News From Vatican Information Services 10/12/2005

SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: OCTOBER 11 - 12

- Fourteenth General Congregation
- Fifteenth General Congregation

OTHER NEWS:

- Religion: Ferment of Justice and Solidarity
- Audiences

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FOURTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2005 (VIS) - During the Fourteenth General Congregation of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held this afternoon in the Vatican's Synod Hall, apart from speeches by the Synod Fathers, the fraternal delegates were given an opportunity to address the gathering. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez.

At the start of this afternoon's session, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, recalled that today is the 43rd anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II and the feast of Blessed John XXIII.

Following are excerpts of some of the speeches delivered by fraternal delegates and Synod Fathers:

METROPOLITAN JOHANNIS ZIZIOULAS OF PERGAMO, GREECE. "It is a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to address this venerable episcopal Synod and bring to it the fraternal greetings and best wishes of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Church of Constantinople. The invitation to our Church to send a fraternal delegate to this Synod is a gesture of great ecumenical significance. We respond to it with gratitude and love. We Orthodox are deeply gratified by the fact that your Synod also regards the Eucharist as the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. It is extremely important that Roman Catholics and Orthodox can say this with one voice. There may still be things that separate our two Churches but we both believe that the Eucharist is the heart of the Church. It is on this basis that we can continue the official theological dialogue of our two Churches, which is now entering a new phase. Eucharistic ecclesiology can guide us in our efforts to overcome a thousand years of separation. For it is a pity to hold the same conviction of the importance of the Eucharist but not be able to share it at the same table."

REV. FILIPPO VAYLTSEV OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF MOSCOW, RUSSIA. "The Eucharist is the central and most important point of the life of the Church and of every Christian. Hence, the weakening of Eucharistic awareness leads to a destruction of ecclesiastic awareness, ... and to errors in the understanding of Christian values. ... We would be very pleased if our experience of Eucharistic life, both past and present, proves useful and helpful to the Roman Catholic Church. ... It must not be forgotten that preparation for communion in the Russian Orthodox Church also includes, apart from inner preparation, 'The Rule' (strict fasting for three days, visits to Church during these three days, prayers for communion, and special Eucharistic fasting after midnight), and Confession is also compulsory. However, these strict rules are seen by the Church not as an obligation, but as a measure that was formed historically in accordance with tradition, and that people apply to themselves."

MOR SEVERIUS MALKE MOURAD OF THE SYRO-ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE, SYRIA. "In our Syrian Orthodox Church, we celebrate the divine liturgy in Syriac-Aramaic, the language of our Lord Jesus; and during the divine liturgy the very same words which Jesus said in the Upper Room are recited. And the priest who celebrates this Sacrament, has to celebrate it alone. I feel proud that I live in the Monastery of St. Mark in the Old City of Jerusalem, where Jesus had His Last Supper. ... The presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is not only His bodily presence, but all His fullness in humanity and divinity. So Lord Jesus is present in all parts of the two elements. ... St. Paul the Apostle exhorts the believer to spiritually prepare himself before he comes to receive holy communion with faith, reverence and a pure conscience, and should cleanse his body and observe the pre-communion fast at 12 midnight. We used to give the sacraments of holy communion to the children immediately after they receive the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation."

BISHOP NAREG (MANOUG) ALEMEZIAN, ECUMENICAL OFFICIAL OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, ARMENIA. "The Armenian word used to designate the Holy Eucharist is 'Surp Patarag,' which means holy sacrifice. In the liturgical life of the Church we are at God's service (liturgy) and offer sacrifice of thanksgiving (Eucharist) for gifts received from Him. Holy Eucharist is centered on the sacrificial giving of our Savior and generating a communion of love with God and our fellow beings by the power of the Holy Spirit. ... In assessing the constructive role of bilateral and multilateral ecumenical dialogues in discussing the theme of 'Church as Communion,' I encourage all of us to engage in the study of Eucharistic ecclesiology, which situates the unity of the Church in the local celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by the bishop in communion with his brother bishops. In this respect, the distinctive role of the bishop is underlined as the one who takes care of the flock entrusted to him by the Good Shepherd, tending it with a love that is most fully revealed in the Eucharistic partaking of the one bread for a spiritual and universal communion in the mystical Body of Christ."

