COOPERATE TOGETHER IN THE VAST FIELD OF EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II received today participants in the general assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Works, headed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

In a message that he presented to Cardinal Sepe, the Pope recalls that in the days previous to the general assembly they had reflected upon the "necessity of adequate formation of missionaries and in regard to dialogue with other religions, very necessary today."

"In fact," he continues, "it is necessary that, on different levels of responsibility, everyone in the Church be educated to cooperate together for the same mission in Christ. Everything possible must be done so that there are vocations 'ad gentes', and workers with multiple functions in the vast field of evangelization. In addition, missionary activity can never be reduced to simple human promotion, help of the poor and the liberation of the oppressed."

The Holy Father underlines that "missionary activity must be above all concerned with the transmission of the salvation that Jesus won for us. Furthermore, who better than you to give testimony that the poor are hungry above all for God, and not only for bread and freedom?"

"Missionary formation requires in the first place evangelical testimony. The true missionary is a saint and the world is waiting for missionary saints. It is not enough to dedicate oneself exclusively to the renovation of pastoral methods and structures, coordinating better ecclesiastical forces; it is not enough to limit oneself to examine with greater clarity the biblical and theological foundations of the faith."

After emphasizing the "urgency of missionaries 'ad gentes' and 'ad vitam'," the Pope affirms: "Sustained by divine grace, missionaries - priests, religious and lay people - dedicate their energies to Christ in far-away countries, sometimes amid difficulties, misunderstanding, danger and persecution." He concludes by reminding the bishops of the priests, religious and laity, "'the martyrs and witnesses of the faith' of our time, who encourage believers to serve the Gospel with total dedication."

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