Vatican City, 11 May 2015 (VIS) –
Defence of the particular nature of the Christian family, and care in
the formation of priests and consecrated persons in a country where
religious communities and co-existence with other religions present
no problems, were the key themes of the discourse Pope Francis handed
to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Togo, whom he received
in audience this morning at the end of their “ad Limina” visit.
In the text, and in view of the
upcoming Synod of Bishops, the Pope underlines the need for the
positive aspects of African families to be known and understood. “In
particular”, he observes, “the African family welcomes life, and
respects and takes into consideration the elderly. This heritage must
be preserved, and serves as an example and impetus for others. The
sacrament of marriage is a pastoral reality that is well accepted in
your country, although there still exist barriers of a cultural and
legal nature that prevent some couples from realising their wish to
base their married life on faith in Christ. I encourage you to
persevere in your effort to support families in difficulty … and to
prepare couples for the commitments, demanding but magnificent, of
Christian marriage. Togo is not immune to ideological and media
attacks that come from all sides these days and which present models
of unions and families incompatible with Christian faith. I am aware
of the vigilance you show in this area, as well as your efforts,
especially in the sector of communications”.
“But one of the keys to meeting the
challenges presented to your communities and your societies is
without doubt the formation of the young”, continues the bishop of
Rome. “The Church-Family of God in Togo has chosen to stay close to
children and young people who receive a good human and religious
formation through numerous projects and initiatives. It is crucial
that the young learn to life their faith with coherence, in order to
bear witness to it with authenticity and to contribute to a more just
and fraternal society. … Men and women religious play an
indispensable role in the proclamation and transmission of faith in
Togo. … I encourage you always to show paternal care towards the
various Institutes. Their numbers are growing rapidly, and their
development should be well accompanied; attention should also be paid
to the formation of the youngest among them, in particular, to avoid
amalgamation at the level of faith and inculturation. … Vocations
are numerous in Togo and seminarians receive good formation in the
seminaries … which must later help them in their battle against
ambition, careerism, jealousy, worldliness, the seduction of money
and worldly goods, and in living a sincere and joyful celibacy. I
recommend special attention to the spiritual and pastoral care of
young priests, and to be open to listening to their experiences”.
The Pope remarks that in recent years
Togolese society has made significant progress in the political and
social fields, and that “the Catholic Church has made extensive
contributions to this, not only through her works of evangelisation
and human promotion, but also through her commitment to justice and
reconciliation. I thank you warmly for your efforts in this area,
especially for your work in the Commission for Truth, Justice and
Reconciliation. I encourage you to continue, ensuring that the Church
occupies the place due to her in the the process of institutional
reforms. ... However, it is always necessary to take care not to
enter directly into political debate or disputes , taking care
instead to form, encourage and support the laity – whose role this
rightly is – so they are able to dedicate themselves to the service
of the nation and the highest level and to assume their
responsibilities”.
“I am glad that this service to
Togolese society is also an opportunity for joint action with other
Christian communities, as shown by various joint appeals to the
nation. In the same way, in matters of interreligious dialogue, it is
always necessary to promote, and perhaps further develop, the culture
of dialogue and encounter, given that you enjoy peaceful co-existence
especially with Islam, a co-existence that must be maintained
considering the current situation in Western Africa. 'Interreligious
dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and so it
is a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities'. It
is particularly important for young priests to receive a solid
education in this matter”, concludes the Holy Father.
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