage, but rather helps the growth of the Church in mission territories. This is the scope of the "Instruction on the Sending Abroad and Sojourn of Diocesan Priests from Mission Territories."

Cardinal Tomko states that "the Instruction has two parts, one which explains (the problem) and another which lays out the norms. The positive intention to favor the genuine missionary spirit of all diocesan priests and to help the young Churches in their orderly maturation is very clear in the sober but compact first part, which fully justifies the basic norms which are laid out in the second part."

He explains that "the missionary dimension of the priest is not cancelled with his assignment to a diocese. In fact, this 'innate' missionary vocation of priests is at the basis of a precious service, even temporary, that they offer to young Churches and has motivated the rise of the precious form of missionary collaboration of diocesan priests called 'fidei donum' according to Pius XII's famous encyclical (of the same name)."

The former prefect then cites examples of young missionary Churches that are, in turn, sending their priests to other young missionary Churches, mentioning examples in Africa in particular. This can on occasion deprive the donor Church of the priests it needs to continue its evangelizing work.

He mentions the reasons why young Churches may send their priests abroad: 1. to further their studies; 2. to help pastors in local Churches, especially Europe and North America, where there is a shortage of vocations, and 3. to assist their fellow countrymen who reside abroad. One reason for "the permanent stay of diocesan priests in mission territory abroad is constituted by the state of persecution, wars or similar serious circumstances."

Cardinal Tomko then writes "of the other side of the coin. In young Churches there are many vocations. Their number has tripled in the past 20 years. The Pontifical Missionary Works today help nearly 30,000 major seminarians and 50,000 minor seminarians." He said that normally their seminary formation is in their home country but added that "many aspire to go to the West and they stay there for long periods, or definitively, guided by motives they are not properly in the missionary spirit, for example, aspiring to better living conditions or a better economic situation."

"There are dioceses in Africa and Asia," says the former prefect, "that have a third, or even half, of their diocesan priests abroad, for economic motives; I know one where there are 83 (priests abroad) and internal evangelization is stagnating."

"The Instruction," he concludes, "is a tacit invitation to reflection for both types of Churches; young and old. A community which cannot succeed in creating in its own midst the ministers it needs must ask itself about the causes of such a situation and about the just remedies, such as the pastoral ministries for the family and for vocations."

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HOLY SEE ABSTAINS ON VOTE TO ELECT WAR CRIMES JUDGES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, spoke yesterday prior to the election of the judges "ad litem" of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991.

The nuncio stated that "the Holy See has attentively followed the proceedings" of this tribunal and regards it "as an instrument of the international community to express its condemnation of violations of international humanitarian law."

Archbishop Martino added that "even if the Holy See is a non-Member State which maintains a Permanent Observer Mission at the United Nations, the Holy See appreciates the fact that it is invited to participate in the election of the judges 'ad litem' in the same manner as the States Members of the United Nations. ... In this regard, the Holy See, according to the praxis in similar cases and for the sake of impartiality, has decided to abstain from casting its vote on the individual candidates to the office of judge 'ad litem'."

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GENERAL AUDIENCE: GOD PROTECTS THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIS WAYS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - The theme of John Paul II's catechesis for today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, was Psalm 28, which "invites us to an attitude of profound and trusting adoration of the divine Majesty."

The Holy Father explained that "Psalm 28 is dominated by the image of a thunderstorm, seen as a powerful symbol of the voice of God. The storm rises from the sea and its unstoppable and destructive power is felt throughout the land. ... The Psalm goes on to speak of the adoration of God in the Temple at Jerusalem. There the terror of the storm is replaced by the certainty of God's protection."

"Before these two antithetical pictures, the one praying is invited to ... discover that the mystery of God, expressed in the symbol of the storm, cannot be captured or dominated by man. ... In this light is highlighted what a modern thinker, Rudolph Otto, has described as the 'tremendum' of God, that is His ineffable transcendence and His presence as just judge of the history of humanity."

John Paul II affirmed that the Psalm "presents, however, another aspect of the face of God, that which is discovered in the intimacy of prayer and in the celebration of the liturgy. It is, according to Otto, the 'fascinosum' of God, that is the charm which emanates from His grace, the mystery of the love which is poured out on the faithful one, the serene security of the blessing reserved for the just man.

"Even in the face of the chaos of evil, the storms of history, and the anger of divine justice itself," he concluded, "the one praying feels at peace, wrapped in the mantle of protection which Providence offers to those who praise God and follow His ways. Through prayer one recognizes that the true desire of the Lord consists in giving peace."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience today Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians.

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CARDINAL RE HONORED AT PONTIFICAL FILIPINO COLLEGE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, received a Presidential Citation yesterday afternoon from Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, Henrietta De Villa, following a Mass at the Pontifical Filipino College. The citation was for "his achievements in the field of international relations from the time he joined the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1962" and for the work of the Holy See in the world. The embassy yesterday also marked the 103rd anniversary of Philippine independence, 50 years of diplomatic ties with the Holy See and the 40th anniversary of the Pontifical College.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Antonio Montes Moreira, O.F.M., director of the secretariat general of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, as bishop of Braganca-Miranda (area 6,545, population 157,910, Catholics 155,600, priests 126, permanent deacons 4, religious 134), Portugal. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Jose Rafael, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Tome do Castelo, Portugal, in 1935, and ordained to the priesthood in 1958.

- Appointed Fr. Luis Gonzaga Silva Pepeu, O.F.M. Cap., secretary of the procurator general of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchins, as bishop of Afogados da Ingazeira (area 11,034, population 397,000, Catholics 385,000, priests 22, permanent deacons 4, religious 41), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Francisco Austregesilo De Mesquita, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit. The bishop-elect was born in Caruaru, Brazil, in 1957, and ordained to the priesthood in 1982.

- Appointed Fr. Antonio Santarsiero, O.S.I., provincial superior of the Josephines of Asti in Peru, as bishop prelate of the prelature of Huari (area 23,000, population 298,524, Catholics 288,000, priests 30, religious 31), Peru. He succeeds Bishop Dante Frasnelli Tarter, O.S.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same prelature the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit. The bishop-elect was born in Avigliano, Italy, in 1951, and ordained to the priesthood in 1980.

- Appointed Bishop Luis Abilio Sebastiani Aguirre, S.M., of Tarma, as metropolitan archbishop of Ayacucho (area 26,777, population 491,706, Catholics 393,365, priests 39, religious 128), Peru.

- Appointed Msgr. Richard Daniel Alarcon Urrutia, vicar general of Tarma (area 13,032, population 586,257, Catholics 510,052, priests 27, religious 36), Peru, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Lima, Peru, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1976.

- Appointed Fr. Sergio da Rocha, of the clergy of Sao Carlos, Brazil, rector of the diocesan Theological Seminary, and Fr. Plinio Jose Luz da Silva, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Fortaleza (area 15,217, population 3,500,700, Catholics 2,200,000, priests 284, religious 2,466), Brazil, episcopal vicar for the Serra region and pastor of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Palma in Baturite, as auxiliary bishops of Fortaleza. Bishop-elect da Rocha was born in Dobrada, Brazil, in 1959, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984. Bishop-elect da Silva was born in Pacoti, Brazil, in 1955, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984.

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