Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Every Bishop has a particular responsibility to build up the unity of his flock, mindful of our Lord’s prayer” the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI reminded the Bishops of Kenya, received in audience on 19 November on the occasion of their five yearly ad limina visit. The Pope said “the Church is one throughout the world, yet at the same time she is marked by a rich diversity of traditions and cultural expressions”, but “Christ himself is the source and guarantee of our unity”. The Holy Father then thanked the Bishops for preaching the love of Christ and exhorting their people to show tolerance, respect and love of their brothers and sisters and all persons. “Indeed it is the Bishops who, as ministers and signs of communion in Christ, are pre-eminently called to make manifest the unity of his Church… I urge you to continue your fraternal cooperation with one another in the spirit of the community of Christ’s disciples, united in your love for him and in the Gospel that you proclaim. While each of you has an individual contribution to make to the common collegial voice of the Church in your country, it is important to ensure that this variety of perspectives always serves to enrich the unity of the Body of Christ”.
Referring to their relations with the clergy the Holy Father urged the bishops to “constantly strive to build up the sense of community among our priests, united in the love of Christ and in their sacramental ministry." The difficulties of our times which "can make them feel isolated or alone and overwhelmed by their pastoral responsibilities” must be overcome with the closeness and encouragement of the Bishops, firmly rooted in prayer, “because only those who are themselves nourished are able to nourish others in turn”. The Pope said the clergy must be encouraged to drink “deeply from the wells of Sacred Scripture and from the daily and reverent celebration of the most holy Eucharist”, and give themselves generously to praying the Liturgy of the Hours. “By praying in this way they include and represent others who may lack the time or energy or capacity to pray, and thus the power of prayer, the presence of Jesus Christ, renews their priesthood and flows out into the world (cf. ibid.). Help your priests in this way to grow in solidarity with one another, with their people, and with you, as your consecrated co-workers!” the Pope said.
In his address Benedict XVI dwelt on the institution of marriage and family life, “which the people of Africa hold in particular esteem”, although disordered notions of marriage and family life
Are connected with many evils which afflict African society. He stressed the need to “assist parents in teaching their children how to live out a Christian vision of marriage, conceived as an indissoluble union between one man and one woman, essentially equal in their humanity and open to the generation of new life”. The Pope denounced the fact that globalised secular culture has “an increasing influence on local communities as a result of campaigns by agencies promoting abortion” and he stated “This direct destruction of an innocent human life can never be justified, however difficult the circumstances that may lead some to consider taking such a grave step”. Asking the Bishops to reaffirm in their preaching that “the right to life of every innocent human being, born or unborn, is absolute and applies equally to all people with no exception whatsoever”, Benedict XVI recalled that “the Catholic community must offer support to those women who may find it difficult to accept a child, above all when they are isolated from their family and friends. Likewise, the community should be open to welcome back all who repent of having participated in the grave sin of abortion, and should guide them with pastoral charity to accept the grace of forgiveness, the need for penance, and the joy of entering once more into the new life of Christ”.
In the last part of his address the Pope mentioned the “fine contribution” offered by the Church in Kenya, through her educational institutions, to forming young people “in sound ethical principles and opening their minds to engage in peaceful and respectful dialogue with members of other social or religious groups”. He urged the Bishops to promote the quality and Catholic identity of schools, universities and seminaries: “Society greatly benefits from educated Catholics who know and practise the Church’s social doctrine”. Benedict XVI then stressed the need today for “highly trained professionals and persons of integrity in the area of medicine, where advances in technology continue to raise serious moral questions. Ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue likewise present major challenges that can only be addressed adequately on the basis of sound catechesis in the principles of Catholic doctrine, as expounded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church”. At the end of his discourse the Holy Father said he hoped the “that the light of Christ’s truth may shine ever more brightly over the land and the people of Kenya” and he concluded con queste parole: “My dear Brother Bishops, as you guide your people into the unity for which Christ prayed, do so with ardent charity and firm authority, unfailing in patience and in teaching”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2007; righe 58, parole 845)
