The
President to the Readers
Dear
friends,
In this
issue of our Newsletter you will read about the 23rd
Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, a
high point in the life of the dicastery to which I would like to draw your
attention.
In our
plenaries there is a coming together of experiences of faith, both personal
and ecclesial, of members and consultors – cardinals, bishops, priests and,
most of all, lay men and women – coming from countries in the five
continents. Each time we meet, the diversity of the experiences recounted,
the listening, the dialogue, the prayer together help us savour once again
the Church in its universality, seen from the perspective of the vocation
and mission of the lay faithful.
“Twenty years since
Christifideles laici: history and development, new challenges and
tasks” was the theme of the Assembly. In this apostolic exhortation, the
Servant of God John Paul II gave us an integral and brilliant synthesis of
the teaching of Vatican II on the laity, enriched by the postCouncil
experience compiled during the Synod of Bishops in 1987. In
Christifideles laici, the Pontifical Council for the Laity from the
beginning found it to be a dependable compass and a wonderful source of
inspiration for its work in the service of the lay faithful. Twenty years
later, we felt it was time to take it in hand again both in order to read it
in the light of the life of the Church and the world at the start of the new
millennium, and to evaluate how it has been received by the lay faithful of
the present generation.
The
publication of Christifideles laici had strong resonance in the
Church. Immediately defined as a true magna charta of the Catholic
laity and a milestone on the path of the lay faithful in the Church, it
showed that the “ hour of the laity ” that had burst onto the scene with the
Council, had not stopped. The general secretary of that Synod, Monsignor
Jan Schotte, said at the Vatican press conference: Christifideles laici
is a true vademecum for the whole Church and especially for lay
men and women called to go out to the Lord’s vineyards. It can be a faithful
daily companion for all the laity (cf. “ L’Osservatore Romano ”, 3031
January 1989). Twenty years later this function continues and it remains an
established point of reference for the faith development of the laity who
are keenly aware of their vocation and mission.
Cardinal Eduardo F.
Pironio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity at the time of
the publication of Christifideles laici, pointed out that its true
and greatest newness is in the placing of the subject of the laity within
an authentic ecclesiology of communion; the lay faithful are not considered
separately and in isolation, but within the global context of a Church that
is essentially ‘communion in Christ’ (cf. Lumen gentium, 1) and at
the same time ‘universal sacrament of salvation’ (Lumen gentium, 48)
(cf. L’Osservatore Romano, 3031 January 1989). This is precisely the key
to the underlying interpretation of the theology of the laity in Vatican II.
The apostolic exhortation calls us back to renewed wonderment at the mystery
of the Church, for it is missionary communion. It is an organic communion
characterised by diversity and complementarity in its vocations and
conditions of life, ministries, charisms and responsibilities (cf.
Christifideles laici, no. 20). Every member has a role to fill. All are
necessary and cannot be isolated spiritually or remain passive. Here we have
the vibrant call to responsibility and active participation of the lay
faithful in the life and mission of the Church. The words of Christ in the
document: “ You too go into my vineyard ” (Mt 20: 4) resound like a
refrain. The missionary vocation of the lay faithful is distinguished by the
secular dimension that is proper to it (secular nature). They live in the
world at the “ frontiers of history ”: the family, the workplace, culture,
economics, politics, science, technology and social communications. It is
right there that the Lord calls them to be witnesses and builders of the
Kingdom of God.
Central to
Christifideles laici is the question of the identity of the lay
faithful, synthesised in two words: vocation and mission. That of the lay
faithful emanates from Baptism and is a true vocation. John Paul II wrote: “
It is no exaggeration to say that the entire existence of the lay faithful
has as its purpose to lead a person to a knowledge of the radical newness of
the Christian life that comes from Baptism, the sacrament of faith, so that
this knowledge can help that person live the responsibilities which arise
from that vocation received from God ” (Christifideles laici, no.
10). The Pope strongly emphasised the Christocentric character of the lay
vocation. The laity and all the baptised are “ children of God ”, “ members
of the Body of Christ ”, “ living temples of the Spirit ” and “ new
creatures ”. They participate in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and royal
function. They are called to holiness, immersed in the world in which they
live. The writer of the Letter to Diognetus described very clearly the
identity of the lay person: “ the Christian is to the world what the soul is
to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while
remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the
world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains
the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their
religious life remains unseen. […] Such is the Christian’s lofty and
divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse
himself ” (nn. 56; Funk, 397401).
The major challenges
of postmodernity facing the disciples of Christ show yet again how much
need there is for genuine persuasive Christian witness. In these times when
God is so often forgotten, and there is a “ tired Christianity ” (Benedict
XVI) among so many of the baptised, there is an urgent need for a new
generation of Christians. We need Christians to be animated with joy and
enthusiasm for the faith, and with missionary zeal that enables them to go
courageously against the tide of the secularising culture that dominates the
scene today, always ready to respond to any one who calls them to account
for the hope that is in them (cf. 1 Pt 3: 15). These Christians are
truly the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They know how to
convince the world that Christianity is an exciting life programme that
leads to true freedom and corresponds fully to the desire for happiness that
all men and women carry in their hearts. They are lay faithful who know how
to build new Christian communities that are not closed in on themselves in a
sterile attitude of selfsufficiency, but courageously go forth towards new
frontiers of mission. Now more than ever, faith education is absolutely a
pastoral priority. It is precisely this sphere that moulds the identity of
the lay faithful rooted in Baptism. After twenty years, the caution given by
Christifideles laici is still valid: “ A new state of affairs today
both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life,
calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack
of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more
so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle ” (no. 3).
With
gratitude to God for all we have been given to experience during this past
year, I wish all of you who follow our work with such interest, a new year
where every day is spent in the faithful companionship of the Lord and
illuminated by his Word.
