(Sept. 29, 2007) Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday held up the figures of Archangels
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael as role models for bishops, saying as men of God they
too must on behalf of God and bring Him to the men and women of today whose hearts
are often wounded and closed to Him because of sin. The Pope’s remarks came during
a solemn Mass during which he consecrated 6 new bishops – 5 Italians and a Ukrainian.
Taking cue from Saturday’s liturgical feast of the three Archangels, the Pope noted
that all the names of all the three archangels ended in ‘el’, which in Hebrew means
God; hence bishops must be men of God and speak on His behalf. The ancient Christian
Church, he said, called their bishops angels of their Church, and hence bishops must
also pray for their flock. Commenting on the characteristics each of the archangels
the Pope highlighted some of the spiritual and pastoral duties of the bishops. He
said that they must convince their faithful that when man denies God in his life,
he actually denies his own dignity. Pope Benedict also focussed on the healing ministry
of bishops saying, wounded is his inner being because of sin, man is ever in need
of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. Conjugal love between a man and woman wounded
by sin needs the healing love of Christ, poured out in the Sacrament of Marriage.
And every man wounded by sin needs God loving forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
or Confession.