Pope says the World is Hungry for Hope

(15 Dec 07 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI returned to the subject of evangelisation centred on Christ as a means to bring hope to a tired modern society this Saturday, as he addressed Bishops from Japan at the end of their Ad Limina visit.

He said “the need to proclaim Christ boldly and courageously is a continuing priority for the Church; indeed it is a solemn duty”.

As such he told the bishops, led by Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada, “ the task today is to seek new ways of bringing alive the message of Christ in the cultural setting of modern Japan. Even though Christians form only a small percentage of the population, the faith is a treasure that needs to be shared with the whole of Japanese society”.

The Pope continued, quoting from his recently published second encyclical Saved by Hope, “Even in countries as highly developed as (Japan), many are discovering that economic success and advanced technology are not sufficient in themselves to bring fulfilment to the human heart. Anyone who does not know God “is ultimately without hope’”.

He urged the prelates to “Remind people that there is more to life than professional success and profit”. The Holy Father underlined that “Young people especially are at risk of being deceived by the glamour of modern secular culture, – and tragically, disillusion not infrequently leads to depression and despair, even to suicide”. He said “ If their youthful energy and enthusiasm can be directed towards the things of God, which alone are sufficient to satisfy their deepest longings, more young people will be inspired to commit their lives to Christ”.

Pope Benedict observed that “The Lord’s harvest in Japan is increasingly made up of people of diverse nationalities, to the extent that over half of the Catholic population is formed of immigrants. This provides an opportunity to enrich the life of the Church in your country and to experience the true catholicity of God’s people”.

He also pointed out that other nations can also learn from Japan, from the accumulated wisdom of her ancient culture. “In this regard, the forthcoming Beatification of 188 Japanese martyrs offers a clear sign of the strength and vitality of Christian witness in the country’s history”.

Pope Benedict concluded noting that last year the Church celebrated with great joy the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of Saint Francis Xavier, Apostle of Japan.

“I pray that this time of preparation may be for you and for the whole Church in Japan an opportunity to grow in faith, hope, and love”

Hear Pope Benedict's full address: