TWENTIETH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Twentieth General Congregation of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began at 5 p.m. this evening in the presence of the Holy Father and 232 synod fathers. The reading of the language group reports was concluded in this session. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Bernard Agre, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Following are extracts from three of the five reports presented in the Synod Hall:

SPANISH-PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GROUP C: BISHOP CARLOS AGUIAR RETES OF TEXCOCO, MEXICO. "The bishop must promote a priesthood very united with the bishop for the realization of the diocesan pastoral plan. God calls when and where He wishes. Prayer for vocations is of fundamental importance. The Church's mission is to prepare the terrain for the flourishing of vocations, favoring the encounter with the living Jesus Christ. The promotion of vocations is closely related to certain contextual realities which cannot be neglected: the general decrease in the number of children per family, the crisis of the family as an institution; the secularization of large cities, moral relativism, the current difficulties of youth in making life-long commitments. ... In the face of the plurality of charisms and spiritualities in the Church, the bishop must promote his diocesan priests in the spirituality of communion. The curia must be the expression of the pastoral charity of the bishop. Poverty experienced in the administration of ecclesiastical property is shown in the consideration of the social (and not personal) character of these goods. Celibacy and obedience are expressions of poverty. We point out some criteria and orientations: 1. Sharing goods is a way of bearing witness to poverty. 2. Social assistance is still necessary, and cannot be replaced by promotion alone. 3. We should affirm the effectiveness of working for social justice on the basis of the social doctrine of the Church. 4. Recognize the new forms of poverty in its new faces: marginalized women, the undocumented (workers) and migrants, indigenous peoples, prisoners, the excluded. In the face of these a new image of charity must be projected. 5. The question of foreign debt is a factor and cause of poverty; efforts must continue for debt relief."

ITALIAN LANGUAGE GROUP B: ARCHBISHOP COSMO FRANCESCO RUPPI OF LECCE, ITALY. "It was said that the bishop must be a 'doctor veritatis', and for this reason must proclaim entirely the doctrine of Christ and of the Church, aware that Jesus, sole Redeemer and Lord, leads us to the full knowledge of God and to the life of grace. In treating the bishop's holiness and spirituality, the Fathers greatly insisted on the need for him to always be on the path of holiness and to become for everyone, first of all for the priests, an authentic teacher of prayer and a spiritual guide. For this reason, his humility and poverty, his faith, his hope and his charity must be mirrored, offering his own life and his own apostolic service as a model to the flock. ... The bishop's commitment to the pastoral vocational ministry, however, must be constant, remembering that, without a solid family and youth pastoral ministry, stable and durable results will not be possible. His commitment to the formation of future priests must also be assiduous and, for the seminary in particular, he must ensure qualified and up-to-date educators. ... The Italian group paid notable attention to the theme of apostolic collegiality and the unity of the Church: the unity of the Church, whose supreme custodian is the Pope, is in the hearts of all the Bishops. Therefore, gratitude to the Holy Father is unanimous for his daily, heroic and appealing service for the unity and charity of all Churches. Episcopal collegiality, cum Petro et sub Petro, is expressed in the love of each bishop for the Universal Church and for each particular Church, and is expressed through missionary solicitude towards the poorer and more needy Churches."

ENGLISH LANGUAGE GROUP C: ARCHBISHOP JOHN OLORUNFEMI ONAIYEKAN OF ABUJA, PRESIDENT OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE, NIGERIA. "In the area of Christian morality, we need to stress the social doctrines of the Church, the teachings on marriage and family and the ethics of responsible sexual behavior. 2. The spiritual life of the bishop must be centered around his ministry, especially in the liturgy, in prayer and in pastoral charity by which he encounters God in the people he is serving. ... The promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life should be a major concern of the bishop, in the light of the general crisis in this area. We have to clarify and affirm the identity of the priest, pray earnestly for vocations, and put in place a definite pastoral program of vocation promotion. ... The Roman Curia will serve collegiality better if decentralized. The ongoing reflection on the nature of national conferences of bishops should continue along the line of greater autonomy and freedom of action on the pastoral level. The common voice of bishops in conference can exert great positive influence in addressing civil authorities, both national and international, for the good of the society. ... The bishop should be a clear witness to the virtue of poverty, in simplicity of life-style, and above all in his concern for and preferential attention to the needs of the poor within his diocese. This concern should go beyond the diocese to the world, caring for the needs of the poor victims of the injustice of the present economic order."

