WORDS FROM THE POPE:

VATICAN - "The work in the great vineyard of the Lord is in need of 'christifideles laici' who, like the Most Holy Virgin Mary, pronounce and live a 'fiat' to the plan of God in their lives," the Holy Father tells the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Every situation, circumstance, and activity in which the unity between faith and life can shine, is entrusted to the responsibility of the faithful laity, moved by the desire to communicate the gift of encountering Christ and the certainty of the dignity of the human person. They are entrusted with the task of bearing witness to charity, especially with the poorest, those who most suffer, and those most in need, as well as assuming every Christian task meant to create conditions of greater justice and peace in human coexistence, and open up new horizons to the Gospel!" With these words, the Holy Father Benedict XVI addressed participants in the 23rd Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, whom he received in audience on November 15. The Pope asked that the Pontifical Council for the Laity "to use diligent pastoral care in seeing to the formation, testimony, and collaboration of the lay faithful, in the most diverse situations in which the authentic human decency of life in society is at stake." In a particular manner, the Pope referred to "the urgent need for formation according to the Gospel and pastoral accompaniment for a new generation of Catholics involved in politics, that they may be coherent with the faith they profess, with moral rigor, capable of cultural judgment, professional competence, and passion for serving the common good."

In his address, the Holy Father cited the theme of the Plenary Assembly: "Twenty years after 'Christifideles laici': memory, development, new challenges and tasks," recalling some of the issues in the document. The Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici, "defined as the magna carta of the Catholic laity of our times," fruit of the VII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 1987, on the vocation and mission of the laity, is a an organic reassessment of Vatican Council II's teaching on the laity that "guides the discernment, reflection, and direction of the laity's commitment in the Church."

The Pope cited the development of the participation of the laity in many dioceses, recalling that "the active awareness of the charismatic dimension of the Church has led to an appreciation for both the simplest charisms that God's Providence bestows on people, as well as those that show a great spiritual, educational, and missionary fruitfulness." Pope Benedict XVI especially thanked the Pontifical Council for the Laity "for their work in the last decade, of welcoming, accompanying, discerning, recognizing, and encouraging these ecclesial associations, favoring a deepening in their Catholic identity, helping them to more fully enter into the great tradition and living fabric of the Church, and supporting their missionary developments."

"To refer to the Catholic laity," the Pope said, "means to make reference to a countless group of baptized persons, working in many different situations to grow as disciples and witnesses of the Lord and discover and experience the beauty of the truth and the joy of being Christians. The current cultural and social conditions makes this kind of apostolic activity even more urgently necessary, so as fully to share the treasure of grace and sanctity, of charity, doctrine, culture and works of which the Catholic tradition is composed. The new generations are not only the chief recipients of such transmission, ... but also those whose hearts await proposals of truth and happiness to which to render Christian witness, as already happens in such a marvelous way." Recalling World Youth Day in Sydney, the Pope encouraged the Pontifical Council for the Laity to "continue the work of this providential pilgrimage of youth in the name of Christ, working towards for the promotion of an authentic formation and pastoral ministry among the youth wherever they are."

Later, reflecting on the work of the Pontifical Council of the Laity on the dignity and participation of women in the life of the Church and society, Benedict XVI said: "Christian women need awareness and courage to face demanding tasks, for which, however, they do not lack the support of a strong inclination to holiness, special prudence in discerning the cultural currents of our time, and the unique passion for caring for others that is characteristic of them. Never will enough be said as to how much the Church recognizes, appreciates, and values the participation of women in her mission at the service of the Gospel."

The Pope concluded his address, recalling that "the work in the great vineyard of the Lord is in need of 'christifideles laici' who, like the Most Holy Virgin Mary, pronounce and live a 'fiat' to the plan of God in their lives." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/11/2008)

Links:
Complete text of the Holy Father's address, in Italian
http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=1279