Pope officially declares “Year of Faith”

(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.