Vatican City, 28 May 2015 (VIS) –
Fraternity with nearby Haiti, attention to marriage and the family,
the battle against drug trafficking and the exploitation of minors,
the continuing formation of priests and the laity, and the defence of
the environment are the central themes of the written discourse the
Pope handed this morning to the bishops of the Conference of the
Dominican Episcopate, where the evangelisation of the American
continent began. “Today the Church, which continues her progress in
these beloved lands with her children in search of a happy and
prosperous future, encounters the great challenges of our time which
affect social and ecclesial life, and families in particular”,
writes the Pontiff. “Therefore, I would like to make an appeal to
you to accompany the faithful, to reinforce the faith and identity of
all members of the Church”.
Francis begins with marriage and the
family, that is experiencing a “serious cultural crisis”.
However, this does not mean it has lost its importance, but rather
that the need for it is felt more than ever. He urged the prelates to
pay special attention, in this upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, to
matrimonial and family reconciliation, as keys to peaceful
coexistence: “A broad-ranging catechetical effort regarding the
Christian ideal of conjugal communion and family life, and the
spirituality of fatherhood and motherhood, is necessary. Greater
pastoral attention needs to be paid to the role of men as husbands
and fathers, as well as the responsibility they share with their
wives with respect to marriage, the family and the upbringing of
children”.
The Pope goes on to invite the prelates
to dedicate time to and to look after their priests, and remarks that
the Dominican clergy is distinguished by its fidelity and coherence
to Christian life. “May its commitment to the weakest and neediest
help it to overcome the worldly tendency towards mediocrity”, he
writes. “The seminaries must not neglect human, intellectual and
spiritual formation, ensuring a true encounter with the Lord, while
cultivating pastoral commitment and emotional maturity so as to
prepare seminarians able to embrace priestly celibacy and to live and
work in communion”.
“Pastoral and charitable attention to
immigrants, especially those from neighbouring Haiti, who seek better
conditions of life in the Dominican territory, cannot allow
indifference on the part of pastors of the Church”, he underlines.
“It is necessary to continue to collaborate with the civil
authorities to find fraternal solutions to the problems of those who
are without documents or deprived of their basic rights. It is
inexcusable to fail to promote initiatives of fraternity and peace
between the two nations that form this beautiful Caribbean island. It
is important to know how to integrate immigrants into society and to
welcome them into the ecclesial community. I thank those who are
close to them and to all who suffer as a gesture of loving care
towards the brother who feels alone and helpless, with whom Christ
identified”.
The Pope assures the bishops that he is
aware of their efforts and concerns in appropriately facing “the
serious problems that affect our people, such as trafficking in drugs
and persons, corruption, domestic violence, abuse and exploitation of
minors and social insecurity. The intimate connection between
evangelisation and human development means that every action of the
Mother Church must be directed towards the care of the most
disadvantaged. Everything that is achieved in this respect will
increase the presence of the Kingdom of God that gave us Jesus
Christ, while enhancing the credibility of the Church and the
relevance of the voice of her pastors”.
With regard to the Dominican laity,
which has an important presence in works of evangelisation, Francis
emphasised the need for “constant support, so that it is able to
bear witness to Christ, penetrating those environments that
frequently the bishops, priests and religious cannot reach. … Those
engaged in this service and this educational mission must not lack a
vigilant and courageous attitude, so as to provide in schools an
education that conforms to the moral and religious principals of
families”.
The final part of the discourse is
dedicated to the protection of the environment. The Pope, considering
“the beauty and the colourful landscapes of the Dominican Republic”
urged the prelates to “renew commitment to the conservation and
care of the environment. Man's relationship with nature must not be
governed by greed, manipulation or unfettered exploitation, but
should instead conserve the divine harmony between creatures and
creation to place it at the service of all, and of future
generations”.
