Papal initiative hits first snag

POPE Benedict XVI has outlined his most tangible initiative yet to try to revive Christianity, creating a Vatican office for re-evangelising Europe and other traditionally Christian regions where the faith is falling by the wayside.

In an official decree, Benedict said the new office would work with bishops to promote Church doctrine, use modern communication methods to get the Church’s message out and mobilise missionary-type activities using members of religious orders and new religious movements.

But even on its first day of existence, the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation ran into an all-too-typical Vatican snag: The four-page decree instituting the office was issued only in Latin and Italian, even though the Pope announced the office’s creation four months ago.