VATICAN CITY, JUN 5, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul welcomed Gabon's five bishops this morning and spoke to them of the need for a "new thrust" for evangelization, urging them "to go forward enthusiastically on the rough paths of mission," even though the human and material means for doing so are very limited.
The prelates of Gabon, a republic on the west coast of central Africa, were concluding their "ad limina" visit to Rome, during which they spoke with the Holy Father and officials of the Roman Curia on the situation of the Church in their country, where Catholics number 55 percent of the population.
The Pope expressed his "joy at the agreement reached between the Holy See and the Republic of Gabon to work for promoting the common good, guarantee of the spiritual and material well-being of persons." He said he hoped this "spirit of collaboration" would, among other things, "allow Catholic schools to contribute with ever greater efficacy to the human and spiritual education of the youth of your country."
On the subject of the new evangelization, the Holy Father stressed that "the formation of agents of evangelization is of great importance in assuring the future of the Church on the African continent." He noted that the synod for Africa "had emphasized the need to form the laity so that they could assume their irreplaceable role in the Church and in society."
Quoting his Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa," the Pope said that "the faithful of your country must always be capable of assuming their civic responsibilities," and must "bring to bear upon the social fabric an influence aimed at changing not only ways of thinking but also the very structures of society, so that they will better reflect God's plan for the human family."
Christian families must "be very aware of their mission in the Church and in society," said John Paul II. He urged "a pastoral ministry for the family adapted to the great problems of life today, notably those which concern respect for human life."
On the topic of young people, the Pope said: "In the difficulties that they encounter, may they never lose confidence in the future, but may they embrace working courageously with their brothers and sisters for the coming of a new world founded on fraternity and justice."
Your closest collaborators in evangelization, the Pope told the bishops, are your priests "whom you must consider as brothers and friends." He exhorted the priests of Gabon "to persevere generously, despite the obstacles, in the commitments undertaken at ordination." He counselled the bishops to give great attention to the pastoral ministry for vocations to the priesthood and to religious life, and said that one of their priorities must be "constituting the teams of formators and spiritual directors."
He had words of praise for the missionary institutes in the country and for the work of men and women religious in parishes, schools and hospitals.
Pope John Paul closed with remarks on the need to continue on the arduous path of Christian unity and on the need, as well, to work closely with the believers of Islam and of the African Traditional Religion.
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