BISHOP JOHN HIND OF CHICHESTER, ENGLAND. "I bring greetings from the Archbishop of Canterbury and request for prayers for Anglicans at a difficult time. ... When is it appropriate to share holy communion? How should we interpret the public giving of communion to the Protestant Frere Roger Schutz? The Eucharist is not primarily a matter or rite or ceremonial but a living of the new life in Christ. If it is to be truly Christian, there must be criteria for mutual recognition. No less important is the extent to which we suffer with each other. ... In the Eucharist it is not our fellowship that is being celebrated, but our reconciliation with God which creates our fellowship. ... If the Eucharist is itself 'Mysterium fidei' then it must follow that our fellowship or communion in the Church is also a 'mysterion,' in other words, speaking something we cannot understand by reason alone. Finally, being united with Christ in His self‑offering orients us not only towards God but also towards every single one of our human brothers and sisters, for whom in their amazing diversity the Son of God gave His life."

CARDINAL GERALDO MAJELLA AGNELO, ARCHBISHOP OF SAO SALVADOR DA BAHIA, BRAZIL. "We know how, from the first centuries of Christianity, special attention was paid to faithful who could not participate in the celebration of Eucharistic sacrifice, which was why the conservation of the Eucharist was instituted, to meet the various requirements of such situations. ... I would like to underline the situation of the sick, prisoners and elderly people who have difficulty in moving independently. I would also mention here the need to train lay faithful to promote visits by a priest for sacramental reconciliation, and then to continue their pastoral care by bringing Eucharistic communion. Today, many persons feel alone because they lack close relatives, or because they have been placed in permanent nursing homes, or due to the difficulties in walking that force them to remain confined to their beds with no possibility of receiving visits from relatives and friends, or even rejected because they are no longer productive. In a world with so many means of communication, people, even healthy people, often live in isolation and silence. However, in moments of suffering people become sensitive and needful of an expression of God's goodness and mercy. Thus God needs our efforts and our testimony to fulfill the experience of His love."
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FIFTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Synod Hall, the Fifteenth general Congregation of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, and 239 Synod Fathers were present.

Given below are excerpts from some of the speeches delivered this morning by Synod Fathers and auditors:

ARCHBISHOP OSWALD THOMAS COLMAN GOMES OF COLOMBO, SRI LANKA. "We have to promote a visible demonstration of our faith in the Eucharistic Lord. And this has to be done more in deed than in word. Reference has already been made here to many abuses and aberrations in the celebration of the Eucharist and gross lack of reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament. ... Particular reference has been made to secularism and relativism. It is unfortunate that these are even creeping into Asia. While respecting common liturgical norms we need to make a deep study of the cultural patterns of the various worshippers and have them integrated to our liturgy. The cultural patterns of people differ from continent to continent, and often from country to country. Therefore liturgists in these respective areas will have to make a study of these patterns and integrate the highest forms of adoration into the adoration of the Eucharist. ... Finally, today we have the serious problem of Christian fundamentalism which affects our belief in the Eucharist. This Synod has to address its mind to this danger. Else it would be like an effort to plant a beautiful tree - our faith in the Eucharist - when there is a dangerous virus attacking it."

BISHOP ANGEL FLORO MARTINEZ I.E.M.E., OF GOKWE, ZIMBABWE. "Let me inform you of the main challenges our faithful are facing, not of a theological but of a pastoral nature. The first challenge concerns the availability or accessibility of the Eucharist to many of our Catholics. The shortage of priests and the scattering of our faithful in our vast rural areas means that priests are available to them for the Eucharist only once a month, every two months or even longer. This challenges the centrality of the Eucharist in the lives of our Catholics. Could our rural Christian communities that rely mostly on the celebration of the Word be called Eucharistic communities? This is an interesting question that could be discussed in our working groups. The second challenge concerns the Eucharist and Marriage. The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) published a second pastoral letter on the Eucharist this year under this heading, exhorting the faithful to appreciate the greatness of the Eucharist and its deep relationship with the dignity of the Sacrament of Marriage, and to regularize their situation. Many Catholics who used to receive the Eucharist in their youth no longer do so in their adult lives because of irregular marriages."

