VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI receives Bishops at the end of Seminar organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples: “In your ministry it is your duty to give primary importance to prayer and unceasing striving for holiness”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Saturday 23 September Pope Benedict XVI received in a special audience recently appointed Bishops from mission territories in Rome to take part in a three week Seminar organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. In his address the Pope said “You are called to be Bishops among people who for the great majority have yet to encounter Jesus Christ. As those primarily responsible for the proclamation of the Gospel you must make considerable effort to see that everyone has the opportunity to hear it. You are ever more keenly aware of the necessity to inculturate the Gospel, to evangelise cultures and encourage sincere and frank dialogue among all so that together they may build a society of more brotherhood and solidarity. Only those who are moved by love for Christ can achieve this apostolic task, which demands intrepid ardour of those who for the Lord fear not even persecution and death .”.
The Pope mentioned the many priests, men and women religious and lay people who, in the past and in our day, “in mission territories sealed their fidelity to Christ and the Church with their blood”, including Sr Leonella Sgorbati, the Italian Consolata missionary Sister, murdered recently in Mogadishu, in Somalia. “This martyrology adorns, the history of the Church, past and present, and despite suffering and apprehension keeps alive in our soul hope for a glorious flourishing of Christian faith” the Pope said.
Addressing the Bishops who were accompanied by Cardinal Ivan Dias Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, the Pope said: “You, as shepherds of God’s flock, are entrusted with the mandate to safeguard and hand on faith in Christ, transmitted to us in the living tradition of the Church and for which so many have given their lives … in your ministry it is your duty to give primary importance to prayer and unceasing striving for holiness”. It is important that you assure serious formation for seminarians and ongoing formation for priests and catechists. Maintaining unity in the faith in the diversity of its cultural expressions is another valuable service demanded of you, my dear Brother Bishops. For this you must be united with the flock following the example of Christ the Good Shepherd and the flock must be always be united with you. As sentinels of the People of God, be firm and courageous to avoid divisions particularly when they are due to ethnic and socio-cultural motives”.
Voicing satisfaction for flourishing vocations to the priesthood and the religious life in many Churches in mission territories, the Pope encouraged the bishops to “make sure seminaries have sufficient, carefully selected and well prepared formation staff who are, first of all, examples and models for the seminarians… the future of your Communities and that of the universal Church depends on the preparation of future priests and all other pastoral workers, catechists especially.”
Lastly the Pope asked the bishops to assure their respective communities of his affection, closeness in prayer, invoking upon them all the maternal protection of Most Holy Mary, Star of Evangelisation. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2006; Righe 37 - Parole 514)