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko
President
Benedict XVI
and WYD in Sydney
World Youth Day in Sydney was certainly an event that
absorbed much of the attention of the Pontifical Council for the Laity for
the last couple of years. The importance of the gathering, its success in
terms of impact on youth culture, and moreover, the benefits of the
trajectory leading up to these international events and the followup, were
amply touched upon during the traditional meeting of the Holy Father with
the cardinals, bishops and members of the Roman Curia for the exchange of
Christmas greetings on 22 December 2008.
His Holiness
Benedict XVI dedicated two long paragraphs of his discourse to an analysis
of the event that we wish to publish in this issue of our newsletter. In
remembering three specific events in 2008 that come immediately to mind (WYD
in Sydney, the visits to the United States and France, and the Synod of
Bishops on the Word of God), the Holy Father spoke in particular about the
event in Australia as “ a great celebration of faith that brought together
more than two hundred thousand young people from every part of the world. It
brought them closer, not only externally in the geographical sense, but
through their shared joy in being Christian, it also brought them closer
internally ”.
The Pope continued: “ On occasions like these, the Church takes on a public
profile and, with the Church, so does the faith itself, and, if nothing
else, also the question of God. This public manifestation of faith is a
challenge to anyone who wishes to understand the present time and the
forces at work within it. The phenomenon of World Youth Day, in particular,
has increasingly become a subject of debate, in an attempt to understand
this species, so to speak, of youth culture. Australia had never seen so
many people coming from all continents, not even during the Olympics, as it
did during World Youth Day. And although fears were expressed beforehand
that this mass influx of young people might create some problems for public
order – clogging traffic, disrupting daily life, sparking violence and drug
abuse – all these fears proved unfounded. The event was a celebration of
joy, a joy that in the end spread even to the doubtful, and when all was
said and done, no one was inconvenienced. Those days were festive for
everyone. Indeed, it was only then that people came to realize what a
celebration really is – an event where people, so to speak, step outside
themselves, beyond themselves, and thus are truly with themselves and with
others. What, then, really happens at a World Youth Day? What are the forces
at play? Popular analyses tend to view these days as a variant of
contemporary youth culture, a sort of rock festival in an ecclesial key,
with the Pope as its main attraction. Such analyses presume that, with or
without faith, these festivals would be basically the same; and thus the
whole question of God can be set aside. Even some Catholics would seem to
agree, seeing the whole event as a huge spectacle, magnificent perhaps, but
of no real significance for the question of faith and the presence of the
Gospel in our time. They might be ecstatic celebrations, but in the end they
would really change nothing, nor have any deeper effect on life.
This, however, leaves completely unexplained the real nature of these Youth
Days and the specific character of their joy, and their power to build
communion. First of all, it has to be realized that World Youth Days do not
consist only of the one week when they are brought to the attention of the
world. They are preceded by a long process of preparation both practical and
spiritual. The Cross, accompanied by the Icon of the Mother of the Lord,
goes on pilgrimage to many countries. Faith, in its own way, needs to see
and to touch.
The encounter with the World Youth Day Cross, which is touched and carried,
becomes an interior encounter with the One who died for us on the Cross. The
encounter with the Cross awakens within the young people the remembrance of
the God who chose to become man and to suffer with us. We also see the woman
he gave to us as our Mother. The solemn World Youth Days are nothing if not
the culmination of a long process in which the young people turn to one
another and then, together, turn to Christ. In Australia it was not by
chance that the Way of the Cross, winding through the city, became the high
point of those days. Once again, it summed up everything that had occurred
in previous years, while pointing to the One who gathers us together: to
that God who loves us all the way to the Cross. Thus, the Pope himself is
not the star around which everything revolves. He is completely and solely a
Vicar. He points beyond himself to the Other who is in our midst. In the
end, the solemn liturgy is the centre of the whole event, because in it
there takes place something that we ourselves cannot bring about, yet
something for which we are always awaiting. Christ is present. He comes into
our midst. The heavens are rent and the earth filled with light. This is
what makes life joyful and free, uniting people with one another in a joy
that cannot be compared to the ecstasy of a rock festival. Friedrich
Nietzsche once said: “ The important thing is not to be able to organize a
party but to find people who can enjoy it ”. According to Scripture, joy is
one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5: 22). This fruit was
abundantly visible during those days in Sydney. Just as a long journey
precedes the celebration of World Youth Day, a continuing journey follows
it. Friendships are formed which encourage a different way of life and which
give it deep support. The purpose of these great Days is, not least, to
inspire such friendships and so to create places of living faith in the
world, places which are, at the same time, settings of hope and practical
charity ” (Benedict XVI, Address to the Roman Curia for the traditional
exchange of Christmas greetings, Monday 22 December 2008).
Sydney 2008, an event of
extraordinary impact
Once again we have
been able to experience that World Youth Day is an ecclesial event of
extraordinary impact. Over two hundred thousand young people “ invaded the
city of Sydney for the celebrations. This was an exceptional number
considering the geographical distance of Australia from most parts of the
world. The pilgrims came from over one hundred and seventy nations and five
continents. They attended catechesis in over two hundred and thirty venues
in the city in twentynine different languages. The number of bishop
catechists was over twohundred and seventy. A thousand priests were
available for confessions during the week of celebrations. Around eight
thousand volunteers worked with the Australian Committee for WYD 2008.
Together with the Pope there were four thousand priests and deacons, four
hundred and twenty bishops and twentysix cardinals.
The impact of this and all WYDs is in the way they move
not only the young pilgrims towards conversion, but also the dioceses that
welcome them and the host countries. We are all amazed witnesses of these
three conversions worked by the Holy Spirit, for they went well beyond
expectations.
