VATICAN - Pope addresses Bishops of Brazil's Northeast Region 3 on “the clear necessity that the Catholic Church in Brazil commit herself to a new evangelization that spares no efforts in the search for lapsed Catholics, as well as for persons who know little or nothing of the evangelical message”

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) – The first Mass was celebrated in Brazil over 5 centuries ago. “It was the first time that the Gospel of Christ was being proclaimed to this people, illumining their daily life. This evangelizing action of the Catholic Church was and continues to be fundamental in the constitution of the identity of the Brazilian people, characterized by harmonious coexistence between persons coming from different regions and cultures.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI in addressing the Bishops of Northeast Region 3 of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference, on their Ad limina visit, in an audience on September 10 at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.
The Pope spoke of how “observed today is a growing influence of new elements of society” which are causing “a consistent abandonment by many Catholics of the ecclesial life and even of the Church, while witnessed in the religious picture of Brazil is the rapid expansion of Evangelical and neo-Pentecostal communities.” This fact shows the “widespread thirst for God,” but it also shows “an evangelization, at the personal level, which at times is superficial,” as “ those who are baptized and who are not sufficiently evangelized are easily influenced.” They have a fragile faith, and many times it is based on simple devotion, although they preserve an innate religiosity. “Emerging in this context, on one hand, is the clear necessity that the Catholic Church in Brazil commit herself to a new evangelization that spares no efforts in the search for lapsed Catholics, as well as for persons who know little or nothing of the evangelical message, leading them to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, living and active in his Church. Moreover, with the growth of new groups that call themselves followers of Christ, though divided in different communities and confessions, all the more necessary, on the part of Catholic pastors, is the commitment to establish bridges of contact through a healthy ecumenical dialogue in truth.”
Benedicto XVI also mentioned the urgent need for ecumenical commitment, “because division between Christians is in opposition to the will of the Lord,” and also, “the lack of unity is cause of scandal that ends by undermining the credibility of the Christian message proclaimed in society.” Among the obstcles placed along the path in search of Christian unity, the Pope mentioned “an erroneous view of ecumenism, which induces to a certain doctrinal indifference that attempts to level, in an a-critical Ireneism, all 'opinions' in a sort of ecclesiological relativism,” along with the challenge of the incessant multiplication of new Christian groups, some of them using an aggressive proselytism. In this situation, “a good historical and doctrinal formation” is needed, the Pope said, quoting his speech given to the Brazilian Bishops in 2007. “The great common realm of collaboration should be the defense of the fundamental moral values, transmitted by biblical tradition, against their destruction in a relativist and consumerist culture; more than that, faith in God the Creator and in Jesus Christ, his incarnate Son.”
Lastly, the Pontiff exhorted the Brazilian Bishops “to continue taking positive steps in this direction,” recalling once again “the dialogue between Christians is an imperative of the present time and an irreversible option of the Church” and that “at the heart of all efforts for unity must be prayer, conversion and sanctification of life.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/09/2010)