VATICAN - Pope tells Bishops from Central Asia: “Despite the severe pressures suffered during the years of the atheist communist regime, the flame of faith remained alight in believers' hearts thanks to the zealous sacrifice of priests, religious and lay people.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “We give thanks to the Lord that despite the severe pressures suffered during the years of the atheist communist regime, the flame of faith remained alight in believers' hearts thanks to the zealous sacrifice of priests, religious and lay people. Although the community may be a ‘small flock,’ there is no need to lose heart, dear Brothers!” These were the words of Pope Benedict XVI in addressing the group of Bishops and Ordinaries from Kazakhstan and Central Asia, whom he received on the occasion of their “ad Limina Apostolorum” visit, on October 2.
At the beginning of his address, the Pope gave a special greeting to Archbishop Tomash Peta of Maria Santissima in Astana, and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Kazakhstan, the other Bishops and Delegate from the Greek Catholic community in Kazakhstan; the Apostolic Administrator in Kyrgyzstan; the Apostolic Administrator in Uzbekistan; the Superior of the Missio sui iuris in Tadjikistan; and the Superior of the Missio sui iuris in Turkmenistan.
As in the early communities, today as well, it is the Holy Spirit who guides the Church, the Pope said, encouraging the Bishops to let themselves be guided by Him: “Keep the flame of faith alight among Christian people. Conserve and draw vantage from the important pastoral and apostolic experiences of the past. Continue to educate everyone in listening to the Word of God and arouse, especially in the young, Marian devotion and love for the Eucharist. Spread the practice of the Rosary among families. Patiently and courageously, seek new forms and methods of apostolate, making it your concern to modernise them in accordance with today's needs, bearing in mind the language and culture of the faithful entrusted to your care.”
In order to become a reality, these tasks need an “ever greater unity” between Bishops and priests, which is why Benedict XVI encouraged the Bishops to allow for an ever greater participation on the part of priests and religious, as well as the laity, in carrying out the various pastoral initiatives. He especially asked them to pay close attention to their collaborators, listening to them as they too are workers in the Lord’s vineyard: “Therefore, show yourselves to be ready and willing to come to the encounter to those that seek you, supporting them in times of difficulty, encouraging them to be increasingly more trusting in Divine Providence that never abandons us, especially in the moment of trial. Be a support for them when they are met with human and spiritual solitude. At the basis of everything is the constant recourse to God in prayer and continual effort towards unity among you, as well as in each of you own various communities.”
The Holy Father then emphasized that “the challenges that our modern globalized society places in the announcement and coherent practice of Christian life,” in the areas of Central Asia, as well as throughout the world. The Pope mentioned violence, terrorism, the spread of fundamentalism and extremist mentalities. “There is certainly a need to contrast this scourge with legislative means. However the force of law must never itself become iniquity, nor can the free exercise of religion be limited, because freely to profess one's faith is a fundamental and universally-recognised human right.”
Before closing his address, Benedict XVI mentioned that “the Church does not impose but freely proposes the Catholic faith, well aware that conversion is the mysterious fruit of the action of the Holy Spirit. Faith is a gift and a work of God, and hence excludes any form of proselytism that forces, allures or entices people by trickery to embrace it. A person may open to the faith after mature and responsible reflection, and must be able freely to realise that intimate aspiration. This benefits not only the individual, but all society, because the faithful observance of divine precepts helps to build a more just and united form of coexistence.”
Encouraging the Bishops to continue in their work, “knowing how to appreciate everyone’s efforts,” the Pope also thanked the priests and religious that work in the various ecclesiastical circumscriptions (the Franciscans in the Diocese of the Holy Trinity in Almaty, the Jesuits in Kyrgyzstan, the Conventual Franciscans in Uzbekistan, the religious from the Incarnate Word Institute in the Missio sui iuris in Tadjikistan, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Missio sui iuris in Turkmenistan) and encouraged other religious institutions to “be generous in offering their own contribution, by sending personnel or means to carry out apostolic work in the vast regions of Central Asia.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2008)