Pope Benedict XVI Addresses the Bishops of Argentina: Ad Limina Visit

(March 14, 2009) “The Episcopal ministry is to serve the unity and communion of the whole Mystical Body of Christ. The Bishop who is the visible principle and foundation of unity in his particular Church, is to promote and defend the integrity of the faith and the common discipline of the whole Church, in addition to teaching the faithful to love all their brothers,” said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Cardinal and bishops of Argentina, during their ad Limina visit to Rome on the 14^th of March. Ad Limina visit is the five yearly visits of the Bishops to Rome to be at the tombs of the Apostles and at the same time present the annual account of their diocese. The Pope said that through them he was greeting all clergy, religious and laity of the diocese, expressing his appreciation and closeness, and constant encouragement in the exciting task of evangelization, which are carried out with great dedication and generosity. He expressed his appreciation for their willingness to maintain and strengthen the unity within their Episcopal Conference and diocesan community. The Pope then added saying that they could count on his support, his daily prayer and his spiritual closeness in all their tasks. The Pope then called on them to exercise extreme caution when they have to correct the teachings, to do it in charity and with attitudes or behaviours that discern their priestly status. Then the Pope added that “The role of the priests is that they have to take major efforts to promote priestly vocations. It is also necessary to intensify the training of seminarians in all its dimensions: human, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and pastoral care, carrying out a further effective and demanding work of discernment of the candidates for holy orders.” Stressing the role of marriage and family strongly, and taking into account the dimension of the Christian vocation, the Pope called for an intense life of prayer and an adequate doctrinal and spiritual formation filled with faith and the joy.