VATICAN - Pope to Bishops from the Syro-Malabar Church in India: “I encourage you to do everything you can to promote communion amongst yourselves and with all Catholic Bishops around the world”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Each Bishop, for his part, is called to be a minister of unity in his particular church and within the universal Church. This responsibility is of special importance in a country like India where the unity of the Church is reflected in the rich diversity of her rites and traditions. I encourage you to do all you can to continue to foster the communion between yourselves and all Catholic Bishops throughout the world, and to be the living expression of that fellowship among your priests and faithful.” The Holy Father addressed these wordsto the group of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar rite, who he received on their Ad Limina visit on 7 April.
The Pope remembered Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, who died last Friday 1 April at the age of 83, and gave thanks “to God for his able and willing service over many years to the whole of the Church in India.” Then the Holy Father reflected on the importance of the Bishops' pastoral care, on sacramental marriage and on family life. “The rapid and dramatic changes which are a part of contemporary society throughout the world bring with them not only serious challenges, but new possibilities to proclaim the liberating truth of the Gospel message to transform and elevate all human relationships,” affirmed the Pontiff. He went on to appeal for their support and that by their “priests and communities for the sound and integral education of young people in the ways of chastity and responsibility will not only enable them to embrace the true nature of marriage, but will also benefit Indian culture as a whole. Unfortunately, the Church can no longer count on the support of society at large to promote the Christian understanding of marriage as a permanent and indissoluble union ordered to procreation and the sanctification of the spouses.” The Holy Father urged the Bishops to ask their families to “look to the Lord and his saving word for a complete and truly positive vision of life and marital relations, so necessary for the good of the whole human family.” In conclusion, he referred to the diverse religious communities of men and women who dedicate themselves to God and their neighbour, expressing “the Church’s appreciation for the charity, faith and hard work of these religious,” calling for it to “be nourished by a constant spiritual renewal which is to be fostered by superiors who devote great care to the human, intellectual and spiritual formation of their fellow religious (cf. Perfectae Caritatis, 11). The Church insists that preparation for religious profession is to be marked by long and careful discernment with the goal of ensuring, before final vows are made, that each candidate is firmly rooted in Christ, solid in his or her capacity for genuine commitment and joyful in the gift of self to Jesus Christ and his Church. Furthermore, by its nature, formation is never completed, but is ongoing and must be an integral part of the daily life of each individual and community.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 8/04/2011)