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.