Vatican City, Oct 20, 2011 / 11:12 am
Pope Benedict XVI is urging the Church in Australia to evangelize all Australians, not simply those who are Catholic.
“It is urgent to ensure that all those entrusted to your care understand, embrace and propose their Catholic faith intelligently and willingly to others,” the Pope told the Australian bishops in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, Oct. 20.
In this way, said the Pope, Australian Catholics will “give such an account of your faith by word and example that it will be convincing and attractive,” particularly to people of good will who, “seeing your witness, will respond naturally to the truth, the goodness and the hope that you embody.”
The bishops of Australia are currently in Rome for their “ad limina” meeting with the Pope, which is taking place Oct. 10-22. During those days the issue of “new evangelization” has figured in several discussions with curial officials and Pope Benedict himself.