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BENEDICT XVI CONCLUDES HIS APOSTOLIC TRIP TO
BRAZIL
VATICAN CITY, MAY 14, 2007 (VIS) - Shortly before 8 p.m. yesterday
(1 a.m. this morning in Rome), Benedict XVI arrived at the
international airport of Sao Paulo / Guarulhos where he was greeted
by Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva, vice-president of the Federal
Republic of Brazil, Archbishop Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo,
Bishop Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini of Guarulhos, and other civil and
religious authorities.
The Pope pronounced a brief departure speech in which he expressed
his satisfaction at having had the opportunity to inaugurate the
Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the
Caribbean in the Brazilian city of Aparecida. "The signs of
enthusiasm and the deep piety of this people of the Land of the Holy
Cross will remain for ever impressed in my memory," he said.
"Together with so many pilgrims from the length and breadth of the
continent of hope, they have given whole-hearted proof of their
faith in Christ and their love for the Successor of Peter.
"I pray," he added, "that the Lord will assist religious and civil
leaders to give renewed impulse to the initiatives that are awaited
by all for the common good of the great Latin American family."
Having praised the work of consular and religious authorities during
his pastoral visit, the Holy Father concluded by thanking everyone
for having "contributed to the splendor of these days, filling those
taking part with joy and hope - 'gaudium et spes!' - for the
Christian family and for its mission in society."
The Pope's plane took off at 8.55 p.m., landing at Rome's Ciampino
airport at 12.30 p.m. local time. From the airport, the Pope
travelled directly to the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo where
he is due to remain until Friday, May 18.
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Church grows by attraction, not proselytism,
Pope says
Aparecida, May 13, 2007 (CNA).- The Church grows by the energy of
Christ’s love and not by the power of ideologies, Pope Benedict XVI
said on Sunday morning, during the inauguration of the 5th General
Conference of Latin American Bishops at the Marian shrine of
Aparecida, Brazil.
Addressing a crowd of more than 300,000, including the some 200
Latin American cardinals and bishops arrived for the meeting that
will last until May 31, the Pope said that “Mary welcomes us to this
Upper Room and, as our Mother and Teacher, helps us to pray
trustingly to God with one voice.”
Commenting on the Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles,
Pope Benedict said, “Church’s leaders discuss and argue, but in a
constant attitude of religious openness to Christ’s word in the Holy
Spirit.”
“This,” he said, “is the ‘method’ by which we operate in the Church,
whether in small gatherings or in great ones. It is not only
question of procedure: it is a reflection of the Church’s very
nature as a mystery of communion with Christ in the Holy Spirit.”
The Latin American Bishops will discuss the future of the new
evangelization in the region and will draft a document aimed at
guiding their pastoral policies for the next decade. Addressing the
Latin American Bishops, the Pope said, “To you who represent the
Church in Latin America, today I symbolically entrust my Encyclical
Deus Caritas Est, in which I sought to point out to everyone the
essence of the Christian message.”
He then explained that the Church “does not engage in proselytism.
Instead, she grows by ‘attraction’,” “just as Christ draws all to
himself by the power of his love.”
Benedict XVI stressed then that “this is the priceless treasure that
is so abundant in Latin America, this is her most precious
inheritance: faith in the God who is Love, who has shown us his face
in Jesus Christ.”
“This is the faith that has made America the Continent of Hope. Not
a political ideology, not a social movement, not an economic system:
faith in the God who is Love,” the Pope added, sparking a long
applause from the crowd that included large delegations from South
American countries.
Recalling Pope John Paul
The Pontiff went on to remind those present, “Pope John Paul II
called you to a new evangelization, and you accepted his commission
with your customary generosity and commitment.” “I now confirm it
with you, and in the words of this Fifth Conference I say to you: be
faithful disciples, so as to be courageous and effective
missionaries!”
“Through the prayers of the Virgin Mary, may the Church in Latin
America and the Caribbean be abundantly clothed with power from on
high,” he said in closing.
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