Pope calls Brazilian bishops
to the work of new evangelisation
10 Sept 2010 (RV) - Pope Benedict today addressed collectively the Bishops of Brazil from the Northeast 3 region who are in Rome on their Ad Limina visits, after having met with them individually in the past several days.
At the heart of his address to them was the need to engage in a new evangelisation, saying that it is crucial to the Catholic Church.
The Pope also pointed out that while the values of the Catholic faith have shaped the hearts and minds of Brazilians, today there is a growing influence of 'new elements in society' resulting in the abandonment of Christian life and the Church itself by many Catholics.
He said the religious landscape of Brazil has seen the rapid expansion of evangelical communities and neo-Pentecostals.
While the upsurge in these groups, the Pope said, showed a real thirst for God, it was important for the Church in Brazil to engage in a new evangelization that should spare no effort in leading Catholics to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
The Pope urged the Bishops to promote a healthy ecumenical dialogue in the church based on “good historical and doctrinal formation”.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 11/09/2010 16:11]