Pope Benedict XVI’s Address to Brazilian Bishops during Ad Limina Visit

(November 14, 2009) “I urge you to continue the work of progressive and methodical evangelization, aware that the formation of authentic Christian conscience is crucial to a deeper life of faith and also to the social maturity and true and well balanced welfare of the human community,” said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing a group of Bishops from Brazil on their Ad Limina visit. An Ad Limia visit is the five yearly visits of the Bishops to Rome to be at the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul and also to present themselves to the Holy Father and present the report of their diocese. “In order to earn the title of community, a group of people must correspond in its organization and its goals, the aspirations of the human being,” added the Pontiff. The teaching of the Church, he said, because of its source, God, is actually the truth in its full consciousness which echoes in the heart of every person, Christian and even non-believer, touching their conscience. The Pontiff then invited them to speak to the heart of their people, to rouse their consciences, to assemble a task force of strength against the rising tide of violence and disrespect of human beings. Referring to the encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the Pontiff said: "Today, the primary and crucial field of cultural struggle between the absolutism of the technical and moral responsibility of man is in bioethics, where you play radically the very possibility of an integral human development. This is a delicate part which makes us think of the fundamental question whether man is self dependent or he heavily relies on God.” He called on them never to lose God’s appeal to the conscience, as we all are created in his image and likeness.