All are called to holiness, Pope reminds Benin’s bishops

April 27, 2015

Pope Francis received the bishops of Benin in audience on April 27 and expressed gratitude to God for the large numbers of conversions and priestly and religious vocations in the West African nation.

“You are right, however, to emphasize in your reports that this faith, more and more widespread, is sometimes superficial and lacks strength,” the Pope said. “It is important that the desire for a deep knowledge of the Christian mystery is not the prerogative of an elite, but animates all the faithful, since all are called to sanctity.”

Pope Francis also spoke of the importance of ministry to families and youth, as well as of Christian charity in the face of poverty. Such charity, he said, is not “simple social assistance, but the manifestation of the tenderness and mercy” of Christ.

The nation of 10.3 million is approximately 34% Catholic and 24% Muslim.

 

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Further information:

• Visita “ad limina Apostolorum” dei Presuli della Conferenza Episcopale del Benin (Holy See Press Office)