VATICAN - “The Church is by nature missionary and since the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit never ceases to guide her along the roads of the world, to the ends of the earth, until the end of time” Pope Benedict XVI says at the midday Regina Cæli prayer on Pentecost Sunday

Monday, 28 May 2007

AFGHANISTAN

2024-04-22
Commemoration of the victims of the Easter attacks: Catholic Church wants to initiate the beatification process of their martyrdom

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The essential and qualifying traits of the Church" was the subject of Pope Benedict XVI's reflection at midday on Sunday 27 May the “great feast of Pentecost”, fifty days after Easter the Holy Spirit descended on the community of the disciples gathered with Mary the mother of Jesus and the twelve Apostles. “The Church is one like the community of Pentecost, united in prayer and 'in harmony': 'one in heart and mind' (Acts 4,32). The Church is holy, not because of her merits, but because she is animated by the Holy Spirit, and she keeps her eyes on Christ to become similar to Him and to his love. The Church is Catholic, because the Gospel is for all peoples and this is why from the beginning the Holy Spirit makes her speak all tongues. The Church is apostolic, because, built on the foundation of the Apostles, she faithfully preserves their teaching through the uninterrupted chain of apostolic succession”.
The Pope then underlined the Church's missionary nature: “The Church is by nature missionary and since the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit never ceases to guide her along the roads of the world, to the ends of the earth, until the end of time”. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes how the Gospel passed from the Jews to the pagans, from Jerusalem to Rome, the Pope recalled. “Rome stands for the world of the pagans, and all the peoples not included in the ancient people of God. In fact, the Acts of the Apostles end with the arrival of the Gospel in Rome. We can say therefore that Rome is the concrete name of catholicity and missionary endeavour, it expresses fidelity to the origins, to the Church of all times, to a Church which speaks all languages and reaches out to all cultures.” Pope Benedict XVI concluded asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede “that the Holy Spirit may descend abundantly on the Church in our day, fill the hearts of all the faithful and kindle in them - in us - the fire of his love”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2007; righe 23, parole 373)