Rome, Italy, Feb 16, 2009 / 17:44 pm
Receiving prelates from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, the Holy Father praised the growth of Christianity in their country and noted that the expansion of the Church calls for extra attention to the training of diocesan personnel, in order to deepen the faith of people in the region.
The Pontiff explained to the bishops, who were meeting with him after completing their “ad limina” visit last Saturday, that this formation and training could be achieved by: "teaching the art of prayer, encouraging participation in the liturgy and the Sacraments, wise and relevant preaching, catechetical instruction, and spiritual and moral guidance.”
It is from this basic foundation, he continued, that “faith flourishes in Christian virtue, and gives rise to vibrant parishes and generous service to the wider community."
“You yourselves,” Benedict said to the bishops, “together with your priests must lead by humility, detachment from worldly ambitions, prayer, obedience to the will of God and transparency in governance. In this way you become a sign of Christ the Good Shepherd.”