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Rome, Nov. 15, 2005 (CNA)
- Pope Benedict said he shared the Italian
Bishops concern over the current shortage of
priests in a message he sent as they gathered
these days in Assisi for their
General Assembly.
Among the other challenges the Church is
facing today he outlined the formation of priests
and the presence of the Church in the field of
health. Pope Benedict reminded the bishops that
"the Church needs priests today that are fully
conscious of the gift of grace that is given
through ordination and of the mission that is
entrusted to them. It is vital that priests work
in the name of Christ and live in intimate
communion with Him."
The Holy Father shared in his message the
concern that Italian Bishops have regarding
the diminishing number of priests and
the progressive rising of the average age of
priests. It is urgent and necessary to increase
pastoral vocations and to define the formation
proposal that guarantees a human, intellectual and
spiritual
preparation."
Regarding the theme of health, Benedict XVI
said that illness represents an essential
dimension of the human experience that questions
the mission of the Church and the consciences of
the believers. Our Lord Jesus Christ wished to
accompany the proclamation of salvation with many
healings of people that have
suffered."
"The
way in which we confront illness and suffering
manifests the dignity and the sense of human
existence as well," the Pope said, recalling the
exemplary testimony of Pope John Paul II. The
Church is called to be united with the sick,
primarily helping to see sickness and death not as
a negation of humanity but as pathway that leads
us through the death and resurrection of Jesus, to
true and eternal life.
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