Many young pilgrims
with great expectations
WYD always attracts young people from all over the planet. Sydney was no
exception. Notwithstanding the high cost of the journey, a large number of
young people set out and travelled to the event. They had saved for months
and prepared for the trip in groups of fellow travellers. The distance and
cost could have been prohibitive for many, but the dioceses and movements
know how to mobilise people and managed to send large groups. The final
registration figures amount to about one hundred thousand Australians and
over one hundred thousand from the rest of the world. These numbers may not
seem as high as usual, but it was an amazing turnout considering the
distance to be covered by pilgrims from most countries.
How was it such a
success? There are several reasons. In an era of internet and
globalisation, young people are certainly more aware of international
gatherings. Besides, Australia is considered to be an exotic country by
many. A deeper reason for this success is explained by the fact that the
younger generations are searching for fellowship. It was enough to see
groups of youngsters stop on the street and exchange a few words even though
they had never met before. They were eager to meet new people. Many of them
had a longing for a spiritual experience. Venues reserved for prayer were
always well frequented. Eucharistic adoration was particularly popular.
Prayer sessions were animated by communities like Taizé, Saint John’s,
Emmanuel, the Missionaries of Charity and Youth 2000 and the venues were
always full. Many observers emphasised the quality of listening, silence and
recollection during the celebrations with the Pope, even when the
surroundings may not have seemed to lead to quietness. Many were
particularly touched by the Way of the Cross which was a live performance.
Our young people are immersed in a world of images, and those scenes
depicting the passion of Christ left a deep impression on them.
The catechesis
sessions also demonstrated what young people are looking for. The talks
given by bishops for three consecutive mornings were followed with much
interest. The bishops themselves experienced great joy in teaching young
people who desired to find answers concerning the faith. Some groups, when
they returned to their countries, asked their bishop to continue giving
catechesis. This shows that they are happy to learn more about the faith and
to have the opportunity to meet their bishop, opportunities they claim come
far too seldom.
It is quite touching to read what young people wrote on their return home
from Sydney. They had experienced a real encounter with Jesus Christ within
the Church gathered together. The Holy Spirit had shown them the love of the
Saviour and had set them on the road. They now meet in groups to help them
remain faithful to the grace received. Their aspirations to witness to their
faith have encouraged them to take initiatives in their local areas. In this
way the Church acquires a new face!
How can we not give
thanks to the Holy Spirit for this great Pentecost? We know that the
benefits will be great for the dioceses of these young pilgrims and the
movements of which they are members. The Church is working for the younger
generations who are our hope and reason to praise the One who makes all
things new.
Dioceses being
renewed
It is not only the
youth who were renewed in their faith, but also the dioceses. So many
dioceses were mobilised to send their young people. On this occasion it was
the dioceses of Oceania who did not want to miss this opportunity as it was
the first time WYD was hosted in that part of the world.
Renewal was also
particularly felt in those dioceses that hosted young people for the days in
the dioceses that preceded WYD in Sydney. Many parishes worked hard to find
accommodation for pilgrims, to offer meals, to show them the area, and to
have times of sharing and prayer. This all brings growth and benefit to the
ecclesial community. Personal contact gives much hope to small parish
communities. The youth themselves were very moved by the welcome they
received by families and small parishes. They discovered the treasure of the
faith and generosity of the Church in the world. This reciprocal experience
of fellowship in Christ and the beauty of the Church touched many hearts,
and this gives life to the Church community.
The place that was most transformed during this WYD was undoubtedly Sydney.
Three years’ hard work involved large numbers of the faithful and priests,
most of them volunteers. Some people were somewhat sceptical about their
secularised country, where the Catholic Church is a minority, being willing
to welcome WYD. However, they say they were “ converted ”. They saw the work
of the Holy Spirit in the public proclamation of the faith by the Pope,
bishops, priests and young people in the way they showed their joy in being
Christians. A kind of freedom had come about that could be seen on people’s
faces. Places that have hosted WYD in the past must have had this
experience. After WYD in Paris in 1997, it became normal to be able to
organise public gatherings of Catholics in capital cities that were strongly
secular. The Pope’s visit to Paris in September of that same year when the
civil authorities collaborated notably, is one example. We can hope that it
will be similar in Sydney and all of Australia.
Many dioceses were
touched by WYD, including those that joined the event from a distance. In
Hungary, Poland, France, Spain and many other countries, they had a kind of
“ WYD 2008 beyond Sydney ” in which they linked up with Australia via
television and internet. This new possibility is due to developments in the
means of communication, and it helped to narrow the distance from the WYD
venue. This gathering of young Catholics is even more universal thanks to
this possibility. In a “ global village ”, all feel they can join in, even
from home. It is a wonderful manifestation of the universal Church.
A secularised
country on the move
It was lovely to see the Word of the Gospel being proclaimed publicly in a
secularised country. All were impressed by the opening speech given by the
prime minister. He clearly stated that he was happy that WYD was hosted in
Australia to support the work of the Catholic Church which had given so much
to his country. This courageous speech was given by a nonCatholic in a
country of western culture. The State was very involved in the logistic
organisation of the event, more than ever before in the history of WYD. We
could see how parts of the city centre were cut off to allow for the major
ceremonies, places that had a wonderful view of the harbour. There were
flags and banners all over town, and police and buses were at the service of
the pilgrims. Moreover, the spectacular Way of the Cross went through the
most significant places in Sydney, passing public monuments and main
streets, and left an indelible mark on the city. We add to this the
testimony of joy the young people gave to the local people, some of whom had
previously been worried about possible disturbances and public places being
vandalised by foreigners. Their worries proved unfounded. This proclamation
of the Gospel in words and deeds was certainly good news for Sydney and its
inhabitants. Like Saint Paul, we know that wherever the word of God is
loudly proclaimed, sooner or later it will bear fruit.
