VATICAN - Holy Father opens Congress for the Diocese of Rome: “First and foremost, there is a need to renew our efforts to offer a formation that is more attentive and conformed to the perspectives of the Church, on the part of priests, religious, and laity.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the afternoon of May 26, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran to inaugurate the annual Congress for the Diocese of Rome. This year’s theme is: “Church Membership and Pastoral Co-responsibility.” Here are several passages from the Pope’s address:

“In an effort to transmit the doctrine of the Church - which has developed over 2,000 years - in a pure and integral manner, the Second Vatican Council has given it a “more meditated definition,” illustrating above all its mysterious nature, that is to say, of “a reality that is filled with divine presence, and therefore, is always capable of new and more profound penetration” (Paul VI, beginning of the Second Session of the II Vatican Council, September 29, 1963). The Church, whose origin is the Triune God, is thus, a mystery of communion. As communion, the Church is not only a spiritual reality, but she also lives in history, in flesh and bone so to speak…We have said that the Church is a communion, a communion of persons that, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, form the People of God, which is also the Body of Christ. Let us reflect a bit on these two key words. The concept ‘People of God’ arose and developed in the Old Testament. In entering into human history, God chose a certain people, the people of Israel, to be His People. The aim of this special election is that of reaching out from a few to many, and from many to all. The aim, in other words, of the particular choice is that of universality. And this openness to universality has been reached in the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ. Saint Paul says that in the Cross, Christ destroyed the walls of separation. In giving us His Body, He unites us to His Body to make us one…Thus, we see that these two concepts – ‘People of God’ and ‘Body of Christ’ – compliment one another and form one sole New Testament concept of Church. And while ‘People of God’ expresses the continuity of the history of the Church, ‘Body of Christ’ expresses the universality inaugurated with the Lord’s Cross and Resurrection.”
“After the Council, this ecclesiological doctrine was widely received, and thanks be to God, many favorable fruits have matured in the Christian community. However, we should also recall that the reception of this doctrine in the praxis and subsequent assimilation within the Church’s conscience has not taken place always and everywhere without difficulty and with the correct interpretation…the notion of “People of God” was interpreted by some as a purely sociological vision, with an almost exclusive horizontal understanding that excluded the vertical reference to God…Secondly, it should be observed that the awakening of spiritual and pastoral energies over the years has not always produced the desired growth and development…Also, there continues to be an overlying tendency to unilaterally identify the Church with the hierarchy, ignoring the common responsibility, the common mission of the People of God, which we all are in Christ. Likewise, there is a tendency to view the People of God, as I mentioned earlier, as a merely sociological or political idea, ignoring the novelty and specific nature of this people that can only become a people in communion with Christ.”
“Dear brothers and sisters, we can ask ourselves: What is the situation of our Diocese of Rome? To what degree is the pastoral co-responsibility of all, especially the laity, recognized and promoted? In past centuries, thanks to the generous witness of many baptize who have dedicated their lives to educate new generations in the faith, care for the sick, and assist the poor, the Christian community has proclaimed the Gospel to Rome’s inhabitants. This same mission is entrusted to us today, in different situations, in a city in which many baptized have lost sight of the Church and non-Christians have not known the beauty of our faith.”
“There are too many baptized faithful who do not feel a part of the ecclesial community and live distanced from her, visiting the parishes only in certain circumstances to participate in religious services. There are even less lay persons, in proportion to the number of inhabitants assigned to each parish who, although they profess the Catholic faith, are willing to work in various apostolic fields… First and foremost, there is a need to renew our efforts to offer a formation that is more attentive and conformed to the perspectives of the Church, on the part of priests, religious, and laity. We need to understand more what this Church is, this People of God in the Body of Christ. It is also necessary that the pastoral style is improved in such a manner that, in regards to vocations and the role of the consecrated and laity, there is a gradual promotion of the co-responsibility of all the members of the People of God. This demands a change of mentality especially in regards to the laity, moving from only considering them “collaborators” of the clergy to acknowledging them as truly “co-responsible” for the being and action of the Church, promoting the formation of a mature and committed laity…These communities should not lack the awareness that they are “Church” because Christ, the Eternal Word of the Father, calls them together and makes them His People.”
“Thus, the Church, is not the result of a sum of individuals, but a unity among those who are fed by the one Word of God and the one Bread of Life. The communion and unity of the Church, which finds its origin in the Eucharist, are the one reality which we should always be aware of…We should continue learning how to protect and defend this unity from all rivalry, competition, and envy that could arise in the ecclesial communities. In particular, I would like to ask the movements and communities begun after the Second Vatican Council…to be attentive in assuring that their formation programs lead members to an authentic awareness of their membership within the parish community. The center of the parish, as I have said, is the Eucharist, especially the Sunday Mass. If the Church’s unity arises from the encounter with the Lord, primary importance must be given to adoration and celebration of the Eucharist, allowing those who participate in them to experience the beauty of the mystery of Christ.”
“Therefore, make every effort to give new life to the parish, as in the times of the City Mission, to the small groups and centers for faithful that preach Christ and His Word, places where it is possible to experience the faith, exercise charity, build hope…It is of great importance that this pastoral method finds an effective application in work areas, which nowadays should be evangelized with a pastoral context that is well-thought, as the population spends the larger part of their day in the workplace.”
“Finally, we should not ignore the testimony of charity, which unites hearts and opens people to their ecclesial membership…Living charity is the primary form of missionary work. The Word announced and lived is credible if it incarnates acts of solidarity, generosity, gestures that reveal the face of Christ as man’s true friend.”
“Moreover, I think of you, dear young people. I encourage you to place yourselves at the service of Christ and the Gospel with your enthusiasm and creativity, becoming apostles among your peers, willing to respond to the Lord with generosity, as He calls you to follow Him more closely in the priesthood or consecrated life.”
“Dear brothers and sisters, the future of Christianity and the Church in Rome also depends on the commitment and testimony of each one of you.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2009)