Spanish Bishops congratulate John Paul For 25th Anniversary of Pontificate

Madrid, Spain, Oct 9, 2003 / 22:00 pm

“On The 25th Anniversary of the Election of Pope John Paul II” is the title of a new document published by the Bishops Conference of Spain (CEE) in honor of the Holy Father for his 25th year as Pope. 

“Your concern for the entire Church during the last 25 years has been without a doubt a special gift from God, for which we should be and are thankful, “ the Bishops said in their message. 

The Bishops point out that through his encyclicals, exhortations, letters, audiences, travels to all the continents, World Youth Days, and at the same time through his own personal testimony, John Paul II “has encouraged us to continue ahead and to promote the mission that the Church received from Jesus Christ.” 

In this sense, “The proclamation in every corner of the world of the dignity and the rights of the human person, of men and women, of the born and the unborn, of the family, of the bonds that should unite all the children of God; the defense of human life, of freedom, of peace and harmony; the loving care for those most in need, regardless of race or religion, for the development of all peoples, and the constant invitation to care for creation” are commitments which are rooted in the vision of God and of man that come from Divine Revelation, and is an exemplary model of what it means to evangelize.  

The Bishops state in their document, “The message of John Paul II has always been presented, not with imposition or interference, but with the prophetic and unmistakable values of the Gospels and of the moral and social teachings of the Church which flow from them, contributing in a decisive way to a more just social order in many countries.”

Regarding the Church in Spain, the document underscores the profound impact of the Pope’s messages to the Spanish Bishops, and the seeds sown during his apostolic visits to the country, all of which have provided great impetus for the conversion and renewal called for by the new evangelization.

The document concludes by inviting the faithful to join in the celebrations through prayer and participation in the Eucharist, and it proposes that the teachings and writings of the Holy Father be presented for study and discussion in the different public and academic events, both in civil and ecclesial forums, as an expression of gratitude to the Pope for his sacrifice and service to the Church and the world.