PRESERVING A BALANCED RELATION BETWEEN PASTORS AND LAITY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 10, 2004 (VIS) - The Pope this morning received the participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy, which began January 8 and ended today in the Vatican. The themes this year were "Consultative Organisms, Diocesan and Parish Councils" and "The Pastoral Ministry of Shrines."

After noting the distinction between the priestly ministry and the common priesthood of the faithful, the Holy Father underscored how "pastors have the duty to form, support and sanctify the People of God, while the lay faithful, together with them, take an active part in the mission of the Church, in a constant synergy of forces and in respect for vocations and specific charisms."

"This useful collaboration on the part of the laity," he continued, "is expressed in the diverse councils foreseen by canon law at the diocesan and parish levels. ... It is necessary to preserve a balanced relationship between the role of the laity and that which belongs properly to the diocesan ordinary or to the pastor."

John Paul II stated that "legitimate pastors" are not "simple executors of decisions deriving from a majority opinion coming from an ecclesial assemblies. The Church structure cannot be conceived on simply human political models. Its hierarchical constitution is founded on the will of Christ and, as such, is part of the 'depositum fidei' which must be preserved and integrally transmitted over the centuries."

Then, referring to the theme of the pastoral ministry of shrines, the Pope underlined how in these places there must be "priests with a notable pastoral sensitivity" and "an adequate doctrinal and pastoral formation." Likewise, he said, at the center of every pilgrimage are the liturgical celebrations and, in the first place, Mass. They must always be prepared with care and animated by great devotion, encouraging the active participation of the faithful. Your dicastery," he concluded, "will not fail to prepare opportune suggestions to assist the pastoral ministry of shrines to be ever more renewed and responding to the demands of the times."
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