Zenit covers the story:

WASHINGTON, D.C., FEB. 7, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be available starting March 31, says the U.S. bishops' conference.

The 200-page synthesis of the 1992 Catechism will be published exclusively by USCCB Publishing, the publishing office of the episcopate.

USCCB Publishing will launch the Compendium in English and Spanish at the 2006 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. The paperback version will be available first with the hardcover to follow shortly after.

The Compendium consists of 598 questions and answers, echoing to some degree the format of the popular Baltimore Catechism which was a standard text in many Catholic parishes and schools from 1885 to the 1960s.

Catholic Online adds more information:

The Compendium is structured in four parts, with questions and answers serving as the original text.

It also includes two appendices: a list of Catholic prayers; and, "Formulas of Catholic Doctrine," including the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, theological and cardinal virtues, and spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Fourteen images taken from masterpieces of Christian art scattered throughout. "The sacred images, with their beauty, are also a proclamation of the gospel and express the splendor of the Catholic truth," Pope Benedict said.

Amazon.com is accepting preorders for Hardcover ($24.95) or Softcover ($14.95).

Learn more about the Compendium of the Catechism in our books section.