II. Final Document

5 Six years ago, on the occasion of the First World Congress of the Lay Apostolate, the Holy Father invited those taking part to share in "a full and effective collaboration in universal charity." In this spirit, more than 2,000 delegates from every October have gathered in Rome from October 6 to 17, to attend the Second World Congress.

6 They note with satisfaction that the years that have passed since the first congress have witnessed a deepening and a maturing of the sense of the apostolate among the faithful of more and more countries.

7 They are also conscious that there is great variety in the forms in which this apostolic sense is expressed according to the different countries and the different vocations. Insofar as it reveals the unity arising from one faith, one hope and one charity, this variety is a sign of richness and vitality.

8 Finally, the presence at the Second World Congress of delegates from more than 80 countries and the innumerable contacts made there are themselves a witness to the fact that the Church belongs to every country and that the peoples of every race, nation and culture find in her their home.

9 Happy in this knowledge, we have nonetheless been made aware in the course of this congress of how important it is to make a much greater effort to carry the tremendous task which faces us as members of the Church in a changing world:

10 1. The rapid increase in population is causing unprecedented material and moral problems.

11 2. Technical progress in industry and nuclear physics is creating new civilizations, and is affecting even those peoples which up to now have been untouched by world events. Technical progress speeds travel, encourages political unification and raises the standard of living, but at the same time brings with it grave threats to health, to the social order, and to world peace.

12 3. At this moment when new nations are entering world affairs, individuals and whole peoples are filled with a great hope of universal justice and liberty.

13 4. Lastly, despite temporary setbacks, an organized world community is taking shape.

14 In this world crisis, more than two-thirds of the population are suffering from hunger, and the contrast in the standard of living between the rich and the economically poor countries is becoming greater.

15 Distress is not only material:

16 The uprooting of peoples and urbanization often lead to loss of faith.

17 Millions of men are not allowed the free exercise of their basic rights, particularly as regards religious freedom which is hindered by communism-and racial equality.

18 In many countries, atheistic materialism IS gaining ground; while the outward signs of atheism are increasingly to be seen in everyday life.

19 Nevertheless, though modern man is on the way to losing belief in God, he still feels the need to be considered as a person, he feels the need for communion, and suffers from the "spiritual vacuum" in which he stands.

20 All these new facts must be taken into account in any apostolic work.

21 Catholics cannot remain passive and indifferent at this critical moment in the history of the world and of the Church. We have the great privilege of living at time when a life, if it is to be Christian, must be fully apostolic. As the Holy Father has re minded, "the consecration of the world" is "essentially the work of the laity themselves, of men who are intimately involved in economic and social life."

22 Now more than ever, the laity, as members of the Church, of "God's people on the march," have been called to collaborate with the Hierarchy in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church, which continues on earth the redemptive work of Christ.

23 This primary duty implies that the laity have an indispensable part to play in every sphere of life. Living fully in the world, the Christian layman has the task of cultivating these temporal values inherent in creation and, by sharing the common objectives of all men, contributing to the penetration of revealed truth into every aspect of life.

24 Faced with this task, the Second World Congress of the Lay Apostolate appeals urgently to all Catholics to turn their attention in the years which lie ahead to making what the Holy Father called the "effort of a serious formation." The carrying out of responsibilities in the apostolate is an indispensable part of this formation, which concerns not only the intellect, but the whole human person.

25 This formation demands:

26 1. Deepening of the spiritual life. This spiritual life must be founded on prayer, adapted to the lay state and directed toward others in a spirit of charity. "We will love our brothers, whether they be close or distant.... We will love all social classes, but particularly those which have most need of help, of assistance, of betterment.... We will love our times, our community, our technical skills, our art, our sport, our world."

27 2. Greater knowledge of the faith. In this respect, laymen are too often illiterate. There is danger of a lack of balance between a temporal culture which is ever more highly developed and a religious culture which would remain childish. If he is to share his faith with others, the apostle must find his strength in the word of God and in the liturgy. He must live in "the charity of faith."

27 3. A knowledge of the world and of its needs. This means that we must have religious surveys, study centers and research institutes. Good will alone is not enough. It must be supported by real technical competence, professional, civic and social.

28 4. International awareness for a world which is becoming more and more unified. The surest foundation for this is the cultivation of a truly Catholic point of view. A more truly Christian instinct, and more frequent international contacts will help the laity to become accustomed to seeing all problems on a world scale. This field of apostolate can only be approached in a spirit of loyalty to the Church and the Hierarchy.

29 This formation must be the constant concern of all who share in the education of children or of adults, whether in the family, the parish, the school, the university, lay apostolate movements, Catholic Action or Catholic international organizations. It is important to recall that the family must give the first basic formation for the apostolate.

30 The progress which has already been made in the lay apostolate would not have been possible without much help from members of the clergy. We record our hope that priests increasingly well versed in this work will be available to insure the formation of those "adult" laymen whom the world needs.

31 Knowing that membership in the Church, far from making the Christian unfit for dealing with the affairs of the world, induces him to devote himself as fully as anybody to all human tasks, we declare our full support for the constructive efforts for the common good made by men of good will throughout the world.

32 We invite the Catholics of the whole world to share wholeheartedly, in the true spirit of service, in all such ventures, whether in the economic, social, political or cultural fields, whether through an organization formed for the purpose or within the framework of existing national or international organizations.

33 In particular, we undertake the work in this spirit for the attainment of social and economic justice, not only for every individual and social group, but for all peoples and between all peoples. We are bound in conscience, in accordance with the Church's social teaching, to play our part in focusing public opinion on this problem.

34 We are nevertheless aware that the present crisis is above all a spiritual crisis. Today as always, men hunger for God. The solution which we must give is not our own, but Christ's communicated through the Church.