VATICAN - The Pope receives Bishops attending Seminar organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples: “Your first duty is to be zealous promoters of the integrity of the faith and the unity of the Church”

Thursday, 16 September 2004

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Vatican City (Fides Service) - At a private audience this morning in his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope John Paul II urged a group of Bishops from mission territories to guarantee the integrity of the faith and the unity of the Church to be examples for the Christian people and to promote authentic pastoral and pedagogy of holiness. The Bishops are in Rome to attend a study Seminar for newly appointed Bishops in mission territories organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Responding to a message of greeting read by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, the Pope said he was pleased to hear about the vitality of the Churches from which the Bishops come, Churches, which are “called to reveal communion of the one Church of Christ in fidelity with the Magisterium”. “Your first duty is to be zealous promoters of the integrity of the faith and the unity of the Church” the Pope told the Bishops urging them to work to strengthen communion with the Pope and the other bishops, especially those in the same ecclesiastical province and the same Bishops’ Conference.
“Be examples for the Christian people, drawing from a spiritual journey, intense sacramental life, ongoing formation, the strength to be servants of the Gospel” the Holy Father told the Bishops quoting the post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Pastores gregis” which underlines that in his ministry the bishop “is called to tirelessly promote authentic pastoral and pedagogy of holiness” (n.41).
“Dear Brother Bishops in a few days time you will return to your people, many of them are sorely tried. Reassure them that the Pope is close to them with his affection and with his prayer for their intentions. Tell your priests that the Church relies on them to be witness with their words and with their life. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Missions, help you in the service with which you have been entrusted”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2004; Righe 22 - Parole 290)