Bishops' Conference
of France - 1
On 28 November 2003, the Holy Father spoke to the first group of French
Bishops on their ad limina visit. He urged the Bishops to "pay
attention to [their] own spiritual life," at a time when the Church was
viewed negatively by secular society. The Pope also encouraged dioceses to
work together in providing such services as catechesis.
Bishops' Conference
of France - 2
On 6 December 2003, the Holy Father received at the Vatican a second group
of French Bishops on their visit ad limina Apostolorum. He
encouraged them to face the crisis in priestly vocations with hope, making
several suggestions as to how it may be met more effectively.
Bishops'
Conference of France - 3
On 18 December 2003, the Holy Father spoke in his Private Library to
French Bishops from the Ecclesiastical Province of Marseilles and the
Archbishop of Monaco on the essential role of committed consecrated
persons in our day. Without the consecrated life, the Church would be
deprived of many spiritual gifts, places to seek God, specific apostolates,
and missionary motivation.
Bishops'
Conference of France - 4
On 24 January 2004, the Holy Father spoke at the Vatican to a fourth group
of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. He focused
on the "alarming situation" in their Country of the dwindling number of
priests and the lack of vocations, encouraging them "to hope and to be
ever more determined."
Bishops'
Conference of France - 5
On 30 January 2004, in his Private
Library at the Vatican, the Holy Father spoke to the fifth group of French
Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. They came from the
Ecclesiastical Provinces of Dijon and Tours and the Prelature of the
Mission of France. In his talk, the Pope urged the Bishops to reaffirm the
need for all Catholics to take part in the Sunday Eucharist.
Bishops'
Conference of France - 6
On 7 February 2004, the Holy Father
spoke to the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Lyons and
Clermont, France, the sixth group in the series of French Prelates
currently making their ad limina visits to Rome. The Pope urged the
Bishops to be open to new charisms, associations, and movements. He
underlined the true nature of a diocese as a "family of communities."
Bishops' Conference
of France - 7
On 13 February 2004, the Holy
Father spoke to a seventh group of French Bishops making their ad
limina visit to Rome. They came from the Ecclesiastical Provinces of
Bordeaux and Poitiers in Southwestern France. The Pope's theme was youth.
He suggested that the diocesan community pay greater attention to the
formation of young people at home and at school.
Bishops' Conference
of France - 8
On 20 February 2004, the Holy
Father spoke to an eighth group of French Bishops making their ad
limina visit to Rome, from the Ecclesiastical Province of Paris and
the Military Ordinariate of France and were led by Cardinal Jean-Marie
Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris. The Holy Father focused in his Discourse on
evangelization and catechesis and the need to inspire in their people a
"new springtime".
Bishops'
Conference of France - 9
On 27 February 2004, the Holy Father spoke to the ninth and final group of
French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. The Pope's
talk focused on the role of the Church and Christians in France, in Europe
and in the world. He also recommended that the Bishops pursue relations
with the civil Authorities and with those elected to the national and
European Parliaments, and especially Catholics.
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