A Word that conveys
responsibility and delivers a mandate
The Pope’s addresses were central to the event. He offered the Word of God
to the pilgrims to reach their minds, touch their hearts and work on their
conversion. From the time of his arrival, Benedict XVI taught the young
people about salvation in Christ, something he often does. The Pope also
spoke of our beautiful world that he had been observing from the plane, a
world that is also a battlefield and place of suffering that Jesus came to
heal. Young people are often surrounded by consumerism that can lead to
despair, and they are hurt by divisions. The Pope reminded these youth that
they are ‘new creatures’ through Baptism, and that the Holy Spirit, source
of hope, dwells within them. At the vigil, after contemplating the gifts of
the Spirit that produce communion, the Pope urged the youth: “ let unifying
love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; selfgiving love your
mission! ”. During the concluding Mass the Holy Father confirmed
twentyfour young people, and this was a reminder for all of us of the gifts
received from God through this sacrament. During this ‘Pentecost’ with the
young people, the Pope had some incisive questions for them: “ What will you
leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm
foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives
in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that
wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falselyconceived
freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the ‘power’ which
the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy
will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make? ”
We know that these
strong words that confirm and give responsibility, were heard. We believe
that, in one way or another, they will bear fruit in the lives of these
young people and of the whole Church.
International meeting of youth ministry delegates: from Sydney to Madrid
From 2 to 5 April
2009, delegates from different countries and international movements and
associations will meet in Rome to evaluate the experience of WYD in Sydney
and to initiate the preparations for Madrid. The handover of the Cross is a
significant symbol of this changing of the guard. The Cross of the
redemption was given by John Paul II to young people, and so it became the
WYD Cross. The youth of Australia will pass it on to the youth of Spain, and
then it will go on pilgrimage around their country in preparation for WYD in
Madrid.
The themes for the next three WYDs
The Holy Father
Benedict XVI, following the recent custom, has indicated the themes for the
next three World Youth Days, the last of which is the international WYD in
Madrid in 2011. This provides a course with stages in a spiritual journey
that will lead the young people to the world meeting in Madrid scheduled for
16 to 21 August 2011. The themes are the following:
•
24th World
Youth Day (2009): We have set our hope on the Living God ” (1 Tim
4:10).
•
25th World
Youth Day (2010): Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Mk
10:17).
•
26th World
Youth Day (2011): Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith ”
(cf. Col 2:7).
Goodbye to Msgr Kohn and welcome to
Rev. Jacquinet
In September, after
the return of the delegation from the Pontifical Council for the Laity from
their memorable experience in Sydney, Msgr Francis Kohn finished
his term as head of the Youth Section. From April 2001 he had been in the
service of the Holy See in our dicastery. Msgr Kohn is a member of the
Emmanuel Community and was ordained for the diocese of Paris. Before coming
to Rome he was parish priest at Holy Trinity church in Paris from 1986 to
1995. He served on the organising committee for WYD in Paris (19961997),
just one of the many activities he has undertaken over the years. He has
served in many areas in the Emmanuel Community, one of these being youth
ministry at international level, and direction of the school of
evangelisation run by that Community in Paris.
As head of the
Pontifical Council for the Laity Youth Section he worked with dedication and
passion in preparing World Youth Days in Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005) and
Sydney (2008).
He has recently been
named postulator for the cause of canonisation of Pierre Goursat, founder of
the Emmanuel Community.
We remember his
dedication to the service of the Holy See and young people, and the
passionate engagement that characterised his work in the Youth Section. We
convey our gratitude and prayers for his service in the vineyard of the
Lord.
The new head of
section is also French, Reverend Eric Jacquinet from the diocese of
Lyon. Until now he was parish priest and episcopal delegate for sacramental
and liturgical ministry, and worked with young people, married couples and
priests. He published various works on the Heart of Jesus, compassion, and
recently, on accompanying the divorced and remarried.
We extend our
cordial greeting of welcome.
Twenty years since
Christifideles laici
History and development, new challenges and tasks
The members and consultors of the Pontifical Council for
the Laity met from 13 to 15 November 2008 for the 23rd
Plenary Assembly. A notable feature of the gathering was the
number of recently nominated members and consultors who made up one third
of the total and who were attending for the first time. The topic for the
first two days of our Assembly was “ Twenty years since Christifideles
laici: History and development, new challenges and tasks ”. It was
chosen because of the anniversary of this essential document for the lay
faithful, a document defined as their magna charta by the Holy
Father during the audience. The discussions were based on four talks and two
panel discussions. Special effort was made to allow enough time for debate.
Cardinal Ryłko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, opened
the assembly with a warm welcome for the new people present, and he outlined
the main areas for subsequent discussion. Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch
of Venice, gave the first talk. He spoke of recent developments in the
theology of the laity understood in the light of the ecclesiology of
communion, and he pointed out the progress and weaknesses. Archbishop
Reinhard Marx of Munich brought us up to date with efforts being made in the
faith development of the laity with the resources and difficulties
encountered. Professor Carriquiry, undersecretary of our dicastery, has
extensive experience in this field, and he presented a clear picture of
developments in new movements that have emerged since the Council. During
the last twenty years they have been moving towards a high level of “
ecclesial maturity ” of which Christifideles laici had spoken, and
they have been opening up more and more to the universal mission of the
Church. Bishop Dubost of Evry spoke of the coresponsibility of the lay
faithful in building the Christian community based on experiences in his
diocese. The contributions all drew inspiration from the responsibility of
the lay faithful in public life, touching on the crucial points that pertain
to the secular character that is proper to the baptised of our times. Lola
Velarde strongly condemned all contemporary politics that arc inspired by
nihilistic ideologies and arc coordinated at a planetary level. They
directly attack the family institution and put fundamental rights into
question like the right to life and freedom of education. They do so in
order to promote subjective pseudo-rights, harmful for individuals as well
as for the community. Thomas Han, one of the "doyens" among our members,
presented the major economic and power interests that move those politics.