CARDINAL GEORGE PELL, ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. "Many Synod Fathers have spoken of the difficulties experienced by the Church throughout the world. Some of these are caused by our own mistakes. Vatican Council II brought great blessings and substantial gains, for example, continuing missionary expansion and the new movements and communities. But it was also followed by confusion, some decline, especially in the West, and pockets of collapse. Good intentions are not enough. ... My recommendations to the Synod on how to deal with these 'shadows' presuppose the maintenance in the Latin Church of the ancient tradition and life‑giving discipline of mandatory celibacy for the diocesan clergy as well as the religious orders. To loosen this tradition now would be a serious error, which would provoke confusion in the mission areas and would not strengthen spiritual vitality in the First World. It would be a departure from the practice of the Lord Himself, bring significant practical disadvantages to the work of the Church, e.g. financial, and weaken the sign value of the priesthood; it would weaken, too, the witness to loving sacrifice, and to the reality of the Last Things, and the rewards of Heaven. ... Communion services or liturgies of the Word should not be substituted for Mass, when priests are available. Such unnecessary substitutions are often not motivated by a hunger for the Bread of Life, but by ignorance and confusion or even by hostility to the ministerial priesthood and the Sacraments."

BISHOP LUIGI PADOVESE O.F.M. Cap., APOSTOLIC VICAR OF ANATOLIA, TURKEY. "I speak as bishop of the Church of Anatolia, an area that saw the first great expansion of Jesus' message and in which Christians are now reduced to just a few thousand. The only Christians in the city of Tarsus, homeland of the Apostle Paul, are three nuns who welcome pilgrims; pilgrims who must get a permit in order to celebrate the Eucharist in the only remaining church-museum. The same is true for the church-museum of St. Peter in Antioch. In that city was born John Chrysostom, the 16th centenary of whose death in exile falls in 2007. With his homilies, Chrysostom reminds us that the Eucharist was and is the privileged place for announcing Christ. His memory, as well as the more recent recollection of bishops such as Clemens von Galen and Oscar Romero, is a living testimony of the bond between the memorial of Jesus' sacrifice and the people who found therein the motivation and strength for a proclamation undertaken with intelligence and courage and frankness."

BR. ALVARO RODRIGUEZ ECHEVERRIA F.S.C., PRESIDENT OF THE UNION OF SUPERIORS GENERAL, COSTA RICA. "The 'Instrumentum laboris' of the Synod underlines the Church's hope in its young people. Young people today, living in globalized cultures marked by the incessant change of perspectives, and in a society ruined by so much economic insecurity and by the glorification of violence, find it difficult to articulate the story of their lives in a way that gives meaning, direction and purpose to their youthful dreams. Today more than yesterday, then, we need to satisfy the thirst and hunger felt by young people as they search for a mystical experience of union with Jesus. There is not doubt that He is a force attracting young people today. ... Drinking from the source that is the Eucharist, ... they also find the strength to discover in this world their own crucified brothers and sisters, those who suffer under the oppression of wars, of violence, of hunger. Those without a future. From this source and summit, they come away burning with a new passion, and with the strength of grace to participate in the Church's mission in society and in the world. ... The Eucharist is also the summit whence all (young people's) actions flow. In this way, the Eucharist is not unconnected to the social and political concern felt by Christ's disciples among the men and women of the world, especially among the poor."

MOYSES LAURO DE AZEVEDO FILHO, FOUNDER AND MODERATOR GENERAL OF THE SHALOM CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, BRAZIL. "One of the most important fruits of the Eucharist which we must cultivate is 'parresia.' Parresia is a Greek word which in the New Testament takes on the meaning of audacity in proclaiming Christ. In the period of carnival, in Brazil, when youngsters are exposed to serious dangers, the Catholic Shalom Community promoted ... a moment of adoration before the Most Holy Sacrament. It was impressive to see what many consider impossible: one hundred thousand young people in deep adoring silence before the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This was a prelude to Cologne. Even more impressive were the fruits of this and of other actions of this type: many conversions, a large number of confessions, commitment to the Church with a return to participation in Mass, an awakening of priestly vocations, and love and service to the poor. We discovered that the best reply to the challenge of secularization is to present Christ with audacity!"
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RELIGION: FERMENT OF JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2005 (VIS) - Psalm 121, "the joy of reaching Jerusalem, the holy city upon which we wish peace," was the theme of the Benedict XVI's catechesis during the general audience held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 50,000 people.

