Pope to NZ-Pac bishops: focus on New Evangelization
The New Evangelization was the focus of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks to the bishops
of New Zealand and the Pacific today, as he received them at the end of their ad limina
visits.
Below is the full text of the Holy Father's remarks, followed by our
audio report.
Dear Brother Bishops and Priests, I am pleased to offer
you a warm fraternal welcome on the occasion of your visit ad Limina Apostolorum.
This gathering is a tangible sign of our communion in faith and charity in the one
Church of Christ. I wish to thank Archbishop Dew and Bishop Mafi for the kind words
offered on your behalf. My cordial greetings go to the priests, the men and women
religious, and those entrusted to your pastoral care. Please assure them of my prayers
for their growth in holiness and of my affection for them in the Lord. With gratitude
to Almighty God, I note from your reports the many blessings which the Lord has bestowed
upon your Jurisdictions. I am also aware of the challenges to the Christian life
which are common to all of you, in spite of the many social, economic and cultural
contexts in which you work. You have mentioned in particular the challenge set before
you by the secularism characteristic of your societies, a reality that has a significant
impact on the understanding and practice of the Catholic faith. This is seen specifically
in a weakened appreciation for the sacred nature of Christian marriage and the stability
of the family. In such a context, the struggle to lead a life worthy of the our baptismal
calling (cf. Eph. 4:1) and to abstain from the earthly passions which wage war against
ours souls (cf. 1 Pet 2:11) becomes ever more challenging. Yet we know that, ultimately,
Christian faith provides a surer basis for life than the secular vision; for “it is
only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of humanity truly becomes
clear” (Gaudium et Spes, 22).
Thus, the Pontifical Council for Promoting the
New Evangelization was recently established. Since the Christian faith is founded
on the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, the new evangelization is not an abstract concept
but a renewal of authentic Christian living based on the teachings of the Church.
You, as Bishops and Pastors, are called to be protagonists in formulating this response
according to local needs and circumstances in your various countries and among your
peoples. By strengthening the visible bonds of ecclesial communion, build among yourselves
an ever stronger sense of faith and charity, so that those whom you serve, in their
turn, may imitate your charity and be ambassadors of Christ both in the Church and
in the civil arena.
As you face this historic challenge, you must do so under
the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, who also calls forth, consecrates and sends
priests as “co-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestly
office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God” (Rite of
Ordination of Priests). Dear Brother Bishops, I encourage you to have a special care
for your priests. As you know, one of your first pastoral duties is to your priests
and to their sanctification, especially those who are experiencing difficulties and
those who have little contact with their brother priests. Be a father who guides
them on the path to holiness, so that their lives may also attract others to follow
Christ. We know that good, wise and holy priests are the best promoters of vocations
to the priesthood. With the confidence that comes from faith, we can say that the
Lord is still calling men to the priesthood, and you are aware that encouraging them
to consider dedicating their lives fully to Christ is among your top priorities.
In our day young people need more assistance with spiritual discernment so that they
may know the Lord’s will. In a world affected by a “profound crisis of faith” (Porta
Fidei, 2), ensure too that your seminarians receive a well-rounded formation that
will prepare them to serve the Lord and love his flock according to the heart of the
Good Shepherd.
In this context, I wish to acknowledge the significant contribution
to the spread of the Gospel made by the men and women religious present throughout
your region, including those active in pastoral, catechetical, and educational fields.
Together with those living a contemplative life, may they remain faithful to the charisms
of their founders, which are always united with the life and discipline of the entire
Church, and may their witness to God continue to be a beacon that points towards
a life of faith, love and right living.
Likewise, the lay faithful’s role
in the well-being of the Church is essential since the Lord does not expect pastors
“to undertake by themselves the entire saving mission of the Church” (Lumen Gentium,
30). I understand from your reports that your task of spreading the Gospel often
depends on the assistance of lay missionaries and catechists. Continue to ensure
that a sound and ongoing formation be afforded them, especially within the context
of their associations. In so doing, you will equip them for every good work in the
building up of the body of Christ (cf. 2 Tim 3:17; Eph 4:12). Their zeal for the
faith under your continued leadership and support will surely bear much fruit in the
vineyard of the Lord.
My dear Brother Bishops and Priests, as I have had
this opportunity to discuss with you the New Evangelization, I do so mindful of the
recently proclaimed Year of Faith, which “is intended to give a fresh impetus to the
mission of the whole Church to lead human beings out of the wilderness in which they
find themselves” (Homily, 16 October 2011). May this privileged time serve as an
inspiration as you join the entire Church in the ongoing efforts of the New Evangelization,
for although you are spread among many islands and we are separated by great distances,
together we profess “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all”
(Eph 4:5-6). May you continue to be united among yourselves and with the Successor
of Peter. Commending you to the intercession of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, and assuring
you of my affection and prayers for you and for those entrusted to your pastoral care,
I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing. Listen to our report