VATICAN CITY, JUN 15, 2007 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received bishops from the Slovak Episcopal Conference, who recently completed their "ad limina" visit.
In his talk to the prelates, the Holy Father said that through them he wished to greet "the entire Slovak people, evangelized by Sts. Cyril and Methodius" and later "compelled to undergo harsh sufferings and persecutions by the totalitarian communist regime." He also recalled the strong ties to Slovakia of John Paul II who on his third visit there in 2003 chose as his motto: "Faithful to Christ, faithful to the Church."
This motto, said Pope Benedict, "continues to be a real apostolic and missionary program, not only for the Church in Slovakia but for all the People of God, burdened as they are, especially in Europe, with an insistent ideological pressure that would like to see Christianity reduced to a merely 'private' dimension."
The Pope indicated that, from a religious and cultural point of view, Slovakia is entering ever more deeply into "the dynamic typical of other European countries of ancient Christian tradition, strongly characterized in our time by a vast process of secularization. Christian communities, which maintained ancient and deep-rooted Catholic religious practices, having come out of the tunnel of persecution, now find themselves following the path of renewal promoted by Vatican Council II."
"Slovakia and Poland, the two countries of Eastern Europe with the richest heritage of Catholic tradition, are currently exposed to the risk of seeing that heritage, which the communist regime did not manage to destroy, severely affected by characteristic elements of Western society: consumerism, hedonism, laicism, relativism, etc."
"In order to respond to the new pastoral requirements," the Pope told the bishops, "you are currently drawing up a Plan for Pastoral Care and Evangelization ... for the years 2007 to 2011. ... In this way you aim to revive and renovate the evangelizing action" of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, "using as your starting point ... the rediscovery of the tradition and of the deep and living Christian roots of your people."
"This is a pastoral undertaking that aims to embrace all areas of society, ... giving particular attention to the spiritual requirements of young people and families. ... Quality formation in the field of education is extremely important for the future of new generations and, in this area, a precious contribution comes from Catholic schools which are very numerous in Slovakia."
The Pope recalled that the Slovak bishops could count "on the ministry of many young priests," and highlighted the importance to education of "always associating faith with life" in order "to form Christian consciences capable of resisting the lure of consumerism."
"I have learned that Slovakia too is beginning to feel the crisis of marriage and of birthrates, in the first place because of economic questions which lead young engaged couples to delay their marriage. There is also a diminished social estimation of the value of matrimony, to which must be added a fragility of new generations, often afraid to assume ... lifelong commitments."
In this context, the Holy Father invited the Church "to intensify its prayers and to continue to commit herself forcefully to support families in facing the challenges of the present." He also expressed his joy at Slovakia's "well structured administration of the Sacraments, associated with the pastoral care of the family."
In conclusion, Benedict XVI praised "the abundant flowering of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life" since 1990, recalling that "the only seminary to remain open under the dictatorship has now been joined by five others."
AL/.../SLOVAKIA VIS 20070615 (610)
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