VATICAN: The Holy Father Speaks to the Bishops of Ethiopia and Eritrea
Dear Brother
Bishops,
|
| Pope Francis |
I offer you
a warm welcome on the occasion of your Visit ad Limina Apostolorum, as you come on pilgrimage to pray at the
tombs of Saints Peter and Paul. This is a joyful occasion, for your presence
strengthens your bonds of love and communion with the Successor of Peter. I
trust that these days of reflection and prayer may be a source of refreshment
for you, and that they may deepen the ties of your friendship in Jesus Christ
and your fraternal cooperation in the service of the Gospel.
I wish to
offer a particular word of appreciation to Archbishop Souraphiel for his
greeting offered in your name and that of the faithful of your local Churches.
I ask that you convey my greeting to all of them and offer the assurance of my
deep affection and spiritual closeness.
offer a particular word of appreciation to Archbishop Souraphiel for his
greeting offered in your name and that of the faithful of your local Churches.
I ask that you convey my greeting to all of them and offer the assurance of my
deep affection and spiritual closeness.
Your visit
also provides an opportunity for us to reflect together on the life of the
Church in Ethiopia and
Eritrea and to discuss the joys and challenges which you face daily. Though you
are from different countries and belong to different rites, each with its own
particular richness, your mission in service of Christ and his Church is the
same: to proclaim the Gospel and to build up the faithful in holiness, unity
and charity. When that mission is exercised in collaboration and mutual
support, the Church, united in the Spirit, breathes with the two lungs of East
and West and burns with love for Christ (cf.
Apostolic Constitution Sacri Canones).
also provides an opportunity for us to reflect together on the life of the
Church in Ethiopia and
Eritrea and to discuss the joys and challenges which you face daily. Though you
are from different countries and belong to different rites, each with its own
particular richness, your mission in service of Christ and his Church is the
same: to proclaim the Gospel and to build up the faithful in holiness, unity
and charity. When that mission is exercised in collaboration and mutual
support, the Church, united in the Spirit, breathes with the two lungs of East
and West and burns with love for Christ (cf.
Apostolic Constitution Sacri Canones).
I am
grateful for all that you do to demonstrate this collegial communion which is
itself a witness to the unity of the People of God born of faith in Jesus
Christ. That faith, present in your lands from the earliest days of the Church
(cf. Acts 8:26-40), has been nourished and renewed throughout the years by
devoted missionaries who, compelled by their love of Christ, proclaimed the
Gospel so that “all who live might live no longer for themselves but for him
who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:15). In our own day, we
require again this missionary spirit to announce the saving message of new life
in Christ to all of society, not only to those who do not know him, but also to
the faithful, so they may hear once more the freshness of the Gospel and be
encouraged to find ever new and creative ways to live and celebrate their faith
(cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 11).
grateful for all that you do to demonstrate this collegial communion which is
itself a witness to the unity of the People of God born of faith in Jesus
Christ. That faith, present in your lands from the earliest days of the Church
(cf. Acts 8:26-40), has been nourished and renewed throughout the years by
devoted missionaries who, compelled by their love of Christ, proclaimed the
Gospel so that “all who live might live no longer for themselves but for him
who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:15). In our own day, we
require again this missionary spirit to announce the saving message of new life
in Christ to all of society, not only to those who do not know him, but also to
the faithful, so they may hear once more the freshness of the Gospel and be
encouraged to find ever new and creative ways to live and celebrate their faith
(cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 11).
This great
task of evangelization, entrusted to you as successors of the Apostles, is one
which you carry out above all in communion with your priests. I join you in
gratitude for the priests serving your local Churches, both those raised up
from among your communities and those who have come as missionaries. Through
their sacramental ministry and preaching, as well as their charitable works,
these priests make visible the presence of Christ and manifest his love for
humanity. If they are to be holy and effective heralds of the Gospel, however,
it is essential that they themselves be constantly evangelized anew. This
should first take place in the seminary through integral human, spiritual,
intellectual and pastoral formation. Such formation will help to instil in the
priests a lifelong love of prayer, learning and self-sacrifice. But they also
need your active interest in their lives and ministry. I urge you to be good
and generous fathers to your priests, present to them and attentive to their
human and spiritual needs, and their ongoing formation in the priesthood. In addition,
it is important that a true fraternity among the priests be fostered so that
they may accompany one another in their ministry and bear one another’s
burdens. In such a way, they will be able to respond more generously to the
grace of God in their lives and give witness to the joy of Christian
discipleship.
task of evangelization, entrusted to you as successors of the Apostles, is one
which you carry out above all in communion with your priests. I join you in
gratitude for the priests serving your local Churches, both those raised up
from among your communities and those who have come as missionaries. Through
their sacramental ministry and preaching, as well as their charitable works,
these priests make visible the presence of Christ and manifest his love for
humanity. If they are to be holy and effective heralds of the Gospel, however,
it is essential that they themselves be constantly evangelized anew. This
should first take place in the seminary through integral human, spiritual,
intellectual and pastoral formation. Such formation will help to instil in the
priests a lifelong love of prayer, learning and self-sacrifice. But they also
need your active interest in their lives and ministry. I urge you to be good
and generous fathers to your priests, present to them and attentive to their
human and spiritual needs, and their ongoing formation in the priesthood. In addition,
it is important that a true fraternity among the priests be fostered so that
they may accompany one another in their ministry and bear one another’s
burdens. In such a way, they will be able to respond more generously to the
grace of God in their lives and give witness to the joy of Christian
discipleship.
