Pope speaks to Tanzania’s bishops on evangelization, clergy, lay, family and religious
freedom
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has reaffirmed the importance of the Church’s work of
evangelization in Africa, saying that lay and religious must “foster this missionary
imperative” that has roots in the past but continues “every day in the Church’s pastoral
work.”
In a discourse to Bishops of Tanzania whom he received Monday in audience
in the Vatican, the Pope spoke of the evangelical nature of the Church’s work in parishes,
the liturgy, the sacraments, education, health care, catechesis and “in the lives
of ordinary Christians.”
Listen to our report:
The bishops
from this east African country are here on an ad limina visit to the tomb of St. Peter.
In greeting them, Pope Francis said “the great challenge” facing the faithful in Tanzania
today is in giving “compelling witness” to the loving redemption offered by Jesus
Christ. In particular, the Holy Father pointed to the witness given by Catholic healthcare
workers, in caring for the sick, “not least” those suffering from HIV/AIDS, and “by
all who strive diligently to educate people in the area of sexual responsibility and
chastity.” He also drew attention to those who work for the “integral development
of the poor,” especially “destitute women and children.”
He challenged the
bishops to ensure that priests “receive an adequate human, spiritual, intellectual
and pastoral formation” from the seminary onwards.
The Pope called the role
of the lay faithful in evangelization ”indispensable” and noted the “particularly
outstanding” work of lay men and women catechists. He urged the bishops to make sure
they have a comprehensive understanding of the Church’s doctrine not only to be able
to share their faith with others, but also to equip them to counter “challenges of
superstition, aggressive sects and secularism.”
The Pope recalled that evangelization
“begins in the home” and the need for an “energetic apostolate to the family.” “By
promoting prayer, marital fidelity, monogamy, purity and humble service of one another
within families,” the Pope said, the Church continues to make an invaluable contribution
to the social welfare of Tanzania.” This, together with its other apostolates, he
said, “will surely foster greater stability and progress” in the country.
On
the subject of religious tolerance, Pope Francis said he is “particularly encouraged”
by Tanzania’s commitment to ensuring religious freedom for followers of various religions
and called for protection and promotion of this “fundamental human right.”
He
thanked the bishops for their “ongoing efforts to promote forgiveness, peace and dialogue”
even in times of intolerance, violence and persecution, and urged them to work with
the government and civic institutions “to ensure that the rule of law prevails.”
Below
please find the full text of the Pope’s discourse to Tanzanian bishops: Dear
Brother Bishops, I offer you a warm fraternal welcome on the occasion of your
visit ad Limina Apostolorum, which is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of communion
between the Church in Tanzania and the See of Peter. I thank Archbishop Ngalalekumtwa
for his thoughtful words offered on your behalf and in the name of the priests, men
and women religious, and all the lay faithful of your country. I would ask you kindly
to assure them of my prayers and spiritual closeness.
The Church in Tanzania
is blessed with many gifts for which we must all give thanks to God. I think, in the
first place, of the impressive history of missionary work throughout the region. Arriving
with a desire to make “the name above every other name” (Phil 2:9) known and loved,
these Spirit-filled evangelizers laid a firm foundation for the Church which has inspired
subsequent generations in their efforts to proclaim the Gospel and build up the Body
of Christ. In our own day too, missionary outreach must be “paradigmatic for all the
Church’s activity” (Evangelii Gaudium, 15). Building upon the zeal and sacrifices
of the first evangelizers, you must always maintain and foster this missionary imperative,
so that the Gospel may increasingly permeate every work of the apostolate and shed
its light on all areas of Tanzanian society. In this way, a new and dynamic chapter
in the great missionary and evangelical history of your country will be written.
The
work of evangelization in Tanzania, then, is not merely a remarkable event of the
past; no, it happens every day in the Church’s pastoral work in parishes, in the liturgy,
in the reception of the sacraments, the educational apostolate, health care initiatives,
catechesis, and in the lives of ordinary Christians. It is carried out whenever faithful
believers stir up the minds and hearts of those who, for whatever reason, are weak
in living out the grace of the Gospel. It happens above all – through words and through
integrity of life – by proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified and risen to those who do
not know the joy that comes from loving him and surrendering their lives to him. This
is the great challenge facing God’s people in Tanzania in our day: to give a compelling
witness to the loving redemption of humanity by Jesus Christ experienced and celebrated
by the community of believers in the Church.
