DIVINE WORD SOCIETY CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 30, 2000 (VIS) - Members of the Society of the Divine Word, in Rome to celebrate their 15th General Chapter and the 125th anniversary of the missionary order's foundation, were received in audience this morning by the Holy Father. He lauded the "considerable growth" of the society, which represents more than 60 nationalities and is present in more than 60 countries.

The Pope recalled the order's many great priests and brothers, including a number of martyrs, in particular Blessed Alojzy Liguda: "He bequeathed to his beloved Society an eloquent declaration on the dignity of every human being ...: 'People may treat me as something base, but cannot make me base. Dachau (concentration camp) can rob me of all my rights and titles; the privilege of being a son of God no one can take from me'."

Pope John Paul said that "the urgent task of the mission 'ad gentes' and the 'new evangelization' requires that you proclaim Christ the Savior in many different cultural contexts. It can never be forgotten that there are still countless men and women who have not heard the name of Jesus and who have never had the immense gift of His salvation offered to them. ... All people have a right to hear this Good News, and the Church therefore has a solemn duty to go forth everywhere to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ."

"Inculturation and interreligious dialogue," he affirmed, "have an important role to play in many of the places where you carry out your missionary activity, Serious and open dialogue with cultures and religions does not dispense from evangelization and should never be seen as opposed to the mission ad gentes."

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