(October 17, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday released a document officially declaring
the "Year of Faith" starting next year, to give a new impetus to the Church’s New
Evangelization and mission ‘ad gentes’. The Vatican’s press office released the Pope’s
“Motu Proprio” Apostolic Letter titled “Porta Fidei” , the Latin for “The Door of
Faith”, declaring that "Year of Faith" will begin on 11 October 2012, the 50th anniversary
of the Second Vatican Council, and will end on 24 November 2013, Solemnity of Christ
the King." New Evangelization aims at reviving flagging faith in traditionally Christian
areas such as the western world, whereas mission ‘ad gentes’ means preaching Christ
to those who do not know Him as yet. In the letter, the Pope says “we cannot accept
that salt should become tasteless or the light be kept hidden.” “The people of today
can still experience the need to go to the well, like the Samaritan woman, in order
to hear Jesus, who invites us to believe in him and to draw upon the source of living
water welling up within him.” The Holy Father urges Christians never to regard belief
merely as a private act. “The Church on the day of Pentecost demonstrates with utter
clarity this public dimension of believing and proclaiming one’s faith fearlessly
to every person.” He noted that in our cultural context, very many people, while
not claiming to have the gift of faith, are nevertheless sincerely searching for the
ultimate meaning and definitive truth of their lives and of the world. What the world
is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in mind
and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of
many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.