Ad Limina Visit by the Bishops of Pakistan

(June 19,2008) The source and summit of the Church’s life radically reorients the way Christians think, speak and act in the world and makes present the salvific meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection, thus renewing history and vivifying all creation, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was speaking to the seven Bishops from Pakistan for the five yearly Ad Limina visit to Rome on Thursday, 19^th of June. Ad Limina visit is the five yearly visit of the Bishop to Rome to brief the Holy Father regarding the state of the diocese and also an opportunity to visit the tombs of the Apostles. He added that the breaking of the bread reminds us again and again that the absurdity of violence never has the last word, for Christ has conquered sin and death through his glorious resurrection. He reminded the prelates that the seeds of the Gospel, sown in their region by zealous missionaries in the sixteenth century, continue to grow despite conditions that sometimes hinder their capacity to take root and now he could listen to their account of the hardships which they and their flock must endure for the sake of the Lord’s name. The Holy Father assured the clergy of his spiritual closeness to them as they carry out this task. Speaking on the centrality of Eucharist the Pope said that Eucharistic spirituality embraces every aspect of the Christian life and this is evident in the emerging vitality of ecclesial movements within their Dioceses. Pope Benedict then commended their collaboration with members of religious orders to work together in the priestly formation and to strengthen bonds of cooperation between religious and diocesan clergy and appreciated their task of preparing these men, mainly catechists and lay leaders, to become effective promoters of inter religious dialogue. He called on them to continue in their ministry of service at schools, hospitals and other charitable agencies.