The following synod fathers delivered their interventions in writing only, without presenting them in the hall: Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I., of Bloemfontein, South Africa, and Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop of Milan, Italy.

Below are extracts from the summaries of their interventions:

ARCHBISHOP BUTI JOSEPH TLHAGALE, O.M.I., OF BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA: "The members of the SACBC (South African Catholic Bishops' Conference) propose that collegiality of the bishops be made more effective. ... The consultative status of the Synod of Bishops is not considered sufficient. The present status often gives the impression that collegiality is not much more than a verbal statement without a corresponding reality. The concrete measures which could transform the Synod of Bishops into a deliberative structure cannot be proposed here and it will also be impossible to determine these during the synod itself. The SACBC therefore proposes that such a structure be prepared through a world-wide process of study and consultation. ... The members of the SACBC propose that episcopal conferences should be given increased importance. ... Subsidiarity (should) be recognized as a divinely instituted principle for designing the cooperation between the various levels of the government of the Church. ... A further time limitation should be established for the office of the bishop."

CARDINAL CARLO MARIA MARTINI, S.J., ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN, ITALY. "1. During the discussion in the hall, very little was said about the systematic pastoral visit to all the parishes and ecclesiastic institutions of the diocese, a visit which is one of the primary commitments of the bishop and which is dealt with in the Instrumentum Laboris no. 121. This visit must be well prepared and planned in an atmosphere of faith and must be done personally by the bishop, along with the help of collaborators. It might be opportune to look into the dioceses to see if and how this privileged form of contact between the bishop and the faithful is carried out. 2. Various interventions opportunely dealt with the relationship between the bishop and the Word of God. I would like to recall a double aspect: that of the bishop who personally cultivates that praying contact with the Scriptures 'which draws from the biblical text the living word which questions, directs and shapes our lives'; and that of the bishop who guides and helps the faithful, in particular the young, to pray starting with the Scriptures. It is important that it is the bishop himself who explains the Scriptures in the cathedral and invites the young to pray with him. 3. Reflection on the bishop as an instrument of communion in the local Church, and how he who represents and interprets it, asks himself how to ensure that the local Church as well can be recognized as the expression of its bishop, beginning with the procedures used in the search for appropriate candidates."

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NINETEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 16, 2001 (VIS) - At 9 this morning the Nineteenth General Congregation of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began in the presence of the Holy Father and 237 synod fathers. The language group reports were read in this session. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Bernard Agre, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

At the beginning of this General Congregation Cardinal Agre read an address in the name of all those present on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Pope's election to the See of Peter.

This is an occasion, he said, "to congratulate you and to wish you, in the name of the entire Church, a happy anniversary, the twenty-third year of your pontifical election. ... (The) planet Earth has many faces, innumerable cultures make up your parish, your pastoral domain. Above all pilgrim of hope, artist of dialogue and of peace, you invite all your contemporaries to have the experience of God in work and serenity. ... With you, very Holy Father, under the light of the face of Christ, loved and contemplated, Jesus the fortune and the force of all humanity, joyful and in solidarity, we cast out our nets for what we hope will be a plentiful catch, benefitting the Church and the world. Happy anniversary, very Holy Father. Ad multos et faustissimos annos!"

