BISHOPS OF BRAZIL: SECTS, EVANGELIZATION, INCULTURATION, LITURGY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul met this morning with prelates from Brazil's Southern Region I, who have just completed their quinquennial "ad limina" visit. He framed his remarks on popular devotions, the Eucharist, authentic liturgy and inculturation in Brazil's multi-ethnic society in the context of today's modern society which is both "dramatic and fascinating," and marked by materialism and secularism, yet also by a longing for spiritual values.

The Pope noted that the people of Brazil "are traditionally anchored in the perennial principles of Christianity but have submitted to negative influences of various types," including sects, which are widespread throughout the country and stronger in some areas. He asked: "Is this not perhaps a concrete sign of an unsatisfied aspiration to the supernatural?" He said that this is "an authentic challenge" for pastors who must "renew the style of welcome within ecclesial communities and revitalize the stimulus to a new and courageous evangelization."

"Many times," the Holy Father added, "there is a great lack of religious formation with a consequent indecision about the need for faith in Christ and in adherence to the Church He instituted. There is a tendency to represent religions and various spiritual experiences as levelled down to a minimum common denominator, so that they seem almost equivalent, with the result that every person feels free to pursue indifferently one of the many paths proposed for salvation." This too requires a new, courageous and far-reaching evangelization.

John Paul II turned his attention to the 14th National Eucharistic Congress that had taken place in Brazil and he highlighted the importance of the Eucharist in the life of all Christians. "It is the supreme spiritual good of the Church," he said, "and must be at the center of the pastoral ministry to spread its supernatural strength in all Christian spheres such as evangelization, catechesis and multiple charitable activities as well as a commitment to social renewal and justice in favor of everyone, starting with respect for life and the rights of each person and a commitment in favor of the family."

However, explained the Pope, "to give its full efficacy to the Eucharistic sacrifice, it must always be marked by the worthy and genuine celebration of the mystery, according to the doctrine and directives of the Church, as I have recalled on diverse occasions." Speaking of the Eucharistic celebration - the proclamation of the Word, prayers, rites and all ecclesial symbolism of liturgy - he said that "any manipulation of these elements negatively effects the pedagogy of faith" whereas a correct and authentic liturgy "builds the faith and life of the faithful."

Pope John Paul went on to emphasize the need to observe the Lord's Day, the importance of both collective but especially personal prayer and that liturgy be "a dialogue between God and His people."
Liturgy, stressed the Pope, "must be disciplined only by competent authorities, demanding of everyone a great and respectful fidelity to the authentic rites and texts. An erroneous application of the value of creativity and spontaneity in the celebrations, even if typical of the many manifestations of life of your people, must never alter rites and texts and, above all, the feeling of the mystery being celebrated in the liturgy."

The Holy Father said he recognized that Brazil was a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society and that each ethnic group, each culture, had an important role to play and contribution to make to the nation as well as to the Church and its "ad gentes" mission. Focussing on the afro-Brazilian culture, he said this brings us "to the delicate question of inculturation, especially in liturgical rites, terminology and in the musical and bodily expressions typical of the afro-Brazilian culture." Whether inculturation involves vestments, songs, language, ceremonies or liturgical objects, there must be "a rigorous application of a serious and profound discernment about its compatibility with the Truth revealed by Jesus Christ."

Authentic Catholic liturgy, he stated, must not be transformed by or confused with "the pantheon of spirit and divinities of African cults. ... The Church views these cults with interest but considers harmful the concrete relativism of a common practice of both (rites) or of a mixture between them as if they had the same value, and (sees it) a danger to the identity of the Catholic faith."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary.

- Seven prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Southern Region I) on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Fernando Antonio Figueiredo, O.F.M., of Santo Amaro.

- Bishop Jacyr Francisco Braido, C.S., of Santos, accompanied by emeritus Bishop David Picao.

- Bishop Joviano de Lima Junior, S.S.S., of Sao Carlos.

- Bishop Jose Moreira de Melo of Itapeva.

- Bishop Carmo Joao Rhoden, S.C.I., of Taubate.

- Bishop David Dias Pimental of Sao Joao da Boa Vista.

Yesterday the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., of Genoa, Italy.
- Archbishop Alfio Rapisarda, apostolic nuncio in Portugal.

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AUDIENCE FOCUSSES ON WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's weekly general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, focussed on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which began January 18 and ends January 25 when the Pope will preside at vespers at St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls Basilica. Christian Unity has been a hallmark of the Holy Father's pontificate for the past nearly quarter century.

"The Lord founded one Church and one Church only," he said, citing the Vatican Council II decree on ecumenism, "Unitatis Redintegratio." "However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but they differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided."

The Pope remarked that "the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity offers us the opportunity to pray together, with one voice and one heart, for the precious gift of unity. To borrow an image from St. Paul, we may say that this gift comes to us 'in earthen vessels'. It is therefore fragile and must be handled with utmost care."

"Notwithstanding the sublime nature and the greatness of this gift," explained John Paul II, "human weakness has caused it to not be totally welcomed and valued. In the past, relations between Christians have been sometimes marked by opposition and, in several cases, by reciprocal hatred. All this - as the Vatican Council justly recalled - constitutes a 'scandal' for the world and 'damage' to the preaching of the Gospel."

The Pope asked that Christians always and everywhere make efforts "to overcome every barrier through incessant prayer, by persevering in dialogue and with fraternal and concrete cooperation in favor of the poorest and most needy."

The Holy Father dedicated closing remarks to the petrine ministry and its role in Christian Unity, citing both "Lumen Gentium" and his encyclical "Ut Unum Sint": "It seemed useful to me to propose a common reflection on the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, constituted as 'the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity' with an end to finding 'a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Odilon Guimaraes Moreira, auxiliary of Vitoria, Brazil as bishop of Itabira-Fabriciano (area 8,724, population 800,000, Catholics 600,000, priests 54, religious 88), Brazil.

- Bishop Augusto Jose Zini Filho, auxiliary of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as bishop of Limeira (area 4,958, population 1,325,000, Catholics 1,010,000, priests 83, religious 160), Brazil.

- Fr. Assis Lopes, rector of the Major Seminary in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1934 and was ordained a priest in 1968.

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TELEGRAM FOR EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2003 (VIS) - The following telegram was sent by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, in the name of Pope John Paul II to Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, apostolic nuncio in Mexico, for the earthquake that struck the states of Colima and Jalisco last evening, local time:

"The Holy Father, John Paul II, deeply distressed upon learning the sad news of the earthquake in the state of Colima, which has produced so many victims and injured and such grave material damage, offers prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of those who died and raises his fervent prayers so that the Lord may grant His consolation to those affected by this tragedy and that He may inspire in everyone sentiments of solidarity to overcome adversity, encouraged by moral values always open to hope. In addition, I ask Your Excellency to convey the Holy Father's condolences to the family members and to express to those who have been injured his paternal solicitude and sentiments of closeness, at the same time as he encourages institutions and men of good will to provide effective help in these difficult moments with a generous spirit and Christian charity, while he sends his consoling and heartfelt apostolic blessing as a sign of affection to the beloved Mexican people."

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