.- Today, the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI's prayer and mission intentions for the month, which stress the importance of religious freedom and of the continuity of the Gospel message within new and growing churches worldwide.
The Holy Father's general prayer intention is "That the right to religious freedom may be respected by the governments of all peoples." This comes amid tensions in many countries over totalitarian governments restricting religious practices. Some think that China has particularly been on the pope's mind as underground churches faithful to the Magesterium continue to be harassed, and in some cases, tortured by the government.
The Vatican added that Pope Benedict's mission intention is: "That the proclamation of the Christian message in the new Churches may ensure its thorough insertion into the existing cultures."
