2008-02-29 14:31:49

Pope says Church's charity workers must have human and spiritual qualities


(Feb. 29, 2008) Since the Catholic Church’s charitable works are central to its evangelizing mission, those engaged in such works, besides having adequate human and professional skills must also have solid theological, spiritual and pastoral foundations. This remark of Pope Benedict XVI came in his address to the participants in the 27th plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’, the Vatican department that promotes and coordinates Catholic charities worldwide. The Feb 28th to March 1st meeting had as its theme, “Human And Spiritual Qualities Of Those Who Work In Catholic Charitable Organizations”. The Pope noted that in our times, great importance is being given to ongoing formation both in society and in the Church for which there are numerous institutions and centres. We must not forget, the Pope explained, that charitable works are also a privileged ground of meeting those who do not know Christ yet or who know him partially. Hence, for those who work in the Church’s charity organizations, ‘a formation of the heart’ is indispensable. Charity workers need an intimate and spiritual formation, which through an encounter with Christ, unleashes a sensibility of the soul that fully recognizes and satisfies the expectations and needs of every man. A person engaged in the Church’s charity mission cannot remain satisfied only with providing technical skills or solving material problems and difficulties, the Pope said. The Church’s charity must never be reduced to a philanthropic gesture but must be a tangible expression of evangelical love. Pointing to the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who loved and cared for the dying, the Pope said charity workers are called to witness to the value of life in all its expressions, especially by defending the life of the weak and the sick, because, he said, life is not measured by efficiency but is always precious to all. The Pope urged charity workers to be witnesses of life, because, he said, happiness is not found in a loneliness of closed-in life but in the gift of self to others.







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