Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Friday 27 January Pope Benedict XVI received a group of Catholic Bishops from Democratic Congo. In his address the Pope said “In recent years your country has experienced bloody conflicts which left profound scars on the memory of your people. During the tragedy which affected mainly the eastern part of the country, you denounced with vigorous messages the oppression committed, calling on local authorities to show responsibility and courage in order to allow the people to live in peace and security. I encourage you to work together and with audacity to keep watch and accompany the progress currently being made”. The Bishops, who came from the ecclesiastical provinces of Kinshasa, Mbandaka-Bikoro and Kananga, were in Rome for the five yearly ad limina visit which all Catholic Bishops make to pray at the tombs of St Peter and Saint Paul the apostles and report to the Holy Father on the joys and sufferings of their local Churches.
Among the important events in recent years for the Church in Congo, the Pope mentioned the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and the 10th anniversary of the publication of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Africa. “Since some dioceses are celebrating the centenary of their evangelisation- said Pope Benedict XVI -, I hope each of you will take stock of the central question of announcing the Gospel and draw pastoral consequences for the life of the local Catholic community”. And he urged them: “I encourage you through the example and probity of your life deeply united with Christ, to proclaim without a pause the Gospel of Christ and let yourselves be renewed by Him, remembering that the Church lives of the Gospel, incessantly drawing from it orientation for her journey”.
With regard to in-depth evangelisation of the faithful the Holy Father mentioned as an example the numerous “Basic (vibrant) Ecclesial Communities”, present all over the dioceses which “well reflect this in-depth evangelisation that renders the faithful more adult in their faith” and are also “a valid barrier against the offensive of sects which take advantage of the credulity of the faithful and lead them astray”. This is why the Bishops must “give special care” to the ongoing formation of BEC leaders “to ensure that these Communities are truly missionary, willing not only to welcome the Gospel of Christ but also to bear witness to it to the world”. The Pope stressed the need at this decisive time for Congo to remind lay Catholics of the “urgent duty to work for the renewal of the temporal order”.
The Holy Father made special mention of the priests of Congo, diocesan and those who belong to Institutes, thanking them for their “often heroic service”. And he urged the Bishops to be close to their priests “developing a capacity for trustful dialogue” and showing concern “for their human, intellectual and spiritual growth”, urging them to strive for perfection in the spiritual and moral life. “Be concerned also for their on-going formation that they may penetrate the mystery of Christ ever more deeply. May they illuminate the consciences of the faithful and build up Christian communities which are strong and missionary and have as their root and centre the Eucharist which they preside in the person of Christ!... I urge you to build ever deeper bonds with your diocesan priests… continuing conflict can at time have a negative effect on the unity of the clergy, fostering tribal rivalry and power struggles which are obstacles to the building up of the Body of Christ and a source of confusion for the faithful”. Bishops have the delicate task of being constantly attentive to the quality of the formation of future priests and also the responsibility to accompany and discern priestly vocations. “This is true particularly in the selection of formation staff whose demanding work I praise, around them under the authority of the rector the seminary community is built”. At the end of his address the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the Bishops of Congo with these words: “I thank God for the generous work of all the artificers of evangelisation, including many missionaries who helped your Church to take root and grow. Today I urge you to carry on the bold evangelisation started by your predecessors. Church of God in the Democratic Republic of Congo, never lose the joy of believing and sharing the Gospel of Christ our Saviour!”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/1/2006, righe 50, parole 705)
