Speaking to the newly appointed Bishop’s the Holy Father said their course of study in Rome offered them a real opportunity to focus on the duties of their ministry and to renew the profession of their faith.The Pope expressed his spiritual closeness to these men recently called to the Episcopal ministry and acknowledged the challenges they face especially in Christian communities where living the faith is at times not easy and where in addition to various forms of poverty, sometimes forms of persecution can occur because of ones Christian faith. The Holy Father said it was the Bishops task to give these people hope, to share their difficulties, drawing on the charity of Christ.
But the Pope also underlined to the Bishop’s that in order to imitate Christ they must themselves devote adequate time to be with him "and contemplate the intimacy of a prayerful heart to heart conversation.
The Bishop, Pope Benedict added “is called to serve the Church in the style of God made man.
He is above all a servant and minister of the Word of God, which is his real strength”.
The Pope went on to say that he knew that communities entrusted to Bishops, were in many cases in the minority, but the Holy Father encouraged them to continue to preach the Gospel.
He also urged the Bishops not to give into pessimism and despair, because he said the Holy Spirit guides the Church and gives it the courage to persevere and also to seek new methods of evangelization, reaching areas hitherto unexplored.
Finally, Pope Benedict stressed that Christian truth is attractive and persuasive precisely because it responds to the deep need of human existence, announcing convincingly that Christ is the Saviour of all mankind...
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=421720
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