HOLY FATHER SIGNS APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "PASTORES GREGIS"

VATICAN CITY, OCT 16, 2003 (VIS) - At 11 this morning in the Paul VI Hall, in the presence of the College of Cardinals and members of the Roman Curia, Pope John Paul II signed the Postsynodal Apostolic Exhortation "Pastores Gregis." The College of Cardinals began a four-day meeting yesterday in the Vatican.

As the Pope entered the Hall, the Sistine Choir sang "Tu es Petrus" (You are Peter). He was joined by Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, by presidents delegate Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Bernard Agre, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Ivan Dias, archbishop of Bombay, and by relators general Cardinals Edward Egan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A. and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Also present was the special secretary Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Oria, Italy.

Following an introduction by Cardinal Schotte, Pope John Paul signed the apostolic exhortation, the Sistine Choir sang "Alma Redemptoris Mater" and the Holy Father then addressed the assembly.

The Pope affirmed that in the document "the synodal fathers emphasized the great importance of the episcopal service for the life of the People of God. They underscored the collegial nature of the episcopate. They also stressed that the functions of teaching, sanctifying and governing must be exercised in hierarchal communion and fraternal unity with the Head and other members of the episcopal college."

Referring to the characteristics of the episcopal ministry, the Holy Father highlighted "the love for everyone and the attention to each person, mercy and the search for the lost sheep. ... In addition," he continued, the bishop "is called to be a father, teacher, friend and brother to everyone following Christ's example. Faithfully following this path, he will be able to attain sanctity, a sanctity that must grow not with the ministry but through the ministry."

"In terms of being a herald of the divine Word, teacher and doctor of the faith, a bishop has the task of teaching the Christian faith with apostolic clarity, proposing it again and again in an authentic way. ... As guide of the Christian people ... a bishop must concern himself with promoting the participation of all the faithful in the edification of the Church. ... He will be a prophet of justice and peace, defender of the rights of the helpless and those who are ostracized. He will proclaim to all the Gospel of life, truth and love. He will look upon the multitude of the poor that inhabit the earth with compassion. ... Recalling Christ's desire 'ut omnes unum sint', he will sustain the ecumenical way ... and will become a promoter of interreligious dialogue."

The Holy Father said that "the office to which we are called is difficult and serious. Where will we find the strength to carry it out according to Christ's wishes? Undoubtedly only in Him. Being shepherds of his flock is especially difficult and demanding. However, we must be hopeful 'contra spem in spem.' Christ walks with us and sustains us with His grace."

Upon concluding his discourse, as the choir sang the "Cantate Domino," the Pope handed a copy of the apostolic exhortation to the cardinals present, the general relators and five prelates who represented the five continents. The ceremony ended with the singing of the Our Father and the apostolic blessing.

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