The Pope's Last Wishes in the United Kingdom

He has gathered from his journey "how deep a thirst there is among the British people for the Good News of Jesus Christ." And therefore he has urged the bishops to preach the Gospel in its entirety: "including those elements which call into question the widespread assumptions of today’s culture" 

by Sandro Magister

ROME, September 19, 2010 – On this, his fourth and last day in the United Kingdom, Benedict XVI has elevated to the honors of the altar Blessed John Henry Newman, during the Mass celebrated in Cofton Park in Birmingham (in the photo).

In the homily, the pope again brought to light the relevance of Newman's vision, in particular for teachers and priests.

In the afternoon, also in Birmingham, in the chapel of the Francis Martin House of Oscott College, Benedict XVI met with the bishops of England, Scotland, and Wales.

In the speech he addressed to them, he insisted on the revival of evangelization, on the fight against pedophilia, and on a more devout celebration of the Eucharist with the new English translation of the missal.

The pope also urged the bishops to be "generous" in welcoming the Anglican communities that want to enter the Catholic Church: "a prophetic gesture that... helps us to set our sights on the ultimate goal of all ecumenical activity."

Below are the final part of the homily and the salient passages of the speech to the bishops.

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1344798?eng=y

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