Their immediate effects are seen in the further impoverishment of people in
the third world who are already living in miserable conditions. Carl
Anderson spoke of the importance of education founded on Christian humanist
principles in order to give the new generations the capacity to deal with
the current problems in our rapidly changing society. We could not fail to
speak about the role of the lay faithful working in the mass media, and this
topic was explored by Josep Miro i Ardèvol. An Italian member of parliament,
Luca Volontè, dealt with the delicate problem of lay Catholics engaged in
politics. Finally, Alessandro Zuccari spoke of the international order. He
pointed out the serious economic and social conditions of so many poor
countries, especially in Africa and Asia, and he indicated possible ways
to achieve greater international justice.
The lively debate enriched the talks and contributions with the
participation of all our members and consultors. The publication of the
proceedings would never be able to give a full picture of the atmosphere of
interest and participation of our assembly. The morning of the third day was
devoted to the audience with the Holy Father. The discourse of Benedict XVI
placed in evidence the contemporary nature of Christifideles laici
that "while taking up again the teachings of the Council, [it] orients the
discernment, examination and orientation of lay efforts within the Church
faced with the social changes of these years ”. The encouragement given by
the Council and renewed by Christifideles laici has meant that “ lay
participation has grown thanks to pastoral, diocesan and parish councils
revealing itself to be very positive insofar as it is animated by an
authentic sensus Ecclesiae”. The clear acceptance of the
contribution of the laity and the recognition of the unmistakable “
ecclesial criteria ” on the part of the Christifideles laici, have
made way for a maturing of how a “ clear awareness of the Church’s
charismatic dimension has brought about an appreciation and esteemed the
more simple charisms that Divine Providence bestows on individuals as well
as those that bring great spiritual, educational and missionary fecundity
”. In this respect, the Holy Father thanked “ the Pontifical Council for the
Laity in a very special way, for the work completed during the last decades
to welcome, accompany, discern, recognize and encourage these ‘ecclesial
realities’, favouring the knowledge of their Catholic identity, helping them
to insert themselves more fully into the great tradition and the living
fabric of the Church, and promoting their missionary development ”. The Pope
then spoke about youth and recalled the World Youth Day held in Sydney: “
The new generations are not only the preferred audience of this transmission
and sharing ” of the rich deposit of Catholic faith, “ but also those whose
hearts await truth and happiness in order to be able to give Christian
witness, as happens already in an admirable way. I myself have been witness
to it in Sydney ”. After speaking about the youth, Benedict XVI dwelt
briefly on the “ dignity and participation of women in the life of the
Church and of society ”, a theme that is close to his heart. It is true
that “ man and woman, equal in dignity, are called to enrich themselves
mutually in communion and collaboration, not only in matrimony and in the
family, but also in society and all of its dimensions ”, and so women have a
special task: that is “ to be knowledgeable of and courageous in facing
their demanding work, for which, however, they do not lack the support of a
distinct tendency towards holiness, of a special acuteness in the
discernment of our time’s cultural currents, and of the particular passion
for human care that characterizes them ”. The Holy Father’s final point was
“ the secular nature that is characteristic of the lay faithful ”. After
emphasising that the world in its complexity is “ a theological place, an
environment and a means in which and through which to realize their vocation
and mission ”, in particular for “ witness of charity especially with the
most poor, suffering and needy, just as it is to assume every Christian task
aimed to construct conditions of ever greater justice and peace ”, the Pope
made a direct request to our dicastery: “ therefore I ask the Pontifical
Council for the Laity to follow with diligent pastoral care the formation,
witness and collaboration of lay faithful in the most varied situations, in
which the authentic nature of human life in society is at risk. In a
particular way, I confirm the necessity and urgency of the evangelical
formation and pastoral accompaniment of a new generation of Catholics
working in politics, that they be coherent with the professed faith, that
they have moral firmness, the capacity of educated judgment, professional
competence and passion for service to the common good ”. The Pontifical
Council for the Laity, which carries out its work in the service of the Holy
Father, has decided to dedicate the next plenary assembly to the theme of
the engagement of the lay faithful in public life, in particular in
politics. After the clarifying and programmatic discourse of the Pope, the
23rd
Plenary Assembly drew up its conclusions in the afternoon of the third day,
a very short but nonetheless full session. The president explained the
duties and responsibilities of the members and consultors, particularly for
the benefit of those who were new. Bishop Clemens, secretary of the
dicastery, opened a debate on the programme for the coming years that also
served to reflect on the programmatic guidelines indicated by the Holy
Father. A large number of members and consultors took part in the
discussions and there was barely time to hear all who wanted to speak. The
assembly concluded with dinner, thus sealing the three days of intensive
work and sharing and communion in love for Christ and for the Church.
The prospective programmes of
the dicastery
At the end of a year
filled with events, the members and consultors at the Plenary Assembly of
the Pontifical Council for the Laity were presented with some of the
initiatives that will occupy the dicastery in the near future.
The recent 23rd
World Youth Day held in Sydney confirmed once again the power
of these gatherings that were launched with such determination by the
servant of God John Paul II and carried forward with equal conviction by
Pope Benedict XVI. Now the senior staff of the dicastery and the Youth
Section are already involved in the organisation of the next international
World Youth Day to be held in Madrid in 2011, and are in contact with the
Spanish organisers. In this newsletter we have presented the themes for the
20092011 WYDs, and the next appointment will be for the leaders of youth
ministry from bishops’ conferences and international movements and
associations.
The Youth Section is also organising the 10th
International Youth Forum to be held in March 2010. The theme
will be of interest to the younger generations: learning to love. It will
deal with contemporary questions like the difficulty many youth in our time
have with lasting commitments, the consequences of parents’ divorce for
young people and remedies that can be offered, the responsibilities of
educators, preparation for marriage and many other open problems. It will
deal with topics in Christian anthropology, with particular reference to the
teachings of the Holy Father Benedict XVI and the “ theology of the body ”
of John Paul II.
