VATICAN - The Pope receives the Bishops of Gabon: “In your ministry with the living forces of your dioceses, you are called to develop, ever more organic diocesan and national pastoral care. The deeper communion among you and all Catholics, the stronger and more effective evangelisation”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - ““In your ministry with the living forces of your dioceses, you are called to develop, ever more organic diocesan and national pastoral care. At the same time you must organise more appropriately your Bishops' Conference, in your meetings and in the necessary structures to be opened to assist you. The deeper communion among you and all Catholics, the stronger and more effective evangelisation”. Pope Benedict XVI said this to the Bishops of Gabon, whom he received for their ad limina visit on 26 September.
“The people of Gabon - the Pope said - tend to be drawn by a society of consumerism and permissiveness, giving consequently less attention to the poor people of their country. I encourage them to grow in a sense of brotherhood and solidarity. There is also a certain relaxation in the life of Christians, taken by the seductions of the world. I hope their conduct will be ever more exemplary with regard to spiritual and moral values”. Among the priorities for the Church in Gabon, the Pope mentioned the handing on of the faith and a deeper understanding of the Christian mystery, underlining the necessity to guarantee the faithful effective and profound formation. To reach this goal the Holy Father encouraged the Bishops to prepare “priests and lay people with this capacity. In this way your ecclesial communities will be every more vibrant and the faithful will draw from the liturgy, from personal, family and community prayer, the strength to be, in every environment of life witnesses to the Good News, artificers of reconciliation, justice and peace, of which the world is increasingly in need”. Special attention must be given to young people: “May all Christians, parents especially work to lead young people to open the hearts to Christ and to follow Him!... I hope your young people will not be afraid to be the first evangelisers among young people of their age. It is often thanks to friendship and sharing that the latter come to discover and love the person of Christ.”
Since vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are still scarce in Gabon, Benedict XVI underlined that the issue of a seminary in Libreville, must be “given special attention because the future of evangelisation and the Church are at stake; it will also stimulate the development and intensification of vocations pastoral in every diocese”. The Pope then called for the mobilisation of priests, religious and families so that “through prayer, accompaniment for the very young, concern for the handing on of Christ's”, they may nurture vocations. For this objective “Catholic education must not be forgotten”. Benedict XVI recalled the important work of missionaries: “With you I wish to thank all the men and women missionaries who enabled your country to receive the seed of the Gospel. May they be thanked for what they have done and what they continue to do with fidelity in collaboration with the Bishops of Gabon!”
The Pope's final thought was for the priests of Gabon Papa, “to whose generous ministry I render homage. By living incessantly in intimate communion with Christ, they will have a keener awareness of the demand to be faithful to commitments taken before God and before the Church, in particular obedience and chastity in celibacy … I urge every priest to strive first of all for the good of the Church rather than personal advantage, conforming his life and mission to the gesture of the washing of feet. This love lived from a viewpoint of disinterested service will give rise to deep joy.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2007; righe 41, parole 613)