RELATIO POST-DISCEPTATIONEM

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, read the 'Relatio post-disceptationem' today in Latin. This report followed the speeches of the 18th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops. Following are some extracts from the English text of the document, made public this afternoon:

INTRODUCTION: "The aim of the report is to point out the main topics that should be studied to finally achieve the desired Synodal consensus. ... In this particular moment of our history - as various brothers in this Synodal Hall have already said - peace and the unity of human coexistence are threatened. The Bishop, servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the hope of the world, facing this reality, hears the calling to be a man of peace, of reconciliation and of communion."

I. THE BISHOP IN COMMUNION WITH THE LORD. "The figure of the praying Bishop emerged various times presenting him as a witness of prayer and holiness, witness of salvific time, time of grace. ... Since sanctification is also included in the triple 'munus' conferred on the Bishop through sacramental ordination, it has also been underlined that his responsibility cannot be limited to the administration of sacraments, but must also include his every act and all behavior, so that through his life he may lead the faithful towards holiness. Each Bishop must be a model of holy life for them and the first teacher and witness of that pedagogy of holiness that John Paul II wrote about in the Apostolic Letter 'Novo Millennio Ineunte'."

II. THE BISHOP AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. "Certain questions concerning the relationship between diocesan Bishops and the missionary religious congregations have emerged from the Synodal interventions, requiring a deeper reflection, such as the great contribution that a particular Church may receive from the congregations of consecrated life ... which can ensure maintaining the liveliness of the missionary dimension. ... On the same line as communion with the universal Church, the Bishop's need to increase and nurture communion, in the first place with the Vicar of Christ and with the close collaborators that form the Roman Curia, was rightly pointed out. ... The ecumenical issue is one of the greatest challenges of the beginning of the new millennium and a central point of the pastoral work of the Bishop. A great deal can be done starting now, while we walk towards the full communion around the table of the Lord. First of all, one should expect ecumenism in daily life; with attitudes of charity, welcome and cooperation; to which one must add the reception of the valid results of the ecumenical dialogue, One must not lose sight of the ecumenical formation not only of the lay faithful and priests but, first and foremost, of our Bishops. ... The suggestions of some speakers on the eventual need for a revision of the Synod methodology, can perhaps be tackled elsewhere and with adequate preparation, since it seems that an in-depth discussion on this theme exceeds the specific limits of this Synod. Some interventions proposed holding meetings with the Holy Father and the presidents of the episcopal conferences to deal with common pastoral issues. You may recall that already the Extraordinary General Assemblies, envisaged by the 'Ordo Synodi' are specifically a synodal expression of these types of meetings. Therefore, one could reflect on the eventual possibility of convening these assemblies more frequently in the future to deal with well defined themes and to inform the Holy Father about pastoral situations emerging in the world."

III. THE BISHOP IN SERVICE TO COMMUNION IN THE PARTICULAR CHURCH. "The 'munus docendi' of the Bishop has been shown as a priority and as the munus which excels among the main duties of the Bishop. ... He is a public witness of the faith. The Bishop exerts his magisterial role, as it has also been stressed here, within the episcopal body and in hierarchical communion with the head of the College and with the other members. Even more. ... It has also been stated that the Bishop is the first catechist in his particular Church and that, consequently, he also has the duty to get valid collaborators, promoting and taking care of the doctrinal formation of his seminarians and priests, of the catechists, as well as of the religious men and women and the lay faithful. ... Inculturation in the Gospel is, on the other hand, linked to pastoral work in culture, which takes into account both modern and post-modern cultures, autochthonous cultures and new cultural movements, in other words everything which forms new and old 'areopagi' for evangelization. ... Within the proclamation of the Gospel and inculturation, a special role is taken on by the means of social communication, especially in our age which sees huge technological potential. As has been stressed, the world of communication is ambivalent. However, we have the possibility of using these instruments to promote the truth of the Gospel and to spread those messages of hope and faith, which the world continues to need. What was pointed out was to develop in our dioceses a pastoral communication plan, encouraging creativity and competence especially of our lay faithful. ...This also implies assigning to formation in communication those spaces which are necessary in our seminaries, in our religious houses and in the programs for the permanent formation of priests, of religious and lay faithful."

