Vatican City, Nov 27, 2003 / 22:00 pm
Speaking to a group of French bishops, Pope John Paul II said this Friday that bishops must take care of their own spiritual life to be credible witnesses of the Gospel.
Speaking to the bishops from the French ecclesiastical provinces of Cambrai and Reims, who have completed their “ad limina” visit, the Pontiff spoke about the Church and the episcopal mission, with reference to the post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Pastores gregis”.
John Paul II emphasized the importance of taking care of their personal spiritual life, “enriching your ministry,” he said, “with a deep relationship with Christ, through meditation, supplemented by Scripture and an intense sacramental life.”
“In this way –he added, - you will be able to communicate to the faithful the desire to live in intimate union with God, so that they build up their faith and, together, you are able to propose the faith to your citizens, following the spirit of the documents that you have written about proclaiming the Gospel.”