Pope John Paul II is adding five new mysteries dedicated to chapters from Jesus’ public life. Called the "mysteries of light," the new rosary themes will focus on Christ’s baptism, his first miracle, his preaching ministry, his transfiguration and his institution of the Eucharist.

The themes of the five new "mysteries of light" are: 1. Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River; 2. Christ’s self-revelation at the marriage of Cana; 3. Christ’s announcement of the kingdom of God with the invitation to conversion; 4. Christ’s Transfiguration, when he revealed his glory to his apostles; 5. the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper as the sacramental expression of the paschal mystery. In his document, the pope asks that the "mysteries of light" be recited especially on Sundays.

Vatican Information Service reported that on October 18 the Holy See announced the creation of a mixed commission of the Holy See and of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, whose job is to revise the "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests, Deacons or Other Personnel" (Norms) and the "Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" (Charter).

The names of the members of this commission have been published. The members representing the dicasteries (offices) of the Holy See are: Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy; Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.

The members representing the United States Episcopal Conference are: Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago; Archbishop William Levada, archbishop of San Francisco; Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford; Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport.

In a recent letter to Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, expressed the complete solidarity of the Holy See with the bishops of the United States in condemning the sexual abuse that has occurred within dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Church). The letter also acknowledged the bishops’ efforts to address these difficult problems, recognizing in particular the central role of the Charter and the Norms in their work towards protecting minors and avoiding future recurrences of these abuses. The Holy See also asked for the establishment of the mixed commission to examine those parts of the two documents that it believes need further discussion and greater precision to avoid misinter-pretation and be in full accord with the universal law of the Church.

Bishop Gregory said in an October 18 statement, "The purpose of the Commission is to bring the best wisdom of the Holy See and our Episcopal Conference to a discussion of these issues. Our goal is to finish our work in time for the results to be presented to our Episcopal Conference at our Plenary Assembly (Nov. 11-14), and this effort will be a fully collaborative work."