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Skriven 2007-02-27 05:14:08 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

DIALOGUE BETWEEN POPE AND PRIESTS OF ROME

VATICAN CITY, FEB 23, 2007 (VIS) - During a meeting held yesterday morning in
the Vatican with pastors of the diocese of Rome, the Holy Father answered a
number of questions addressed to him by priests on such matters as the pastoral
care of youth, the importance of Sacred Scripture, ecclesial movements and
sacred art.

Answering a question put by a priest from the Roman Shrine of "Divino Amore,"
the Pope highlighted how such places enable people to participate in an
experience of prayer that has extended over generations and centuries, and he
stressed the value of popular piety and Marian devotion.

A large part of Benedict XVI's reflections were dedicated to the subject of the
pastoral care of the young. "Young people," he said, "must truly be a priority
in our pastoral activities, because youth lives in a world very distant from
God. In such a cultural context, it is difficult to meet Christ and to live a
Christian life of faith. The young need to be closely accompanied in order to
find this path."

In answer to another question, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of
reading Holy Scripture, a subject that is due to be the theme of the next Synod
of Bishops in October 2008. The Bible, he said, "must be read as a whole." It
represents a single path and, "in Christ we find the key to everything." Holy
Scripture is a journey that leads only one way because "it leads to the Cross
of Christ." For this reason, he went on, it must be read not only in its
historical and Christological dimensions, but also in an ecclesial light,
"because all its passages are footsteps of the people of God."

Another priest asked about ecclesial movements. In his answer, the Pope
referred to the need for dialogue at all levels while taking care "not to
extinguish the charisms. ... If the Lord gives us new gifts, we must be
grateful even if they are difficult. It is good that they arise without an
initiative from the hierarchy. They result from grassroots initiatives," but
such initiatives also "come from on high, in other words from the gifts of the
Holy Spirit."

During the course of the meeting, Benedict XVI also recalled the spiritual
nature of the Church which, he said, "is the body of Christ, and hence a
spiritual body, as St. Paul says. The Church is not an international
organization, she is not an executive body or an organ of power. Nor is she a
social agency, though she does undertake social work, but a spiritual body."

Speaking of the need to balance the spiritual and pastoral dimensions, Benedict
XVI commented that "the Gospels tell us that during the day He worked, at night
He was on the mountain with His Father and He prayed. Here I must confess my
own weakness because at night I cannot pray, I want to sleep, ... but seriously
we must nonetheless find free time for the Lord."

Finally, the Pope mentioned sacred art, which he described as a living
catechesis. The richness of religious art, he added, shows that the Church "has
always been a source of inspiration."
AC/.../PASTORS ROMEVIS 070223 (540)

SUMMARY

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