News from the Holy See
Christus Rex Information Service
5 March 1996
V.I.S. - Tuesday, 5 March 1996
CURIA PROFILE: PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION
VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 1996 (VIS) - With the Brief "Vigilantiae Studiique" of
October 30, 1902, Leo XIII instituted the Pontifical Biblical Commission,
entrusting to it the task of fostering the progress of biblical studies and to
clear up all doubts which could arise on the correct interpretation of Sacred
Scripture.
In 1904, St. Pius X broadened the faculties of the commission, allowing it
to confer, from that point on, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees on
the Bible. On April 27, 1924, Pope Pius XI made the degree titles granted by
the Pontifical Biblical Commission equal to those given by pontifical
universities.
With the Motu Proprio "Sedula Cura" of June 27, 1971, Paul VI completely
reorganized the Biblical Commission in order to favor in a more efficient way
the healthy progress of biblical studies, keep the interpretation of Sacred
Scripture immune from rash opinions, and coordinate more harmoniously the
collaboration of exegetes and theologians with the Holy See and among
themselves.
The Pontifical Biblical Commission is directly linked to the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, whose prefect, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is the
president of the commission. The secretary of the commission, Fr. Albert
Vanhoye, S.J., is "de iure" consultor in the congregation. There are always 20
members, half of whom are renewed every five years, elected from experts in
biblical sciences. Non-Catholic biblical scholars, though not members of the
commission, may collaborate with work subcommissions.
Commission members hold an annual plenary assembly. They study themes that
can be proposed by the congregations, by the Synod of Bishops, by episcopal
conferences or by the Biblical Commission itself. Their conclusions are
presented to the Holy Father and then passed on to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith. In some cases the results of these studies are
published.
At the end of the commission's 1993 plenary, Pope John Paul announced their
document "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church," which was publicly
presented by members of the commission on March 18, 1994.
Since then the theme studied by the Pontifical Biblical Commission has been
"The Universality of redemption by Christ and problems with relations with non-
Christian religions."
V.I.S. - Tuesday, 5 March 1996
IN BRIEF
CARDINAL EDOUARD GAGNON, president of the Pontifical Committee for
International Eucharistic Congresses, will take possession of the title of St.
Marcel on the Corso on Sunday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m.
THE PONTIFICAL JOHN PAUL II INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY and
the Lateran Pontifical University have jointly sponsored a seminar on "The
Biological and Ontological Condition of the Human Embryo," to be held next
March 7 in the auditorium of the pontifical institute.
V.I.S. - Tuesday, 5 March 1996
AUDIENCE
VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 1996 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience this
morning Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston, U.S.A.
V.I.S. - Tuesday, 5 March 1996
NOMINATION
VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 1996 (VIS) - The Holy Father nominated Msgr. Pedro Arigo,
vicar general of Imus, as apostolic vicar of Palawan (area 14,745, population
670,257, Catholics 451,129, priests 47, religious 35), the Philippines.
A.N.S.A. - Tuesday, 5 March 1996
VATICAN: VATICAN DAILY, RADIO CONDEMN ATTACKS IN ISRAEL
(ANSA) - Vatican City, March 5 - The Vatican daily
L'Osservatore Romano today condemned the ''vile terrorists''
responsible for the wave of suicide attacks in Israel in a
strongly-worded editorial which said that, ''no one can ever
listen to their voice, no one can give them the least credit or
confidence unless he is as treacherous as they are.''
This comment said these ''slaughterers of the innocent''
can ask for nothing and can have nothing.
''Israel's pain shakes the conscience of the world. All
mankind is on the side of those who pay their tribute to peace
with innocent blood. And is solidly opposed to the murderers for
whom there can be no understanding, no attenuation. Terror,
death, destruction, desecration, here is what terrorism is,''
said the daily.
Vatican Radio said today there must be no surrender to the
logic of hatred and called for total support for the ''path to
peace'' between Jews and the Palestinians in comment by Father
Federico Lombardi, the broadcaster's director of programming. If
the ''logic of hatred'' is given way to, ''sooner or later blood
will continue to flow, also more abundantly.
''At this point,'' the comment continued, ''it is clear
that opposition between the Israelis and Palestinians can no
longer be spoken of but only between those who want peace and
life and those who want war and death. The border does not run
between different people but within each of us,'' said Father
Lombardi.
The director of programming concluded his editorial by
calling for unconditional support for the peace process with
solidarity and understanding for the victims of the ''atrocious
violence, with clarity in condemning all forms of terrorism,
with sincere and effective support for those responsible, who
will continue to stake their lives in a commitment to peace.''
In a related development today, the Israeli ambassador to
the Holy See, Shmuel Hadas, told Vatican Radio that breaking off
peace talks at this time ''would be a measure not only against
the Palestinians but against the Israelis themselves.''
In an interview given to the radio, the diplomat conceded
that, ''It's a difficult time, it's a situation in which
irrationality seems to prevail.'' He also acknowledged that,
''After the massacres of last week and those of this week, it
will be a bit difficult for the ideal of peace to arise again in
Israel.''
He went on to affirm that to combat terrorism, ''strong
international pressure'' is needed. ''This is not a war between
the Palestinians and the Israelis but is a war of the
Palestinians and the Israelis against terrorism and today the
support of the entire world is vital,'' added Hadas.
(In Milan, the archbishop of that city, Cardinal Carlo
Maria Martini and some 1,000 priests gathered in the
Sant'Ambrogio Cathedral for a spiritual retreat observed one
minute of prayer and silence for the victims of the recent
suicide bombings in Israel.)
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