Catholics must know truth if they are to share it, Pope tells Cardinals

(February 18, 2012) If objective truth does not exist, "there is no compass and we won't know where to go," Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of cardinals and future cardinals in the Vatican. An awareness of the truth of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ makes life "rich and beautiful" and is essential for sharing the Christian faith with others, the pope said at the end of a day of prayer and reflection observed on Friday in preparation for Saturday's consistory for the careation of 22 new cardinals. Several cardinals and Vatican officials spoke at the gathering. Pope Benedict thanked Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who gave the day's main presentation on missionary activity and the new evangelization, saying the New York archbishop's talk was "enthusiastic, joyful and profound." In his morning address to the group, Archbishop Dolan said secularism has had an easy time spreading through many traditionally Christian cultures because so many Christians do not know their faith and do not grasp the truth it teaches. While the New York prelate did not downplay the challenges the church faces in reviving the faith of its members and bringing the Gospel to those who have never heard it, he delivered his assessment with his characteristic smile and broad gestures, telling Pope Benedict and the cardinals that evangelization requires joy and love. He told them that he still believes Christians must show the world that faith is saying yes "to everything decent, good, true, beautiful and noble." The meeting was attended by 133 prelates, including 22 who were made cardinals on Saturday.