Following are excerpts from four of the seven language group reports:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE GROUP B: ARCHBISHOP VERNON JAMES WEISGERBER OF WINNIPEG, CANADA. "The bishop's teaching role is most important in the contemporary world and he thereby becomes a witness of hope. Beginning in his cathedral, the bishop's preaching is followed up by a rich program of formation touching all levels of his collaborators. Special emphasis must be placed on continuous formation. ... Relations with his priests must be transparent; they are to be in his prayers and he must have their care and well-being high on his agenda. The bishop must also reach out to the religious priests in his diocese and integrate them into the diocesan presbyterate. Finally, the relationship with the clergy must motivate the bishop to ensure that all priests have financial security. ... The bishop's role in his diocese is strengthened when the offices of the Roman Curia show in their communications and in their actions that they understand the varying local conditions, otherwise they risk becoming obstacles to communion. To assist in this mutual understanding of the Church, the Synod itself requires attention. It should be adapted so that continuity and follow-up are ensured."

GERMAN LANGUAGE GROUP: BISHOP ALOIS KOTHGASSER, S.D.B., OF INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA. "The bishop must be father and friend of the priests. He must collaborate with the priests in a certain way, so that he can find in this the expression of unity of the Order (of priests). ... To promote the growth of priests, it is important above all to create a favorable climate of celibate priestly and religious vocations. Above all a clear theology of the priesthood is required, especially in the places of formation. In proclaiming and in teaching one clearly sees the specific vocation of the priest and his constitutional importance for the Church (differently from other ecclesial vocations). The pastoral vocation starts with pastoral work on matrimony and the family. The joy in service which the priests manifest, acts like a magnet in attracting young people. The bishop must however concern himself to see that the service of priests becomes much appreciated by the parishioners. ... The relations of the episcopal conferences and the patriarchal synods with the Pope may be underlined in a more effective way by bettering the true structures of the synod of bishops (not dealing with new structures, but bettering those that already exist). The bishops in an ecclesial province must be more intensely involved in the nomination of new bishops, in the sense of collegiality."

FRENCH LANGUAGE GROUP B: BISHOP GILLES CAZABON, O.M.I., OF SAINT-JEROME, CANADA. "Affective collegiality is of great value, but there is a need to show just as much attention to effective collegiality, which already has ways of being exercised in exchanges among the Churches. The Synod of Bishops must also become a better instrument of effective collegiality cum Petro et sub Petro. ... If it can be pertinent to ask ourselves about the collegiality lived in ecclesiastical provinces, our language group is surprised not to find any question referring to the episcopal conferences apart from several interventions in the Hall (which were) specifically reported. The language group restates its conviction that the episcopal conferences play an indispensable role in the Church as an instrument of collegiality. ... One cannot think of the diocesan curia without thinking of the Roman Curia which also touches us in daily matters. Both benefit from periodically assessing themselves in order to better respond to the needs of the Christian people. The commitment of the bishop in favor of justice and peace must be without ambiguity, at both the local and international level. Often, it is not a matter of an isolated action, but a concerted one with brother bishops or in partnership with the civil authorities and the non-governmental organizations. Inspired by Jesus, the bishop must, both in words and action, commit himself in favor of justice and peace."

SPANISH-PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GROUP B: ARCHBISHOP RAMON OVIDIO PEREZ MORALES, ARCHBISHOP OF LOS TEQUES, VENEZUELA. "The bishop is called to sanctity, which is: following Christ as servant, seeking the fullness of Christian life, perfecting love. One must place this call in the context of the universal vocation of all Christians. ... He must translate this sanctity into a deep charity of pastoral love. ... The relationship of the bishop with the priests, deacons and persons of consecrated life: The bishop, father and brother of his priests and deacons, must look for ways and take initiatives to get closer to them in a friendly way; to wish them well and, in this light, to correct them with affection; to be interested in their life; to value them in an opportune way, so that they, like the faithful in general, feel this. He must take care of their permanent formation. ... The bishop must organize organic pastoral work which is open to all vocations (ministerial, consecrated, committed lay faithful). It is necessary to dedicate special attention to the pastoral care of children and to university pastoral work. ... Collegiality and communion among bishops and with the Successor of Peter: ... The responsibility of the bishops for the universal Church has, among its forms of expression, promoting the common faith and tradition, co-responsable collaboration in the fields of missionary activity, inculturation of the Gospel and cultural dialogue, in human promotion as in the defense of international peace and justice. Regarding the episcopal conferences, the need to have closer relations - not only functional ones - among its members has been emphasized. ... The bishop (is) the animator of life in the parish: ... The parish is not everything (think of the 'new Areopagi') and it is necessary to renew it, taking into account the process of urbanization and the need to take care of specific milieux (for instance that of the university). ... One must look for an adequate integration of movements in pastoral work as a whole."