IV. THE BISHOP IN SERVICE TO COMMUNION IN THE WORLD. "Nowadays the war of the powerful against the weak has opened a gap between the rich and the poor. The poor are legion. In the face of an unjust economic system with very strong structural mismatches, the situation of the marginalized is worse. Today there is hunger. The poor, the young and the refugees are victims of this 'new civilization'. Women in many parts are not appreciated and are the object of hedonistic civilization. The Bishop must never tire of preaching the social doctrine which comes from the Gospel and which the Church has made explicit since the times of the First Fathers."

CONCLUSION. "'With you I am Christian and for you, I am Bishop'. We would like to end this paper with the same words by St. Augustine. Let us allow the Fathers to reflect on the aforementioned points and many more in order to outline the profile of the image of the Bishop which the Church needs in order to accomplish its mission in this beginning of the Third Millennium: a man of God on his journey with his people, a man of communion and missionarity, a man of hope, servant of the Gospel for the hope of the world."

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ARCHBISHOP MARTINO ADDRESSES THE U.N. ON POVERTY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday afternoon before the Second Committee of the 56th session of the U.N. General Assembly on the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty.

He recalled that "the first principle of the (1992) Rio Conference states that 'human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development'. ... We are not only dealing with numbers, but we are discussing the lives and well-being of hundreds of millions of the world's people living in poverty. This is, for my delegation, the most important idea in each and every discussion ... within the United Nations system. Is this not the raison d'etre of the United Nations? If, when we discuss the eradication of poverty, we are not discussing the well-being of each and every human person, our discussions are empty words."

"In the eyes of the Holy See," Archbishop Martino underscored, "consideration must be given to amending the understanding of the foundation of sustainable development. Speaking of 'economic development, social development and environmental protection' no longer seems to be sufficient in the light of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other diseases that continue to take their devastating toll, armed conflict, the great numbers of refugees and displaced persons, and the inability to close the gaps in the provision of basic social services."

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CARDINALS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITLES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2001 (VIS) - The following cardinals will take possession of their titular or diaconate churches in coming days:

- Sunday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m.: Cardinal Johannes Joachim Degenhardt, metropolitan archbishop of Paderborn, Germany, title of St. Liborio, Via T. Buazzelli, 70.

- Sunday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m.: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., metropolitan archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, title of St. Robert Bellarmine, Via Panama, 13.

- Sunday, October 14 at 11 a.m.: Cardinal Janis Pujats, metropolitan archbishop of Riga, Latvia, title of St. Silvia, Via G. Sirtori, 2.

- Sunday, October 14 at 4 p.m.: Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, diaconate of Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza della Scala, 23.

- Monday, October 15 at 7 p.m.: Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuirz Ossa, metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile, title of Santa Maria della Pace, Via Arco della Pace, 5.

- Saturday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m.: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, metropolitan archbishop of Westminster, Great Britain, title of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Via del Beato Angelico, 35.

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LANGUAGE GROUPS MEET TODAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - The various language groups met this morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to continue their discussion on the theme of the Synod of Bishops. They are scheduled to meet again this afternoon from 5 to 7 p.m., during which time approval of each group's report will be given. These reports will then be given in the 19th and 20th General Congregations, set for tomorrow morning and afternoon, respectively.

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MESSAGE FOR 2002 WORLD DAY OF THE MIGRANT AND REFUGEE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - On Thursday, October 18 at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, will present the Pope's 2002 Message for the 88th World Day of the Migrant and Refugee on the theme "Migrants and Inter-religious Dialogue."

Joining the archbishop will be Fr. Angelo Negrini, C.S., council official in charge of the department for migrants, and Msgr. Felix Anthony Machado, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

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POPE CONGRATULATES KOFI ANNAN, U.N., FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the text of the telegram sent by Pope John Paul to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who was the co-recipient, along with the U.N., of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize:

"With joy I have learned that the United Nations Organization and you, its secretary general, have been chosen as the recipients of this year's Nobel Peace Prize. I warmly congratulate you on this well-deserved recognition of your efforts to build up the U.N. system to enable it to respond ever more effectively to the difficult challenges constantly arising out of a world situation marked by seemingly insurmountable imbalances, tensions and the nonobservance of human rights. In your case the Nobel Peace Prize crowns a lifetime dedicated to serving peace and justice and the well-being of the world's peoples. I assure you of my continuing prayers."

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ANGELUS: PRAY THE ROSARY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2001 (VIS) - Before praying the angelus today with the pilgrims assembled in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul noted that the month of October is dedicated to the rosary, a "prayer so dear to Christians. Because of the current international situation, I have invited people to recite the rosary for peace. Today I renew this invitation."

