POPE WELCOMES ROMANIAN BISHOPS ON "AD LIMINA" VISIT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2003 (VIS) - The bishops of Romania, at the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit, were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning who recalled his visit to their country in May 1999 where he "experienced the intense affection of the Romanian people for the Pope."

In his discourse to them in their language, he underscored that the two rites of the Catholic Church in Romania "are a very active minority on the spiritual and social levels. I know that your communities work side by side with the Orthodox majority of the country, collaborating ... with a fraternal spirit and in reciprocal respect." He spoke of the important work of the Mixed Commission for Dialogue between the Greek-Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Romania.

The Holy Father then turned his attention to the important area of pastoral ministry for families, noting that there have been meetings in this regard with the Orthodox "for a common discernment of the problems that families are facing." Among these problems, he said, are "the fragility of couples, the consistent migration of young families to western countries, the subsequent entrusting of children to grandparents, the forced separation of spouses, above all when it is the mother who leaves to seek work, the broad practice of abortion, and birth control through methods contrary to the dignity of the human person."

"And how can we forget," remarked the Pope, "the sad heritage of the communist dictatorship even in your country as seen in the crisis of a Christian vision of life?" He stated that the Church's duty to evangelize is "immense," and stressed that, "in harmony with our brothers in the Romanian Orthodox Church, ... centers of formation for young people must be developed where they can know the common Gospel legacy, and then give witness to it in an incisive way in society."

John Paul II pointed to "the heroic witness of Romanian Catholics of both rites who underwent unspeakable suffering under the communist regime," naming especially Cardinal Alexandru Todea who died last year, and the seven bishops who were martyred and whose cause is underway for canonization. He emphasized that "if it is true that the Romanian people ... knew how to resist militant atheistic materialism, preserving the legacy of the Christian proclamation, now it is important to create in the hearts of the faithful this interior richness."

"Do not fear," the Pope told the Church in Romania. "God is blessing your efforts, and a witness of this is the consistent number of candidates to the priesthood in your seminaries."

He then turned to the question of the process of integrating Romania into the broader sphere of the European Union and institutions of the continent. He said this is a positive fact, but one not without risks, especially if Romania allows itself to forget its Christian heritage and to be "conditioned by consumerism and egotistical individualism." He urged Romanians to remember that they "not only have something to receive but they also have a rich spiritual, cultural and historical legacy to offer, benefitting the unity and vitality of the entire continent."

The Pope dedicated remarks to the urgency of achieving full unity among Christians, saying he "prays the Lord to make the blessed day come when Catholics and Orthodox can receive communion together at the same table."

He also spoke of the two traditions that have existed side by side for centuries, "the Latin rite and the Byzantine rite, which together make the face of your Church more beautiful. You almost work in a spiritual 'laboratory' where the riches of undivided Christianity can show all their strength and vitality."

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