The mission
of the Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea has been advanced by the support of so
many men and women religious who, for many generations, have generously
cooperated in building up your local communities. Many have left their own
homelands and families to come to the horn of Africa to join local religious in
teaching the young, caring for the sick, and responding to the pastoral
circumstances of your communities. In so doing, they have reflected the
merciful face of Christ and assisted your Churches in living out the Gospel.
of the Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea has been advanced by the support of so
many men and women religious who, for many generations, have generously
cooperated in building up your local communities. Many have left their own
homelands and families to come to the horn of Africa to join local religious in
teaching the young, caring for the sick, and responding to the pastoral
circumstances of your communities. In so doing, they have reflected the
merciful face of Christ and assisted your Churches in living out the Gospel.
I join you
in thanking Almighty God for these men and women religious, past and present,
for their sacrifices and indispensable service. As part of your episcopal
ministry, I ask you to encourage and support their continued efforts to serve
the spiritual and material needs of the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea today. As
the Second Vatican Council made clear, the work of evangelization is not
reserved to the clergy or religious, but is the competence of all the Christian
faithful, who are called to proclaim the saving love they have experienced in
the Lord Jesus (cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, 6).
in thanking Almighty God for these men and women religious, past and present,
for their sacrifices and indispensable service. As part of your episcopal
ministry, I ask you to encourage and support their continued efforts to serve
the spiritual and material needs of the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea today. As
the Second Vatican Council made clear, the work of evangelization is not
reserved to the clergy or religious, but is the competence of all the Christian
faithful, who are called to proclaim the saving love they have experienced in
the Lord Jesus (cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, 6).
I appreciate
the efforts you have made to create new opportunities for the catechetical
formation of the faithful and to reach out to the young, who are at that
pivotal time of their lives when they are challenged to deepen their
relationship with Christ and his Church, and looking to start families of their
own. Confronted by so many challenges in contemporary society, including an increasingly
secularized culture and fewer opportunities for dignified work, it is essential
that wise and committed lay men and women guide young people in discerning the
direction of their lives and in securing their future. For a more effective
catechetical outreach, it is also important to continue to identify and prepare
qualified lay leaders to assist in forming the faithful and thus make present
“the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze” (Evangelii Gaudium,
169).
the efforts you have made to create new opportunities for the catechetical
formation of the faithful and to reach out to the young, who are at that
pivotal time of their lives when they are challenged to deepen their
relationship with Christ and his Church, and looking to start families of their
own. Confronted by so many challenges in contemporary society, including an increasingly
secularized culture and fewer opportunities for dignified work, it is essential
that wise and committed lay men and women guide young people in discerning the
direction of their lives and in securing their future. For a more effective
catechetical outreach, it is also important to continue to identify and prepare
qualified lay leaders to assist in forming the faithful and thus make present
“the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze” (Evangelii Gaudium,
169).
Dear
brother Bishops, together
with the priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful of your local
Churches, you are called to diffuse this fragrance of Christ in the midst of
Ethiopia and Eritrea (cf. 2 Cor 2:14). Many years of conflict and continuing
tensions, in addition to widespread poverty and drought conditions, have
brought great suffering to the people.
brother Bishops, together
with the priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful of your local
Churches, you are called to diffuse this fragrance of Christ in the midst of
Ethiopia and Eritrea (cf. 2 Cor 2:14). Many years of conflict and continuing
tensions, in addition to widespread poverty and drought conditions, have
brought great suffering to the people.
I thank you
for the generous social programmes which, inspired by the Gospel, you provide
in collaboration with various religious, charitable and governmental agencies,
aimed at alleviating this suffering. I think especially of the many children
you serve who experience hunger and who have been orphaned because of violence
and poverty. I am mindful too of the young people who like so many of their
friends and family would otherwise flee their homeland in search of greater opportunities,
and risk losing their lives during dangerous journeys. And of course, we must always
remember the many elderly who could so easily be forgotten in the midst of such
hardships.
for the generous social programmes which, inspired by the Gospel, you provide
in collaboration with various religious, charitable and governmental agencies,
aimed at alleviating this suffering. I think especially of the many children
you serve who experience hunger and who have been orphaned because of violence
and poverty. I am mindful too of the young people who like so many of their
friends and family would otherwise flee their homeland in search of greater opportunities,
and risk losing their lives during dangerous journeys. And of course, we must always
remember the many elderly who could so easily be forgotten in the midst of such
hardships.
Your efforts
on their behalf, which give such a powerful witness to the love of God in your
midst, are an extraordinary grace for the people. In your loving concern for
the poor and downtrodden, may you continue to seek new opportunities to
cooperate with civil authorities in advancing the common good. Conscious of the
difficulties you face and the blessings you have received, I join all of you in
praying for a renewed outpouring of grace upon the beloved Church in Ethiopia
and Eritrea.
on their behalf, which give such a powerful witness to the love of God in your
midst, are an extraordinary grace for the people. In your loving concern for
the poor and downtrodden, may you continue to seek new opportunities to
cooperate with civil authorities in advancing the common good. Conscious of the
difficulties you face and the blessings you have received, I join all of you in
praying for a renewed outpouring of grace upon the beloved Church in Ethiopia
and Eritrea.
Entrusting
you to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I willingly impart my Apostolic
Blessing to you and to all the priests, consecrated men and women, and lay
people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
you to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I willingly impart my Apostolic
Blessing to you and to all the priests, consecrated men and women, and lay
people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
From the
Vatican, 9 May 2014
Vatican, 9 May 2014
SOURCE: Posted on Websites of the
Eparchy of Keren, Eritrea.
Eparchy of Keren, Eritrea.
