Vatican City, Dec 12, 2008 / 10:07 am
Upon receiving the bishops of the Taiwanese Episcopal Conference this morning as part of their ‘ad limina’ visit, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that the Catholics of their country “are a living sign that, in a justly ordered society, one need not fear to be a faithful Catholic and a good citizen.”
In his address, the Pope recalled the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Catholic Evangelization in Taiwan, noting that it represented "an occasion to manifest ever more eagerly your oneness with each other and with our Lord as you together promote the Church's common apostolate."
"This unity of mind and heart," he continued, "is evidenced by your desire to cooperate more closely in spreading the Gospel among non-believers and forming those already initiated into the Church through Baptism and Confirmation. I am pleased to note that you continue to coordinate a variety of institutions for this purpose, with due emphasis on the parish, the 'prime mover and pre-eminent place for catechesis',” he continued.