PASTORAL PRIORITIES: FAMILIES, YOUTH, SEMINARIANS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father today welcomed the prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Congo as they concluded their "ad limina" visit, and, in his talk to them in French, highlighted their priorities as pastors, saying they must dedicate ample time and energy to seminarians and to the pastoral ministries for families and youth.

Referring to the "tragic period which produced many victims and caused a great number of your fellow countrymen to go into exile as well as causing considerable material damage," he noted that "your country has undertaken important efforts to allow all Congolese to live in safety and to definitively achieve national harmony. During this time of trial you have made your voices heard in appealing for peace and reconciliation. ... Throughout these dramatic events, the attitude of the Church ... has been admirable. However, we must regret the great number of priests and religious who left the country in these troubled times."

The Pope encouraged the bishops "to pursue with ardor the Gospel that the Lord left us," adding that "the tragic experience lived by the Congolese people must inspire Catholics to resolutely look to the future and to launch courageous apostolic initiatives."

In what has become his trademark theme, John Paul highlighted the urgency "of giving evangelization a new thrust" and said this must include "a vigorous pastoral ministry for the family. ... Violence and the disbanding of families in recent years, have had serious consequences on the unity of the family cell and on respect for human dignity. Thus, it is also necessary for Christians to be ever more aware of the responsibility which weighs on them to preserve and develop the basic values of the family and Christian marriage." In fact, he added, "all of society must respect, defend and promote the dignity of every person at all moments of life and in all of life's stages."

Given the difficult circumstances in which young people live and the violence often suffered by them, said the Holy Father, bishops must be "induced to develop a youth ministry adapted to their situations and the problems they face. ... Tell the young people of the Congo that the Pope, in his heart and through prayer, is close to them and their daily cares, and asks them to never despair of life!"

He added that "the Church makes an important contribution to the human, moral and spiritual formation of young people. ...It is necessary to educate them to mutual respect among persons, among human groups and among religious communities and to favor a spirit of welcome and dialogue."

Pope John Paul expressed his "esteem" for the priests in the Congo who work in difficult situations. He observed that "the generous and unconditional attachment of priests to the person of Christ is shown in a remarkable way in the celibacy that they have freely accepted. In respecting this canonical obligation, may they live it in a joyous and transparent manner, making it a prophetic witness of the love without limits that unites them to Christ."

The Pope also encouraged the prelates to make seminaries and seminarians a high pastoral priority "so that the young people may serenely verify their vocation and receive in their country a solid human, spiritual, moral, intellectual and pastoral formation."

"To the faithful of your dioceses and to all Congolese," said the Holy Father in conclusion, "I address a special message of peace and hope. To overcome the consequences of conflicts, violence and hatred, and to reach a true reconciliation, the only path to follow together is that of fraternity and solidarity."

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