SUMMARY
OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: 25-26 OCTOBER
- Final General Congregation
- Members of the Post-Synodal Council, Gift from the
Pope
- Appeal for Christians in the East
- The Synod Presents 55 Propositions to the Holy
Father
- Pope to Travel to Cameroon and Angola in March
2009
- Angelus: Pope Speaks of Synod and of Eastern
Christians
OTHER NEWS: 25-27 OCTOBER
- Philippines: Forging Bonds of Peace and Social
Harmony
- Audiences
___________________________________________________________
FINAL GENERAL CONGREGATION
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2008 (VIS) - During the
Twenty-Third and final General Congregation, which
took place this morning in the Synod Hall, a vote
was held on the final list of propositions which
will be delivered to the Holy Father to consider as
he is preparing the Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation.
At 1 p.m., participants in the synodal assembly
attended a lunch in their honour given by the Holy
Father in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall.
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MEMBERS OF THE POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL, GIFT FROM THE
POPE
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2008 (VIS) - Yesterday
afternoon during the Twenty-Second General
Congregation, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary
general of the Synod of Bishops, announced the names
of the 12 elected members of the Twelfth Council of
the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, and
of the 3 members appointed by the Holy Father:
- Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments.
- Cardinal Francis Eugene George O.M.I., archbishop
of Chicago and president of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga S.D.B.,
archbishop of Tegucigalpa and president of the
Episcopal Conference of Honduras.
- Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop
of Cape Coast, Ghana, and president of the
Association of West African Episcopal Conferences.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of
Quebec, Canada.
- Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun S.D.B., bishop of
Hong Kong, China.
- Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, archbishop of Sao
Paulo, Brazil.
- Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
- Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa,
president of the Episcopal Conference of the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil S.D.B. of
Guwahati, India.
- Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland.
- Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn,
Australia.
- Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the
Pontifical Council for Culture.
- Bishop Florentin Crihalmeanu of Cluj-Gherla,
Romania.
- Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Imus,
Philippines.
The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops then
announced that the Holy Father will present a
facsimile of the Bodmer Papyrus XIV-XV to each of
the participants in the Twelfth Ordinary General
Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the conclusion
of their work.
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APPEAL FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE EAST
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2008 (VIS) - Yesterday
afternoon, patriarchs and archbishops from Eastern
Catholic churches who are participating in the
current meeting of the Synod of Bishops, delivered
an appeal to the Holy Father "in favour of our
brothers and sisters of the East", in which they ask
for "the confirmation of all attempts being made to
favour peace, freedom and truth in love".
In the text of the appeal, which appeared on the
pages of the "Osservatore Romano" newspaper, the
prelates write: "Our hearts are moved by the
suffering of so many of our sons and daughters of
the East. Children and youth, people in extreme
difficulty because of their age, health or essential
spiritual and material needs; families perennially
tempted to despair over the present and the future.
We feel it our duty to voice their justifiable hopes
that everyone may soon be guaranteed a dignified
life, in fruitful social coexistence.
"Peace is the work of justice! This is an
imperative we cannot ignore. We ask, then, for peace
in justice, of which real religious freedom is a
guarantee, and especially for the Holy Land which
was the birthplace of Christ the Redeemer, for
Lebanon, Iraq and India.
"We remain close to people suffering for their
Christian faith and to all believers prevented from
professing their religion. We pay homage to
Christians who have recently lost their lives for
faithfulness to the Lord".
"Before the Pope and the Synod Fathers, encouraged
by their fraternity, we present this urgent request:
to Christians and all men and women of good will,
demonstrate respect and acceptance of others in
daily life, drawing close to all those in need, at
home and far away; to pastors and religious leaders,
preach and support such an attitude by sustaining
and increasing initiatives of mutual understanding,
dialogue and assistance; to the international
community and politicians, guarantee true religious
freedom at a legislative level, by overcoming all
discrimination and helping those who are forced to
leave their own land for religious reasons".
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THE SYNOD PRESENTS 55 PROPOSITIONS TO THE HOLY
FATHER
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2008 (VIS) - The working
sessions of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of
the Synod of Bishops concluded this morning with the
approval of the 55 propositions which the Synod
Fathers have presented to Benedict XVI.
By order of the Pope, a provisional and unofficial
Italian-language version of the propositions has
been made public by the General Secretariat of the
Synod of Bishops. This is the second time that
Benedict XVI has allowed the publication of the
closing propositions of a synodal assembly. Normally
the propositions are given privately to the Pope for
him to consider while preparing the Apostolic
Exhortation, the official closing document of a
Synod.