Jerusalem, said the Pope, "a city 'bound firmly together,' symbol of security and stability, is the heart of the unity of the twelve tribes of Israel which converge upon the city as the center of their faith and their worship. ... Jerusalem contains another important element, which is also a sign of God's presence in Israel: the 'thrones for judgement' of the house of David: the dynasty of David is reigning, an expression of divine action in history."

"Thus Jerusalem, the political capital, was also the highest judicial center where controversies were ultimately resolved. And so, leaving Sion, Jewish pilgrims returned to their villages pacified and with a greater sense of justice."

The Holy Father went on to explain how the psalm also defines the city in terms of its "religious and social function, showing that biblical religion is neither abstract nor intimistic but is a ferment of justice and solidarity. Communion with God is necessarily followed by communion between brothers."

Benedict XVI observed that the invocation with which the psalm ends emphasizes the Jewish word 'shalom' (peace), which "alludes to the Messianic peace that contains within itself joy, prosperity, goodness and abundance, ... and anticipates St. Francis' greeting of 'peace and goodness'."

In closing, the Pope recalled the figure of St. Gregory the Great who, in his "Homilies on Ezequiel," writes that the holy city of Jerusalem "is already being built here in the customs of the saints. In a building, one stone supports another, ... and he who supports someone is in his turn supported by someone else. Thus, precisely thus, in the Holy Church each supports and is supported."

It must not be forgotten, the Holy Father concluded, that "there is a foundation that supports the entire weight of the building, and that is our Redeemer, ... of Whom the Apostle writes: 'no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ'."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2005 (VIS) - Following today's general audience, the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Edmond Farhat, apostolic nuncio to Austria.
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V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

News From Vatican Information Services 10/11/2005

SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: OCTOBER 10 - 11

- Twelfth General Congregation
- Thirteenth General Congregation

OTHER NEWS:

- Book "Revolution of God" Presented: Pope's WYD Speeches
- Other Pontifical Acts

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TWELFTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2005 (VIS) - This afternoon, the Twelfth General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist was held in the Vatican's Synod Hall in the presence of 242 Synod Fathers. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Francis Arinze, and the Pope attended for the free discussions at the end of the gathering.

Following are excerpts from some of the speeches given:

CARDINAL IVAN DIAS, ARCHBISHOP OF BOMBAY, INDIA. "In the Synod sessions, among the many shadows in our Church today, the decreasing numbers of church‑goers, the waning interest in sacramental Confession, and the lack of catechesis has been mentioned. These problems have been in the Church always, albeit in different ways. On the other hand, the Church has also had persons who have tackled such situations in ways which can inspire us even today. Everyone knows of the saintly Cure of Ars and great apostle of the confessional, John Mary Vianney, and of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the brilliant speaker who reached millions of people through his television and radio broadcasts, The secret of their resounding success was the many hours they spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. They could well be role models for priests and bishops today. There is a Chinese proverb which says: instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle. As we are immersed in the darkness of spiritual and moral ills all around us, would it not be wonderful if bishops and priests all over the world would spend an hour in praise and worship before the Blessed Sacrament everyday interceding for themselves, for the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care and for the needs of the whole Church? Their flocks would certainly be edified and encouraged at seeing their shepherds practising what they preach on devotion to the Blessed Eucharist."

