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Abuja, 7th February 2007 (CNA) - In the
Vatican Basilica this morning, the Pope met with prelates from the Italian
region of Lombardy, who are currently in the course of their "ad limina"
visit. Pope Benedict told the bishops along with several groups of Catholics
from their various dioceses that it is an ever more important task of all
the faithful to announce the Gospel in areas where secularism,
individualism, and hedonistic consumerism have taken hold.
The Church, the Pope told them, "has an
important role she must continue to play in Lombard society: announcing and
bearing witness to the Gospel in all areas, especially where there exist the
negative traits of hedonistic consumer culture, of secularism and
individualism, where old and new forms of poverty appear with worrying signs
of youth alienation and phenomena of violence and criminality.”
Lombardi currently one of the wealthiest
regions of Italy, yet it is also the one with the lowest birthrate in all of
Italy.
“Although public institutions and various
educational organizations at times seem to suffer moments of difficulty
there is, however, no lack of ... moral resources in your people, so rich in
noble family and religious traditions.”
"Your field of activity is thus truly
immense," the Holy Father added. "On the one hand you must defend and
promote the culture of human life and legality, on the other, an ever more
coherent conversion to Christ is needed, at both an individual and community
level.”
“Indeed,” the Pontiff continued, “in order for
our faith in man, made in God's image, to increase, we must penetrate more
deeply and coherently into the mystery of Christ and proclaim His message of
salvation.”
“We must do everything possible to gain an
ever better understanding of the figure of Jesus, so that our knowledge of
him is not just 'second hand,' but cones through prayer, liturgy and love
for others. This is clearly a difficult commitment, but there is comfort in
the words of the Lord: 'Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the
age'."
The Holy Father called for "an intensification
of your evangelical witness so that Christians in all fields, guided by the
Holy Spirit that dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as
in a temple, may become living signs of supernatural hope. I encourage you,
dear bishops," he concluded, "to guide the dynamic people of Lombardy along
this path, relying in all situations on never-failing divine assistance."
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