WORLD CONGRESS ON FORMATION WITHIN SECULAR INSTITUTES

VATICAN CITY, AUG 28, 2000 (VIS) - Today in the patio of the apostolic palace of Castelgandolfo, John Paul II received 400 participants in the world congress of secular institutes who are reflecting on the theme of the formation of their members.

The Pope indicated that formation "involves the whole life of the consecrated person," and that "it cannot disregard - as its vital center and as a criteria for the Christian evaluation of historical phenomena - the spiritual, theological and sapiential dimension of a life of faith. This provides the final and decisive key for understanding the human condition today, and for selecting priorities and forms of authentic witness."

He went on to highlight: "Above all, you must bring light and hope into today's society. Do not allow yourselves to be taken in by naive optimism; remain faithful witnesses of a God who certainly loves humanity and offers it the grace necessary to work efficiently in constructing a better and more just world, one more respectful of the dignity of all human beings. The challenge that contemporary culture places before faith seems to be this: Abandon the facile inclination to depict dark and negative scenarios and draw viable, not illusory, itineraries of redemption, liberation and hope."

The Holy Father underlined the fact that "the teaching of discernment cannot overlook the foundation of all human designs that is, and remains, Jesus Christ." The further humanity is from the evangelical message, the louder the announcement of Christ's truth should ring out. However, that announcement must not be something imposed by believers, rather, he concluded, "it must be made clear that the Church, the bearer of Christ's mission, cares for man with love."

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