2007-09-22 15:20:29

Pope exhorts new bishops on the importance of prayer


(Sept 22, 2007) Among the several duties of a bishop, that which truly demonstrates his pastoral and apostolic fervour is prayer, said Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday. He was speaking to some 125 newly ordained bishops from around the world who are attending a course organized by the Vatican in Rome. The meeting took place at the papa summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.
The Pope reminded the new bishops of the day of their ordination when they were asked to assume several duties. Apart from the faithful preaching of the Gospel as well as defending the faith, they were also asked to persevere in prayer to God almighty for the good of their people. The Pope explained that the apostolic programme of prayer and preaching the Gospel is ever more relevant today. He admitted that the bishop’s administrative commitments and duties were absorbing and numerous, but, he said, the first place in the life of a successor of the Apostles should be reserved for God. It is through prayer that the pastor becomes sensible and merciful towards others, he said. Prayer educates to love and opens the heart to pastoral charity… as well as reconciles hearts and builds fraternal communion, the Pope said urging the new bishops to particularly prayer for their priests and for new vocations. The Pope also exhorted them to be animators of prayer in their societies and cities, where amidst noise and disturbance man is lost and lives as if God did not exist. ‘Learn to create places and occasion of prayer where, in silence and in openness to God through community and personal, man may be able to encounter God and have a living experience of Jesus Christ,” the Pope added.








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