THE CHURCH MUST NOT RENOUNCE HER MISSIONARY ROLE

VATICAN CITY, 14 MAY 2011 (VIS).- At midday today the Holy Father received the participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Works, which reports to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

  The Pope highlighted in his address that "the Church must constantly renew her commitment to bringing Christ to the people, to continue her messianic mission for the coming of the Kingdom of God ... It is therefore necessary to continue the work of evangelisation with renewed enthusiasm ... to lead humankind to the true freedom of the sons of God, against all forms of slavery. It is necessary to cast the net of the Gospel into the waters of history to lead mankind toward the land of God".

  "But in order that there be a decisive commitment to evangelisation, it is necessary that all Christians and communities truly believe that the 'Word of God is the saving truth needed by all men in all times'. If this conviction of faith is not deeply rooted in our life, we are not able to feel the passion and the beauty of announcing it".

  After highlighting that "everyone must be involved in this 'missio ad gentes': bishops, priests, religious and laity", Benedict XVI remarked that "it is necessary, therefore, to devote special attention to ensuring that all sectors of pastoral care, of the catechesis, of charity, are characterised by a missionary element: the Church is a mission".

  "A fundamental condition for announcing the faith is to allow oneself to be completely encompassed by Christ, Word of God incarnate", he continued, "as only by being deeply rooted in Christ and his Word may one be able to resist the temptation to reduce evangelisation to a merely human, social project, neglecting the transcendental dimension of the salvation offered by God in Christ. It is a Word that must be testified to and proclaimed explicitly, as without coherent testimony it is less comprehensible and credible".

  The Pope stressed that "the ministry of evangelisation is fascinating and demanding: it requires love for proclamation and bearing testimony, a love so complete that it may lead even to martyrdom. The Church must not forsake its mission to reveal the light of Christ, to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, even if this may lead to persecution. It is a part of her very life itself, as it was for Jesus. Christians must not be afraid, even if they are 'the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith'".

  The Holy Father concluded by expressing his gratitude for "the work in missionary promotion and formation" of the Pontifical Missionary Works, which he described as "a privileged tool for missionary co-operation and for the effective sharing of personnel and financial resources between Churches".
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ACTIVITIES AND TRIPS OF THE HOLY FATHER: MAY - SEPTEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 20 APR 2010 (VIS) - Below are highlights of the activities and trips to be undertaken by Pope Benedict XVI between the months of May and September.

MAY

 - Thursday, 26: In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, at 5.30 pm, Rosary with the bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference and consecration of Italy to the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of political union.

JUNE

 - Saturday 4 to Sunday 5: Apostolic trip to Croatia.

 - Sunday 12: Solemnity of Pentecost: Mass at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.

 - Sunday 19: Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. Pastoral visit to the Republic of San Marino.

 - Thursday 23: Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Mass at 7.30 p.m. in the basilica of St. John Lateran, procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major and Eucharistic blessing.

 - Wednesday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles. Mass at 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica and imposition of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops.

AUGUST

 - Monday 15: Solemnity of the Assumption. Mass at 8.00 am in the parish church of St. Thomas of Villanova (Castelgandolfo).

 - Thursday 18 to Sunday 21: Apostolic trip to Madrid (Spain) on the occasion of the XXVI World Youth Day.

SEPTEMBER

 - Sunday 11: Pastoral visit to Ancona (Italy).

- Thursday 22 to Sunday 25: Apostolic trip to Germany.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 14 MAY 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Guzman Carriquiry, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
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PROMOTING AND NURTURING VOCATIONS AND CONSECRATED LIFE

VATICAN CITY, 16 MAY 2011 (VIS) - Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Coeli with the faithful in St. Peter's Square.

  Commenting on the Gospel of this Fourth Sunday of Easter, which "presents us with one of the most beautiful icons that, since the first centuries of the Church, represents Jesus Christ: that of the Good Shepherd", the Holy Father said that "the attitude of the flock toward the Good Shepherd, Christ, is presented by the evangelist with two specific verbs: to listen and to follow. These terms designate the fundamental characteristics of those who live as followers of the Lord. Above all, in listening to His Word, from which the faith is born and nurtured. Only those who are attentive to the voice of the Lord are able to evaluate by their own conscience the correct decision to act according to God. From listening derives, therefore, the decision to follow Christ: we act as disciples after listening to and internalising the teachings of the Master in order to live by them from day to day".

  "This Sunday", he continued, "it is natural to remember the Shepherds of the Church of God, and those who are being formed to become Shepherds. I therefore invite you to say a special prayer for bishops - including the Bishop of Rome! - for parish priests, for all those who have a responsibility in leading the flock of Christ, that they might be faithful and wise in carrying out their office. In particular, let us pray for vocations to the priesthood on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, that authentic workers for the Lord's harvest never be lacking".

  The Holy Father went on to recall that "seventy years ago Venerable Pius XII instituted the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations. The happy intuition of my predecessor was founded on the conviction that vocations grow and mature in the particular Churches, facilitated by healthy family contexts and strengthened by the spirit of faith, charity and piety. In my message for this day I emphasised that a vocation is followed when we leave behind 'our will that is closed in itself and our idea of self-actualisation, to immerse ourselves in another will, God's, letting ourselves be guided by it.'"

  He concluded, "also, in this time when the Lord's voice risks being submerged by so many other voices, every ecclesial community is called to promote and safeguard vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Men, in fact, always need God, even in our technological world, and there will always be a need for Shepherds who announce the Word and help us to meet the Lord in the Sacraments".
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CALL FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE IN LIBYA AND SYRIA

VATICAN CITY, 16 MAY 2011 (VIS) - After praying the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father remarked that he continued "to follow with great apprehension the dramatic armed conflict in Libya, which has caused a great number of victims and suffering above all among the civil population. I renew a pressing call that the path of negotiation and dialogue prevail over that of violence, with the help of the international organisations that are seeking a solution to the crisis. I assure, furthermore, my prayerful and heartfelt participation in the local Church's undertaking to help the population, in particular through consecrated persons present in the hospitals".

  The Pope went on to speak about the events in Syria, "where it is urgent that a co-existence marked by concord and unity be restored. I ask God that there be no more bloodshed in that homeland of great religions and civilisation, and I invite the authorities and all citizens to do all they can in seeking the common good and in accepting the legitimate aspirations for a future of peace and stability".

  He concluded, "the beatification of John Paul II has had a global resonance. There are other exemplary witnesses of Christ, much less known, that the Church proposes with joy for the veneration of the faithful. Today in Würzburg, Germany, Georg Häfner, a diocesan priest who died in the concentration camp at Dachau is being proclaimed blessed. And last Saturday at Pozzuoli another priest was beatified, Giustino Maria Russolillo, the founder of the Society of the Divine Vocation. We thank the Lord that He ensures the Church does not lack holy priests!"
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