VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father met with the bishops of Ontario, Canada, in Rome on their quinquennial "ad limina" visit, and focussed his talk to them on the new evangelization, in particular the "formidable challenge" of evangelizing urban culture.
Speaking both English and French, the Pope stressed that "such an evangelization is certainly needed at the dawn of the third Christian millennium. ... A great new task now beckons and it is unthinkable that we should fail in the evangelization of the cities."
"The phenomenon of the megalopolis has long been with us," stated Pope John Paul, "and the Church has not been slow to consider how best to respond." He cited Paul VI's writings on this question, where he noted "how increasing and irreversible urbanization is a great challenge to human wisdom, imagination and powers of organization." Urbanization has produced "a new loneliness" for people, "a belt of misery in silent protest at the luxury which blatantly cries out from centers of consumption and waste. There arises a culture of discrimination and indifference. ... (And) it is often the dark underside of urbanization which occupies your immediate pastoral action."
"Cities," he pointed out, "hold out the promise of employment and entertainment, appearing to be the answer to poverty and boredom when in fact they generate new forms of both.
"For many people, especially the young, the city becomes an experience of rootlessness, anonymity and inequality, with the consequent loss of identity and sense of human dignity. The result is often the violence that now marks so many of the large cities, not least in your own country." He observed that, at the "core of this violence ... is deep-seated disappointment, ... (and) a loss of confidence in institutions." Today's world, he said, is profoundly secular. "In this 'city of man' we are called to build 'the city of God'."
He said that "three very precise elements" are required of pastors for the evangelization of urban areas: "catechesis, liturgy and the organization of pastoral structures - elements which are radically linked to the three dimensions of the bishop's ministry: teaching, sanctifying and governing." Their objective, he added, is "a new and deeper experience of community in Christ, which is the only efficacious and lasting answer to a culture marked by rootlessness, anonymity and inequality."
But, stated the Pope, "we can no longer expect people to come spontaneously to our communities." The Church must seek out people, for which she needs "urban lay missionaries" and a "new missionary heroism," which "must shine even more brilliantly than in the past. ... It is vital for seminaries and houses of formation to be clearly seen as mission schools."
He stressed the role of the parish in this new evangelization, saying that it remains the "privileged place" for meeting Jesus and for a liturgical life "centered on the real presence of the Lord." And, he emphasized, "we must not allow the anonymity of cities to invade our Eucharistic communities. New methods and new structures must be found to build bridges between persons."
The Holy Father added that "Catholic schools and other institutions must also open themselves to the pastoral priorities necessary for evangelizing cities." He exhorted Catholic institutions to keep their identity free from "influences linked to secularization."
In closing remarks, Pope John Paul said: "In a community more fully conscious of Christ's presence the megalopolis will find the God-given sign pointing beyond a culture of rootlessness, anonymity and inequality. The culture of life will be nurtured ... and this in turn will generate a culture of human dignity."
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