The Pope called on the pastors to protect “integral formation of young people, notably those who will be the nation’s leaders tomorrow. The Church hopes to enlighten them with the Gospel and the Magisterium. Here Catholic universities have a specific mission, to help youth to analyze particular situations and to envisage how to always place man at the center of their decisions.”
Pointing to the role of Christians in social life in all its forms, John Paul II said: “In political life, in the economy, in the workplace and in the family, it is up to the faithful to make Christ ever present and to make the Gospel values shine forth,” and to highlight man’s dignity, central place in the universe and primacy over individual interests.
“The participation of Christians in public life, the visible presence of the Catholic Church and other religious denominations takes nothing away from the principle of secularity nor from the State’s prerogatives. A well understood secularity must not be confused with secularism; it cannot erase personal and community beliefs. Religion cannot merely be placed to one side in the private sphere.”
The Holy Father stressed the importance of knowing one’s own religion and being aware of the traditions of other religions, pointing out the strong Muslim presence in France “with whom you try to maintain good relations and to promote inter-religious dialogue which is, as I’ve said before, a dialogue of life. Such a dialogue should also revive in Christians an awareness of their faith and their attachment to the Church.”
In concluding, the Pope told the prelates it was up to them “to intensify…relations with civil authorities and other categories of elected people in your country, in national and European parliaments, especially Catholic parliamentarians, and with international institutions.”
