Cardinal Bertone urges contemplative orders to pray
February 25, 2013 - Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has sent
a message to members of contemplative orders around the world inviting them to pray
in a special way at this crucial moment for the Catholic Church when Pope Benedict
XVI is ending his pontificate and the Conclave will elect his successor. “The coming
conclave will thus depend in a special way on the transparent purity of your prayer
and worship,” he wrote to cloistered orders of men and women religious. Cardinal
Bertone noted that the most significant example of this spiritual elevation is given
by Pope Benedict himself who after retiring from leading the Church is choosing to
devote himself above all to prayer, contemplation and reflection.
Below is
the text of Cardinal Bertone's message:
Reverend Mother, Reverend
Father, I write to you as the whole Church anxiously follows the final days
of the luminous pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI and awaits the arrival of
the successor whom the Cardinals gathered in conclave and guided by the Holy Spirit
will choose, after discerning together the signs of the times of the Church and the
world. His Holiness Benedict XVI has asked all the faithful to accompany
him with their prayers as he commends the Petrine ministry into the Lord’s hands,
and to await with trust the arrival of the new Pope. In a particularly urgent way
this appeal is addressed to those chosen members of the Church who are contemplatives.
The Holy Father is certain that you, in your monasteries and convents throughout the
world, will provide the precious resource of that prayerful faith which down the centuries
has accompanied and sustained the Church along her pilgrim path. The coming conclave
will thus depend in a special way on the transparent purity of your prayer and worship. The
most significant example of this spiritual elevation which manifests the most authentic
and profound dimension of every ecclesial action, the presence of the Holy Spirit
who guides the Church, is offered to us by His Holiness Benedict XVI who, after having
steered the barque of Peter amid the waves of history, has chosen to devote himself
above all to prayer, contemplation and reflection. The Holy Father, with
whom I shared the contents of this letter, was deeply appreciative, and asked me to
thank you and to assure you of his immense love and esteem. With affection
in Christ I send you greetings, united with you in prayer.