JOHN PAUL II CLOSES THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 27, 2001 (VIS) - At 10:30 this morning, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father presided over the solemn concelebration of the Eucharist on the occasion of the conclusion of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which began September 30 on the theme: "The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World." Concelebrating with the Pope were 55 cardinals, 7 patriarchs, 70 archbishops, 106 bishops and 30 priests, including 5 auditors and 15 assistants.

In his homily, John Paul II affirmed that "At the dawn of the third millennium, the ideal figure of the bishop, which the Church continues to count upon, is that of the Shepherd who, configured to Christ in sanctity of life, spends himself generously for the Church entrusted to him, at the same time bearing in his heart solicitude for all the Churches spread throughout the earth."

"The bishop, the Good Shepherd," he said, "finds light and strength for his ministry in the Word of God, interpreted in the communion of the Church and proclaimed with 'opportune and importune' courageous faithfulness. Teacher of the faith, the Bishop promotes all that is good and positive in the flock entrusted to him, supporting and guiding the weak ones to the faith, intervening to unmask falsehoods and to fight against abuses."

The Pope said it was important that the bishop "be aware of the challenges that faith in Christ encounters today, because of a mentality based on human criteria that, at times, make the Law and the Plan of God relative. Above all, he must have the courage to proclaim and defend healthy doctrine, even when this entails sufferings. In fact, the bishop ... has the duty of protecting the faithful from any kind of temptation, showing, through the sincere return to the Gospel of Christ, the true solution to the complex problems that burden humanity. ... Only if the deep and convinced unity of the Shepherds among themselves and with the Successor of Peter is clearly perceptible, as is that of the bishops with their priests, can a credible answer be given to the challenges that come from today's social and cultural context."

"I would like to ask you," he added, "to bring my greetings to your faithful and, in a special way, to your priests. ... I also ask you to greet the bishops emeriti, conveying to them the expression of my recognition for the work done at the service of the faithful. (For this reason), I chose to have their representatives at this Synodal Assembly." He then asked that "each Episcopal Conference study how to attribute value to the bishops emeriti who are still in good health and rich in energy, entrusting them with some ecclesial service and, above all, the study of the problems for which they have experience and competence, calling upon those who are available to take part in one of the Episcopal Commissions, along with their younger brethren, so that they will always feel like living members of the Episcopal College."

He concluded by sending "particular greetings to the bishops of continental China, whose absence at the Synod has not prevented us from feeling their spiritual closeness in memory and in prayer."

After the Mass, the Pope invited the synod participants to lunch at the Santa Marta House, in the Vatican.

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