Press Release 

 

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1998 – 7 A.M. 

 

 

In Unprecedented Move, Over 140 Catholic Groups from Six Continents Issue Statement about Leadership in the Roman Catholic Church:

 

 

A Pope for the Time to Come:

Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor 

 

Paris, France, Oct.15th, 1998. 

 

For the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's election at the head of the Roman Catholic faith community, over 140 Catholic groups in 27 countries issue a statement entitled A Pope for the Time to Come: Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor. They challenge their faith community by calling for a model of church built on a "discipleship of equals" and a style of leadership that is collaborative, dialogic and open to fundamental change.  The quest for structural and democratic reform of the Roman Catholic Church is no longer limited to Europe and North America. Networks are being built among similar movements all over the world. 

 

"Because we want the gospel message heard in our own time, we seek to build a church that is welcoming for all people and open to restoring Christian unity in the coming century", said Elfriede Harth, spokesperson for the International We Are Church Movement (IMWAC) that issued the statement. "To do this, we have focused on qualities of leadership, not on ‘candidates' for Pope". 

 

The global statement calls for a "…Bishop of Rome who truly embraces the sense of the faithful."  This Pope would share leadership with other bishops and the whole People of God. He would retire at the age established for all bishops. 

"Papal elections and church structures are not the business of cardinals alone," Ms. Harth said.  "The Second Vatican Council called all of us to assume co-responsibility for the life of our church.  With this statement, we take that call seriously. We invite all Catholics worldwide to join us by putting forward their own thoughts and ideas. We welcome a vigorous public dialogue as we move toward a new stage in church history." 

 

Ms. Harth announced that the statement was sent three weeks ago to all members of the College of Cardinals and to Pope John Paul II himself. 

 

IMWAC is a network of Church reform movements from over twenty countries worldwide. It resulted from the Kirchenvolks-Begehren launched in Austria in 1995, a petition drive that collected 2,5 million signatures worldwide calling for fundamental structural reforms in the Roman Catholic Church. 

 

CONTACT: 

Elfriede Harth, Spokesperson for IMWAC, Versailles, France