Pope Benedict XVI Address to the Congress of the International Benedictine Confederation

(September 20, 2008) In a world that is de-sacralised and in an era marked by a disturbing culture of emptiness and lack of meaning, you are called to proclaim without compromise the supremacy of God and make proposals for any new paths of evangelization, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Congress of the International Benedictine Confederation of Men and women in Rome at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. He said that their personal commitment to holiness, community life, and their observance of liturgical prayer enables them to be effective witnesses in the world of today. The Holy Father added that their monasteries are places where men and women, even in the present age, flock to seek God and learn to recognize the signs of the presence of Christ, his love, his mercy. Pope Benedict called on them never to be tired of sharing with those who turn to them for their spiritual concerns, the richness of the Gospel message, which is summarized in the merciful love of the Father, ready to embrace Christ in every person. He asked them to continue to offer their valuable contribution to the vitality and the sanctification of God's people, according to the peculiar charisma of Benedict of Norcia. In fact, it is their primary concern to prepare young people to face their future and to go along with the multiple needs of society having a constant reference to the Gospel message, offering them the opportunity to closely approach the spiritual liturgy, meditation, and scripture reading. The Pope also reminded them of their special vocation of hospitality together spiritual and liturgical charism, through which they can offer men and women, the opportunity to deepen the sense of the horizon infinity of Christian hope, cultivating the inner silence in the communion of the Word of salvation. Addressing the Sisters the Pope said that they also are going through the crisis of vocation like others. But they should not be discouraged but face the difficulty with commitment and fidelity to their call to Christ.