CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RETAINS ITS TOPICALITY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2002 (VIS) - This morning Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, inaugurated the International Congress on Catechesis which will take place from October 8 to 11 in the New Synod Hall in the Vatican.

During his brief remarks, Cardinal Castrillon recalled the revision of the catechesis material by the different episcopacies, focusing on the International Congress on Catechesis (ICI). "The centers of catechesis," he said, "are being revitalized and are growing in number. Catechesis meetings and courses are being organized in various parts of the world in order to improve the texts, the formation of catechists, and the catechesis in general. Catechists' concerns about the possibility of an improper use of the ICI are unfounded."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke about "the doctrinal relevance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church ten years after its publication." The Catechism, he affirmed, "taking from Sacred Scripture and the complex richness of tradition in its multiple forms, and inspired by Vatican Council II, offers an organic vision of the totality of the Catholic faith. ... The relevance of the Catechism is the relevance of the truth, expressed and thought once again. This relevance will never be lost despite the criticism it may receive."

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POPE TO CELEBRATE MASS ON OCCASION OF VISIT BY PATRIARCH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul will celebrate Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, October 13 on the occasion of the visit of His Beatitude, Teoctist, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, according to a communique from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

The note adds that "this celebration is an invitation to the Churches of the East and the West to increase the common openness to the Spirit that calls (us) to the unity wished by the Lord."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Giorgio Zur, representative of the Holy See to the Russian Federation, as apostolic nuncio in Austria.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles, apostolic nuncio in Guatemala.
- Five prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Chile on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Alberto Jara Franzoy of Chillan.
- Bishop Miguel Blas Caviedas Medina of Los Angeles.
- Bishop Francisco Javier Prado Aranguiz of Rancagua.
- Bishop Enrique Troncoso Troncoso of Melipilla.
- Bishop Cristian Enrique Contreras Molina of San Felipe.

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HOLY SEE DELEGATE TO U.N. ADDRESSES ASSEMBLY ON AGEING

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, head of the Observer Delegation of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke yesterday before the Third Committee during the discussion of the report of the secretary general on Item 99, the follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing.

Archbishop Martino, who is president-elect of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, pointed to the U.N.-sponsored meetings to discuss the problems of older persons, and said that "Too many people, especially older persons are not aware of the work that has been done, and too many do not know that there is indeed a plan to help them to better realize their role in the societies in which they live, and the responsibilities that societies have in helping older persons fulfill those roles."

He noted that "the Catholic Church, through its various agencies and local diocesan programs operates 13,239 homes, hospices and care institutions for older persons."

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