VATICAN: Final Message of the Synod on New Evangelization
This morning in the Holy See Press Office,
the final Message of the thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of
Bishops was presented. The synodal assembly is taking place from 7 to 28
October and is examining the theme: “The New Evangelisation for the
Transmission of the Christian Faith”.
Participating in today’s press conference
were Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy and president of
the Commission for the Message; Archbishop Pierre-Marie Carre of Montpellier,
France, special secretary, and Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Manila,
Philippines, secretary of the Commission for the Message.
were Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy and president of
the Commission for the Message; Archbishop Pierre-Marie Carre of Montpellier,
France, special secretary, and Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Manila,
Philippines, secretary of the Commission for the Message.
An English-language summary of the text,
issued by the Synod, is given below.
issued by the Synod, is given below.
“At the beginning of the document, the
bishops recalled the evangelical passage from John which tells about the
encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well: this is the image of
contemporary man with an empty vessel, who is thirsting and is nostalgic for
God, and to whom the Church must turn to make the Lord present to him. And just
like the Samaritan woman, who encounters Jesus, he can but become a witness of
the proclamation of salvation and hope of the Gospel.
bishops recalled the evangelical passage from John which tells about the
encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well: this is the image of
contemporary man with an empty vessel, who is thirsting and is nostalgic for
God, and to whom the Church must turn to make the Lord present to him. And just
like the Samaritan woman, who encounters Jesus, he can but become a witness of
the proclamation of salvation and hope of the Gospel.
“Looking specifically at the context of
new evangelisation, the Synod therefore reminds of the necessity to revive
faith, which risks being made obscure in the context of today’s cultures, also
faced with the weakening of the faith by many baptised persons. The encounter
with the Lord, which reveals God as love, can only come about in the Church, as
the form of receptive community and experience of communion; from this, then,
Christians become its witnesses also in other places. However, the Church
reasserts that to evangelise one must be evangelised first of all, and sends
out a plea – starting with herself – for conversion, because the weaknesses of
Jesus’ disciples weigh upon the credibility of the mission. Conscious of the
fact that the Lord is the guide of history, and therefore that evil will not
have the last word, the bishops invite Christians to overcome fear with faith
and to look at the world with serene courage because, while full of
contradictions and challenges, this is still the world God loves. Therefore no
pessimism: globalisation, secularisation and the new scenarios of society,
migration, even with the difficulties and suffering they entail, must be seen
as opportunities for evangelisation, Because this is not a question of finding
new strategies as if the Gospel was to be spread like a market product, but
rediscovering the ways in which individuals come close to Jesus.
new evangelisation, the Synod therefore reminds of the necessity to revive
faith, which risks being made obscure in the context of today’s cultures, also
faced with the weakening of the faith by many baptised persons. The encounter
with the Lord, which reveals God as love, can only come about in the Church, as
the form of receptive community and experience of communion; from this, then,
Christians become its witnesses also in other places. However, the Church
reasserts that to evangelise one must be evangelised first of all, and sends
out a plea – starting with herself – for conversion, because the weaknesses of
Jesus’ disciples weigh upon the credibility of the mission. Conscious of the
fact that the Lord is the guide of history, and therefore that evil will not
have the last word, the bishops invite Christians to overcome fear with faith
and to look at the world with serene courage because, while full of
contradictions and challenges, this is still the world God loves. Therefore no
pessimism: globalisation, secularisation and the new scenarios of society,
migration, even with the difficulties and suffering they entail, must be seen
as opportunities for evangelisation, Because this is not a question of finding
new strategies as if the Gospel was to be spread like a market product, but
rediscovering the ways in which individuals come close to Jesus.
“The Message looks at the family as the
natural place for evangelisation and reasserts that it should be supported by
the Church, by politics and by society. Within the family, the special role of
women is underlined and there is a reminder about the painful situation of
divorced and remarried persons: while reconfirming the discipline which regards
access to the Sacraments, it is reasserted that they are in no way abandoned by
the Lord, and that the Church is the welcoming house for all. The Message also
mentions consecrated life, witness of the ultra-earthly sense of human
existence, and parishes as centres for evangelisation; it recalls the
importance of permanent formation for priests and religious men and women and
invites the laity (movements and new ecclesial realities) to evangelise,
remaining in communion with the Church. New evangelisation finds welcome
cooperation with other Churches and ecclesial communities, they too moved by
the same spirit of proclamation of the Gospel. Special attention is focused on
young persons in a perspective of listening and dialogue, to redeem and not
mortify their enthusiasm.
