Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) –
The prelates of the Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania,
Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau were received in audience by the Holy
Father this morning, at the end of their five-yearly “ad Limina”
visit. In the written discourse that he handed to them at the end of
the visit, the Pope writes that the bishops' visit to the See of
Peter is “an opportunity to strengthen the communion the particular
Churches maintain with the Church of Rome and with her bishop.
However, it is also an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of love
between you … and to experience collegiality. This represents a
great challenge for an episcopal conference that groups together the
bishops of four countries – Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and
Guinea-Bissau – that are different in terms of language, geography,
culture and history, but which nonetheless feel the need to be united
and to support each other in their ministry”.
“Among the challenges you face, there
is that of rooting faith more deeply in hearts so that it is put into
practice in life. This is particularly true in areas experiencing
first evangelisation, but it also applies where the Gospel has been
announced a long time ago, as faith is a gift that must always be
strengthened and which is under threat in many ways nowadays, owing
to other religious proposals that prove easier and more attractive
from a moral point of view, and as a result of the phenomenon of the
secularisation that affects African societies”.
Therefore, “it is useful for
laypeople to receive a solid doctrinal and spiritual formation, and
continual support so that they are able to become witnesses of Christ
in all areas of their lives, and to imbue society with the principles
of the Gospel, avoiding the marginalisation of faith in public life.
The pastoral care of families, as shown in the recent Synod of
Bishops, must receive special attention since the family … is the
place where the foundations of faith are laid, where the basic
principles of community life are learned, and frequently where the
priestly and religious vocations are nurtured – vocations your
Churches need”.
“Priestly formation is decisive for
the future”, writes Francis. “Your countries experience very
different situations, but the primacy of quality above quantity is
always important. I invite you to be close to your priests,
especially those who are young, to ensure that after their ordination
they continue their formation, persevere in their life of prayer, and
are able to count on a spiritual guide, so that they are able to meet
the challenges presented to them: for some, this means a certain
isolation, for others, material poverty and the lack of resources, or
worldly attractions. Contact with other religions is an important
issue in many of your dioceses where there is an Islamic majority, in
terms of mutual relations between different communities. I believe
that it is important for the clergy to receive a formation to
establish a constructive dialogue with Muslims, a dialogue that is
increasingly necessary for peaceful coexistence. If we all, believers
in God, wish to contribute to reconciliation, justice and peace, we
need to work together to prevent all forms of discrimination,
intolerance and religious fundamentalism”.
“More generally, it seems to me that
it is important not to hesitate in occupying all the space that is
yours in civil society. I know that you work tirelessly, in
particular in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, for peace and
reconciliation, and for this I rejoice. I urge you to maintain good
relations with the political authorities in order to promote the
official acknowledgement of Church structures, which will be of great
help in facilitating evangelisation. Some of you, such as the bishops
of Cape Verde, already benefit from the existence of a framework
agreement between the State and the Holy See. Even where the Church
is in a minority, or is completely at the margins of civil life, she
is appreciated and recognised for her important contribution in the
fields of human development, healthcare and education. I thank you
for what you achieve in your dioceses, often due to the efforts of
many religious congregations and laypeople”.
“Dear brothers”, the Pontiff
concludes, “some of your Churches are small and fragile, but they
are courageous and generous in the proclamation of faith and you are
witnesses to their dynamism. I offer thanks to God for the wonders He
performs through you, and likewise I thank again those who
participate in our common task of evangelisation”.
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