AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan of Milwaukee, U.S.A.
- Bishop Rafael De La Barra Tagle, S.V.D., prelate of Illapel, Chile on his "ad limina" visit. - Bishop Luigi Infanti Della Mora, apostolic vicar of Aysen, Chile on his "ad limina" visit.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES OF FAMILY AND LIFE IN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Pontifical Council for the Family released the "Santo Domingo Declaration," the result of the meeting which took place in that city from September 1 to 5 on the theme "Situation and perspectives of family and life in America."

In the meeting promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family, participants included members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the presidents of the episcopal conferences of America as well as some married couples and university professors. Those who participated approved the document unanimously and decided to publish it "on the significant date of October 12."

The first section, entitled "Situation of the family," states that "due to strong ideological pressure, it could be said that there exists the goal to dismantle piece by piece the structure of the family, based on marriage."

The second part of the document, "Truth of family and life," emphasizes that "a healthy society and culture are reflected in and nourished by the health of the family. Similarly, a sick society and culture are reflected in a weak and deteriorated family. The future of humanity will not be possible without recognizing and respecting the values of the natural institution of the family."

"We are distressed by the pretext of giving legal recognition - with the juridical effects that the tradition of peoples only recognizes in marriage. an eminently public good - to the so-called 'de facto unions' in their diverse versions and stages. Even greater is our concern when such an expectation applies to people of the same sex. It is inadmissable to ask that the union of homosexuals and lesbians be considered a legitimate union and included as 'marriages', or that they have a supposed right to adopt children."

The third and last section, "The need for action," urges "politicians and legislators, not only Catholics to vote against immoral laws, just as they are obligated to vote for laws that favor the common good. We ask them insistently to search for creative initiatives that promote the family and life which emerge as one organic and positive legislation."

"The right to conscientious objection," concludes the document, "is particularly urgent in the face of an avalanche of proposals on unions at different levels which attack the singularity of marriage."

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THE CATECHISM PRESERVES ITS RELEVANCE AS A PRIVILEGED GIFT

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, Pope John Paul received 220 participants in the International Catechetical Congress which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Latin edition.

After recalling various events and anniversaries linked with the Catechism, the Pope noted that "exactly forty years ago Blessed John XXIII solemnly opened the Ecumenical Vatican Council II to which the Catechism makes constant reference."

"In these days," he told the congress participants, "you have prayed, reflected and dialogued together on how to realize, in today's context, that which is the perennial and ever new message of the Catholic Church: proclaiming to everyone the Good News that Christ entrusted to us. ... For the Third Millennium, barely begun, the Lord has given us a special instrument for announcing His Word: the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 10 years ago."

The Holy Father stressed that the Catechism "preserves its relevance as a privileged gift placed at the disposition of the entire Catholic Church" and of every individual. He added that the Catechism, "with its complete and integral illustration of the Catholic truth" and "with its essential and basic contents, allows for knowing and studying more deeply, in a positive and serene way, what the Catholic Church believes, celebrates, lives and prays."

"We must not forget," the Pope continued, "its nature as a collegial magisterial text. Suggested in fact by the 1985 episcopal synod, edited by the bishops as the fruit of a consultation of the entire episcopacy, ... (the Catechism) is destined above all for the bishops, who are authoritative teachers of the Catholic faith and the primary leaders of catechesis and evangelization."

He remarked on the Catechism's "good reception and wide publication over the past ten years in various parts of the world, even in non-Catholic milieux," saying that these indicate "a positive witness to its validity and continuing relevance."

"The Catechism," stated John Paul II, "is called to play a special role with regards to planning local catechisms for which it is proposed as a sure and authentic 'reference point'. ... To realize this objective," he concluded, "the new edition of the General Directory for Catechesis has been available since 1997."

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POPE ASKS AFRICAN NATIONS AND PEOPLES TO WORK TOGETHER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed Desire Koumba, Gabon's new ambassador to the Holy See and, in accepting his Letters of Credence, told him he "rejoiced" at the efforts of Gabon's leaders to "put into place political, economic and social structures which allow the building of an ever more fraternal and peaceful society."

"While the continent continues to bitterly suffer from the various conflicts which plague it," he affirmed, "I appeal once again and with insistence to all Africans to mobilize in order to work hand in hand, like brothers, to make their lands into livable places, in which each one can have his share of the natural resources." He said that leaders must create conditions for "an integral development, marked by solidarity."

John Paul II stressed that "every member of the international community ... (should) participate in civic life, so that states of law and democratic institutions are consolidated, which must promote ... the honest administration of the common good, respect for persons and ethnic communities and the defense of the poorest and of families."

The Pope then highlighted the extreme poverty suffered by "numerous African countries." He invited "the legitimate authorities of these countries to pursue the fight against all forms of poverty that ruin the hopes of individuals and peoples, thus feeding violence and extremism of every kind. In this spirit, I also call for a new elan in international cooperation which must be rethought in terms of a culture of solidarity to fight the negative effects linked to globalization."

To promote "this ethic of solidarity," the Pope asked "the international community to pursue its efforts to sustain, notably by rethinking the debt of African countries, local initiatives that involve the population."

He then dedicated remarks to relations between the Holy See and Gabon, noting that "cooperation has already borne fruit, especially the signing and ratification of the 'Agreement-framework between the Holy See and the Gabonese Republic on the principles and certain juridical dispositions concerning their relations and collaboration'." He also mentioned the recently signed Agreement on the statute of Catholic teaching, saying that "the Church wishes to bring in a specific way an efficacious contribution to the human, spiritual, moral and civic formation of young people who are the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Marie Daniel Dadiet, auxiliary of Korhogo, Ivory Coast, as bishop of Katiola (area 32,835, population 498,000, Catholics 49,655, priests 33, religious 37), Ivory Coast. He succeeds Bishop Jean-Marie Keletigui whose resignation the Holy Father accepted in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Ricardo Oscar Faifer, vicar general of the diocese of Gualeguaychu, Argentina, as bishop of Goya (area 33,063, population 236,322, Catholics 212,898, priests 40, religious 67), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Urdinarrain, Argentina in 1940 and was ordained a priest in 1964.

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