Because the Church is a mother, she feels a great concern for the welfare of all her children. She therefore sees to it that no one is excluded from her motherly care. The Pastoral Care of Civil Aviation is her arm embracing those who cannot benefit from her normal care in the parishes because of their airline or airport related occupation.
The present Directives aim to describe the ministry that the Catholic Church wishes to carry out in the field of Civil Aviation. It is addressed to Catholic Civil Aviation chaplains, pastoral agents and their collaborators.
Airport presence and ministry can be summarized in the two greatest commandments of the "love of God" and "love of neighbour" in their individual and collective expressions. Thus, they do not require a detailed description.
The airport chapel and liturgy, on the other hand, have to respect precise indications according to the existing norms in the Catholic Church. To ensure clarity and facilitate the observance of these norms, care has been taken to define what is to be done in any foreseeable situation where doubt may arise.
In many international airports, the Catholic chaplain works side by side with other Christian chaplains. To make this collaboration more effective and free from vague interpretations, it is necessary to define the identity of the Catholic Civil Aviation chaplain and the members of the Catholic chaplaincy. It is also imperative to ensure that they undertake the essential formation and preparation for the apostolate.
Dear Civil Aviation chaplains, pastoral agents and chaplaincy members, let your apostolic zeal and love be genuinely expressed by applying these directives faithfully in your pastoral activity. Only the Holy Spirit knows what He has in store for you and all those who are entrusted to your care.
God loves you.
Archbishop Giovanni Cheli
President
The Vatican, 14 March 1995
