STATUTE OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY APPROVED

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2002 (VIS) - This morning Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, presented the decree of approval of the statute of the Neocatechumenal Way to its leaders, Kiko Arguello, Carmen Hernandez and Fr. Mario Pezzi. The ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the dicastery.

According to a communique published today, the approval is the fruit of the combined work of 5 dicasteries. In addition to the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, the Congregation for Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education collaborated on the approval.
"The Neocatechumenal Way," says the communique, "has not been approved as an association or a movement or religious congregation, but as an itinerary of Christian formation to discover once again our baptism, respecting and confirming the intention of those who began it."

"The process was prolonged because the juridical forms applied most in the Code of Canon Law are those of an association and foundation" while "the Way is effectively at the service of the dioceses and parishes in terms of Christian initiation without being an autonomous entity."

The statute is composed of thirty five articles. In the first article, the nature of the Way is described and the spiritual goods that constitute it. In the second, its mode of application is established: in the dioceses "under the direction of the bishop" and "according to the guidelines proposed by its initiators. The subject who promotes Christian initiation - explains the text - is obviously the bishop to whom is being offered a tool, approved by the Holy See and organized according to the indications of the statute."

The last articles specify scheduled procedure for the succession of the team of initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way.

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ACCEPT CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS OF ALL

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II received this morning the Letters of Credence presented by the new ambassador of the ex-Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Ivan Angelov.

In his speech to the diplomat, the Pope recalled that the country had suffered in the past "painful trials", but the national authorities "confronted these difficulties with care."

In the face of hatred among people, "we must depart from the heart in order to eradicate such feelings and transform them into a spirit of fraternity and openness towards others, building upon what unifies us, not what divides us. In fact, a society that really desires to be civil and contribute to the progress of people must cultivate in all of its members an objective and impartial understanding of others."

"An understanding of this type," he continued, "has inestimable value, helping others to accept cultural and religious traditions that differ from their own. This is the first step toward reconciliation, given that respect for diversity is an indispensable condition for a genuine relationship between individuals and groups. An ethno-centric culture, even when pretending to resolve problems that are on the table, only exacerbates difficulties and extends previous divisions."

The Holy Father underlined that "the requirements of justice demand that, every time a mistake or wrong is committed, it be recognized, and corrected as much as possible. But human justice finds its ultimate foundation in the law of God and in His plan of salvation for humanity."

"Yes," concluded the Pope, "true peace is the fruit of justice. ... This must be the broad context for diverse priorities - in the long tradition of tolerance and respect for the diverse ethnic groups to which you, Mr. Ambassador, have made reference -that the government pursues, while it makes every effort to introduce a new era of peace and stability for the nation."

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BAN ON SMOKING PASSED IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2002 (VIS) - The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State passed a law which bans smoking in public places, green spaces open to the public and in the work place within the territory of the State, as well as areas outside the territory and in public-use vehicles. The present law will go into effect on July 1.

According to the second article of the law, the Corps of the Gendarmerie of Vatican City will enforce the law and violators will pay a fine of 30 Euros.

The present law, approved by the Pope, was proposed on June 14 and has been signed by 7 cardinals who form part of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, apostolic nuncio in Algeria and Tunisia.
- Bishop Jayme Henrique Chemello of Pelotas, Brazil, president of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil, accompanied by the vice-president and secretary general of the same conference, Archbishop Marcelo Pinto Carvalheira of Paraiba and Bishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis, auxiliary of Brasilia.
- Four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Peru on their "ad limina" visit: - Bishop Miguel La Fey Bardi of Sicuani.
- Bishop Mario Busquets Jorda of Chuquibamba.
- Bishop Juan Jose Larraneta Olleta, apostolic vicar of Puerto Maldonado, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Francisco Gonzalez Hernandez.
- Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Khamene'i, president of the "Islamic Philosophy of Molla Sadra" Foundation and an entourage.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Lorenzo Loppa, episcopal vicar of pastoral care and parish priest of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Segni, Italy, as bishop of Anagni-Alatri (area 737, population 84,000, Catholics 83,500, priests 72, religious 299), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Segni in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1971. He succeeds Bishop Francesco Lambiasi, assistant ecclesiastical general of Italian Catholic Action, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted.

- Appointed Fr. Fernando Areas Rifan, vicar general of the personal Apostolic Administration of St. John Maria Vianney in Campos, Brazil, as coadjutor of the same apostolic administration. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Fidelis, Brazil in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1974.

- Appointed Bishop Ludwig Schick, auxiliary of Fulda, Germany, as metropolitan archbishop of Bamberg (area 10,290, population 1,876,102, Catholics 778,874, priests 530, permanent deacons 3, religious 1155), Germany.

- Appointed Fr. Stefan Secka, vice rector of the Seminary of Spis, Solvakia, as auxiliary of the same diocese (area 7,802, population 572,008, Catholics 426,818, priests 326, religious 362).

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