The first part of the list, entitled: "The Word of
God in the Faith of the Church" includes the
propositions from 3 to 13. They focus on the duty of
pastors to educate the faithful to gain a better
experience of their relationship with Christ Jesus,
through reading and meditation upon Scripture.
After analysing the relationship between the Old
and New Testaments, the propositions highlight how
the poor, "in need not only of bread but also of the
words of life", have a preferential right to know
the Gospel.
Referring to one of the "challenges of the modern
world: the great progress of science in respect to
its knowledge of the natural world, with the
paradoxical result that it can end up obscuring the
ethical message arising therefrom", the Synod asks
pastors "to be sensitive to the rediscovery of
natural law and its function in the formation of
consciences".
The second part (propositions 14 to 37) focuses on
the theme: "The Word of God in the Faith of the
Church". On the subject of the Word of God and the
liturgy, it is suggested the Bible be placed in a
visible position inside churches, and that the Word
of God be clearly proclaimed by people who have
"familiarity with the dynamics of communication".
On the subject of the homily - one of the major
themes of the synodal assembly - the propositions
stress the need to prepare it well, bearing in mind
the day's biblical readings, what those readings
mean to the priest, and what he must then say to the
community in the light of their real situation. The
need to promote "lectio divina" (the prayerful
reading of Scripture) is also emphasised.
The Synod Fathers encourage the laity in their
efforts to transmit the faith and, in this context,
underline the indispensable role of women,
especially within the family, in catechises and in
the ministry of the lectorate. They also note that,
although the liturgy of the Word is a privileged
place for the encounter with Christ, it must not be
confused with the liturgy of the Eucharist.
Another of the propositions reflects a suggestion
made by the Pope himself: that, in exegesis, it is
important to bear in mind the two methodologies
indicated by the Dogmatic Constitution "Dei Verbum":
the historical and the theological. This is because,
as Benedict XVI said in an address during the Synod,
"if an hermeneutics of faith is lacking, there
necessarily arises a positivist or secularist
hermeneutic, according to which the divine does not
enter into human history".
The third and final part includes propositions 38
to 54 on: "The Word of God in the Mission of the
Church". It deals with such issues as the Word of
God and liturgical art, and the translation and
distribution of the Bible. These propositions also
highlight the importance of the communications media
for evangelisation and warn against the danger of a
fundamentalist reading of the Bible and the
phenomenon of sects.
Other themes considered in this section include
inter-religious dialogue, the promotion of
pilgrimages, the study of Holy Scripture in the Holy
Land, dialogue with Jews and Muslims, and the
relationship between the Word and the protection of
the environment.
The Synod Fathers call for a strengthening of
inter-religious dialogue and insist "that all
believers be effectively guaranteed the liberty to
profess their religion in private and in public, and
that freedom of conscience be recognised". The
prelates suggest that episcopal conferences should
promote meetings and dialogue with Jews. On the
subject of Muslims, they stress the "importance of
respect for life, and of the rights of men and of
women, as well as the distinction between the
socio-political and the religious spheres in
promoting justice and peace in the world. An
important part of this dialogue will be reciprocity
and freedom of conscience and religion", they say.
In the final proposition, dedicated to the Virgin
Mary model of the Church's faith, it is suggested
that the faithful be further encouraged to pray the
Angelus and the Rosary.
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POPE
TO TRAVEL TO CAMEROON AND ANGOLA IN MARCH 2009
VATICAN CITY, 26 OCT 2008 (VIS) - In the Vatican
Basilica at 9.30 a.m. today, the Holy Father
presided at a Eucharistic concelebration with the
Synod Fathers. The event marked the close of the
Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of
Bishops which has been held in the Vatican from 5 to
26 October on the theme: "The Word of God in the
Life and the Mission of the Church".
In his homily, the Pope highlighted the importance
of listening "to the Word and incarnating it in
individual and community life.
"In this Eucharistic celebration, which closes the
work of the Synod", he added, "we are particularly
aware of the bond that exists between loving
reception of the Word of God and disinterested
service towards our fellow man. How many times, in
the past days, have we heard experiences and
reflections which highlight the contemporary need to
listen to God more intimately, to gain a truer
knowledge of His Word of Salvation, a more sincere
sharing of faith which is constantly nourished at
the table of the Divine Word".
