Pope: Rich countries should help the world's poor
The Compendium of Catechism is a help to Catholics to bear integral witness to the truth of Catholic faith, doctrine and morals in a unanimous and uniform way.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) Rich countries should adopt "concrete measures" to help poorer ones, especially in Africa. This was the appeal made for the second time in as many days of Benedict XVI to the world's powers on the eve of the G8 meeting in Gleneagles (Scotland).
Today, before the Angelus, addressing 30,000 people in St Peter's Square (where there was also an antique caravan), Benedict XVI mentioned the just published Compendium of Catechism of the Catholic Church, describing it as a useful took for all the faithful to become evangelizers in every environment, because it is "necessary" at the beginning of the millennium that "the entire Christian community proclaims, teaches and testifies to the truth of the Catholic faith, doctrine and morals in a unanimous and uniform manner."
"Some days ago," said the pope, "I had the joy of presenting the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For some years now, the need has been felt for a brief catechism which sums up in a simple but comprehensive manner all the essential elements of Catholic teaching. As divine providence would have it, this project became reality on the very day that the beatification cause of the much-loved John Paul II who gave it a decisive boost was launched. While giving thanks to the Lord for this, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to highlight once again the importance of this useful and practical tool in the proclaiming of Christ and his gospel of salvation."
Benedict XVI continued: "In the Compendium, the most extensive presentation of the faith of the Church and Catholic teaching contained in the Catechism published by my venerated predecessor in 1992 is summed up in an ideal dialogue between teacher and disciple. Returning to the four intimately linked sections, the Compendium permits [one] to grasp the extraordinary unity of the mystery of God, of his saving design for all humanity, of the centrality of Christ, the only-begotten Son of God made man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, who died and resurrected for us. Present and working in the Church especially in the Sacraments, Christ is the source of our faith, the model of every created being and the Lord of our prayer."
"Dear brothers and sister, how necessary it is at the beginning of the third millennium for the entire Christian community to proclaim, teach and witness as a whole to the truth of the Catholic faith, doctrine and morals in a unanimous and uniform manner! The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church can contribute to this hoped-for revival of catechesis and evangelization, so that all Christians, children, youths and adults, families and communities, open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, may become catechists and evangelizers in all surroundings, helping others to meet Christ. With faith, we ask this of the Virgin Mother of God, Star of evangelization."
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