Here I think in a special way
of the witness of missionary discipleship (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 119-120) given by
workers in the Church’s healthcare apostolate, not least in caring for those suffering
from HIV/AIDS, and by all who strive diligently to educate people in the area of sexual
responsibility and chastity. I also think of all those who devote themselves to the
integral development of the poor, and in particular, of destitute women and children.
May the Holy Spirit who gave strength, wisdom and holiness to the first missionaries
in Tanzania continue to inspire the entire local Church in this vital witness.
Because
of the critical importance of their ministry of teaching, sanctifying and governing
Christ’s flock, the need for holy, well-educated and zealous priests is always great.
I join you in expressing gratitude and encouragement for the ministry of your priests.
The sacrifices they make, known often only to God, are a source of much grace and
holiness. It is your urgent responsibility, as their fathers and brothers in Christ,
to ensure that priests receive an adequate human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral
formation – not only in the seminary, but throughout their lives (cf. Pastores Dabo
Vobis, 43-59). This will enable them to give themselves more fully to the priestly
ministry in fidelity to the promises made at their ordination. This formation must
be ongoing; only through daily conversion and growth in pastoral charity will they
mature as effective agents of spiritual renewal and Christian unity in their parishes
and, like Jesus, gather people together “from every tribe and tongue” (Rev 7:9) for
the praise and glory of God the Father. As men of deep wisdom and genuine spiritual
leaders, priests will be a source of inspiration for their flock, and draw many young
men to respond generously to the Lord’s call to serve his people in the priesthood.
The indispensable role of the lay faithful in the ongoing evangelization of
your country was clearly brought out by two recent ecclesial events: the National
Eucharistic Congress of 2012 and the Seminar held to close the Year of Faith. I appreciate
your efforts to promote events such as these, which contribute greatly to strengthening
the faith among the People of God in Tanzania. A particularly outstanding exercise
of the lay apostolate is that of the men and women catechists in your country who
labour to pass on the Gospel and the fullness of the Christian life. In your service
to the local Church, make every effort to provide catechists with a comprehensive
understanding of the Church’s doctrine. This will equip them not only to counter the
challenges of superstition, aggressive sects and secularism, but even more importantly,
to share the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith with others, particularly the
young. In fidelity to the mission received at baptism, each member of the Church will
then be able to renew the Church and society as a leaven from within. As well-formed
lay disciples, they will know how to “imbue culture and human works with a moral value”
(Lumen Gentium, 36), something greatly needed in our own time.
Dear brothers,
the work of evangelization begins in the home. The gift that healthy families represent
is felt with particular vitality in Africa. Moreover, the Church’s love for, and pastoral
solicitude towards the family is at the heart of the new evangelization. As you know,
I have called a Synod devoted to the family later this year, the pastoral care of
which was a central concern of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod
of Bishops in 2009. May our encounter today be an incentive to review your common
response to that Synod’s call for a more energetic apostolate to the family, through
uncompromising and selfless spiritual and material assistance (cf. Africae Munus,
43). By promoting prayer, marital fidelity, monogamy, purity and humble service of
one another within families, the Church continues to make an invaluable contribution
to the social welfare of Tanzania, one which, coupled with her educational and healthcare
apostolates, will surely foster greater stability and progress in your country. There
is scarcely a finer service which the Church can offer than to give witness to our
conviction of the sanctity of God’s gift of life and to the essential role played
by spiritual and stable families in preparing the younger generations to live virtuous
lives and to face the challenges of the future with wisdom, courage and generosity.
I am particularly encouraged to know that Tanzania is committed to ensuring
the freedom that followers of various religions enjoy to practice their faith. The
ongoing protection and promotion of this fundamental human right strengthens society
by enabling believers, in fidelity to the dictates of their conscience and in respect
for the dignity and rights of all, to advance social unity, peace and the common good.
I am grateful for your ongoing efforts to promote forgiveness, peace and dialogue
as you shepherd your people in difficult situations of intolerance and, at times,
of violence and persecution. Your prayerful and united leadership – which is already
bearing fruit as you confront these challenges together – will continue to show the
path to those entrusted to your pastoral care and to the wider society. I urge you
also to work with government and civic institutions in this area so as to ensure that
the rule of law prevails as an indispensable means for guaranteeing just and pacific
social relations. I pray that your example, and that of the entire Church in your
country, will continue to inspire all people of good will who long for peace.
With
these thoughts, dear brother Bishops, I commend all of you to the intercession of
Mary, Mother of the Church, and with great affection I impart my Apostolic Blessing,
which I willingly extend to all the beloved priests, religious and lay faithful of
your country. From the Vatican, 7 April 2014