Papal document clarifies role of Roman basilica

Vatican, May. 31 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has issued new norms governing the administration of the basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls.

In a motu proprio entitled "The Ancient and Venerable Basilica," issued on May 31, the Pope set down rules for the governance of the basilica and the adjoining Benedictine abbey. He also appointed an archpriest for the basilica, Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo.

A motu proprio is a legislative act-- in effect, a decree-- by which the Pontiff establishes a canonical regulation. In his first document of that type, Pope Benedict addressed the pastoral work of the basilica that is built on the site of St. Paul's martyrdom, south of Rome. Unlike the other three major basilicas of Rome (St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major), St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls had not previously had an archpriest. For that role the Pope chose Archbishop Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, a 79-year-old Italian prelate who had, in 1991, been the first papal nuncio to serve in Israel.

In the motu proprio, Pope Benedict calls attention to the historical importance of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls, and especially its traditional connection with ecumenism. He encourages the continuation of that ecumenical activity, in conjunction with the work of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

Under the terms of the 1929 Lateran Accords, the grounds of the basilica are the territory of the Holy See, although they lie outside Rome, and are therefore under the direct legal jurisdiction of the Pope. The motu proprio is intended to clarify the lines of authority for the basilica's management, putting the administration of the basilica and its grounds under the care of the archpriest.

The abbot of the Benedictine monastery attached to the basilica will serve as vicar to the archpriest, the motu proprio specifies. The abbot will no longer control the territory around the basilica, but will continue to govern the Benedictine monastery. And the Benedictine priests will be responsible for administering the sacrament of Penance at the basilica, which is a popular site for pilgrimages.

Pope Benedict notes that the basilica has regularly been the site of major ecumenical events, and encourages the new archpriest to facilitate such activities. Each year, St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls is the site of the concluding liturgy for the week of prayer for Christian Unity. It was also the site where, in January 1959, Pope John XXIII announced his plan to convene an ecumenical council. And it was there, in January 1986, that Pope John Paul II (bio - news) invited all the world's religious leaders to participate in a special day of prayer for peace at Assisi. In January 2000, when Pope John Paul opened the holy door of the basilica, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year, he was assisted by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury.

The basilica has also played an important role in the early days of the current pontificate. On the day after the Mass inaugurating his pontificate, Pope Benedict traveled to St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in a deliberate gesture to underline his concern for ecumenical work. The newly elected Pope said during that visit that he wished to emphasize the missionary aspect of Catholic life, and the "inseparable ties of the Church in Rome with the Apostle to the Gentiles and the Fisherman of Galilee."

The Church is sick to the core but yet the emphasis is towards ecumenism

So which method of zotting do you prefer?

The Church's "core" is Jesus Himself. And the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

If the Church could "breathe with both lungs" and the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox mended, the entire Church would be STRONGER. Likewise, the Catholic Church would benefit and is already benefiting immensely from people converting from Anglican/Episcopalian to Catholicism.

I have confidence that the Holy Father can not only get the Church back to the basics and start to heal its wounds (especially during this Year of the Eucharist), but that he can make huge steps toward meaningful ecumenism, without diluting the Church.

I was hoping that the Holy Father would make it a Tridentine only basilica!

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