VATICAN - Benedict XVI tells Bishops of Argentina: “The episcopal ministry is at the service of the unity and communion of the entire Mystical Body of Christ. The Bishop is called to promote and defend the integrity of the faith and the common discipline of the entire Church.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The episcopal ministry is at the service of the unity and communion of the entire Mystical Body of Christ. The Bishop is called to promote and defend the integrity of the faith and the common discipline of the entire Church, as well as teaching the faithful to love all their brothers and sisters.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI in addressing the Argentinean Bishops' Conference, whom he received in an audience on March 14, on the occasion of their “ad Limina Apostolorum” Visit. The Pope acknowledged the Bishops' “decided effort in maintaining and strengthening unity within the Episcopal Conference and among the diocesan communities,” and continued, saying: “This unity, which you should intensely promote and in a visible manner, will also be a source of consolation in the serious task entrusted to you. Thanks to this affective and effective collegiality, no Bishop is ever alone, because he is always tightly united to Christ, the Good Shepherd, and by virtue of his episcopal ordination and the hierarchical communion, to his brother bishops and to him whom the Lord has chosen as Successor of Peter.”
The Holy Father then exhorted the Bishops to live “this spirit of communion” in particular in relationship with the priests, encouraging them and showing “loving concern as fathers and brothers” for their spiritual, intellectual, and material condition, as well as “showing charity and prudence” in correcting the teachings, events, or behaviors that do not befit the priestly condition and that “can be damaging or confusing to the Christian faith and life of the faithful.”
The Pope then called the Argentinean Bishops “to make a great effort to promote priestly vocations,” through “a more intense marital and familial pastoral care” and “a more audacious youth ministry that helps young people to respond with generosity to the call that God makes to them.” It is also necessary to “intensify the formation of seminarians in all their dimensions, human, spiritual, intellectual, affective, and pastoral, carrying out an efficient and demanding work in the discernment of candidates for Holy Orders.”
Among the other priorities mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI were “the great importance of recognizing, valuing and encouraging the participating of religious in evangelization activity in the diocese, who offer an enrichment in the contributions through their various charisms.” Likewise, “the faithful also, by virtue of their baptism, are called to cooperate in the edification of the Body of Christ. To achieve this end, they need to be offered the chance to have a more palpable experience of Jesus Christ and the mystery of His Love. The constant contact with the Lord through an intense prayer life and adequate spiritual and doctrinal formation will lead all Christians to a greater appreciation in believing and celebrating their faith and the joy of belonging to the Church, encouraging them to actively participate in the mission to proclaim the Good News to all men.”
The Pope concluded his address by assuring the Argentinean Bishops of his closeness and daily prayers: “May the Lord grant you the joy of serving Him, guiding in His Name the flock entrusted to you! May the Virgin Mary, under the advocation of “Nuestra Señora de Luján,” accompany you and always protect you and the faithful of your dioceses!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2009)