VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - Forty-five participants in the 12th general chapter of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) were welcomed today by the Holy Father as they conclude both the chapter and the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the institute's founding.
"The days and the centuries pass," the Pope began his talk to them. "Christ remains the same yesterday, today and always. He is the center of individual and community life of all those who belong to Him. ... If it is your intention to rethink the charism proper to your institute in order to revitalize it, it is essential ... to start from the centrality of Christ in community life and personal witness. When a 'christological weakness' is insinuated in your action, then your work of evangelization risks being reduced to prevalently social or charitable activity, or pastoral organization."
The Holy Father admitted that the problems which mankind faces, and which must be taken into consideration in missionary work, are many: globalization, ethnocentrism, the temptation to build 'do-it-yourself' religions and "the closing of many countries to the presence of missionaries and direct evangelization." With specific reference to PIME, he cited the ageing of members as well as a decline in their numbers.
John Paul II then highlighted "the four strong dimensions which mark the identity of your institute": PIME missionaries are envoys "ad extra"; their mission is "ad gentes"; they are consecrated "ad vitam" and their apostolic mission must be accomplished together.
As envoys "ad extra," affirmed the Pope, PIME missionaries "leave their own land ... to go where the Lord calls them." In their mission "ad gentes," they must reach those who are "'far', especially those who do not know the Gospel. This demands a creative effort to be able to inculturate the Gospel, an intense capacity for dialogue and constant attention to the demands of human promotion, of the struggle against injustice, of the defense of the poor and of those without rights."
Recalling that their consecration is "ad vitam," that is, for life, the Pope said their call "involves their entire existence and lasts their entire life. It is a total giving to Christ for mission." And lastly, he remarked that their work "must be done together. You are missionaries of various nationalities, priests and lay people who live in communion, in a style totally oriented to mission. The spirituality of communion is the truest witness to Christ that you could give the world."
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