Pope Benedict XVI Speaks to Bishops of Burkina Faso during their Ad Limina Visit

(March 20, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI expressed his joy over the Christian Community of Burkina Faso and Niger, for their service to the sick and suffering and their ability to cope with the challenges of reconciliation, justice and peace. He said that in their dioceses, the Church continues in various ways, the fight against the evils that prevent people from achieving genuine development. The Pope said this during his final discourse to the Bishops of Burkina Faso and Niger at their ad Limina visit. An ad limina visit means the obligation of residential diocesan bishops of visiting the thresholds of the tombs of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, and of meeting the Pope to report on the state of their dioceses. Reminding them to promote a revival within the lives of priests, the Holy Father said: “The priest is above all a man of God who seeks to meet ever more consistency to his vocation and his mission to serve the people entrusted to him and he must lead them to God. For this it is necessary to assure him a solid education, not only at the time of preparation for ordination, but throughout his ministry. It is essential that the priest can take the time to deepen his priestly life to avoid falling into activism.” The Pope complimented the services of the Catechists and lay people in the proclamation of the Gospel and said: “In developing the training institutions, you will give them the opportunity to take responsibility in the Church and in society, to be authentic witnesses of the Gospel.” In his discourse Pope Benedict appreciated the cordiality between various religions and sad: “May the ties between Christians and Muslims in particular continue to be strengthened to advance peace and justice and promote the common good by rejecting the temptation of violence and intolerance!”