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| VISITA "AD
LIMINA APOSTOLORUM" DEI PRESULI DELLA CONFERENZA EPISCOPALE
DELL’INDIA, 03.07.2003 |
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Pubblichiamo di seguito il discorso
che il Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II ha rivolto al gruppo degli
Ecc.mi Presuli della Conferenza Episcopale dell’India delle
Province Ecclesiastiche di Bangalore, Hyderabad e Visakhapatnam,
incontrati questa mattina e ricevuti, nei giorni scorsi, in separate
udienze, in occasione della Visita "ad Limina Apostolorum":
• DISCORSO DEL SANTO PADRE
Dear Brother Bishops,
1. In the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ I cordially welcome
you, the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Bangalore, Hyderabad
and Visakhapatnam, and make my own the greeting of Saint Paul: "I
thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith
is proclaimed in all the world" (Rom 1:8). In particular I
thank Archbishop Pinto for his good wishes and kind sentiments offered
on your behalf, which I warmly reciprocate, and I assure you and
those entrusted to your care of my prayers. Your visit ad Limina
Apostolorum expresses the profound communion of love and truth which
unites the particular Churches in India with the Successor of Peter
and his collaborators in the service of the universal Church. In
"coming to see Peter" (Gal 1:18) you thus confirm your
"unity in the same faith, hope and charity, and more and more
recognize and treasure that immense heritage of spiritual and moral
wealth that the whole Church, joined with the Bishop of Rome …
has spread throughout the world" (Pastor Bonus, Appendix I,
3).
2. To bear witness to Jesus Christ is "the supreme service
which the Church offers to the peoples of Asia" (Ecclesia in
Asia, 20). Living with many people who do not know Christ convinces
us ever more of the need for the missionary apostolate. The radical
newness of life brought by Christ and lived by his followers awakens
in us the urgency of missionary activity (cf. Redemptoris Missio,
7). This demands an explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord: a bold
testimony founded on his command - "go and make disciples of
all nations" (Mt 28:19) and sustained by his promise - "I
am with you always" (Mt 28:20). Indeed it is in fidelity to
the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King that
all Christians, in keeping with their baptismal dignity, have a
right and duty to participate actively in the missionary endeavours
of the Church (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 71).
The call for a new evangelization and renewed missionary commitment
which I have addressed to the whole Church resounds just as clearly
for your ancient Christian communities as it does for your newest.
While the initial evangelization of non-Christians and the continuing
proclamation of Jesus to the baptized will highlight differing aspects
of the same Good News, both stem from a firm commitment to make
Christ ever more known and loved. Such an obligation has its sublime
origin in the "fountain-like love" of the Father made
present in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit (cf. Ad Gentes,
2). All Christians are thus drawn up into Christ’s impelling
love, of which "we cannot but speak" (Acts 4:20), as the
source of the hope and joy that marks us.
3. A correct understanding of the relationship between culture and
Christian faith is vital for effective evangelization. On your own
Indian subcontinent you are faced with cultures rich in religious
and philosophical traditions. Within this context, we see how absolutely
essential is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Son
of God. It is in this understanding of Christ’s uniqueness
as the second person of the Blessed Trinity, fully God and fully
man, that our faith must be preached and embraced. Any theology
of mission that omits the call to a radical conversion to Christ
and denies the cultural transformation which such conversion will
entail necessarily misrepresents the reality of our faith, which
is always a new beginning in the life of him who alone is "the
way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).
In this regard, we reaffirm that interreligious dialogue does not
replace the missio ad gentes but rather forms a part of it (cf.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Dominus
Iesus, 2). Similarly, it must be noted that relativist explanations
of religious pluralism, which state that the Christian faith is
of no different value than any other belief, in fact empty Christianity
of its defining Christological heart: faith alienated from our Lord
Jesus, as the only Saviour, is no longer Christian, no longer theological
faith. An even greater misrepresentation of our faith occurs when
relativism leads to syncretism: an artificial "spiritual construct",
that manipulates and consequently distorts the essential, objective,
revelatory nature of Christianity. That which renders the Church
missionary by her very nature is precisely the definitive and complete
character of the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God (cf.
Dei Verbum, 2). This is the foundation of our faith. It is this
which makes Christian witness credible. With joy and humility we
must welcome the duty that "we, who have received the grace
of believing in Christ, the revealer of the Father and the Saviour
of the world, have to show to what depths the relationship with
Christ can lead" (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 33).
