COMPENDIUM OF CATECHISM TO BE PRESENTED JUNE 28

VATICAN CITY, JUN 15, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following statement this morning:

  "The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be presented on June 28, in the course of a solemn liturgical celebration in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI. The Compendium was prepared by a commission presided by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

  "The Catechism of the Catholic Church was presented to the faithful and to the whole world by Pope John Paul II on December 7, 1992, who described it as 'a sure and authentic reference text.'

  "Following the request for greater appreciation of the Catechism, and in order to meet a widespread need that emerged during the 2002 International Catechetical Congress, in 2003 the Holy Father established a special commission, presided by the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that he charged with preparing a Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, containing a more concise and dialogic version of the same contents of Catholic faith and morals.

  "The text will become available to the public beginning on June 29, 2005, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, pillars of the universal Church and exemplary evangelizers of the Gospel. The entire Church is now invited to imitate them in their missionary zeal and to pray the Lord that He grant her the chance to follow, even today, their teaching which brought the joyful announcement of the Gospel to the whole world.

  "Forty years after the end of Vatican Council II, and in the heart of the Year of the Eucharist, the Compendium can represent a precious support to satisfy the hunger for truth felt by all human beings of whatever age or condition.

  "The text of the Compendium will be published by the Vatican Publishing House together with the San Paolo Publishing House which will also oversee the distribution of the book in Italy. Translations and editions in the various languages will involve the respective episcopal conferences."
OP/COMPENDIUM CATECHISM/NAVARRO-VALLS        VIS 20050615 (350)