Pope acknowledges Catholic women’s witness of faith in Church

(October 8, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI has paid tribute to Catholic women who witness to their faith in the life of the Church. The Pope’s sentiments were expressed in a message sent on the Pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to members of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations. The union is currently celebrating 100 years with an assembly in Jerusalem, which began Monday at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem. The Pontiff expressed "thanks for the many blessings that have been bestowed on the Church through the witness of faithful Catholic women living and working in the world, transforming it from within, and proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed." He prayed that union members continue contributing to the life and mission of the Church, both in the public sphere and in the home. The World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations, under the direction of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity, comprises almost 100 Catholic women's organizations representing more than five million women active in more than 60 countries. The union’s aim is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in Church and society in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of faith and to work for human development and peace in the world.