VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 1999 (VIS) - The bishops of Cameroon, at the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit, were welcomed today by the Holy Father, who spoke of the "beautiful apostolic vitality" of the church in their country, "marked by the creation of several new dioceses and a new ecclesiastical province."
"Christian communities today," said the Pope in French as he began his speech, "need pastors who are men of faith, humble and courageous, capable of discernment, possessing an attitude of welcome and dialogue with everyone, (all of which are) signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God and of working for its growth. In the often difficult human situations, marked notably by the economic crisis and the poverty of many categories of the population, they must be sowers of hope."
The Holy Father highlighted the teaching mission of bishops as well as the mission of priests, their closest collaborators, "to build and form the people of God. ... In society today there are numerous obstacles to being faithful to the commitments taken on the day of ordination: There are also numerous obstacles which prevent thinking of the priesthood as a service of God, the Church and the world. May your priests not get discouraged!"
He underscored the importance for priests "to give themselves totally to the Church. This gift of self must be particularly expressed by priests through celibacy." And he also stressed the need for on-going formation.
Regarding vocations, John Paul II said that what was "fundamentally important and necessary" in seminaries is "the human, intellectual and pastoral formation of candidates to the priesthood."
Turning to the role of religious in the Church, the Pope said: "Their presence makes visible the universality of the Church and is a call to the mutual sharing of human and spiritual resources among local Churches. He added that "it would be desirable that the contemplative life, already present in certain of your dioceses, could yet be more widespread."
"The commitment of the laity in the life of the Church and society is an essential dimension of their baptismal vocation," he went on. "The vocation of the laity is to show their being as Christians in social life and in the service of the common good."
Then, speaking English, the Holy Father spoke of education: "The education of young people should be a primary concern of everyone. ... As part of her mission the Church must make moral and religious education available to all who desire it. Catholic schools, therefore, have a special role to play. Despite the difficulties which they face in your country today, they are called to carry out this mission in a spirit of openness to all, regardless of origin, social status or religion."
The Holy Father pointed to the threats in society today "which tend to destroy (families and marriage) or to at least deform them. ... It is urgent to strengthen a catechesis which accentuates the greatness and dignity of conjugal love in God's plan."
He lauded the bishops for their "important efforts to inculturate the Christian faith, notably in the fields of liturgy and catechesis." Quoting the Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa," he said: "The challenge of inculturation in Africa consists in ensuring that the followers of Christ will ever more fully assimilate the Gospel message, while remaining faithful to all authentic African values."
Pope John Paul dedicated closing remarks to inter-religious dialogue, noting that "in your country, relations with other religious traditions are generally peaceful." He said it would be "appropriate" to foster, "especially with the believers of Islam, a truly fraternal and respectful spirit which allows them to work together in service to integral development and to justice. May this same convivial spirit also animate relations with those of the traditional African religion."
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