VATICAN - THE POPE ADDRESSES PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY: “THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH CANNOT BE CONCEIVED ACCORDING TO PURELY HUMAN POLITICAL MODELS. HER HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION IS FOUNDED ON THE WILL OF CHRIST AND AS SUCH IS PART OF THE "DEPOSITUM FIDEI", WHICH MUST BE INTEGRALLY PRESERVED AND HANDED ON THROUGH THE CENTURIES.”

Vatican City (Fides) – “The task of the clergy is to form, govern and sanctify the people of God, and with them the laity take an active part in the Church’s mission in a constant synergy of efforts and with respect for the specific vocations and charisma.” Pope John Paul II said this when he addressed participant at the annual plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy received in audience on 10 January. The Plenary reflected on two important questions: "Consultative organs secundum legem e praeter legem" and "Pastoral Care at Shrines".
Lay collaboration in the Church’s mission is articulated also in the different organs of participation foreseen by canonical order at the diocesan and parish level. Born of the indications of the Council, today these need to be updated according to the new Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1983. “It is necessary to guarantee a balanced relationship between the role of the laity and that which is the competence of the diocesan Ordinary or the parish priest– the Pope said -. In exercising their office, legitimate pastors must never be considered simply as executors of decisions deriving from majority opinions emerging from ecclesial assemblies. The structure of the Church cannot be conceived according to purely human political models. Her hierarchical constitution is founded on the will of Christ and as such is part of the "depositum fidei", which must be integrally preserved and handed on through the centuries.”
With regard to the subject of Shrines which draw large crowds of faithful in search of God, the Holy Father stressed that clergy at Shrines must be “priests with keen pastoral sensitivity animated by apostolic zeal, gifted with a paternal spirit of welcome and experienced in the art of preaching and catechesis.” Moreover those dedicated to hearing confessions, particular at Shrines, must “have adequate doctrinal and pastoral formation” and liturgical celebrations, Holy Mass first of all, must “always be prepared with care and animated with great devotion, fostering active participation of the faithful.”


(S.L.) (Fides Service 12/1/2004 – lines 26; words 334)