Pope Benedict XVI Address to the Recently Appointed Bishops

(September 20, 2008) St Paul is not for us simply a figure of the past, which we remember with reverence. He is also our teacher, our guide and apostle of Jesus Christ for us. Yes, he is our master and we must learn from him to look for Christ in the light and grace to proclaim the good news today, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the recently appointed Bishops in Rome, at the end of their Refresher Course held in the month of September, organised by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The Pope then said that their life in many ways resembles the life of Paul: in the scope of their Pastoral work, extensive geographical boundaries, and the lack of proper communication system. In addition, he said they often face the wave of anti Christian violence, of religious indifference, of secularization and relativisation of values. In many regions, added the Pope, Catholics are a minority, sometimes small. They are confronted with other religions far more powerful and not always welcoming them. It is their task as pastors, to defend the faithful in the face of persecution and violent attacks. The Holy Father called on them not be afraid and not be discouraged for all these drawbacks, sometimes heavy, but to draw the inspiration from St. Paul who had to suffer much for the same cause, as it is given in the Second Letter to the Corinthians. Paul did not escape the difficulties and sufferings, for suffering unites a person to Christ and to his brothers and expresses the fullness of love, the cross of Christ. Paul’s conviction of the richness of the love of Christ came from his persecutions for the Gospel. Encouraging the new Bishops, the Pope said that they are at the beginning of their Episcopal ministry. He told them not to hesitate to use the example of Paul a powerful teacher of Evangelisation, in their mission to serve others and thus bear witness to Christ.