natural place for evangelisation and reasserts that it should be supported by
the Church, by politics and by society. Within the family, the special role of
women is underlined and there is a reminder about the painful situation of
divorced and remarried persons: while reconfirming the discipline which regards
access to the Sacraments, it is reasserted that they are in no way abandoned by
the Lord, and that the Church is the welcoming house for all. The Message also
mentions consecrated life, witness of the ultra-earthly sense of human
existence, and parishes as centres for evangelisation; it recalls the
importance of permanent formation for priests and religious men and women and
invites the laity (movements and new ecclesial realities) to evangelise,
remaining in communion with the Church. New evangelisation finds welcome
cooperation with other Churches and ecclesial communities, they too moved by
the same spirit of proclamation of the Gospel. Special attention is focused on
young persons in a perspective of listening and dialogue, to redeem and not
mortify their enthusiasm.
“The Message then looks at dialogue,
seen in many ways: with culture, which needs a new alliance between faith and
reason; with education; with science which, when it does not close man in
materialism, becomes an ally for the humanisation of life; with art; with the
word of economy and work; with the ill and suffering; with politics, where an
uninterested and transparent involvement towards the common good is asked for;
with other religions. In particular, the Synod emphasises that inter-religious
dialogue contributes to peace, refutes fundamentalism and denounces any violence
against believers. The Message recalls the possibilities offered by the Year of
Faith, by the memory of Vatican Council II and by the Catechism of the Catholic
Church. Finally, it indicates two expressions of a life of faith, which are
especially meaningful for new evangelisation: contemplation, where silence
allows for the better reception of the Word of God, and service to the poor, in
the view of recognising Christ in their faces.
seen in many ways: with culture, which needs a new alliance between faith and
reason; with education; with science which, when it does not close man in
materialism, becomes an ally for the humanisation of life; with art; with the
word of economy and work; with the ill and suffering; with politics, where an
uninterested and transparent involvement towards the common good is asked for;
with other religions. In particular, the Synod emphasises that inter-religious
dialogue contributes to peace, refutes fundamentalism and denounces any violence
against believers. The Message recalls the possibilities offered by the Year of
Faith, by the memory of Vatican Council II and by the Catechism of the Catholic
Church. Finally, it indicates two expressions of a life of faith, which are
especially meaningful for new evangelisation: contemplation, where silence
allows for the better reception of the Word of God, and service to the poor, in
the view of recognising Christ in their faces.
“In the last part, the Message looks at
the Church in the various regions of the world and addresses a word of
encouragement for the proclamation of the Gospel to each of them: to the
Eastern Churches wishing to be able to practise faith in conditions of peace
and religious freedom; to the African Church asking to develop evangelisation
in the encounter of ancient and new cultures, calling then upon governments to
cease conflicts and violence. The Christians of North America, who live in a
culture with many expressions distant from the Gospel, must look towards
conversion, to being open to welcoming immigrants and refugees. Latin America
is invited to live the permanent mission to face today’s challenges such as
poverty, violence, even the new conditions of religious pluralism. The Church
in Asia, even while being a small minority, often placed at the edges of
society and persecuted, is encouraged and exhorted to the steadfastness of
faith. Europe, marked by an even aggressive secularisation and wounded by past
regimes, has nevertheless created a humanistic culture capable of giving a face
to the dignity of man and to the building of the common good; today’s
difficulties therefore must not dishearten European Christians, but must be
perceived as a challenge. Oceania is asked to feel once again the involvement
of preaching the Gospel. Finally, the Message closes with trust in Mary, the
Star of New Evangelisation”.
the Church in the various regions of the world and addresses a word of
encouragement for the proclamation of the Gospel to each of them: to the
Eastern Churches wishing to be able to practise faith in conditions of peace
and religious freedom; to the African Church asking to develop evangelisation
in the encounter of ancient and new cultures, calling then upon governments to
cease conflicts and violence. The Christians of North America, who live in a
culture with many expressions distant from the Gospel, must look towards
conversion, to being open to welcoming immigrants and refugees. Latin America
is invited to live the permanent mission to face today’s challenges such as
poverty, violence, even the new conditions of religious pluralism. The Church
in Asia, even while being a small minority, often placed at the edges of
society and persecuted, is encouraged and exhorted to the steadfastness of
faith. Europe, marked by an even aggressive secularisation and wounded by past
regimes, has nevertheless created a humanistic culture capable of giving a face
to the dignity of man and to the building of the common good; today’s
difficulties therefore must not dishearten European Christians, but must be
perceived as a challenge. Oceania is asked to feel once again the involvement
of preaching the Gospel. Finally, the Message closes with trust in Mary, the
Star of New Evangelisation”.
SOURCE: Vatican City, 26 October 2012 (VIS) –
