Pope sends message to International Forum of Catholic Action
Pope Benedict has sent a message to the 6th Ordinary Meeting of the International
Forum of Catholic Action, which began on Thursday. This year’s Meeting is focusing
on “Lay Catholic Action members: ecclesial and social co-responsibility.”
“This
responsibility requires a change in mentality concerning, in particular, the role
of the laity in the Church,” Pope Benedict writes. “They should not be considered
as merely ‘collaborators’ of the clergy, but as people truly ‘co-responsible’ in the
work of the Church.”
The Holy Father says it is important that the laity be
well-formed and capable of making “their own specific contribution to the mission
of the Church, in accordance with the ministries and tasks in which each one takes
part in the life of the Church, and always in an amicable communion with the Bishops.”
Pope
Benedict encourages members of Catholic Action to announce the message of Christ in
the language of our time, which has been marked by rapid social and cultural changes,
calling this “the great challenge of the New Evangelization.”