After thanking all the participants, Benedict XVI
made particular mention of the bishops of
continental China, who were unable to attend the
synodal assembly. "I would like", he said, "to thank
God for their love for Christ, their communion with
the universal Church and their faithfulness to the
Successor of the Apostle Peter. They are present in
our prayers, as are all the faithful entrusted to
their pastoral care. We ask the 'Chief Shepherd' to
give them apostolic joy, strength, and zeal to
guide, with wisdom and far-sightedness, the Catholic
community of China so dear to us all".
The Pope went on: "All of us who have taken part
in the work of the Synod will carry with us the
renewed knowledge that the Church's principal task,
at the start of this new millennium, is above all to
nourish herself on the Word of God in order to make
new evangelisation more effective. What is needed
now is that this ecclesial experience be brought to
every community. We have to understand the necessity
of translating the Word we have heard into gestures
of love, because this is the only way to make the
announcement of the Gospel credible, despite the
human weaknesses that mark individuals. What this
requires first of all is a more intimate knowledge
of Christ and meek acceptance of His Word.
"In this Pauline year, making our own the words of
the Apostle ('Woe to me if I do not proclaim the
Gospel'), I hope with all my heart that in every
community this yearning of Paul's will be felt with
ever more conviction, as a vocation in the service
of the Gospel for the world. ... So many people are
searching, sometimes unwittingly, for the meeting
with Christ and His Gospel; so many need to find a
meaning to their lives in Him.
After highlighting the fact that "often the
encounter with Scriptures is in danger of not being
a 'Church event', but remains exposed to
subjectivity and arbitrariness", the Pope noted the
importance of a "robust and credible pastoral
promotion of the knowledge of Holy Scripture, in
order to announce, celebrate and live the Word in
Christian communities, establishing a dialogue with
the cultures of our time, placing ourselves at the
service of truth and not of current ideologies, and
increasing the dialogue that God wishes to have with
all mankind". To this end, "special care should be
paid to the preparation of pastors", and "ongoing
efforts to give life to the biblical movement among
lay people should be encouraged, along with the
formation of group animators. ... We must also
support efforts to transmit the faith through the
Word of God to those who are 'far away', especially
to those who are sincerely looking to give meaning
to their lives", he said.
"The privileged place where the Word of God
resounds, the Word that builds the Church, is
undoubtedly the liturgy. It is clear from the
liturgy that the Bible is a book of a people and for
a people. ... There is, therefore, a mutual
relationship, a living bond, between the people and
the Book. The Bible remains alive with the people
who read it. The people cannot exist without the
Book, because it is in it that they find their
reason for living, their vocation and their
identity. This mutual bond between people and Holy
Scripture is celebrated at every liturgical
gathering".
Benedict XVI ended his homily by entrusting to the
protection of the Virgin Mary the Second Special
Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, due to
be held in Rome in October of next year. He also
announced his intention to travel to Cameroon in
March 2009 to entrust the working document for that
Synod to representatives of the episcopal
conferences of Africa. "From there", he concluded,
"God willing, I will go on to Angola to celebrate
the 500th anniversary of the evangelisation of that
country".
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ANGELUS: POPE SPEAKS OF SYNOD AND OF EASTERN
CHRISTIANS
VATICAN CITY, 26 OCT 2008 (VIS) - At midday today,
Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to
pray the Angelus with thousands of people gathered
in St. Peter's Square.
In his remarks before the Marian prayer, the Pope
dwelt upon today's closure of the Synod of Bishops.
"Each synodal assembly", he said, "is a powerful
experience of ecclesial communion, this one even
more so because attention was focused on what
illuminates and guides the Church: the Word of God,
which is Christ in person. ... In accordance with
the original meaning of the term 'church', we
experienced the joy of being called by the Word and,
especially in the liturgy, found ourselves on the
path ... which gives us a foretaste of the Kingdom
of Heaven".
The Holy Father commented on a question that gave
rise to much reflection during the Synod: "the
relationship between the Word and words, that is to
say between the Divine Word and the scriptures that
express it". Thus "good Biblical exegesis requires
both historical‑critical and theological
methodologies, because Holy Scripture is the Word of
God in human words. This means that every text must
be read and interpreted bearing in mind the unity of
all Scripture, the living tradition of the Church
and the light of faith.
"If it is true", he added, "that the Bible is also
a literary work, indeed the great codex of universal
culture, it is also true that it must not be
divested of its divine element, but must always be
read in the same Spirit as that in which it was
written. Therefore, scientific exegesis and 'lectio
divina' are equally necessary and complementary for
finding, through the literary and spiritual meaning,
what God wishes to communicate to us today".