4. Dear Brothers, your quinquennial reports give ample evidence
of the presence of the Holy Spirit vivifying the missionary dimension
of the Church’s life in your Dioceses. Notwithstanding the
obstacles encountered by people - especially the poor – who
wish to embrace the Christian faith, adult baptisms are numerous
in much of your region. Equally encouraging is the high percentage
of Catholics who attend Sunday Mass, and the increasing numbers
of laity properly participating in the liturgy. Such examples of
the ready acceptance of God’s gift of faith also indicate
the need for the diligent pastoral care of our people. Responding
to the aspiration for a new impetus in Christian living, I have
stated that we must remain firmly focused on the plan already found
in the Gospel and in the living Tradition which has its centre in
Christ himself (cf. ibid., 29).
The reason to develop pastoral initiatives adapted to the social
and cultural circumstances of your communities, yet firmly rooted
in the uniqueness of Christ, is clear: "What we preach is not
ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord with ourselves as servants"
(2 Cor 4:5). Far from being a matter of power or control, the Church’s
programmes of evangelization and formation are conducted in the
belief that "every person has a right to hear the Good News
of God who reveals and gives himself in Christ" (Ecclesia in
Asia, 20). While there are many signs of dynamic ecclesial life
in your provinces it is also the case that challenges remain. A
deeper appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will help
to ready your people spiritually for the task of "doing everything
possible to witness to reconciliation and to bring it about in the
world" (Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 8). Similarly, our teaching
of marriage as a sacred sign of the unfailing fidelity and selfless
love of Christ for his Church points to the invaluable worth of
a comprehensive marriage preparation programme for those readying
themselves for the sacrament and, through them, for society as a
whole. Further, the festivities and devotions associated with the
many shrines dedicated to Our Lady in your areas, while attracting
thousands of followers from other religions, must be soundly incorporated
within the liturgical life of the Church if they are to become a
gateway to authentic Christian experience.
5. In a world disfigured by fragmentation the Church - as the sign
and instrument of the communion of God with humanity (cf. Lumen
Gentium, 1) - is a powerful bearer of unity and the reconciliation
which it entails. As Bishops called to manifest and preserve the
apostolic tradition you are joined in a communion of truth and love.
Individually you are the visible source and foundation of unity
in your own particular Churches which are constituted after the
model of the universal Church. So, while it is true to say that
a Bishop represents his own Church it is also necessary to recall
that together with the Pope all Bishops represent the whole Church
in the bond of peace, love and unity (cf. ibid., 23).
In this regard, a Bishop must never be considered a mere delegate
of a particular social or language grouping but must always be recognized
as a successor of the Apostles, whose mission comes from the Lord.
The repudiation of a Bishop, whether by an individual or a group,
is always a transgression of ecclesial communion and thus a scandal
for the faithful and a counter-witness to the followers of other
religions. Any spirit of antagonism or conflict – always wounding
the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 1:12-13) - must be put aside and replaced
with that practical and concrete love for every person which arises
from the contemplation of Christ.
6. I give thanks to God for the many indications of growth and maturity
in your Dioceses. In addition to the often selfless dedication of
your priests, Religious and catechists, and the generosity of your
own people, this development has also depended upon the ministry
of missionaries and the financial generosity of overseas donors.
The "pooling of resources and aspirations in order to promote
both the common good and the good of individual churches" (Christus
Dominus 36), which has been practised from Apostolic times, is an
eloquent manifestation of the Church’s nature as communion.
Yet it is also true to say that particular Churches, including those
in countries of the developing world, should seek to build up their
own resources to promote local evangelization, and build pastoral
centres and institutions of educational and charitable works. To
this end, I encourage you to further the considerable advances which
you have already achieved with the laity and in collaboration with
Religious Institutes (cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 222). For your
own part I urge you to set an unquestionable example by your impartiality
in the stewardship of the communal resources of the Church (cf.
ibid., can. 1276; 1284). You must ensure that the administration
of "goods... meant for all" (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis,
42) is never sullied by temptations to materialism or favouritism
but is wisely undertaken in response to the needs of the spiritually
or materially poor.
7. Dear Brothers, it is a particular joy for me to share these reflections
with you on this feast of the glorious Apostle Saint Thomas, so
venerated by your people. I again assure you of my prayers and support
as you continue to shepherd in love the flocks entrusted to your
care. United in our proclamation of the saving Good News of Jesus
Christ, renewed in the zeal of the first Christians, and inspired
by the steadfast example of the Saints, let us go forward in hope!
In this Year of the Rosary, may Mary, model of all disciples and
bright Star of Evangelization, be your sure guide as you "seek
to do what Jesus tells you" (cf. Jn 2:5). Commending you to
her maternal protection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing
to you and to the priests, Religious, and lay faithful of your Dioceses. |
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