Evangelisation, Ecology and Solidarity with Christchurch

Evangelisation is the task for all Church Members

Commenting on the choice of theme, the Pope affirmed that “the faith cannot endure by itself in the world, it is not automatically transmitted to men’s hearts but always has to be announced. And the announcement of the faith, in order to be effective, must come from a heart that believes, that hopes, that loves, a heart that adores Christ and believes in the power of the Holy Spirit. ... The response of faith arises when, by God’s grace, man discovers that believing means finding true life, the ‘full life’”.

The Holy Father highlighted the fact that “the Church, each one of us, must bring the world the good news that Jesus is Lord, the One in Whom God’s closeness and love for each man and woman became flesh. This announcement must resound anew in regions of ancient Christian tradition”. The Pope recalled words from World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany: “The happiness you seek, the happiness you have the right to enjoy, has a name and a face: Jesus of Nazareth, concealed in the Eucharist.” “If mankind forgets God”, he added, “this is also because Jesus is often reduced to the status of a wise man, and His divinity is diminished if not denied outright. This way of thinking makes it impossible to comprehend the radical novelty of Christianity, because if Jesus is not the only Son of the Father, then God did not enter into the history of mankind. The truth is that the incarnation is at the very heart of the Gospel. May we, then, show increasing commitment to renewing evangelisation, which is a task not just for the few but for all the members of the Church”.

...the announcement of the faith, in order to be effective, must come from a heart that believes, that hopes, that loves

“Should we too not share the beauty and reason of the faith, and carry the light of God to the men and women of our time with courage, conviction and joy?” . “Many are the people who have not yet met the Lord; they must be given our special pastoral attention. ... Today this is more urgent than ever and requires us to commit ourselves trustingly, upheld by the certainty that the grace of God always works on the heart of man”. VIS 110614

New Zealand Ambassador received -  solidarity with Christchurch

In his introductory speech, referring to the “innumerable tragedies that have affected nature, technology, and the peoples” Benedict added “the States should reflect together on the short term future of the planet, on our responsibilities regarding our life and technology”.

Pope Benedict greets new ambassadors

“Human ecology”, he emphasized, “is an imperative. Adopting a lifestyle that respects our environment and supports the research and use of clean energies that preserve the patrimony of creation and that are safe for human beings should be given political and economic priority”.

The Pope highlighted that “a change in mentality” is necessary in order to “quickly arrive at a global lifestyle that respects the covenant between humanity and nature, without which the human family risks disappearing. .a hedonism that subjectively and selfishly regulates behaviour. The debilitation of the primacy of the human person provokes a loss of the meaning of life”.

Benedict noted that “it is urgent that we match technology with a strong ethical dimension. ... Technology should help nature develop along the lines envisioned by the Creator. In working together, the researcher and the scientist adhere to God’s plan that desired humanity as the apex and the administrator of creation. Solutions based on this principle will protect human life and its vulnerability, as well as the rights of the present and future generations”.

Finally, the Pope expressed his solidarity with those affected by the earthquake that struck Christchurch last 22 February in his letter to the representative George Robert Furness Troup of New Zealand and noted that “due to its geographical position ... some neighbouring countries, including the Small Island Developing States, look to New Zealand as an example of political stability, rule of law and high economic and social standards. ... This gives your country a particular moral responsibility. Faithful to the best of its traditions, New Zealand is called to use its position of influence for the peace and stability of the region, the encouragement of mature and stable democratic institutions, and the fostering of authentic human rights and sustainable economic development.” - VIS20110609