CARDINAL JULIAN HERRANZ, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR LEGISLATIVE TEXTS. "Humanity has no right before God to receive the Eucharist, precisely because this is an act of infinite generosity and mercy. But once God has given the sacraments to the Church for the good of His people, all the faithful enjoy the following right formulated by ... canon 912: 'Any baptized person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to Holy Communion.' ... We are dealing here with a fundamental right but not, as some think, an absolute one. There are, in fact, personal requirements limiting that right. The need of a state of grace to receive Holy Communion, which the people concerned must judge for themselves, also has certain external manifestations that make demands on Pastors. There are cases where ... outward conduct is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm, and impedes access to Eucharistic communion. The norm concerns many irregular situations; all of them, however, are to be handled with loving patience and pastoral solicitude, in order to regularize them and prevent any of the faithful distancing themselves from the Church - or even considering themselves excommunicated - by the simple fact of not being able to receive communion. ... Perhaps we should be more sensitive to the reasonable requests of the faithful who express their 'hunger for the Eucharist.' In fact, many of them complain of the difficulty of finding a confessor, even where priests are not lacking in the parish; they point out liturgical abuses and trivializing desecration of Eucharistic celebrations; they suffer because, contrary to canonical norms on public worship, churches are always closed except during community celebrations, and people cannot remain in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament, etc. Since justice consists in giving each their rights ('unicuique suum tribuere'), we ask our Lady - 'Speculum Iustitiae' - to help us guarantee our lay brothers and sisters the exercise of their rights: for the good of their souls, but also for the apostolic vigor of the entire People of God."

BISHOP JOHANNES GERARDUS MARIA VON BURGSTEDEN S.S.S., AUXILIARY OF HAARLEM, NETHERLANDS. "To bring the Eucharistic celebration nearer to modern man, I feel that, at the least, the following three points are important. Firstly, catechesis continues around the center and summit of our faith, and thus, catechesis has to be a Eucharistic catechesis. A Eucharistic catechesis is, by its very nature, a Christocentric catechesis. He Himself is the heart and the summit of our faith. ... Secondly, the dignified celebration of the Eucharist deserves our attention. Here, both celebrants and the faithful have a great responsibility. By a dignified celebration I mean one that faithfully follows the rules and regulations. This aside, it must be affirmed that real dignity resides, in the final instance, in the interior disposition of both the faithful and the celebrants. ... Thirdly and finally, I would like to mention adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. I believe - and it is certainly the case in my own area - that Eucharistic worship is becoming increasingly limited to Eucharistic celebration. ... Eucharistic fasting, the solemn exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament, but also silent adoration in front of the tabernacle, can be a great help in encouraging our desire to unite ourselves with Christ."

FR. JOHN CORRIVEAU O.F.M. Cap., MINISTER GENERAL OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR (CAPUCHINS). "Our age needs to rediscover awe. St. Francis calls us back to awe ‑ to surprise and amazement at how God is constantly taking the initiative in our regard. This is vital for those of us who live in a culture where nothing amazes us any more because everything is the product of human planning and organization. Humanity appears as the product of its own experimentations, leaving no room for surprise and novelty. ... It is important that the Christian community re‑discover the profound link between the Eucharistic mystery and the circumstances of everyday life, starting from fraternal relationships and broadening out to embrace the whole of creation. Thus arises the circular movement inherent in the Christian life: the Eucharist will impel us to form fraternal relationships in the Church, in society and with the whole creation. Work for the promotion of a true brotherhood/sisterhood of peace among people and for the protection of creation will encourage us to recognize in the Eucharist the only adequate foundation for our life and action."

BISHOP ALFREDO VICTOR PETIT VERGEL OF SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA HABANA, CUBA. "In spite of the lack of priests, we have enormous esteem for the Eucharist and it is celebrated with great respect for liturgical norms. However, faced with the difficulty and the practical impossibility of constructing new churches, we have what are known as 'prayer houses' or 'mission houses' located in suburbs, in small villages and in country homes where each week, or as often as they can, small groups of faithful, not more than 40, gather together under the guidance of a committed lay person, a religious or a deacon. The priest comes to these houses and Mass is celebrated with great devotion and respect for liturgical norms, care being taken to ensure sacramental Confession for those who ... wish to participate in the Eucharistic bread."

