Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope to Mexican bishops: promote ‘spirit of harmony’

Pope to Mexican bishops: promote ‘spirit of harmony’

Last updated on: May 19, 2014 at 6:23 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope to Mexican bishops: promote ‘spirit of harmony’ 2014-05-19T18:23:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, May 19, 2014 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis received the bishops of Mexico on Monday, encouraging them to promote harmony and to proclaim God’s mercy.

“At the present moment, the many forms of violence that afflict Mexican society, especially the young, call for a renewed appeal to promote this spirit of harmony through the culture of encounter, dialogue and peace,” the Pope said to the Mexican bishops at the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

While pastors should not offer mere “technical solutions” or adopt “policy measures” outside the scope of their ministry, they must be “tireless” in proclaiming “that God, in his mercy, made Himself a man and made Himself poor, that he wanted to suffer with those who suffer in order to save them,” the Pope said.

“Fidelity to Jesus Christ must be lived as committed solidarity and closeness to the people and their needs, offering Gospel values from within,” he affirmed.

His remarks came during the Mexican bishops’ ad limina visit, which takes place routinely every five years. During the visits, bishops from different regions meet with the Pope and other Vatican officials to discuss issues in their country.

Pope Francis said that despite being faced with problems, the Church in Mexico is “consolidated on strong pillars.” He encouraged the bishops to be faithful always to prayer with God and to be close to the people.

The Pope noted the Mexican bishops’ efforts on behalf of those who work in “subhuman conditions,” for migrants seeking a better life, and for farmers.

“I know of your concern for the victims of drug trafficking and for the most vulnerable social groups, and your commitment to the defense of human rights and the full development of the individual,” he added.

These efforts express the “intimate connection” between the Gospel and seeking the good of others, the Pope said. These actions also contribute to the credibility of the Church.

He cited Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation that the bishops not let themselves “be intimidated by the powers of evil” but “be valiant” and “work to ensure that the sap of your Christian roots may nourish your present and your future.”

He also pointed to Catholic social teaching as “a valuable tool that can help Christians in their daily struggle to build a more just and united world.”

Lay involvement is essential, Pope Francis said, encouraging the bishops to promote the laity’s secular responsibility and give them adequate training “to make visible the public dimension of the faith.”

The power of popular piety is an “indispensable starting point” in deepening and maturing the people’s faith, the Pope continued.

He encouraged the bishops to strengthen their pastoral care for the family, which he called “the basic cell of society and the first center for evangelization.”

Though the family is faced with “the dehumanizing culture of death,” he said, it “may become a promoter of the culture of respect for life in all its phases, from conception to natural death.”

Pope Francis reminded the bishops of the importance of being close to their priests and to consecrated religious. He also noted the importance of priestly and religious formation.

He praised the bishops’ adoption of the Aparecida guidelines, which were produced during the 2007 meeting of the general conference of the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean.

These guidelines placed the pastoral mission of the Church in a “missionary mode.”

“We can bear witness to Christ in life even among the most distant, and reach out of ourselves to work with enthusiasm in the task that has been entrusted to us, keeping our arms lifted in prayer,” the Pope said.

He concluded by invoking Our Lady of Guadalupe, the “Star of the New Evangelization.”

Vatican

Previous Post

May 19, 2014

Vatican official sees 'warming-up' of Catholic-Orthodox relations

Next Post

May 19, 2014 Vatican has strengthened its financial oversight, report shows

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jonah Ezekiel Daniel Micah