Pope addresses another group of Indian bishops

(May 30, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday commended the ‘impressive’ social and charitable initiatives of India’s Catholic Church and encouraged its members to continue serving God in men regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or social status. The Pope was addressing 22 Indian bishops from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala states on their so-called ‘ad limina’ visit to Rome, which heads of dioceses are required to make every 5 years or so to report on the state of their jurisdiction. “I am pleased to note the impressive signs of the Church’s charity in many fields of social activity,” the Pope said. He spoke of schools, microcredit, clinics, orphanages, hospitals and innumerable other projects aimed at promoting human dignity and well-being, especially for the poorest and the weakest, the lonely and the elderly, the abandoned and the suffering. All this he said, is done for no other motive than the love of Christ. The Holy Father encouraged the faithful of India to continue serving the communities around them, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or social status, out of the conviction that all have been created in God’s image and all are due equal respect. On the pastoral level, the Holy Father expressed satisfaction over the spread of small Christian communities where the faithful pray, reflect on the Scriptures and offer fraternal support. He urged that these groups be assisted to be faithful to the sacred Scriptures and the Church’s apostolic tradition. With regard to the family, Pope Benedict urged that the “domestic churches” be examples of the mutual love, respect and support which animate human relations at every level. He said the wider community will greatly benefit if families are attentive to prayer, meditate on the Scriptures, and participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church. Acknowledging the many challenges threatening the unity, harmony and sanctity of the family, the Pope called for a sound catechesis to help nurture the faith life of Christian families.