Vatican City, Sep 11, 2008 / 07:28 am
Today at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI received bishops from the South American country of Paraguay, and called on them to make a “vast missionary effort” with a focus on enlisting the help of the laity, especially in the realm of politics.
The bishops completed their “ad limina” visit by meeting with Pope Benedict, who offered them an assessment of the challenges facing their local church.
"The pastoral challenges you are facing are truly large and complex," he said. "Faced with a cultural environment that seeks to marginalize God from people and from society, or that considers Him as an obstacle to the pursuit of its own happiness, it is vital to make a vast missionary effort which, placing Jesus Christ at the centre of all pastoral activity, reveals to everyone the beauty and truth of His life and His message of salvation."
After encouraging the prelates to continue to make every possible effort "to increase unity within diocesan communities, and with this Apostolic See," the Pope expressed his appreciation at the Paraguayan bishops' choice of "the pastoral care of youth and vocations" as one of their priorities. He pointed out that the “conviction and faithfulness” of priests is a very effective way to encourage young people to respond to the call of the Lord.