AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Reverend Samuel Kobia, Methodist pastor and secretary general of the World Council of Churches, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

- Three prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Cardinal Armand Gaetan Razafindratandra, archbishop of Antananarivo, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jean-Paul Randriamanana.

    - Bishop Joseph Ignace Randrianasolo of Mahajanga.

  This evening he is scheduled to receive in separate audiences:

 - His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

 - Cardinal James Francis Stafford, penitentiary major of the Apostolic Penitentiary, accompanied by Fr. Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
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CHURCH'S COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIAN UNITY IS IRREVERSIBLE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2005 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received Reverend Samuel Kobia, secretary general of the World Council of Churches (WCC), accompanied by his wife and members of his delegation who this week have been on an official visit to Rome.

  The Pope recalled how relations between the Catholic Church and the WCC developed during Vatican Council II and that in 1965 this led "to the establishment of the Joint Working Group as an instrument of ongoing contact and cooperation. ... Next November an important consultation on the future of the Joint Working Group will be held to mark the fortieth anniversary of its founding. My hope and prayer is that its purpose and working methodology will be further clarified for the sake of ever more effective ecumenical understanding, cooperation and progress."

  The Pope went on: "In the very first days of my pontificate I stated that my 'primary task is the duty to work tirelessly to rebuild the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers.' This requires ... 'concrete gestures which enter hearts and stir consciences… inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress'."

  The Holy Father expressed the hope that Rev. Tobia's visit to the Holy See "has been fruitful, strengthening the bonds of understanding and friendship between us. The commitment of the Catholic Church to the search for Christian unity is irreversible. I therefore wish to assure you that she is eager to continue cooperation with the World Council of Churches."
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BENEDICT XVI WELCOMES SEVEN NEW AMBASSADORS TO HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2005 (VIS) - Pope Benedict today received the Letters of Credence of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See, including the first ever representative from the Republic of Azerbaijan. Following his welcome address in French, the Pope presented each ambassador with a written message with references to the specific civil and religious situation in his country.

  The new ambassadors are: Elchin Oktyabar oglu Amirbayov of Azerbaijan; El Hadj Aboubacar Dione of Guinea; Antonio Ganado of Malta, Geoffrey Kenyon Ward of New Zealand; Joseph Bonesha of Rwanda, Jean-Francois Kammer of Switzerland and David Douglas Hamadziripi of Zimbabwe.

  The Pope said that, through the diplomats, he wished to address the peoples of their countries, telling them "I am close to them and pray for them. I invite them to commit themselves to fashion an ever more fraternal civilization, with renewed attention to everyone, especially the poorest people and those excluded from society."

  "In this sense," he went on, "our world is faced with many challenges that it must surmount so that man will always be more important than technology, and the just destiny of peoples is the main concern of those who have accepted to administer public affairs, not for themselves, but for the common good. Our heart cannot be in peace when we see our brothers suffer for lack of food, work, housing or other fundamental goods."

  To help our needy brothers and sisters, underscored Benedict XVI, "we have to face the first of these challenges: that of solidarity between generations, solidarity between countries and between continents, for a more equitable sharing among all men of the riches of the planet. It is one of the basic services that men of good will must give to mankind. The earth has, in fact, the capacity to feed all its inhabitants, on the condition that rich countries do not keep for themselves what belongs to everyone."

  The Church, said the Holy Father, will never cease to remind people that "all men must be attentive to a human fraternity made of concrete gestures, at the level of individuals as well as at the level of governments and international institutions. ... The Church will continue on all continents to come to the aid of populations, with the support of local communities and all men and women of good will, especially in the fields of education, health care and basic goods."
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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."
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PONTIFICAL COUNCIL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEBT RELIEF

VATICAN CITY, JUN 15, 2005 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace issued a communique yesterday in which it welcomed the announcement by the G8, the governments of the world's eight most wealthy nations, to cancel $40 billion in debt owed by eighteen developing countries and the plan to expand the program of debt forgiveness to an additional 20 countries.

   "For many years," states the note, "the Church has called for a reduction or outright forgiveness of the debts owed to developed countries by developing countries. In many of his messages for the World Day of Peace, Pope John Paul II spoke of the burden that these debts placed upon the hope for development that these countries so desperately seek. ... Finally there has been a move by the G8 in that direction. ... The Council commends British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the initiative on the eve of the G-8 Summit, as well as all of the leaders of the other governments who have agreed to it."

  The Pontifical Council, continues the statement, "calls for the money that will now be freed to be used to bring about real and sustainable development opportunities to the people of those countries. This can be accomplished through providing necessary public goods such as clean water, safe sanitation, basic health care and educational opportunities. ... It is the responsibility of the governments of all nations to continue to work toward achieving the promises that have been made over the past thirty years. This includes the commitment to provide 0.7% of the GDP of developed countries as Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries. The promise was made but only a small fraction of that money has ever been provided."

  "It is the hope of this Pontifical Council that the decision to forgive this initial $40 billion in debt might simply be the first of many steps taken by all developed countries to work toward true solidarity with one another."
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