Pope tells Roman parishioners: don't wait; evangelize

March 05, 2012

On Sunday, March 4, Pope Benedict XVI made a visit to the parish of St. John the Baptist de la Salle in the Torrino section south of Rome.

Welcomed on his arrival by the children of the parish, who presented him with small gifts, the Pontiff was that he found it “very beautiful and encouraging” that they called him “Father.” But he reminded them that they should ultimately look for help and comfort to God, not the Pope.

Speaking to all the members of the parish, the Pope said that they “must become missionaries of Christ to your brothers and sisters wherever they live, work, study, or pass their free time.” He urged them not to wait for others to take action, nor to let their neighbors become distracted by other worldly messages, but to be active evangelists.

Looking forward to the coming Year of Faith, the Pontiff said that it should be “a favorable occasion” for evangelizing, and an opportunity “to overcome that ‘religious illiteracy’ which is one of the greatest problems we face today.”

 

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Further information:

• The Parish is the Place in Which We Learn to Live Our Faith in the 'Us' of the Church (VIS)
• On the mountain top ?to be closer to God (L'Osservatore Romano)