VATICAN - Benedict XVI in Cameroon (2) - Meeting with Bishops: “In this year dedicated to Saint Paul, it is most opportune to recall the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. This mandate, which the Church received from Christ, remains a priority.”

Yaounde (Agenzia Fides) – In the Church of Christ-Roi in Tsinga, Yaounde, on the morning of Wednesday, March 18, the Holy Father Benedict XVI met with the Bishops of Cameroon. After recalling the motive of his visit - “ to meet the peoples of the beloved African continent” - and to present the Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Benedict XVI continued: “In this year dedicated to Saint Paul, it is most opportune to recall the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. This mandate, which the Church received from Christ, remains a priority... Together with you, dear Brothers, it is your entire diocesan communities that are sent out to be witnesses of the Gospel...to guide and inspire the People of God in this task, the Pastors themselves, first and foremost, must be preachers of the faith, leading new disciples to Christ.”
In order to carry out this mission of evangelization, in addition to formal meetings, there is a need for a “a profound communion” among the Pastors of the Church, the Pontiff said, underlining the need to “ to search collectively for answers to the many challenges which the Church has to face” and an “effective collaboration between dioceses, particularly with regard to better distribution of priests in your country... so that the proclamation of the Gospel should not suffer through lack of ministers. This apostolic solidarity should also extend generously to meet the needs of other local Bishops, especially those of your continent. Thus it will appear clearly that your Christian communities, following the example of those that brought the Gospel message to you, are likewise a missionary Church.”
The Pope then highlighted the need for “relations of close communion” between Bishops and priests: “ The words and example of their Bishop have a key role in inspiring them to give their spiritual and sacramental life a central place in their ministry, spurring them on to discover and to live ever more deeply the particular role of the shepherd as, first and foremost, a man of prayer. The spiritual and sacramental life is an extraordinary treasure, given to us for ourselves and for the good of the people entrusted to us.”
In his address, Benedict XVI exhorted the Bishops of Cameroon “ to be especially vigilant regarding the faithfulness of priests and consecrated persons to the commitments made at their ordination or entry into religious life;” to carry out a serious discernment of candidates to the priesthood; “to give priority to the choice and training of formators and spiritual directors;” and to give thanks to God for the contribution to the life of the Church and for the development of the consecrated life; to consider human, spiritual, and doctrinal formation of catechists as “essential,” as “they have had and will continue to have a determining role” in the evangelization of Cameroon.
Among the motives of his pastoral concern, the Pope mentioned first the situation of the family: “The difficulties arising from the impact of modernity and secularization on traditional society inspire you to defend vigorously the essential values of the African family, and to give high priority to its thorough evangelization.” Thus, making reference to the liturgy, he mentioned that the joy manifest during the celebrations should “not obstruct, but rather facilitates dialogue and communion with God, attained through a genuine internalization of the structures and words of the liturgy, so that these express what is taking place in the hearts of believers, in true union with all the other participants. The dignity of the celebrations, especially when they take place in the presence of large crowds, is an eloquent sign of this.”
In order to respond to the spread of sects and esoteric movements, and the growing influence of superstitious forms of religion, as well as relativism, there is a need for “new impetus to the formation of children and young adults, especially in university settings and intellectual circles.” The Holy Father then expressed his great satisfaction for the commitment of the laity in the life of the Church and society, especially for the active participation of the women's associations, “a genuine recognition of the dignity of women and their particular vocation in the ecclesial community and in society.” After having exhorted the Bishops to persevere in their efforts to give the laity a solid Christian formation, Benedict XVI mentioned the fact that in the present context of globalization, “the Bishop’s mission leads him to be the defender of the rights of the poor, to call forth and encourage the exercise of charity, which is a manifestation of the Lord’s love for the 'little ones.' In this way, the faithful are led to grasp the fact that the Church is truly God’s family, gathered in brotherly love; this leaves no room for ethnocentrism or factionalism, and it contributes towards reconciliation and cooperation among ethnic groups for the good of all.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/3/2009)