POPE’S MISSION PRAYER INTENTION FOR NOVEMBER

(November 1, 2010) Here’s a brief comment on the Holy Father’s mission prayer intention for the month of November – that the Churches of Latin America may move ahead with the continent-wide mission proposed by their bishops, making it part of the universal missionary task of the People of God. The prayer intention is linked to Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral visit to Brazil in 2007 for the inauguration of the Fifth General Conference of Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean at the national shrine of Aparecida. The Pope was there to personally affirm the plan of the Latin American Bishops to revitalize and re-evangelize their peoples in their faith life. Later, the Pope urged the entire Church to enthusiastically join in this spirit of the "continental mission" promoted at Aparecida. The pontiff recently created a new Vatican office, the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, in an effort to counter secular trends in traditionally Christian countries and revive the faith life of the people. This is particularly true of Latin America where 71% of the population is considered Catholic. In his recent talks to Brazilian bishops Pope Benedict has been encouraging them to launch new pastoral initiatives to invigorate the faith life of their people against rapidly growing sects, crisis in marriage, hedonism etc…. Let’s therefore join the Holy Father in praying for the success of the Latin American bishops’ efforts to help revive the faith life of their flock.