Vatican City, 22 September 2014 (VIS) –
This morning in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, the Holy Father
received the bishops participating in the seminar organised by the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Pope Francis praised
the courage of the bishops, who have not allowed themselves “to be
intimidated by the difficulties and challenges of the current world,
that make the mission of bishops even more arduous nowadays”, but
have instead placed their trust in the Lord, “in imitation of the
first disciples”.
He reminded them of the urgent need for
missionary conversion “that involves every baptised person and
every parish”, emphasising that pastors are required to be the
first to live and witness this conversion as the leaders of the
particular Churches. Therefore, he added, “I encourage you to
direct your life and your episcopal ministry towards this missionary
transformation that currently challenges the People of God”.
“Service to humanity is at the centre
of this missionary conversion of the Church. … A shining example of
this pastoral service is offered by the Korean martyr saints …
whose liturgical memory we celebrate today. Anchored in Christ, the
Good Shepherd, they did not hesitate to shed their own blood for the
Gospel, of which they were faithful dispensers and heroic witnesses.
The Church needs pastors, that is, servants, bishops, who are able to
kneel before others to wash their feet. Pastors who are close to the
people, meek fathers and brothers, patient and merciful; who embrace
poverty both as freedom for the Lord and as simplicity and austerity
in life”.
“Make efforts to give a new
missionary impetus to your diocesan communities, so that they
continue to grow with new members, thanks to your witness of life and
your episcopal ministry, exercised as a service to the People of God.
Be close to your priests, pay attention to religious life, and love
the poor”. He concluded by urging them to promote pastoral care for
the family, “so that families, accompanied and educated, may be
increasingly better able to offer their contribution to the life of
the Church and society”, and so that they may provide the
foundation for the work of evangelisation, “through their
educational mission and with their active participation in the life
of parish communities”.
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