Pope Benedict XVI Appreciates the Role of the Church in India’s Education System

(September 08, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI praised the Indian Church for its invaluable contribution to the well-being not only of Catholics, but of society at large through the multitude of Institutions and particularly singled out the contribution in the field of education to build a more just and prosperous society to instruct and to edify India’s people in intellectual and moral truth. The Pontiff was addressing on Thursday a group of Latin Rite Bishops from the regions of Bombay, Nagpur, Goa and Daman, Gandhinagar and Bangalore, India during their Ad Limina Visit which Bishops around the world are required to make every five years. The Pope encouraged them to continue to pay close attention to the quality of instruction in the schools present in their Dioceses, to ensure that they be genuinely Catholic and therefore capable of passing on those truths and values necessary for the salvation of souls and the up-building of society. Speaking on formation and higher learning Pope Benedict said that the capacity to present the truth gently but firmly is a gift to be nurtured especially among those who teach in Catholic institutes of higher education and those who are charged with the ecclesial task of educating seminarians, religious or the lay faithful, whether in theology, catechetical studies or Christian spirituality. Having received the benefits of a sound formation and dedicated to charity in truth, the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the Christian community will be better able to contribute to the growth of the Church and the advancement of Indian society. Commending the significant role of witness to Jesus Christ carried out in India by men and women religious, the Pope impressed upon the spiritual and vocational growth, particularly among young people, and invited the Bishops to encourage the youth to consider seriously the consecrated or priestly life. Prior to the final meeting the Pope gave audience to Bishop Thomas Antony Vazhapilly of Mysore and Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Simoga, Karnataka