The Church and Sport Section is now fully operative due to the many contacts
established with major sporting associations. Together with the Italian
Sporting Centre and the new John Paul II Foundation for Sport, it is
organising the 6th Marathon for Peace that will go from Jerusalem to Rome,
passing through Greece, Malta and the south of Italy, and will take place in
May and June 2009. In autumn there will be the third Church and Sport
seminar that will deal with the educational importance of amateur and
juvenile sport, a dimension that exists thanks to Catholic sporting
associations. The aim of the seminar is to value the social, recreational
and educational dimensions of sport so that it can educate in Christian
virtues to be lived in life.
The ongoing activity
of the dicastery is concerned with maintaining continuing relations with
movements and new communities, with particular attention given to those in
the course of being recognised at an international level. The Section for
Women continues with its network of collaborators at an international level
that includes scholars and experts on the theme of the Christian vision of
women’s conditions and the complementarity between men and women. Contacts
with the world’s bishops remains constant and important. The topic
discussed with them most often in our meetings is of course the need for a
more effective presence of the lay faithful in public life.
It is for this
reason that we hope to devote the next plenary assembly in 2010 to the
engagement of the lay faithful in politics and culture. It is a topical
theme and increasingly more important, especially since political debate has
included crucial themes like the right to life, the protection of the
family, freedom of education and religious freedom. These are vast areas
that may need to be taken in stages and from different aspects, and will
need to include a reflection on the faith education of the lay faithful,
their sense of belonging to the Church, and especially the theological and
ecclesial significance of their secular nature.
Juridical recognition and approval of statutes
The Pontifical
Council for the Laity:
by decree of 12 January 2008 approved modifications made to the statutes of
the Adsis Communities;
by decree of 26 August 2008, gave definitive approval to the statutes of
the International Union of European Guides and ScoutsEuropean Scouting
Federation;
by decree of 12 September 2008 approved the new statutes of the
International Federation for Catholic Associations of the Blind (FIDACA);
by decree of 12 October 2008 recognised the Canção Nova Community as
an international association of the faithful with approval of the statutes
ad experimentum;
by decree of 18 October 2008 approved the new statutes of the World Union
of Catholic Teachers (WUCT);
by decree of 24 October 2008 recognised Hogares
NuevosObra de Cristo as an international association of the faithful
with approval of the statutes ad experimentum;
by decree of 28 October 2008 gave definitive approval to the statutes of
the Union of Catholic Apostolate;
by decree of 31 October 2008 approved the new statutes of International
Independent Christian Youth (JICI);
by decree of 25 December 2008 recognised the Fondacio Community as
an international association of the faithful with approval of the statutes
ad experimentum.
The Dicastery is
presently studying the demands for canonical recognition submitted by the
following groups: The Catholic Integrated Community, Apostolic
Movement of Schoenstatt, Comunità Cenacolo, Cellule
Parrocchiali di Evangelizzazione, PanAmerican Health Care Network,
Fédération Internationale des Centres de Préparation au Mariage,
Movimiento de la Palabra de Dios, Chemin Neuf Community, Comunità
Gesù Risorto, Unione Cattolica Internazionale di Servizio Sociale “
Madeleine Delbrêl ”, Misioneros de la Esperanza, Comunità
Nuovi Orizzonti, Hogar de la Madre.
Latest
pubblications
Youth series
• Witnessing to
Christ in the world of work: Proceedings of the 9th
International Youth Forum, Rocca di Papa 28 March – 1 April
2007.
SOON TO BE PUBLISHED
•
Woman and man, the humanum in its entirety: On the 20th
anniversary of the apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem,
International Congress, Rome, 79 February 2008.
•
“ I ask you to approach movements with a great deal of love ”,
Seminar for Bishops, Rocca di Papa (Rome) 1517 May 2008.
Ad limina visits
The Ad Limina
visits recommenced in September and took place more frequently because they
would be suspended in October during the Synod of Bishops on the Word of
God. We received visits from several bishops’ conferences from Latin
America: Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile.
We also had visits from the bishops of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
and Taiwan. In the meetings with the LatinAmerican bishops we were made
aware that the Conference in Aparecida has left a distinct mark on the
Church in America. The bishops had shown that they were very aware of the
problems of their countries, and these were synthesised in the concluding
document of Aparecida: “ The exodus of the faithful to the sects and other
religious groups, the cultural currents opposed to Christ and the Church,
the discouragement of priests at the magnitude of pastoral work, the
scarcity of clergy in many regions, the changes in cultural paradigms,
globalisation and secularisation, the serious problems of violence, poverty
and injustice, the spread of a culture of death ” (no. 185). Unfortunately
there is even in Christian circles a harmful cultural fashion to try to
restart the pagan religions. This was denounced in Aparecida by the Pope
himself: “ The Utopia of going back to breathe life into the preColumbian
religions, separating them from Christ and from the universal Church, would
not be a step forward: indeed, it would be a step back. […] In effect, the
proclamation of Jesus and of his Gospel did not at any point involve an
alienation of the preColumbian cultures, nor was it the imposition of a
foreign culture ” (Benedict XVI, Address to the 5th
CELAM Conference, no. 1, 13 May 2007).
