HOLY FATHER WELCOMES BISHOPS OF SUDAN ON AD LIMINA VISIT

VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today welcomed the prelates of the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, as they conclude their 'ad limina' visit to Rome and, in his talk to them in English, highlighted 'the figures of two intrepid witnesses to the faith, two holy individuals whose lives are intimately connected with your land: St. Josephine Bakhita and St. Daniel Comboni.'

'From her earliest years,' said the Pope, 'St. Josephine Bakhita knew the cruelty and brutality with which man can treat his fellow man. ' Her life inspires the firm resolve to work effectively to free people from oppression and violence, ensuring that their human dignity is respected in the full exercise of their rights. It is this same resolve that must guide the Church in the Sudan today as the nation makes the transition from hostility and conflict to peace and concord. ' Tribalism and forms of discrimination based on ethnic origin, language and culture do not belong in a civilized society and have absolutely no place in the community of believers.'

Highlighting 'the hardships and pain that afflict those fleeing war and violence ' especially women and children,' the Holy Father noted the efforts of Church agencies to help refugees and displaced persons in these situations. He also pointed to the Church's many contributions to Sudan's social and cultural life and lauded the 'reactivation of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. You should do all that you can to encourage this, even as you insist that religious pluralism, as guaranteed by the Sudanese Constitution, should be respected.'

'As you know so well,' John Paul II told the prelates, 'it belongs to the Church to speak out unambiguously on behalf of those who have no voice and to be a leaven of peace and solidarity, particularly where these ideals are most fragile and threatened.'

He noted that St. Daniel Comboni 'was keenly concerned that Africans should have a key role in evangelizing the continent. ' In the course of his missionary activity, he did not let the great suffering and many hardships that he endured ' privation, exhaustion, illness, mistrust ' divert him from the task of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. Bishop Comboni was moreover a strong advocate of inculturating the faith.'

On the formation of the laity, especially catechists, the Pope suggested that 'It would prove helpful if a simple catechism in the language of the people were prepared and made available. Similarly, suitable texts in local languages could be prepared and distributed as a means of presenting Jesus to those who are unfamiliar with the Christian message and as a tool for interreligious dialogue. This could be especially helpful in those areas exempt from Shari'ah law, particularly in the Federal Capital of Khartoum.'

Urging the bishops 'to cherish your priests with a special love and to regard them as precious co-workers and friends,' he stated that priests 'are called to be detached from material things and to devote themselves to the service of others through the complete gift of self in celibacy. Scandalous behaviour must at all times be investigated, confronted and corrected.'

He also counselled the bishops to, as much as possible, have contact with the faithful and to be attentive to their human and spiritual needs. 'Time and resources should never be spent on diocesan or parochial structures or on development projects at the expense of the people.' He said that 'equity and transparency must be the indispensable traits characterizing all financial matters, with every effort being made to see that contributions are truly used for the purposes intended.'

In concluding, the Pope addressed the question of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, saying that it would be helpful 'to establish an agency for coordinating the various programs aimed at lending assistance and humanitarian aid throughout the various regions of the country. Such coordination would undoubtedly serve to increase the effectiveness of these programs and could even prove helpful in making contacts for the issue of the government permits necessary for travel to certain areas.'

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