VATICAN - The Pope addresses Bishops from Angola, São Tome e Principe: "Today more than ever Angola needs peace in justice... it is time for profound national reconciliation”

Tuesday, 26 October 2004

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Today more than ever Angola needs peace in justice, rejecting any temptation to violence. I would remind everyone that violence never solves the problems of humanity or settle disputes. It is necessary to have the courage of dialogue. I am convinced that the efforts and good will of the parties involved in unsolved questions will help build a culture of respect and dignity. This is the time for profound national reconciliation; it is necessary to work tirelessly to offer future generations a country where all the components of society live and work together in harmony.” This was part of an address which Pope John Paul II delivered to the Bishops of Angola, São Tome and Principe, whom he received in audience for their ad limina visit on 22 October in the Vatican.
“Never lose sight of the long path to walk so that the Gospel may transform from within the minds and hearts of Christians and help them realise that they are brothers and sisters in Christ” the Pope told the Bishops stressing the necessity of “adequate Christian initiation which leads the baptised one the one hand to put aside ancestral concepts such as witchcraft and irregular unions and on the other to reject the dominant secular and even agnostic mentality”.
The Pope mentioned the many baptised Christians “whose irregular marriage situations prevent them from approaching the Eucharist in a fruitful manner” while not forgetting “testimony offered by countless families who live the sacrament of Christian matrimony with heroic fidelity, in the framework of civil legislation or traditional customs little favourable to monogamy in marriage”. It is therefore necessary to protect the family, proclaiming "the liberating message of authentic Christian love ".
The entire ecclesial community is called to ensure that the “young generations are opportunely formed and prepared for the responsibilities which await them and which, in a way, are already theirs”. Catholic schools are one particularly effective means for reaching this goal while not neglecting moral and religious education in state schools, “striving to build in public opinion a consensus with regard to the importance of this type of education; this service, which can derive from closer collaboration with the government, is an important form of active Catholic participation in the social life of your countries”.
The Holy Father also underlined the importance of formation for those all involved in evangelisation: catechists must have sound initial and on-going doctrinal formation; candidates to the priesthood, carefully selected and formed must be totally dedicated to their mission; priests called to be detached from material goods to be dedicated to serving their brothers and sisters in the total gift of self in the celibate life.
“Flourishing vocations to the consecrated life, woman religious especially - the Pope said - are a magnificent gift from Heaven to the Church in São Tome and Principe and Angola, a gift for which it is necessary to give thanks and which you cannot renounce since consecrated persons enrich your particular Churches not only with their efficient service but also and above all with their personal and community witness to the Gospel ”.
At the end of his address the Pope stressed the need for all the members of the People of God to work to respond to the new urgencies of the present day “on earth there is nothing more effective than the Eucharist to lead Christians to be and to feel one in heart and mind”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/10/2004 - Righe 42; Parole 580)


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