APOSTOLIC LETTER
IN THE FORM OF YOUR MOTU
IN THE FORM OF YOUR MOTU
FIDES FOR Doctrinam
OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT PP. XVI
WITH WHOM YOU HAVE CHANGED THE APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION PASTOR BONUS AND MOVES TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE CATECHESIS
THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY IN THE HOLY COUNCIL
FOR THE PROMOTION OF NEW EVANGELIZATION
THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY IN THE HOLY COUNCIL
FOR THE PROMOTION OF NEW EVANGELIZATION
Faith needs to be supported by a doctrine capable of enlightening the minds and hearts of believers.The particular historical moment in which we live, marked among other things by a dramatic crisis of faith, requires the assumption of an awareness, to meet the high expectations that arise in the hearts of believers to new questions that challenge the world and the Church. The understanding of faith, therefore, always requires that its contents are expressed in a new language, able to provide hope to those who believe this to those who ask for reason (cf. 1 Pt 3:15).
It 'particular task of the Church to keep alive and effective proclamation of Christ, through the exposition of the doctrine that must nourish faith in the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God made man for us, died and rose for our salvation. It must make him relentlessly through forms and tools, because those who accept and believe the proclamation of the Gospel reborn to new life through baptism.
On the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council , the Church while still reflects the richness of the teaching contained in the documents and find new ways to implement it, you can see the great progress made in recent decades in the catechesis path But that was not free, in the years following the Council, to serious errors in the method and content, which led to a thorough reflection and thus led to the development of some post-conciliar documents that represent the new wealth in the field of catechesis.
The Venerable Servant of God Paul VI wrote, was in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi : "A way must not be neglected is that of catechetical evangelization. Intelligence, especially that of children and adolescents, need to learn through systematic religious instruction, the basic data, the living content of the truth which God has wished to convey and that the Church has sought to express in an ever richer in the course of its long history "(No. 44: AAS 68 [1976], 34).
By the same token, Blessed John Paul II , at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the Catechesis wrote: "The purpose of catechesis, in the general context of evangelization is to be the teaching and maturation stage, ie time which the Christian, having accepted by faith the person of Jesus Christ as the only Lord and having given complete adherence by sincere conversion of heart, endeavors to know better this Jesus, whom you abandoned "(Apostolic Exhortation . tradendae Catechesis , 20: AAS 71 [1979], 1294).
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council , my predecessor Blessed convened another Synod of Bishops and, in that context, the Synod Fathers expressed the fervent hope that you would proceed to the preparation of a Catechism for the Universal Church offer a systematic synthesis of faith and morals Council stated that. With the Apostolic Constitution Fidei deposit of 11 October 1992, Blessed John Paul II promulgated theCatechism of the Catholic Church and, with Motu Proprio of 28 June 2005 , I myself have approved and promulgated the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church .
We can not forget other important stages to clarify the nature, methods and goals of catechesis in the process of evangelization. In 1971, the Congregation for the Clergy published the General Catechetical Directory for the purpose of making a first synthesis with respect to the progress made in the various local Churches, who, meanwhile, had realized a catechetical their own path.Following the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church , the same Congregation for the Clergy , in 1997, issued the General Directory for Catechesis , reaffirming the Church's desire that the first stage in the catechetical process is ordinarily dedicated to ensuring the conversion (cf. n . 62).
The Council's teaching and the Magisterium, summing up the great tradition of the Church in this regard, they tied in an increasingly strong Catechesis in the process of evangelization. Catechesis, therefore, represents a significant milestone in the daily life of the Church to proclaim and transmit in a living and effective Word of God, so that this may all, and believers are trained and educated in Christ to build His Body which is the Church (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church , 4 ).
With the Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio , et Ubicumque always , I set up, September 21, 2010, the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization , which plays "its purpose is stimulating reflection on the themes of the new evangelization, both identifying and promoting ways and means to achieve it '(Article 1 § 2: AAS 102 [2010], 791). In particular, I wanted to give the new Department the task of "promoting the use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as essential and complete formulation of the content of the faith to the people of our time" (Article 3, # 5: AAS 102 [2010], 792).
In those circumstances I consider it appropriate that the Department takes in its mission to ensure, on behalf of the Roman Pontiff, the relevant instrument of evangelization that is for the Church Catechesis and catechetical teaching in its various manifestations, in order to achieve more organic and effective pastoral action. This new Pontifical Council will offer local churches and diocesan bishops adequate service in this matter.
Therefore, accepting the unanimous proposal of the Department Heads concerned, I decided to transfer to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization skills that, in the field of catechesis, the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus , 28 June 1988, was entrusted to the Congregation for the clergy , with the same jurisdiction that so far exercised this congregation in this area and is required by canonical.
Consequently, in the light of the foregoing, having examined everything carefully and have requested the opinion of experts, will establish and decree the following:
Article 1
It repealed the ' art. 94 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus , and expertise in the field of catechesis held so far the Congregation for the Clergy is fully transferred to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization .
Article 2
It is also transferred to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization "the International Council for Catechesis" established by the Venerable Servant of God Paul VI with a letter dated June 7, 1973. Of the Council shall chair the President of the Council and will make theex officio Secretary of the same Department.
Article 3
Under the powers conferred by this Motu Proprio , the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization :§ 1. responsible for the promotion of religious formation of the faithful of every age and condition;
§ 2. has power to enact appropriate because the teaching of catechesis is imparted in a convenient according to the constant tradition of the Church;
§ 3. has the task of ensuring that the catechetical formation is properly in accordance with the methods and purposes according to the indications given by the Magisterium of the Church;
§ 4. grants the prescribed approval of the Apostolic See for the catechisms and other writings pertaining to catechetical instruction, with the consent of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
§ 5. assists catechetical offices in the Episcopal Conferences, following their initiatives on religious education and having an international character, coordinates activities and possibly offer them the help they need.
Everything I have resolved this Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio , I order that is observed in all its parts, notwithstanding anything to the contrary even if worthy of particular mention, and contrive to be promulgated by publication in the newspaper " L'Osservatore Roman", entering into force fifteen days after enactment.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter, January 16 of 2013, the eighth of my Pontificate.
Benedictus PP. XVI
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