The bishops did not
appear to be discouraged by all these problems. On the contrary, they had
many reasons for hope firmly founded on the many graces the Lord is granting
to their Churches. They are working hard on faith development in line with
the Pope’s wishes: “ At the beginning of this new phase that the missionary
Church of Latin America and the Caribbean is preparing to enter … an
indispensable precondition is profound knowledge of the word of God. To
achieve this, we must train people to read and meditate on the word of God:
this must become their staple diet, so that, through their own experience,
the faithful will see that the words of Jesus are spirit and life ” (ibid.
no. 3). Instruction in the faith takes place in diocesan structures which
are often base communities, and also to a large extent in ecclesial
movements and new communities that are contributing to the renewal of the
Church in that area: “ The new movements and communities are a gift of the
Holy Spirit for the Church. Within them the faithful find the possibility of
Christian instruction, and to grow and commit themselves in the apostolate
until they become true missionary disciples ” (Aparecida Concluding
Document, no. 311). The renewal of catechesis could be built on a solid base
of “ the great mosaic of popular piety which is the precious treasure of the
Catholic Church in Latin America, and must be protected, promoted and, when
necessary, purified ” (Benedict XVI, Address to the 5th
CELAM Conference, no. 1). The bishops also spoke of the
commitment of the lay faithful in the political life of their countries
which leaves a lot to be desired. It is striking, and was mentioned by the
Pope (cf. ibid, no. 4), how few Catholics are active in public life
in a continent where the baptised form the great majority. For this reason
the bishops are offering “ social catechesis and a sufficient formation in
the social teaching of the Church ” (ibid. no. 3), in order to “
guide consciences and offer a life choice that goes beyond the political
sphere. To form consciences, to be the advocate of justice and truth, to
educate in individual and political virtues: that is the fundamental
vocation of the Church in this area. And lay Catholics must be aware of
their responsibilities in public life; they must be present in the formation
of the necessary consensus and in opposition to injustice ” (ibid.
no. 4).
Contacts with association and movements
Over the course of
the second semester of 2008, the president of the Pontifical Council for
the Laity, Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko met with leaders and representatives of
the following movements and associations:
Catholic Fraternity
of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships, Christian Life
Movement, Promoting Group of the Movement for a Better World, International
Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, Foederatio Internationalis Pueri
Cantores, Work of Nazareth, Emmanuel Community, Fraternity of Communion and
Liberation, Pope John XXIII Community.
The Cardinal met with the new presidents of the Focolare Movement and
Azione Cattolica Italiana: Dr Maria Voce and Prof. Francesco Miano.
•
On 3 November Cardinal Ryłko was at the basilica of Saint John Lateran in
Rome to preside at the Thanksgiving Mass for the recognition of the
Cançao Nova Community as an international association of the faithful.
•
On 23 November he took part in the celebrations in Würzburg, Germany, for
the 40th
anniversary of the Sant’Egidio Community and presided at the
Eucharistic celebration in the cathedral.
•
On 17 November he presided at a Eucharistic concelebration in the basilica
of Saint Paul outside the walls for an international group of the secular
institute of the Sisters of Mary of Schönstatt.
Bishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the dicastery, met
with leaders and delegates of the Pro Sanctitate Movement, Aid to the
Church in Need, Emmanuel Community, International Catholic Conference of
Scouting (ICCS), International Military Apostolate, “ Heart of Jesus
” Community, Kolping International, Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen
Katholiken (Work of Saint Boniface), and the Federation of German
Catholic Youth.
Together with Dr
Rocío Figueroa, Bishop Clemens met with the leaders of the International
Union of the Guides and Scouts of Europe (UIGSEFSE).
•
On 30 October he was in Assisi to speak at the Second International Meeting
of Bishops who accompany the new Communities of the Catholic Charismatic
Movement, organised by the International Council of the Catholic
Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships. He
spoke on “ Ecclesial movements and new communities according to Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger ”. Bishop Clemens also presided at the opening Mass of the
13th International Conference of the Catholic Fraternity.
•
On 14 December he presided at Mass on the third Sunday of Advent in the
church of Saint Onofrio in Rome for the Catholic Integrated Community
present in this city.
The undersecretary
of the dicastery, Prof. Guzmán Carriquiry, during the last six months of the
year met with leaders and representatives of the Colombian association
Espiritualidad de los Hijos y de las Hijas de Dios, the French
association Mouvement Chrétien des Cadres et Dirigeants (MCC), the
Brazilian community Palavra viva, and also the “ Living In ”
Spirituality Movement, Work of Nazareth, Manquehue Apostolic Movement,
and Marianist Lay Communities.
Msgr Miguel Delgado
Galindo, bureau chief in the Pontifical Council for the Laity, met with
leaders of Couples for Christ, the Colombian association
Espiritualidad de los Hijos y de las Hijas de Dios, and the German
association Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen Katholiken (Work of Saint
Boniface).
Rev. Eric Jacquinet,
the new head of the Youth Section, met with leaders and representatives of
the following movements and communities: Jesus Youth International, Forum
of Catholic Action (IFCA), Sant’Egidio Community, Shalom Catholic
Emmanuel Community. Rev. Jacquinet also Community, Christian Life
Community, visited the Emmanuel School of Mission in
Communauté St. Jean, International Rome several times.
Other engagements
The president of the
dicastery, Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, during the second half of 2008 met with
Bishop Leo. M. Drona of San Pablo (the Philippines); the members of the
presidential committee of the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum
Europae (CCEE) with the president, Cardinal Péter Erdö, and the new
secretary general Rev. Duarte da Cunha; the new Father General of the
Company of Jesus, Fr Adolfo Nicolás. Cardinal Ryłko met with Mr Edio
Costantini, president of the John Paul II Sport Foundation. Cardinal Ryłko
also took part in the following meetings and congresses:
•
He presided at the closing Mass of the “ Freude am Glauben ” congress in
Fulda, Germany, from 12 to 14 September organised by the Deutscher
Katholiken Forum.
•
On 17 September he presided at a Eucharistic concelebration and delivered
the homily during the convention for new bishops organised in Rome by the
Congregation for Bishops.
•
On 25 September he spoke at the 22nd
Chapter General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on
the topic “ The educational crisis of our times in the magisterium of
Benedict XVI”.
•
As part of the activities to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the
election of John Paul II to the papacy, he gave an address on 11 October on
“ John Paul II, educator of youth ” at Warsaw University.
