VATICAN CITY, MAY 14, 2004 (VIS) - Nearing the end of their "ad limina" visit, the bishops of the Church in California, Nevada and Hawaii were welcomed this morning by the Holy Father who continued his reflections to U.S. prelates on the 'munus sanctificandi' of bishops.
"As Bishops you must be at the forefront of this spiritual journey of sanctification," said the Pope. "Your episcopal ministry of ecclesial service ... demands a pattern of life that unequivocally rejects any temptation to ostentation, careerism, or the recourse to secular models of leadership and instead requires you to bear witness to the 'kenosis' of Christ, in pastoral charity, humility and simplicity of life."
John Paul II spoke of "the crisis of the loss of the sense of sin," and urged the bishops to have the courage to "address this today with particular urgency. While the effects of sin abound - greed, dishonesty and corruption, broken relationships and exploitation of persons, pornography and violence - the recognition of individual sinfulness has waned. In its place a disturbing culture of blame and litigiousness has arisen which speaks more of revenge than justice and fails to acknowledge that in every man and woman there is a wound which, in the light of faith, we call original sin."
"Sin is an integral part of the truth about the human person," he said. "Given this reality, the bishop's duty to indicate the sad and destructive presence of sin, both in individuals and in communities, is in fact a service of hope. ... Let us boldly announce that indeed we are not the sum total of our weaknesses and failures! We are the sum of the Father's love for us, and capable of becoming the image of His Son!"
The Holy Father then focussed on metanoia, or conversion, pointing to the parable of the Prodigal Son. "The prodigal son is in a certain sense all men and women. We all can be lured by the temptation to separate ourselves from the Father and thus suffer loss of dignity, humiliation and shame, but equally so we all can have the courage to turn back to the Father who embraces us with a love which, transcending even justice, manifests itself as mercy."
He dedicated closing remarks to the Sacrament of Penance, "divinely instituted" and "the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church. Though it cannot be denied that the profound power of this Sacrament is often considered today with indifference it is also the case that young people in particular readily give testimony to the graces and transforming benefits it bestows. ... I again appeal directly to you and to your priests: arm yourselves with more confidence, creativity and perseverance in presenting it and leading people to appreciate it."
"As bishops, it is of special importance for you to have frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in order to obtain the gift of that mercy of which you yourselves have been made ministers."
For full text of Pope's speech, click here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/bulletin/news/14776.php?index=14776&lang=en.
AL/HOLINESS:CONVERSION:PENANCE/USA VIS 20040514 (510)
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