BISHOP KARL-HEINZ WIESEMANN, AUXILIARY OF PADERBORN, GERMANY. "In spite of secularism, our times are pervaded by deep and mystical nostalgia. Yet, are we capable of celebrating the Eucharist in such a way that men and women who seek are attracted by its mystery? The highest form of the presence of the Lord, which we can best define by the concepts of real presence and transubstantiation, is revealed for St. Thomas, in his famous hymn 'Adoro te devote, latens deitas,' ... as the highest form of sacramental concealment. There is no reference here to modern skepticism, but to the exact opposite: the opening of a dialectic of 'seeking to find' and of 'finding to seek.' ... This mystical dimension must also be expressed in the way in which we talk about and celebrate the Eucharist. Only in this way can the Eucharist show itself to be effective as the one true answer to the mystical yearning of our times, because it introduces man to a deep loving relationship with Christ, and so to the mystery of the One and Triune God, making him a participant therein. Hence, we must emphasize gestures and liturgical forms that also express what is concealed, perceptible only in silence."
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THIRTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, in the presence of the Holy Father, the Thirteenth General Congregation of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held in the Vatican. There were 241 Synod Fathers present, and the president delegate on duty was Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez.

Given below are excerpts from some of the speeches delivered this morning:

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO, SECRETARY OF STATE. "All of the Eucharistic liturgy leads us to reinforcing the bonds of unity between us. For this reason, the prayer for the Pope is important, which is present in every Mass; the prayer for the bishop is important, pastor of the particular church where the Eucharist is celebrated; and the embrace of peace among those present is important, to heal any disunity that may exist in local communities. Yet there are often many divisions between us, the ministers of the Lord, in religious institutes, and in dioceses with different ethnic groups. The Eucharist is always an invitation to the unity of all the disciples of Christ; indeed, it is always an agent of unity, due to the unifying grace it communicates to us. However, a delicate problem is the attitude we must show towards our separated brothers who wish to participate in the Eucharist celebrated in our Holy Church. ... I would like to recall that, to favor unity with our separated brothers, we must not be divided ourselves. And a sure way to avoid division is faithfulness to the existing discipline of the Church. ... Paragraph 45 of the last Encyclical by the late Pope John Paul II 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' recalls: 'While it is never legitimate to concelebrate in the absence of full communion, the same is not true with respect to the administration of the Eucharist under special circumstances, to individual persons belonging to Churches or ecclesial communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church. In this case, in fact, the intention is to meet a grave spiritual need for the eternal salvation of an individual believer, not to bring about an inter-communion which remains impossible until the visible bonds of ecclesial communion are fully re-established'."

BISHOP CZESLAW KOZON OF COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. "The countries of the Northern Episcopal Conference constitute a vast territory of the diaspora, with approximately 200,000 Catholics scattered over different nations, with a greater concentration in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. These countries are prevalently Lutheran, although largely and in differing degrees secularized. One of the main challenges is represented by the great geographical distances. Despite this, in the majority of parishes, celebrating the Eucharist every Sunday is possible, with a participation of about 20 - 30 percent of the faithful. Even if the number of priests is relatively high in relation to the number of believers, this is a minimum requirement, given the large distances. ... Most people have an authentic understanding of the Eucharist, however we must, through catechesis, place a more profound emphasis on the aspect of mystery and the sacrificial nature of Mass. Catholics in northern countries also face the challenge of uniting faith and life, so that participation in the Eucharist may lead them to a life of commitment in the Church and in society. The practice of Confession also leaves much to be desired. Nonetheless, hardly any serious liturgical abuses can be found. ... From an ecumenical point of view, despite a generally positive atmosphere, the Catholic Church has noticed an increase in incomprehension concerning the question of inter-communion. The Catholic point of view on this is considered backward by other Christians, and this opinion is unfortunately also shared by some Catholics. We would also like to recall the painful situation of the many divorced and remarried Catholics who cannot take part in communion."

ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN OF DUBLIN, IRELAND. "In a society marked by increased secularisation there is need to give much greater place in our catechesis and in our parishes to formation in faith. In so many of our communities today we can no longer presume faith. The seed of faith needs nourishment, not just in the early years of the life of the Christian in the traditional catechesis of young people, but at every stage in life. The rapidity of social change means that faith formation of adults is more and more urgent to accompany them as they try, day by day and year by year, to live their Christian commitment in a changing world. The lay person imbued with Eucharistic spirit will be present in the realities of the secular world with a capacity to look towards the values that endure and to indicate the foundations of a hope which springs from a recognition of Eucharist as revelation and presence in our midst of God's gratuitous love for us in Jesus Christ who gave Himself up for us."

