Pope urges Catholic Action to fight relativism, hedonism, consumerism
(May 5, 2008) Pope Benedict on Sunday denounced what he called the ‘education emergency’
of Italy and urged the country’s largest Catholic movement, Catholic Action, to defeat
the mentality of relativism, hedonism and consumerism. The Pope’s remarks came in
an address to a massive rally of over 100,000 young and adult members of Catholic
Action in St. Peter’s Square. They celebrated the 140th anniversary of their foundation
with a Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops'
conference. Speaking to the group after the traditional Sunday midday ‘Regina Coeli’
prayer the Pope recalled the ample "ecclesial dimension" of Catholic Action as a great
responsibility of the lay vocation. "In a missionary Church, faced with an educational
emergency like the one currently in Italy, you who love and serve it should be tireless
announcers and ready and generous educators,” the Pope exhorted. “In a Church that
faces the relativistic, hedonistic, and consumerist mentality on a daily basis, you
must be able to make more room for rationality under the banner of a faith that is
the friend of intelligence, both in the area of popular mass culture, and in that
of more elaborate and reflective research,” he said. “In a Church that calls to the
heroism of sanctity, respond without fear, always trusting in the mercy of God,” the
Pope urged. He pointed to the roots of Catholic Action nourished by adherence to
the Word of God, an unconditional love for the Church, an attentive participation
in civic life and a constant commitment to formation. Before reciting the “Regina
Coeli” Marian prayer, the Pope reflected on the day’s feast of the Ascension of the
Lord into heaven saying Christ came into the world to bring mankind back to God. This,
he said, is the solid anchor of man’s existence. After the example of the first
disciples who remained gathered together in the Cenacle around the Mother of Jesus
in fervent expectation of the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus, the Holy
Father urged all to be united in prayer and invoke the gift of the Holy Spirit. After
the Marian prayer, the pope greeting various groups in their languages. He briefly
addressed a group of the Neocatechumenal Way from Mumbai, India, but unfortunately
the group was stranded in Mumbai with Italy refusing to grant entry visa.