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Skriven 2004-12-13 10:57:36 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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              The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                        Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

BUILDING UP THE CHURCH IN COMMUNION AND MISSION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father today welcomed bishops from
the ecclesiastical provinces of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota,
noting that this is his last encounter with U.S. bishops making their "ad
limina" visit. He also pointed out that "our meetings have fittingly come to an
end during the week in which the Church celebrates the sesquicentenary of the
definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Patroness of the Church in the United States."

The Pope said that the ad limina visits over the past eight months have been
both "a source of consolation" and a time to "share the deep pain which you and
your people have experienced in these last years, and I have witnessed your
determination to deal fairly and forthrightly with the serious pastoral issues
which have been raised as a result." He underscored the bishops' duty of
"building up the Church in communion and mission."

"I leave two charges to you and your brother bishops.". The first is a
fraternal encouragement to persevere joyfully in the ministry entrusted to you,
in obedience to the authentic teaching of the Church, Can we not see in the
pain and scandal of recent years both 'a sign of the times' and a providential
call to conversion and deeper fidelity to the demands of the Gospel. ... In her
own way, the Church in the United States has been called to begin the new
millennium by "starting afresh from Christ" and by making the truth of the
Gospel clearly the measure of her life and all her activity.

"In this light, I once more praise your efforts to ensure that each individual
and group in the Church understands the urgent need for a consistent, honest
and faithful witness to the Catholic faith, and that each of the Church's
institutions and apostolates expresses in every aspect of its life a clear
Catholic identity".

"The second charge is a heartfelt appeal to keep your gaze fixed on the great
goal set before the whole Church at the dawn of this third Christian
millennium: the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of humanity."
Citing "Ecclesia in America," he said: "'The Church in America must speak
increasingly of Jesus Christ, the human face of God and the divine face of
man', devoting the best of her efforts to a more compelling proclamation of the
Gospel, the growth of holiness, and the more effective transmission of the
treasure of the faith to the younger generation."

John Paul II closed by noting "two urgent tasks" facing the Church in the U.S.:
"the need for an evangelization of culture in general" and "the need for
Catholics to cooperate fruitfully with men and women of good will in building a
culture of respect for life."
AL/COMMUNION:MISSION/USVIS 041210 (480)

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