JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES COMMUNITY OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, John Paul II received catechists and priests of the Neocatechumenal Way, headed by its founders Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez.

"How can we not thank the Lord for the fruits brought about by the Neocatechumenal Way in its more than 30 years of existence," said the Pope at the beginning of his speech. He added that "in a secularized society ... where religious indifference is pronounced ... there are so many who need to discover once again the sacraments of Christian initiation, especially baptism. The Way is without a doubt a providential response to this urgent need."

Afterward the Holy Father referred to the recent approval of the statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way and expressed his joy at the "intense work of research, reflection and dialogue" that resulted in the approval. John Paul II thanked Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for Laity, for the interest that his dicastery "showed to the international team of the Way in charge of this process."

"I want to emphasize," he added, "the importance of these statutes ... for the present and future life of the Neocatechumenal Way. This norm, in the first place, reaffirms once again its ecclesiastical nature that ... is 'a way of valid Catholic formation for modern society'" and he recalled that the statutes, as well as describing the basic aspects of this Way, "establish the fundamental tasks of different people that have a specific responsibility in this formative course within the Neocatechumenal community, that is, the priests, catechists, families on mission and the teams responsible at any level."

"Thus, the statutes must be for the Neocatechumenal Way 'a clear and secure rule of life' ... so that this process of formation, the goal of which is to bring the faithful to a mature faith, is carried out adequately with the doctrine and discipline of the Church."

"The approval of the statutes," he concluded, "opens up a new chapter in the life of the Way. The Church now expects from you an even stronger and more generous dedication to the new evangelization and in service to the local Church and parishes."

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