•
He presided at one of the sessions of the international congress on “
Christ, Church, Man: Vatican II in the pontificate of John Paul II” that
took place in Rome from 28 to 30 October organised by the Pontifical
Faculty of Theology of St. Bonaventure – the Seraphicum.
•
On 5 November he took part in the inaugural ceremony for the academic year
of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
•
On 18 November he gave a talk on “ Youth ministry in the magisterium of
Benedict XVI” to the priests of the archdiocese of ChietiVasto who were
gathered together for their monthly spiritual retreat.
The secretary of the
dicastery, Bishop Josef Clemens, met with the Archbishop of Sydney,
Australia, Cardinal George Pell; the presidential committee of the
Brazilian Bishops’ Conference; Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg, Germany;
Archbishop emeritus of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Friedrich Wetter.
Bishop Clemens also met with Frère Alois Löser, prior of Taizé, and with Fr
David M. Kammler OP, General Promoter of the Lay Dominican Fraternities.
•
On 2 and 3 of September he was in Freising, Germany, to take part in the 6th
World Congress on the pastoral care of Gypsies, organised by
the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
People. He coordinated a panel discussion by national directors on the theme
of the evangelisation and human advancement of young Gypsies faced with
the challenges of religious, cultural and ethical pluralism.
•
On 7 and 8 September he was at the shrine of Mariazell in Austria to preside
at the Eucharistic celebration on the occasion of the first anniversary of
the apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI. On that occasion he met with
representatives of some movements and associations that are members of the
Council for the Laity in Austria.
•
On 10 and 11 October he led the Holy See delegation to the 8th
European Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth, held in
Kiev, Ukraine, on the theme: “ The future of the Council of Europe youth
policy: AGENDA 2020 ”.
• From 2 to 5 July
the undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Prof. Guzmán
Carriquiry, was in Monterrey, Mexico, to take part in the 3rd
International Congress on the spirituality of the Cross. He
gave a talk on “ The cry of humanity in search of salvation, solidarity and
life ”. The Congress was organised by the Family of the Cross, an
organisation composed of various associations who live according to the
spiritualty of the Cross. Dr Rocío Figueroa was also present, and she gave a
talk on 4 July on “ Woman as creator of new culture in times of crisis ”.
•
On 25 August Prof. Carriquiry received an honorary degree in law and
politics from Fasta (Fraternidad de Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino)
University in Mar del Plata, Argentina. As part of the ceremony he gave a
lectio magistralis on the topic “ Sixty years after the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights. Underlying questions: between the natural law
tradition and cultural relativism ”.
•
On 27 September Prof. Carriquiry was in Madrid to give a talk at a
commemorative ceremony marking the centenary of the birth of Rev. Tomás
Morales SJ, founder of the secular institute Las Cruzadas and Los
Cruzados de Santa María and the youth movement Milicia de Santa María.
•
Dr Rocío Figueroa took part in the regular meetings of the Working Group
of the Forum of Catholicinspired Nongovernmental Organizations. The
Working Group is formed by representatives of some major NGOs of Catholic
inspiration and by representatives of the Secretary of State and the
Pontifical Council for the Laity.
•
On 5 July 2008 Rev. Kevin Lixey LC, head of the Church and Sport Section,
was in Warsaw, Poland, for the inauguration of the 20th
Parafiada Games in which young people from Eastern European
countries took part. He attended the symposium on sport which followed on “
Movement forms minds, hearts and bodies ”, organised by the Parafiada
Committee at the headquarters of the Polish Olympic Committee. The
Parafiada Games are organised by the Parafiada Movement that emerged in
Poland at the end of the nineteeneighties in the tradition of the Order of
the Pious Schools run by the Piarist Fathers.
• From 17 to 20 July
Rev. Lixey attended the 60th
FISEC (International Sports Federation for Catholic Schools)
Games held in Malta from 15 to 21 July 2008. One thousand young people
participated, ranging in age from 14 to 17 and coming from various European
countries. At the same time there was a Youth Forum (two young people from
each country) on the values transmitted through sport, and a meeting of
FISEC delegates.
Rev. Eric Jacquinet,
head of Youth Section, met with representatives of the GreekCatholic Church
in Ukraine; from Tivoli diocese; from the diocese of Montauban in France;
from youth ministry leaders of the Salesians and the Legionaries of Christ.
He also met with Bishop Dominique Lebrun of SaintEtienne in France with a
group of pilgrims from the diocese; and a group from the Seminary of St.
Jean Eudes in Caen, France, who were in Rome on pilgrimage.
•
On 2 and 3 November Rev. Jacquinet gave a talk on “ The Church and young
people ” during a seminar on youth ministry held in Lourdes, France, on the
invitation of Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes.
•
On 30 and 31 December he was in Brussels to take part in the 31st
European Youth Meeting organised by the Taizé Community.
Ambassadors to the
Holy See received by Cardinal Ryłko during the second half of the year
were: H.E. Anne Leahy, Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See, and H.E.
Kagefumi Ueno, Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See. On 31 October Cardinal
Ryłko was in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza) to take part in the ceremony of
conferral of the International Gold Medal Prize for Merit in Catholic
Culture to Prof. Mary Ann Glendon, Ambassador of the United States of
America to the Holy See.
Bishop Clemens met with H.E. BenHur Oded, Ambassador of Israel to the Holy
See; Ms Anne Therese Giles, Councillor of the Embassy of Australia to the
Holy See; H.E. Francis Campbell, Ambassador of Great Britain to the Holy
See. Bishop Clemens also met with Mr Harald Himmer, VicePresident of the
Senate of the Republic of Austria with a delegation, and Dr Hermann Kues,
Parliamentary Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs,
Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of the Government of the Federal Republic
of Germany. On 17 November he was conferred with the Großes Goldenes
Ehrenzeichen mit Stern für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich by the
Ambassador of Austria to the Holy See, H.E. Martin Bolldorf.
