THE BISHOP MUST EXERCISE THE CHURCH'S MATERNAL AUTHORITY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received the third group of prelates from the German Episcopal Conference, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

In his talk the Holy Father recalled that the Church is a mystery, and that she "is not 'our' Church, but 'His'; she is the people of God, the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit." Furthermore, he said, she is "Mater" and "Magistra." The mother Church "gives birth to, nurtures and educates her sons and daughters. ... At the same time she is saddened by those who abandon her, and holds the door open to the ever hoped-for reconciliation." Consequently, "as 'fathers of your communities' you have the right and the duty to exercise the 'maternal authority' of the Church."

"The response to the Church's maternal love," he affirmed, "must be the willing obedience of her sons and daughters." While in ecclesial circles, "emancipation" is so much spoken of, "a mentality that holds that true liberty can be obtained distancing oneself from the Church becomes ever more widespread. As bishops, seek to correct these mistaken tendencies."

In the face of changes that seek to impose certain groups within the Church, changes that "do not correspond to Christ's will," bishops "must continue to move forward, pointing the way, patiently clarifying and always seeking to unite through dialogue. ... Do not allow a human authority of any kind to loosen the unbreakable links that exist between you and Peter's Successor."

"Union with the bishop is the essential and indispensable attitude of the faithful Catholic." There is no union with the Pope if there is no union with bishops, "who are in communion with him."

The Holy Father then highlighted the problem of the defense of life. After emphasizing his concern for the counselling and support of pregnant women, he said: "I trust that this important activity of the Church in your country will soon be definitively reorganized in accordance with my directive. I am convinced that high quality ecclesial counselling will become an eloquent symbol for society and will constitute an efficient means for encouraging women in difficulties not to refuse the new life they carry within them."

Speaking of the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial, ordained priesthood, the Pope said that the Church needed ordained priests who act "in persona Christi." Consequently, "any attempt to transform the lay state into a clerical state, or to transform the clergy into laity, must be rejected, because it is not in keeping with the ordained ministry wished for by the Founder."

John Paul II referred to "the growing discomfort (in Germany) regarding the Church's attitude to the role of women." He said, "Without doubt, the dignity of women is great! It must be always and ever more highly evaluated. However, the nature of individuals' human and civil rights is different with respect to the rights, duties and functions of ecclesial ministry, and this fact is emphasized too rarely." On this subject, he concluded by recalling the Church's teaching that the priesthood is the exclusive preserve of men, a teaching "which is infallible in nature."

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