Vatican City, 7 April 2014 (VIS) –
This morning Pope Francis received in audience the bishops of the
Tanzania Episcopal Conference, at the end of their five-yearly “ad
limina” visit and, in the written address that he handed to them,
he praises “the impressive history of missionary work throughout
the region”, encouraging the prelates to “maintain and foster
this missionary imperative, so that the Gospel may increasingly
permeate every work of the apostolate and shed its light on all areas
of Tanzanian society”.
“The work of evangelisation in
Tanzania, then, is not merely a remarkable event of the past”, he
writes; “no, it happens every day in the Church’s pastoral work
in parishes, in the liturgy, in the reception of the sacraments, the
educational apostolate, health care initiatives, catechesis, and in
the lives of ordinary Christians”. The Pope mentions in particular
the witness of healthcare workers who “care for those suffering
from HIV/AIDS, and by all who strive diligently to educate people in
the area of sexual responsibility and chastity”, and “all those
who devote themselves to the integral development of the poor, and in
particular, of destitute women and children”. He exclaims, “May
the Holy Spirit who gave strength, wisdom and holiness to the first
missionaries in Tanzania continue to inspire the entire local Church
in this vital witness”.
He also repeats the importance of
“holy, well-educated and zealous priests” and of ensuring they
“receive an adequate human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral
formation”. With reference to the role of the laity, he asks that
bishops make special efforts to “provide catechists with a
comprehensive understanding of the Church’s doctrine. This will
equip them not only to counter the challenges of superstition,
aggressive sects and secularism, but even more importantly,to share
the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith with others,
particularly the young”.
With regard to the theme of the family,
Pope Francis affirms that “The gift that healthy families represent
is felt with particular vitality in Africa” and recalls that “the
Church’s love for, and pastoral solicitude towards the family is at
the heart of the new evangelisation. … By promoting prayer, marital
fidelity, monogamy, purity and humble service to one another within
families, the Church continues to make an invaluable contribution to
the social welfare of Tanzania, one which, coupled with her
educational and healthcare apostolates, will surely foster greater
stability and progress in your country. There is scarcely a finer
service which the Church can offer than to give witness to our
conviction of the sanctity of God’s gift of life and to the
essential role played by spiritual and stable families in preparing
the younger generations to live virtuous lives and to face the
challenges of the future with wisdom, courage and generosity”.
He concludes, “I am particularly
encouraged to know that Tanzania is committed to ensuring the freedom
that followers of various religions enjoy to practice their faith.
The ongoing protection and promotion of this fundamental human right
strengthens society by enabling believers, in fidelity to the
dictates of their conscience and in respect for the dignity and
rights of all, to advance social unity, peace and the common good. I
am grateful for your ongoing efforts to promote forgiveness, peace
and dialogue as you shepherd your people in difficult situations of
intolerance and, at times, of violence and persecution. … I urge
you also to work with government and civic institutions in this area
so as to ensure that the rule of law prevails as an indispensable
means for guaranteeing just and pacific social relations. I pray that
your example, and that of the entire Church in your country, will
continue to inspire all people of good will who long for peace”.
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