ANGELUS: SCHOOL, A PLACE OF GENUINE HUMAN MATURITY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 22, 2002 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Pope recalled that in many countries school was re-opening after the summer break.

"Sometimes," affirmed the Holy Father, "it is said that the school, like the family, is in 'crisis.' With this expression, they are referring to the widespread perception that this institution, although recognized for its essential value, needs a complete transformation so that it can respond to the current demands of society."
John Paul II indicated that in order to reach this goal "it is not enough to modify programs and structures. The proper functioning of a school depends most of all on the formative quality of the relationship between teachers and students. Students feel motivated to give the best of themselves when teachers help them to understand the meaning of what they are studying, in terms of their growth and the realities that surround them. This is important for all schools, whether private or public, in all grades."

After recalling that "culture is the foundation of a people's identity," the Pope said that "the contribution that schools offer, subordinate to the family, is and continues to be indispensable in the transmission of the values of a culture."

The Holy Father concluded by asking that no one be excluded from "this fundamental area of formation and that all those who work in schools make a great effort so that they are a place of genuine human maturity."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed Jurgen Mittelstrass, professor of philosophy and of philosophy of science and director of the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Costanza, Germany, and Dr. Antonio M. Battro, specialist in neuro-development of cognizance at the National Academy of Education of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as ordinary members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

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JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES COMMUNITY OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, John Paul II received catechists and priests of the Neocatechumenal Way, headed by its founders Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez.

"How can we not thank the Lord for the fruits brought about by the Neocatechumenal Way in its more than 30 years of existence," said the Pope at the beginning of his speech. He added that "in a secularized society ... where religious indifference is pronounced ... there are so many who need to discover once again the sacraments of Christian initiation, especially baptism. The Way is without a doubt a providential response to this urgent need."

Afterward the Holy Father referred to the recent approval of the statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way and expressed his joy at the "intense work of research, reflection and dialogue" that resulted in the approval. John Paul II thanked Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for Laity, for the interest that his dicastery "showed to the international team of the Way in charge of this process."

"I want to emphasize," he added, "the importance of these statutes ... for the present and future life of the Neocatechumenal Way. This norm, in the first place, reaffirms once again its ecclesiastical nature that ... is 'a way of valid Catholic formation for modern society'" and he recalled that the statutes, as well as describing the basic aspects of this Way, "establish the fundamental tasks of different people that have a specific responsibility in this formative course within the Neocatechumenal community, that is, the priests, catechists, families on mission and the teams responsible at any level."

"Thus, the statutes must be for the Neocatechumenal Way 'a clear and secure rule of life' ... so that this process of formation, the goal of which is to bring the faithful to a mature faith, is carried out adequately with the doctrine and discipline of the Church."

"The approval of the statutes," he concluded, "opens up a new chapter in the life of the Way. The Church now expects from you an even stronger and more generous dedication to the new evangelization and in service to the local Church and parishes."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig, apostolic nuncio in Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadine, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and apostolic delegate in the Antilles.
- Two prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Northwest 2) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Marcelo Pinto Carvalheira of Paraiba.
- Archbishop Heitor de Araujo Sales of Natal.

On Saturday September 21, the Holy Father received in audience three prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Sebastiao de Assis de Figueiredo of Guirating.
- Bishop Vital Chitolina, S.C.I., prelate of Paranatinga.
- Bishop Antonino Migliore, prelate of Coxim.

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TO NEW BISHOPS: BE HOLY, GUIDE PRIESTS, PROMOTE VOCATIONS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father welcomed young bishops from around the world who are participating in the annual meeting held in the Vatican for new bishops. In his talk the Pope focussed on four priorities: being models of holiness, being close to the priests in their diocese, promoting vocations to the priesthood and communicating Christ to modern man.

"The efficacy and the fruitfulness of our ministry," he said, "depend to a great extent on our configuration to Christ and on our personal holiness. ... A bishop's primary duty is to make an authentic desire for holiness grow in all believers, a holiness to which we are all called and in which culminate the aspirations of human beings."

"Another of your priorities," he went on, "is attention to your priests, who are your closest collaborators in the ministry. The spiritual care of priests is a primary duty for every diocesan bishop." He noted that when a bishop takes the hands of a newly ordained priest into his own hands, "the young priest chooses to entrust himself to the bishop and, for his part, the bishop commits himself to caring for those hands."

John Paul II then urged the prelates to "dedicate yourselves with passion to promoting authentic vocations to the priesthood through prayer, witnessing with your life and pastoral concern."

In conclusion, the Pope underscored the mission entrusted to bishops "to communicate Christ to the men of today in the world of today. Every day we experience how our times, so rich in technical means, material means and comfort, are so dramatically poor in purpose, values and ideals. Modern man, deprived of references to values, turns often to restricted and relative horizons. In this agnostic, and at times hostile context, a bishop's mission is not easy. We must not, however, give in to pessimism or discouragement, because the Holy Spirit guides the Church and gives her ... the courage to dare to seek new methods of evangelization in order to reach up-to-now unexplored spheres."

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