VATICAN CITY, 14 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received a first group of prelates from the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, who have just completed their five-yearly "ad limina" visit. Such visits, the Pope told them, "represent a significant moment in the lives of those entrusted with the pastoral care of the People of God, because they thereby express and reinforce their communion with the Roman Pontiff".
"Episcopal ministry", he went on, "serves the unity and communion of the entire mystical Body of Christ. ... And the bishop, who is the visible foundation of unity in his particular Church, is called to promote and defend the integrity of the faith and discipline which the whole Church shares, at the same time teaching the faithful to love all their brothers and sisters".
The Holy Father expressed his appreciation to Argentinean bishops for "their firm resolve to maintain and consolidate unity, both within the episcopal conference and in diocesan communities. Thanks to such friendly and effective collegiality", he said, "no bishop is alone because he always remains closely linked to Christ the Good Shepherd and - by virtue of episcopal ordination and hierarchical communion - to his brethren in the episcopate and to the person chosen by the Lord as Peter's Successor".
Highlighting the fact that this spirit of communion "is particularly applicable to a bishop's dealings with his priests", Benedict XVI called upon the prelates "to show great charity and prudence" in "correcting teachings, attitudes and forms of behaviour which contrast with the priestly state" of their closest collaborators and that "can, furthermore, damage and confuse the faith and life of the Christian faithful".
"The fundamental role priests play", he said, "must encourage you to make great efforts to promote priestly vocations. In this context, it would be appropriate to plan a more incisive form of pastoral care of marriage and the family, bearing in mind Christians' vocational dimension, and a more determined pastoral care of youth, one that helps young people to respond generously to God's call to them".
"The faithful too, by virtue of their Baptism, are called to co-operate in constructing the Body of Christ", the Pope concluded. "To this end they must be led to a more profound experience of Jesus Christ and the mystery of His love. A permanent relationship with the Lord though an intense life of prayer and adequate spiritual and doctrinal formation will increase the joy of all Christians in believing and celebrating their faith and in belonging to the Church, encouraging them to active participation in the mission of proclaiming the Good News to all mankind".
AL/.../ARGENTINA VIS 20090316 (450)
"Episcopal ministry", he went on, "serves the unity and communion of the entire mystical Body of Christ. ... And the bishop, who is the visible foundation of unity in his particular Church, is called to promote and defend the integrity of the faith and discipline which the whole Church shares, at the same time teaching the faithful to love all their brothers and sisters".
The Holy Father expressed his appreciation to Argentinean bishops for "their firm resolve to maintain and consolidate unity, both within the episcopal conference and in diocesan communities. Thanks to such friendly and effective collegiality", he said, "no bishop is alone because he always remains closely linked to Christ the Good Shepherd and - by virtue of episcopal ordination and hierarchical communion - to his brethren in the episcopate and to the person chosen by the Lord as Peter's Successor".
Highlighting the fact that this spirit of communion "is particularly applicable to a bishop's dealings with his priests", Benedict XVI called upon the prelates "to show great charity and prudence" in "correcting teachings, attitudes and forms of behaviour which contrast with the priestly state" of their closest collaborators and that "can, furthermore, damage and confuse the faith and life of the Christian faithful".
"The fundamental role priests play", he said, "must encourage you to make great efforts to promote priestly vocations. In this context, it would be appropriate to plan a more incisive form of pastoral care of marriage and the family, bearing in mind Christians' vocational dimension, and a more determined pastoral care of youth, one that helps young people to respond generously to God's call to them".
"The faithful too, by virtue of their Baptism, are called to co-operate in constructing the Body of Christ", the Pope concluded. "To this end they must be led to a more profound experience of Jesus Christ and the mystery of His love. A permanent relationship with the Lord though an intense life of prayer and adequate spiritual and doctrinal formation will increase the joy of all Christians in believing and celebrating their faith and in belonging to the Church, encouraging them to active participation in the mission of proclaiming the Good News to all mankind".
AL/.../ARGENTINA VIS 20090316 (450)
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