Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "I am aware of the difficult challenges you face while you carry on dialogue with members of other faiths, encouraging a more tolerant climate of interaction. Your dialogue should be characterized by a constant view of what is true, in order to promote mutual respect, avoiding appearances of syncretism. " This is what the Holy Father Benedict XVI recommended to two groups of Indian Bishops of the Latin rite, received at the hearing on May 16 in visit Ad Limina Apostolorum. "Moreover, as Indian Christians strive to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours of other beliefs-, continues the Holy Father -,your prudent leadership will be crucial in the civil and moral task of working to safeguard the fundamental human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of worship. As you know, these rights are based upon the common dignity of all human beings and are recognized throughout the concert of nations. The Catholic Church strives to promote these rights for all religions throughout the world. Even if he encounters opposition, the Christian’s own charity and forbearance should serve to convince others of the rightness of religious tolerance, from which the followers of all religions stand to gain. "
In his speech, Benedict XVI reminded the Bishops that the missionary mandate entrusted by the risen Christ to his disciples at the moment of Ascension into heaven (cf. Mt 28, 19-20) “impelled your own great patron Saint Thomas, the other Apostles and those who followed them, to preach the Gospel among the nations and “today, as in every age, the apostolic mandate finds its source and its central focus in the proclamation of the Incarnate Son of God”. For this reason the Holy Father recommended to assure a “sound catechesis” to those who move their first steps as believers along the way of Christ, and “this is especially true of the preparation of the faithful to meet our Lord in the sacraments.” In India “home to various ancient religions, including Christianity”, the presentation of the Gospel “involves the delicate process of inculturation” which, Benedict XVI highlighted, “requires that priests, religious and lay catechists carefully employ the languages and appropriate customs of the people they serve in presenting the Good News... you, my dear brother Bishops, are called to oversee this process with a fidelity to the deposit of faith which has been handed down to us to maintain and transmit.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/05/2011)
