Vatican City, May 27, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Addressing a group of American bishops from Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee, Pope John Paul II spoke about the urgency of confronting the spirit of agnosticism and relativism with the Gospel.
“Every Christian, in carrying out (the) prophetic mission, has taken on a personal responsibility for the divine truth revealed in the Incarnate Word,” said the Pope. “This ‘responsibility for the truth’ demands of the Church a forthright and credible witness to the deposit of faith.”
The Holy Father affirmed that “an effective proclamation of the Gospel in contemporary western society will need to confront directly the widespread spirit of agnosticism and relativism which has cast doubt on reason’s ability to know the truth which alone satisfies the human heart’s restless quest for meaning.”
He added: “The presentation of an authentically biblical understanding of the act of faith, one which emphasizes both its cognitive and fiducial dimensions, will help to overcome purely subjective approaches and facilitate a deeper appreciation of the Church’s role in authoritatively proposing ‘the faith which is to be believed and put into practice.’”