The Holy Father then went on: "At the end of this
synodal assembly, the patriarchs of the Eastern
Churches made an appeal, which I make mine, to call
the attention of the international community,
religious leaders and all men and women of good will
to the ongoing tragedy in certain Eastern countries,
where Christians are the victims of intolerance and
cruel violence: killed, threatened and forced to
abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. At
this time I am thinking above all about Iraq and
India. I am certain that the ancient and noble
populations of these nations have learnt, over the
course of centuries of respectful coexistence, to
appreciate the contribution the small but dutiful
Christian minorities make to the development of the
shared homeland. They do not ask for privileges, but
only wish to be allowed to continue to live in their
country together with their fellow citizens, as they
have always done.
"I ask civil and religious authorities to spare no
efforts to ensure that legality and civil
coexistence be soon restored, and that honest and
loyal citizens may know that they can count on
adequate protection from State institutions. I also
hope that civil and religious leaders from all
nations, aware of their role as guide and example to
their peoples, take meaningful and explicit actions
of friendship and consideration towards minorities,
Christian or others, and make it a point of honour
to come to the defence of their legitimate human
rights".
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PHILIPPINES: FORGING BONDS OF PEACE AND SOCIAL
HARMONY
VATICAN CITY, 27 OCT 2008 (VIS) - This morning in
the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the Letters of
Credence of Cristina Castaner-Ponce Enrile, the new
ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See. In
his English-language address to her he recalled how
"the Filipino people are renowned for their warm
generosity and the high value they place on
friendship and family life". He also expressed his
thanks for "the unique contribution they have made
and continue to make to the life of the local and
universal Church", encouraging them to continue "to
devote themselves to forging bonds of peace and
social harmony within your borders and across the
globe.
"For its part, and in a special way through its
diplomatic activity, the Holy See seeks to engage
the world in dialogue so as to promote universal
values ... and advance mankind on the road to
communion with God and one another. The Catholic
Church is eager to share the richness of the
Gospel's social message, for it enlivens hearts with
a hope for the fulfilment of justice and a love that
makes all men and women truly brothers and sisters
in Christ Jesus. She carries out this mission fully
aware of the respective autonomy and competence of
Church and State.
"Indeed", he added, "we may say that the
distinction between religion and politics is a
specific achievement of Christianity and one of its
fundamental historical and cultural contributions.
The Church is equally convinced that State and
religion are called to support each other as they
together serve the personal and social wellbeing of
all. ... By cultivating a spirit of honesty and
impartiality, and by keeping justice their aim,
civil and ecclesial leaders earn the trust of the
people and enhance a sense of the shared
responsibility of all citizens to promote a
civilisation of love".
The Holy Father then went on to refer to the
Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and
Development, held recently in Manila. "Initiatives
such as this", he said, "are fruitful when they
recognise immigration as a resource for development
rather than as an obstacle to it. ... Domestic and
international policies aimed at regulating
immigration must be based on criteria of equity and
balance, and particular care is needed to facilitate
the reunification of families. At the same time,
conditions that foster increased work opportunities
in peoples' places of origin are to be promoted".
In this context, Pope Benedict recalled how
political leaders in the Philippines "have passed
legislation for comprehensive land reform with the
aim of improving the living conditions of the poor".
Such measures "can benefit a society by instilling a
sense of common responsibility and stimulating
individual initiative, making it possible for a
nation both to feed its own and expand its
participation in international markets. ... I pray
that by implementing measures that foster the just
distribution of wealth and the sustainable
development of natural resources, Filipino farmers
will be granted greater opportunities for increasing
production and earning what they need to support
themselves and their families".
Finally, the Pope spoke of his happiness at seeing
the Philippines "participate actively in
international forums for the advancement of peace,
human solidarity and inter-religious dialogue. ...
In light of the Gospel, the Catholic Church has
always been convinced that the transition from less
humane to more humane conditions is not limited to
merely economic or technological dimensions, but
implies for each person the acquisition of culture,
respect for the life and dignity of others, and
acknowledgement of 'the highest good, ... God
Himself, the author and end of these blessings'".
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AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 27 OCT 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father
today received in separate audiences:
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the
Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, archbishop of Los
Angeles, U.S.A.
- Bishop Jesus Esteban Sadaba Perez O.F.M. Cap.,
apostolic vicar of Aguarico, Ecuador, on his "ad
limina" visit.
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