Speaking from his study window overlooking the square, the Pope said, "Once, reciting the rosary was widely practiced in families, especially at the end of the day. The married couple, Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, whom I will beatify next Sunday, did so daily.

"On the occasion of this event," he continued, "which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation 'Familiaris consortio', the Italian Church has called a meeting on the theme 'The Family as a Social Subject'. I appreciate this initiative and hope that families find in Italian society, a renewed centrality."

The Holy Father then noted that "next Saturday afternoon, Christian families are invited to a meeting of reflection and prayer in St. Peter's Square. On Sunday, there will be the culminating moment with the solemn beatification of this husband and wife, coinciding with World Mission Day. This will be a propitious occasion to underline the role of families in the evangelizing mission of the Church."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation to the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Taegu, Korea, presented by Bishop Alexander Sye Cheongduk in conformity with Canons 411 and 401, para 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Ludwig Schwarz, S.D.B., up to now director of the Pontifical Missionary Works in Austria, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Wien (Vienna: area 9,000, population 2,320,000, Catholics 1,404,720, priests 1,170, religious 2,546, permanent deacons 133), Austria. The bishop-elect was born in Bratislava, Slovakia in 1940 and was ordained a priest in 1964.

- Appointed Msgr. Giovanni Angelo Becciu as apostolic nuncio in Angola and Sao Tome and Principe. The archbishop-elect was born in Sassari, Italy, in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1972. Up to now he has been nunciature counsellor in the apostolic nunciature in the United States of America.

On Saturday, October 13, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Franciscus Kopong Kung, pro-vicar general of Larantuka (area 4,024, population 230,000, Catholics 217,326, priests 93, religious 202), Indonesia, as coadjutor bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in 1950, and ordained to the priesthood in 1982.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today the following members of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Jean Honore, archbishop emeritus of Tours, France.
- Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako, Mali.
- Bishop Maurice Gaidon of Cahors, France.
- Bishop Franghiskos Papamanolis, O.F.M.Cap., of Syros, Greece.
- Bishop Simon-Victor Tonye Bakot of Edea, Cameroon.
- Bishop Pierre Morissette of Baie-Comeau, Canada.
- Bishop Claude Dagens of Angouleme, France.
- Bishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-Fa of Tainan, Taiwan.
- Bishop Jean-Claude Makaya Loembe of Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo.
- Bishop Anastase Mutabazi of Kabgayi, Rwanda.
- Bishop Emile Destombes, M.E.P., apostolic vicar of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia.
- Bishop Pierre Nguyen Soan of Quy Nhon, Vietnam.
- Bishop Mathieu Madega, auxiliary of Libreville, Gabon.

On Saturday, October 13, he received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Archbishop Eusebio Oscar Scheid of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Archbishop Giovanni Coppa, apostolic nuncio.
- Archbishop Dominik Hrusovsky, apostolic nuncio.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

He also received the following synod participants:

- Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, S.J., archbishop of Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Archbishop Henry Sebastian D'Souza of Calcutta, India.
- Archbishop Justin Francis Rigali of Saint Louis, U.S.A.
- Archbishop Sean B. Brady of Armagh, Ireland.
- Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara, Uganda.
- Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I., of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
- Bishop Nikol Joseph Cauchi of Gozo, Malta.
- Bishop Paul Khoarai of Leribe, Lesotho.
- Bishop Anthony Leopold Raymond Peiris of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.
- Eparch Tesfamariam Bedho of Keren, Eritrea.
- Bishop David L. Walker of Broken Bay, Australia.
- Bishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Hwange, Zimbabwe.
- Bishop Cherubim Dambui, auxiliary of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

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POPE JOHN PAUL II: 7TH LONGEST PONTIFICATE IN HISTORY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2001 (VIS) - Tomorrow, October 16, marks the 23rd anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul to the papacy. The white smoke from the Sistine Chapel indicating the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow, to the See of Peter was seen at 6:18 p.m. on October 16, 1978. At 6:45 p.m. Cardinal Pericle Felici announced that the new Pope had chosen the name of John Paul II and at 7:15 p.m. the first Polish Pope in Church history appeared at the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.

Only six Popes, including St. Peter, have reigned longer than Pope John Paul. In ascending order, they are: Pius VII (23 years, 5 months, 6 days; Adrian I (23 years, 10 months, 24 days); Pius VI (24 years, 6 months, 7 days); Leo XIII (25 years, 5 months); Pius IX (31 years, 7 months, 21 days) and St. Peter (unknown dates).

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