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PSALM 47, A HYMN TO MOUNT ZION, A SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2001 (VIS) - At today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 22,000 pilgrims from around the world, Pope John Paul's catechesis focused on Psalm 47, "a hymn in honor of Mount Zion, where the Lord's temple is set in the midst of His people."

Psalm 47, continued the Pope, "is a song of praise to God Who in His mercy and love delivers Zion from her enemies. God's faithful people give thanks to the Lord Who protects them; they recognize that it is He Who strengthens them and leads them."

"This," he remarked, "brings to mind the image of the Good Shepherd, and our thoughts turn to Christ Who is the new and living temple of God. We think of the 'heavenly Jerusalem', our true home, of which Christ is the sole foundation and also the door through which we gain entrance to the holy city of our God. It is Jesus Christ Who ever guides us, leading us to rich green pastures where we shall know the fullness of joy forever."

John Paul II affirmed that "God, shepherd of His people, guides them from age to age, never ceasing to keep alive in them the hope of His liberating intercession. It is in Christ that this hope is definitively achieved."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 16, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Robert Le Gall, O.S.B., abbot of the Monastery of Sainte-Anne de Kergonam, France, as bishop of Mende (area 5,180, population 73,500, Catholics 61,000, priests 162, permanent deacons 3, religious 251), France. He succeeds Bishop Paul Bertrand, 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 Saint Hilaire-du-Harcouet, France, in 1946, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1974.

- Appointed Fr. Jean-Claude Boulanger, of the clergy of the diocese of Arras, France, director of "Les Tourelles" House of Welcome in Condette, as coadjutor of Sees (area 6,103, population 292,337, Catholics 274,000, priests 210, permanent deacons 9, religious 375), France. The bishop-elect was born in Journy, France, in 1945, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.

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LANGUAGE GROUPS MEET TO PREPARE PROPOSITIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2001 (VIS) - The 12 language groups (3 English, 3 French, 1 German, 2 Spanish, 1 Spanish-Portuguese, 2 Italian) met this morning to prepare the propositions. These same groups will meet again this afternoon and tomorrow morning and afternoon, at which time the members will present the propositions to the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience the following participants of the Synod of Bishops:

- Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop of Dublin, Ireland.
- Archbishop Joseph Henry Ganda of Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone.
- Archbishop Joseph Eric D'Arcy, emeritus of Hobart, Australia.
- Archbishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job of Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, Uganda.
- Archbishop Josaphat Louis Lebulu of Arusha, Tanzania.
- Archbishop Vernon James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, Canada.
- Bishop Gerard-Joseph Deschamps, S.M.M., of Bereina, Papua New Guinea.
- Bishop Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
- Bishop Joseph Theodorus Suwatan, M.S.C., of Manado, Indonesia.
- Bishop Ramon C. Arguelles, military ordinary for the Philippines.
- Bishop Patrick James Dunn of Auckland, New Zealand.
- Bishop Malcolm Patrick McMahon, O.P., of Nottingham, England.

On Tuesday, October 16 he received in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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APPEAL FOR PEACE IN NIGERIA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father made the following appeal for peace in Nigeria:

"Another episode of brutal violence has been added to the current tragic world situation: over 200 dead and hundreds wounded, victims of clashes between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.

"Whoever is behind these unjustifiable acts bears responsibility before God.

"While I express, in your name as well, our spiritual closeness to Bishop Patrick Francis Sheehan of Kano and to those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, I pray that God may help everyone find the way of brotherhood again. Only thus will it be possible to respond to God's wish of making one family of humanity."

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