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Catholic World News News Feature

Madagascar bishops encouraged to transform culture June 20, 2005

Meeting on June 18 with a group of bishops from Madagascar, who were making their ad limina visits, Pope Benedict XVI said that the Church should help to build "a society every more respectful of man and his dignity" there.

The Pope also spoke about the need to adapt the faith to the particular needs of Madagascar's culture, while maintaining an "authentic fidelity to Christ's teaching." He said that the faithful should develop "an enlightened faith, rooted in an intimate encounter with Christ." An active Christian laity, the Pontiff added, should work for "a more just society, fighting corruption, insecurity, and all forms of exploitation of the poorest."

Madagascar has a Christian majority, primarily Catholic, with Muslims accounting for about 10 percent of the population. In practice, however, about 45 percent of the country's people still practice some forms of ancestral religions, and new sects-- from Brazil, the US, and some African countries are extremely active in the country.