Vatican City, Jun 12, 2008 / 08:22 am
This morning at the Vatican, Pope Benedict welcomed bishops from Bangladesh and spoke to them about the need to continue forming the faithful in their care as well as the need to be witnesses of the faith to non-Christians.
"Personal integrity and holiness of life are essential components of a bishop's witness… Bishops are called to be patient, mild and gentle in the spirit of the beatitudes,” the Holy Father reminded the visiting prelates. "In this way they lead others to see all human realities in the light of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Pope explained that this vision is important for Bangladeshi Catholics to see because, “Many of your people suffer from poverty, isolation or discrimination, and they look to you for spiritual guidance that will lead them to recognize in faith, and to experience in anticipation, that they are truly blessed by God."
Thorough training in how to effectively transmit the faith was also a concern of Pope Benedict since well trained catechists are essential for preparing lay people to receive the Sacraments. “This is especially true in the increasingly important work of preparing young men and women to recognize the Sacrament of Matrimony as a life-long covenant of faithful love and as a path to holiness,” he said.