VATICAN - The Pope invites Indian Bishops "to pay close attention to the quality of education in schools and to ensure that they are genuinely Catholic"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "In your region, a special place is held by the schools which are an outstanding witness to your commitment to the education and formation of our dear young people ... I encourage you to continue to pay close attention to the quality of education in the schools present in your Dioceses, to ensure that they are genuinely Catholic and therefore capable of passing on those truths and values necessary for the salvation of souls and the up-building of society." This exhortation of the Holy Father Benedict XVI was addressed to a group of Indian Bishops of the Latin rite of the provinces of Bombay, Nagpur, Goa and Damão, Gandhinagar and Bangalore, who were welcomed at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo on September 8, on the occasion of the five-yearly Ad Limina Apostolorum visit.
To the Bishops, who were accompanied by the President of the Indian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, the Holy Father recalled that "the Church in India is blessed with a multitude of institutions which are intended to be expressions of the love of God for humanity through the charity and example of the clergy, religious and lay faithful who staff them. By means of her parishes, schools and orphanages, as well as her hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, the Church makes an invaluable contribution to the well-being not only of Catholics, but of society at large".
All the activities of the Church have one goal, the Pope recalled, "to glorify God and fill his people with the truth that sets us free", and this saving truth, "must remain the foundation of all the Church’s endeavours, proposed to others always with respect, but also without compromise". All those who teach in the name of the Church, both in schools and seminaries and other educational places, must have "the capacity to present the truth gently, but firmly," also "have a particular obligation faithfully to hand on the riches of the tradition, in accordance with the Magisterium and in a way that responds to the needs of today, while students have the right to receive the fullness of the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Church". Benedict XVI then urged the Bishops to encourage all the clergy, religious and lay leaders - "to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead": "Enable them to reach out to their neighbors, by their word and example, they may more effectively proclaim Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life".
In the concluding part of his speech, the Holy Father highlighted "the significant role of witness to Jesus Christ" carried out by the men and women religious, who are often "unsung heroes of the Church’s vitality locally" and "source of spiritual fruitfulness for the entire Christian community". Then, referring to the spiritual and vocational growth, he urged the Bishops to continue to "speak to young people and encourage them to consider seriously the consecrated life or priestly life; speak with parents about their indispensable role in encouraging and supporting such vocations; and lead your people in prayer to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send many more labourers into his harvest". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 09/09/2011)