VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI addresses the Bishops of Benin on ad limina visit: “Do not be afraid to propose the radical newness of the life brought by Christ and offered to enable every man and every women to fulfil their integral vocation!”

Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) - “In recent years you have shown great courage worthy of the Gospel in guiding the people of God through the numerous difficulties experienced by your society, demonstrating in this way you pastoral interest for the important issues the country has faced particularly in the field of justice and human rights. In all these situations you never tired of proposing the Church's teaching based on the Gospel, instilling in this way hope in the hearts of your people and helping to maintain national unity and harmony.” The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said this in his address to the Catholic Bishops of Benin on ad limina visit received in audience at the Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo Thursday 20 September.
To respond to present day challenges the Pope urged the African Bishops to develop “an authentic spirituality of communion”, to be lived among themselves first of all, “so as to find therein energy and support for their ministry ” since this spirituality “fosters missionary dynamism”, it should be lived also with one's priests, helping “them to fully assume their priestly ministry”. Benedict XVI said he wished to encourage priests to maintain “balance which gives an intense spiritual life the place it deserves, to believe and to intensify the relationship of friendship with Christ in order to serve generously the part of the people of God entrusted to their care, as well as the announcement of the Kingdom of God to everyone. This is render the Gospel concretely present in society.”
Since the influence of local traditions is still very present in social life in Benin, the Pope reminded the Bishops that “the best aspects must be encouraged” while “it is necessary to reject manifestations which are harmful, cause fear and exclude others”. To reach this objective what is important is sound Christian formation to help the faithful compare the faith with traditional beliefs and teach them to pray with confidence, “in order to remain always close to Christ” and at times of bewilderment find support in the Christian communities. In this task the Bishops are helped by the work of catechists. The Pope said he is aware of the dedication of catechists, “expressing the Church's gratitude for their efforts in this service”. He mentioned also institutes of consecrated life “which offer a contribution to missionary activity ”, and Benedict XVI said he hoped “men and women religious would always keep their hearts and eyes set on the Lord Jesus so that, in their works and total gift of self, they communicate to everyone God's love poured out to them in their lives”. He also recalled the in the service to the needy without distinction, God and Christ must never be neglected, “it is important to announce, without however imposing the faith of the Church… I call on members of contemplative communities to be with their hidden presence an permanent call to all Christians to seek untiringly the face of God and to thank Him for all his gifts”.
Dwelling on liturgical celebrations, “fervent and lively … eloquent testimony of the faith”, the Pope stressed the importance of “full, active and fruitful” on the part of the faithful. “To foster participation it is legitimate to have recourse to certain adequate adaptations in keeping with the different cultural contexts, while respecting the norms set by the Church. However to ensure the cultural elements incompatible with the Christian faith or actions which lead to confusion are not introduced in the liturgy, sound liturgical formation must be guaranteed for seminarians and priests”.
The Holy Father then praised the Bishops for intervening on several occasions to defend the values of the family and respect for life, encouraging them to “continue this commitment which renders a service to the whole of society”. He congratulated them for efforts to guarantee formation for young people and praised the work of those who promote human and religious formation, especially through Catholic teaching. In this context he stressed the necessity of serious preparation for the sacrament of matrimony and for care for families especially in times of difficulty.
“I wish to express my satisfaction that generally relations between Christians and Muslims are lived in at atmosphere of reciprocal understanding - said Benedict XVI in the last part of his address -. To prevent any form of intolerance from developing or any violence, it is opportune to encourage sincere dialogue founded on ever more authentic reciprocal knowledge, especially by means of respectful human relations, consensus on the values of life and reciprocal cooperation in everything which promotes the common good. This sort of dialogue demands preparation of competent persons able to promote knowledge and understanding of the religious values we have in common and to respect differences in all fairness”
The Holy Father concluded by encouraging the Bishops and their mission to serve the People of God in Benin: “Do not be afraid to propose the radical newness of the life brought by Christ and offered to enable every man and every women to fulfil their integral vocation!” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2007; righe 63, parole 868)