BISHOP EDWARD GABRIEL RISI O.M.I., OF KEIMOES-UPINGTON, SOUTH AFRICA. "In the conference area of Southern Africa we have discovered that the role of the small faith‑based community is essential in the preparation for and the celebration of the liturgy, and also the place where the gift of the Spirit is lived out. ... However, because of the shortage of priests, there are many communities who only celebrate Mass once a month, or once every two months. ... We notice that the most sacred part of the liturgy, the Eucharistic prayer, is the least attractive part of the Sunday liturgy. Although it is the central part of the Eucharist, the climax, it has proved to be the anti‑climax. The priest does it alone, and the laity move from active to passive participation. We would propose that there be some form of responsorial participation which allows the people to participate more actively than simply by a respectful silence. We are not proposing that the role of the celebrant be diminished but rather that the people be given a role by which they support the celebrant and enhance their participation."

BISHOP GABRIEL MBILINGI C.S.Sp., OF LWENA, ANGOLA. "More than five centuries have passed since the Gospel arrived in Angola. The country has a Christian majority. ... With such a high percentage of Christians, and in particular of Catholics, we must ask ourselves why did we experience so many years of civil war? The Masses in which so many Christians participated, what fruit have they brought? Why is the weight not felt of Catholics who occupy important positions in politics and in other social activities? These are legitimate though provocative questions. Insistence must be placed on the personal and ecclesial meaning of the Eucharist with reference to moral life, sanctity and mission in the world. From Eucharistic communion should arise a moral commitment that is a source of life to overcome sin, in the search for truth, rectitude of conscience and the testimony of the evangelical values that were thrown into darkness by the war. During catechesis, we must insist on the link between the Eucharist and the building of a just society, through everyone's personal responsibility to active participation in the Church's mission in the world."

BISHOP LEON MALY, AUXILIARY OF LVIV OF THE LATINS, UKRAINE. "We must seek an ever more profound participation in Mass. On this subject, it must be said that Vatican Council II, in the Constitution 'Sacrosanctum Concilium,' also suggested the same thing. Paragraph 55 of that document reads: 'That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's body from the same sacrifice, is strongly commended.' This is by no means a new suggestion, it was present also at the Council of Trent. ... Forty years after Vatican Council II, it would seem that this indication ... has not yet been fully understood. At times the host is not consecrated for the faithful, but taken from the tabernacle which is kept full of already-consecrated hosts. However, the Conciliar Fathers' suggestion contains a profound sign of the Church, her dimension as People of God, and of Christ's Mystical Body. The People of God are gathered around the altar, whence they receive the Body of Christ."
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BOOK "REVOLUTION OF GOD" PRESENTED: POPE'S WYD SPEECHES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2005 (VIS) - Today in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, and Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, presented the book "La Rivoluzione di Dio" (The Revolution of God). The volume has been published by the Vatican Publishing House and the St. Paul Publishing House and is a collection of the discourses pronounced by Benedict XVI in August 2005 during World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. It also contains the text of the general audience of August 24, during which the Pope explained the legacy of World Youth Day.

"In his addresses," said Archbishop Rylko, "the Pope supplied important elements for a precise pastoral program which draws inspiration from the exemplary spiritual adventure of the Magi. It is a program constructed around three key words: seek, find and adore Christ, the Redeemer of mankind. For this reason, the book we are presenting is not a 'souvenir volume.' ... It is, above all, a manual, a guide to be frequently consulted in search of precious stimuli to consolidate one's faith and learn how to announce Christ in the world today."

For his part, Cardinal Ruini, who also wrote the introduction to the book, briefly summarized the contents of the Pope's twelve discourses, highlighting the fact that "this book is, above all, one of prayer, just as prayer and adoration of the Eucharistic Christ were the dominant themes of 20th World Youth Day. From this book, as from that Day, what shines forth is joy for the beauty of faith, and for the beauty of Christ and of life in Christ."
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Reinhard Hauke of the clergy of Erfurt, Germany, pastor of the cathedral and canon of the cathedral chapter, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese (area 12,000, population 2,300,000, Catholics 168,589, priests 218, permanent deacons 18, religious 317). The bishop-elect was born in Weimar, Germany, in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1979.
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