VATICAN - The Pope stresses the importance of interreligious cooperation and exhorts Bishops of Thailand to make “a concerted effort to uphold the spiritual and moral soul of your people.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The coexistence of different religious communities today unfolds against the backdrop of globalization... The negative aspects of this cultural phenomenon, which cause dismay to yourselves and other religious leaders in your country, in fact point to the importance of interreligious cooperation. They call for a concerted effort to uphold the spiritual and moral soul of your people. In concordance with Buddhists, you can promote mutual understanding concerning the transmission of traditions to succeeding generations, the articulation of ethical values discernable to reason, reverence for the transcendent, prayer and contemplation.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Bishops of Thailand in an audience for their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit on May 16.
At the beginning of his address, the Pope recalled that in Thailand, the mission of the small Catholic community “is undertaken within the context of relationships, most especially with Buddhists,” whom the Bishops greatly esteem for their contributions to social and cultural life. In addition, “the noble Thai people may come to recognize and know the face of Jesus Christ” through the medical clinics, social services, and schools of the Catholic Church. “Catholic schools and colleges make a remarkable contribution to the intellectual formation of numerous young Thais. They should also make an outstanding contribution to the spiritual and moral education of the young. Indeed, it is for these crucial aspects of the formation of the person that parents - whether Catholic or Buddhist - turn to Catholic schools.” Addressing especially those many religious who work in the Catholic scholastic institutions, Benedict XVI emphasized: “Theirs should not primarily be a role of administration but of mission. As consecrated persons they are called to be ‘witnesses of Christ, epiphany of the love of God in the world’, and require ‘the courage of testimony and the patience of dialogue’... It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that Religious remain close to the students and their families, most especially through their classroom teaching of the catechism for Catholics and others interested, and through moral formation and care for the spiritual needs of all in the school community.”
Grateful for the service carried out by catechists, who work “with great zeal and generosity,” Benedict XVI mentioned that “this task cannot, however, be left to them alone,” and exhorted the priests to fulfill their ministry to “announce the divine word to all and to labor in preaching and teaching." “This fundamental priestly role which, to be effective, requires a sound philosophical and theological formation, cannot be delegated to others.”
In the concluding part of his address, the Pontiff reflected on the drama of the trafficking of women and children, as well as that of prostitution, indicating with gratitude “the efforts of the entire Catholic community of Thailand to uphold the dignity of every human life, especially the most vulnerable... Undoubtedly poverty is a factor underlying these phenomena, and in this regard I know much is being achieved through the Church’s development programs. But there is a further aspect which must be acknowledged and collectively addressed if this abhorrent human exploitation is to be effectively confronted. I am speaking of the trivialization of sexuality in the media and entertainment industries which fuels a decline in moral values and leads to the degradation of women, the weakening of fidelity in marriage and even the abuse of children.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/5/2008; righe 45, parole 564)