EUROPE/SPAIN - Archbishop Perez Gonzalez, Nacional Director of the PMS in Spain following his reception of the pallium: “I was reaffirmed in the mission of service that I must fulfill in the heart of the Church and what it means to give one’s life for the others.”

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Among the Archbishops who received the pallium from the hands of His Holiness Benedict XVI last Sunday, was Archbishop Francisco Perez Gonzalez of Pamplona-Tudela (Spain), National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain. Agenzia Fides asked him several questions following the ceremony.

What did receiving the pallium on Sunday, June 29 from Pope Benedict XVI mean for you?

For me it was a moment in which I was reaffirmed in the mission of service that I must fulfill in the heart of the Church and as the Pope told us, the need to be “Good Shepherds” that know how to accept the sheep that have been entrusted to us and carry them on our shoulders, given that this is the deeper meaning behind what the pallium represents. The pallium is, in fact, made with lamb’s wool, symbol of the Lamb of God who is the only One who can teach us what it means to give our lives for others, as He did. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep and that is what I must do in my diocese.

The Archdiocese of Pamplona-Tudela is a prestigious missionary diocese in Spain, the land of Saint Francis Xavier and one that has given many missionaries to the Church. What does this mean for you, as you are also the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies?

I understand that one of the most important aspects of the life of the Church is the ability to demonstrate that being Christian means preaching Christ everywhere and therefore, I believe that this should be one of my main motivations. This, in turn, unites me in a special way to Francis Xavier, who was a great missionary. For me it has been a two-sided experience of the grandeur in preaching the Gospel and then having been entrusted with the diocese of San Francis Xavier, which I consider a gift for me from the Lord Himself.

What are the main challenges you face in your pastoral ministry at the head of the Diocese?

What is most important for me is that all those that have been entrusted me may live the faith with joy and happiness. I think that this is one of the most fundamental aspects. Joy is the manifestation of hope and in a world where materialism and hedonism reign and everything seems to “wear down” on the spirit and it needs to be freed. And the manner of freeing it is
believing in the Gospel, believing in Jesus Christ, our only Savior and
adoring Him, loving Him, and serving Him in the poorest of the poor. These
are my main challenges.
I have just recently opened a perpetual adoration chapel and the initiative
has been very well received by everyone. About 1,500 people have already
signed up for turns during the week, with fixed hours when they come to
adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament day and night. There is a quite a
large group of adorers that have understood that the most important thing in
life is to adore God. Thus, loving God, serving God in others, and building
a world of peace, justice, and love...I think these are the main tasks in my
pastoral ministry.

The Holy Father just recently inaugurated the Year of St. Paul, and as Saint
Paul is the greatest among missionaries as the Pope himself said, how will
the PMS in Spain be promoting this?

At the PMS, we are certainly trying to live this Year of St. Paul from this
perspective. In fact, the next Missionary Day in October will be entirely
focused on Saint Paul and the theme is “Being a missionary like St. Paul.”
We have also prepared an entire catechetical program that has Paul as one of
the great leaders of the missions and we hope that it will be a motivation
for us, a support and an illumination on our missionary journey. (RG)
(Agenzia Fides 1/7/2008)