Pope instructs envoy for FABC meeting

(August 3, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has instructed his envoy to the upcoming Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences meeting to ask the prelates to encourage Catholics to attend Sunday Mass, go for Confession and draw spiritual nourishment from the Scriptures. He has also asked the envoy, Cardinal Francis Arinze, a senior African prelate, and Pope’s special representative to encourage the Bishops to support their priests, during this special Year for Priests during the FABC's 9th plenary assembly to be held in manila from August 10 to 16. In the two-page letter, the pontiff said he knows that "all the bishops of Asia" are keen that their faithful "should understand and love the Eucharist," and for this reason they decided to discuss the theme, "Living the Eucharist in Asia" at their plenary assembly. The Pope noted that for their deliberations, the bishops are "also drawing inspiration" from "Sacramentum Caritatis" ("Sacrament of Charity"), the apostolic exhortation he issued after the October 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. The Pope said that 76 year old Cardinal Arinze was the most "suitable" person because of his "great concern" for "the good of souls" and for "the full celebration of the divine worship in the rite of the Church." Outlining his message to the assembly, the Pope said he wanted "all the pastors of Asia to teach their Christian lay faithful" that they should "participate" in the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and draw nourishment for their lives from the Sacred Scriptures and from the Eucharist. He said he also wished to exhort the Asian bishops to support their priests, "who are chosen by God and constituted as ministers of the Eucharist." The bishops are to do so "through prayer and sacrifices" so that priests "may remain faithful to the sublime mystery of their vocation." The Pope wanted the bishops to do this particularly at this time when the whole Church is celebrating the Year for Priests.