Pontifical website aims to help lay Catholics worldwide

Last updated on: August 29, 2012 at 8:03 am by CNA Daily News

Pontifical website aims to help lay Catholics worldwide 2012-08-29T08:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Aug 29, 2012 / 02:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Laity is positioning its website as a resource for lay men and women ahead of Pope Benedict's Year of Faith, which will kick-off in October.

“It is directed to all the lay faithful that want to know more about their vocation, about their role within the Church,” Ana Cristina Betancourt of the Pontifical Council’s Women’s Section told CNA in Rome.

“So, it is a way of being in contact with what we do day-to-day and that was our aim in having it, to make more known the things that we do, the reflections that we have, the things that we are thinking about and also the guidelines that the Pope is giving the laity to better live their vocations.”

The Pontifical Council for the Laity was created by was Pope Paul VI in 1967 and re-founded by the same Pontiff in 1976 to include it as a permanent dicastery within the Roman Curia. For many years one of its key consulters was Poland’s Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, later Pope John Paul II.

Its stated aim is to assist the Pope “in all matters concerning the contribution the lay faithful make to the life and mission of the Church, whether as individuals or through the various forms of association that have arisen and constantly arise within the Church.”

The website was unveiled for Blessed John Paul II's beatification in Spring 2011 but is constantly updated.

Betancourt explained that the homepage focuses on “the latest news and events” involving the council including video reports. It will also include statements by Pope Benedict XVI on the vocation of the laity such as “little references that he makes in his speeches or in documents to the vocation of the laity.” There is also a message from the President of the Council, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, “which also changes continually.”

The site also carries links to its four sections – “Associations and Movements,” “Women,” “Church and Sport,” and “Youth.”

In recent decades one of its most significant tasks of the council has been the organization of the Church’s World Youth Day, a global encounter between young people and the Roman pontiff.

The next such event will take place next summer in Rio de Janeiro when over 2 million young pilgrims are expected to make the journey to the Brazilian metropolis. It is hoped the website can be a key tool in helping to organize the meeting.

“We want to give information, first of all about the next World Youth Day,” said Fr. Eric Jacquinet of the Pontifical Council’s Youth Section of his hopes for the website.

“But also want to reflect on youth ministry because Pope Benedict is very attentive to education, to the formation of young people, so we try to give them some materials to think about this.”

The Pontifical Council for Laity website can be found at www.laici.va.

Uncategorized

Vatican

Previous Post

August 29, 2012

Philly archdiocese financial officer gets prison time in $900,000 theft

Next Post

August 29, 2012 Knights encouraged by Cardinal Dolan backing civility pledge

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

If you show me, you will show your faith. Without me, faith is dead. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Works Prayer Love Obedience