EUROPE/ITALY - “The Compendium of the Catechism must not be the news of one day, it must be the good news which illuminates and guides the days and work of bishops and faithful all over the world” said Archbishop Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Rome (Fides Service) - “An exceptional opportunity for maturing in the faith and apostolic commitment”: this was how Archbishop Angelo Amato, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, described the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Archbishop was one of the people involved in drafting to volume presented on 28 June 2005 by Benedict XVI, but ordered by John Paul II in 2002 to meet a triple exigency: conciseness, simple language, doctrinal fidelity to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The meeting with Archbishop Amato, invited by the Bishop of Altamura, Mario Paciello, and organised by the Diocesan Office for Catechism on 26 September at “Benedict XIII Youth Center in Gravina, drew an audience of at least one thousand, priests, deacons, catechists and pastoral workers of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti, who highly appreciated Archbishop Amato’s brilliant conference his theological competence, love for the Church and the Pope with whom he worked in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; indeed the presence of Bishop Amato in our diocese made us feel the Holy Father even closer and the necessity to be faithful to his teaching.
The presentation of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was not the presentation of a best-seller, but rather an introduction to a book intended to serve as a “vademecum” of formation for every Christian, a The Compendium’s characteristics besides essentiality and conciseness include: dialogical form (questions and answers), similar to the old catechetical literary style fostering assimilation and possible memorisation of the contents; presence of images (14 in all) taken from the rich heritage of Christian iconography which mark the articulation and are a integral part of its catechetical instruction thanks to their theological value; an appendix containing prayers belonging to Christian tradition, and some formulas of Catholic doctrine.
Concluding his presentation, Archbishop Amato said the Compendium offers «a concrete and authoritative opportunity for growth in the faith » and «witnesses of our “sentire cum Ecclesia”»; «an indispensable tool for knowing our faith, and explaining our hope … and for growing in love of God Trinity and Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church»: it is a commitment which represents a great opportunity and also a challenge at the beginning of this third millennium. (D.Vincenzo Panaro) (Agenzia Fides 30/9/2005, righe 38, parole 508)