VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - #
DATE 05-02-2015

Summary:
- Corrigendum
- To the bishops of Greece: "Christian solidarity is a leaven for hope"

___________________________________________________________

 Corrigendum
 Vatican City, 5 February 2015 (VIS) - We inform our readers that the article
"To the bishops of Greece: 'Christian solidarity is a leaven for hope'"
transmitted this afternoon contained an error. We wish to apologise, and
provide the correct version below.

___________________________________________________________

 To the bishops of Greece: "Christian solidarity is a leaven for hope"
 Vatican City, 5 February 2015 (VIS) - "Faced with the economic and financial
crisis that has hit your country particularly hard, do not tire of exhorting
trust in the future to all, resisting the culture of pessimism. The spirit of
solidarity, that every Christian is called upon to bear witness to in the
reality of everyday life, constitutes a leaven of hope", writes the Pope in
the text he handed to the prelates of the Holy Synod of Catholic Bishops of
Greece this morning, at the end of their five-yearly "ad Limina" visit. He
emphasises, in this context, that it is important for the bishops "to maintain
constructive relations with the authorities of the country, as well as with
the various members of society, so as to spread this outlook of solidarity ...
favouring dialogue and collaboration also with the other European countries".
 A key theme of the Pope's text is the need for fraternal communion between
the prelates and, in turn, with the faithful in a "diakonia of fraternity".
This diakonia "on the one hand, postulates the stewardship and strengthening
of cultural traditions and the Christian roots of Greek society, and on the
other, requires openness to the cultural and spiritual values brought by many
migrants, with a spirit of sincere acceptance towards these brothers and
sisters, without distinction on the basis of race, language or religious
belief. Your Christian communities, showing themselves to be truly united and
at the same time open to encounter and acceptance, especially in relation to
the most disadvantaged, can make a real contribution to transforming society,
with the aim of making it more closely resemble the Gospel ideal. I rejoice in
the knowledge that you are already engaged in this pastoral and charitable
action, above all in favour of immigrants including those who are
undocumented, many of whom are Catholic".
 In the same spirit, Francis encourages the Greek bishops to continue in their
interpersonal dialogue with their Orthodox brothers, "with the aim of
nurturing the necessary ecumenical journey, an indispensable prospect for a
future of serenity and spiritual fecundity for your entire nation". He also
remarks that, in order to carry out the mission of evangelisation and human
development, which the Church in Greece is called upon to perform, a "generous
and motivated clergy" is essential. He encourages the promotion of "vocational
pastoral care", to deal with the insufficient number of priests, and urges the
bishops "to transmit to the priests in your dioceses, many of whom are
elderly, all my affection and appreciation for their apostolic zeal despite
their limited means". Similarly, he mentions the valuable contribution made by
consecrated persons, notwithstanding the difficulties they face, and
emphasises that in order to revitalise Christian communities it is necessary
to fully acknowledge and promote the role of laypersons and to increase "the
presence of ecclesial movements and associations ... always working in keeping
with the guidelines of the particular Churches and well integrated in the
dioceses and parishes". With regard to the family, the Holy Father insists on
the need for programmes in preparation for marriage and work on the Christian
formation of the new generations. He indicates the importance of underlining,
"with words and actions, that the presence and participation of the elderly in
social life is indispensable for the good progress of a population".
 "Dear brothers in the episcopate", he concludes, "I wish to express my
acknowledgement of the work of evangelisation that, despite many difficulties,
you are carrying out in Greece. The legal recognition of the Catholic Church
on the part of the competent authorities is an event of great importance, that
will help you to look to the future with greater serenity, making efforts
today with trustful dynamism and the enthusiasm of those who are witnesses to
the Risen Lord. I encourage you to persevere in your mission with evangelical
joy".

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)