Pope addresses Venezuela’s bishops

(June 8, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday encouraged the bishops of Venezuela in their task of evangelization not only through a good doctrinal formation of their faithful but also by helping them cultivate a life of deep faith and prayer in an intimate contact with the Risen Lord. The Pope’s remarks came in an address he delivered to Venezuela’s bishops who are on their so-called ‘ad limina’ visit to Rome, which heads of dioceses make every 5 years of so to report on the state of their jurisdiction. Pope Benedict admitted that the severe global economic crisis was posing numerous and difficult challenges to their pastoral work, but the present moment was also offering numerous and true reasons for hope. In order to encourage the faithful in a life of deep faith, the Pope insisted that bishops themselves, first of all, need to set the good example by conforming themselves to Christ. He also urged them to double efforts to promote pastoral zeal in their priests especially during the upcoming Year of Priesthood. In this regard he also called for a careful selection and formation of candidates to the priesthood. Pope Benedict encouraged the Church of Venezuela in its charitable initiatives so that the poor can experience the love of the Christ who died for them.