At 11:45 this morning, in the Hall of the Consistory, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a group of persons who are participating in the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) on the theme: The Family and the Future of Europe.
Dear brother bishops,
I greet you all with affection on the occasion of the Plenary Assembly of the Council for the European Episcopal Conferences and I thank Cardinal Peter Erdő for the words with which he introduced our gathering.
As pastors who are close to your people and attentive to the demands of your flock, you know only too well the complexities of the situations in which we live and the relevance of the challenges that the mission of the Church must face, even in Europe. As I wrote in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, we are called to be a Church that is going out, moving from the centre to the periphery in order to reach all people, without fear, without suspicion and with apostolic courage (EG, 20). How many brothers and sisters, how many situations, how many contexts, even the most difficult ones, need the light of the gospel!
I want to thank you, dear brothers, for the commitment with which you have welcomed this text. I know that this document is becoming more and more the object of extensive pastoral reflection and an inspiration for journeys of faith and of evangelization in many parishes, communities and groups. This too is a sign of communion and of unity in the Church.
The theme of your Plenary meeting: Family and the future of Europe, furnishes an important occasion for reflecting together on how to value the family as a treasured resource for pastoral renewal. I think that it is important that pastors and families work together, in a spirit of humility and sincere dialogue, so that the parish community can become a family of families. In this context, some interesting experiences have flourished within your respective local Churches, experiences which are worthy of attention in order to enhance a more fruitful collaboration. Engaged couples who are serious about preparing for marriage; married couples who welcome other children in temporary foster care or adoption; groups of families who in their parishes or in movements help each other on the journey of life and of faith. There is no shortage of possibilities for the pastoral care of the family, and possibilities for political and social support of families: both those who live normal married lives and those who experience problems or breakdowns. It is important to seize these significant experiences present in the various spheres of lives of men and women of our time, to which we should devote proper discernment and then put into effect various possibilities for other diocesan communities.
Collaboration between pastors and families extends also to the field of education. Already within itself, the family which fulfills its mission to further the good of its members is a school of humanity, fraternity, love and communion which prepares mature and responsible citizens. Open collaboration between ecclesial realities and the family will enhance the maturation of a spirit of justice, solidarity, peace and even the courage of conviction. It is a matter of supporting parents in their responsibility to educate their children, while protecting their essential right to give their children the education they deem the most appropriate. Parents remain the first and foremost educators of their children, so they have the right to educate them in accordance with their moral and religious convictions. In this regard, you will be able to delineate common and coordinated pastoral directives to be followed in order to validly promote and sustain Catholic schools.
Dear brothers, I encourage you to continue your commitment toward the building of communion between the various Churches of Europe, facilitating adequate collaboration toward fruitful evangelization. I also invite you to be a prophetic voice in the midst of society, above all in places where the process of secularization on the European continent tends to render any talk of God ever more marginalized. May you be supported in this task by the intercession of the Virgin Mary and all the patron saints of Europe. I also ask you to please pray for me and with all my heart, I give you my blessing.
Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to the members of the Plenary Assembly
of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences
Dear brother bishops,
I greet you all with affection on the occasion of the Plenary Assembly of the Council for the European Episcopal Conferences and I thank Cardinal Peter Erdő for the words with which he introduced our gathering.
As pastors who are close to your people and attentive to the demands of your flock, you know only too well the complexities of the situations in which we live and the relevance of the challenges that the mission of the Church must face, even in Europe. As I wrote in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, we are called to be a Church that is going out, moving from the centre to the periphery in order to reach all people, without fear, without suspicion and with apostolic courage (EG, 20). How many brothers and sisters, how many situations, how many contexts, even the most difficult ones, need the light of the gospel!
I want to thank you, dear brothers, for the commitment with which you have welcomed this text. I know that this document is becoming more and more the object of extensive pastoral reflection and an inspiration for journeys of faith and of evangelization in many parishes, communities and groups. This too is a sign of communion and of unity in the Church.
The theme of your Plenary meeting: Family and the future of Europe, furnishes an important occasion for reflecting together on how to value the family as a treasured resource for pastoral renewal. I think that it is important that pastors and families work together, in a spirit of humility and sincere dialogue, so that the parish community can become a family of families. In this context, some interesting experiences have flourished within your respective local Churches, experiences which are worthy of attention in order to enhance a more fruitful collaboration. Engaged couples who are serious about preparing for marriage; married couples who welcome other children in temporary foster care or adoption; groups of families who in their parishes or in movements help each other on the journey of life and of faith. There is no shortage of possibilities for the pastoral care of the family, and possibilities for political and social support of families: both those who live normal married lives and those who experience problems or breakdowns. It is important to seize these significant experiences present in the various spheres of lives of men and women of our time, to which we should devote proper discernment and then put into effect various possibilities for other diocesan communities.
Collaboration between pastors and families extends also to the field of education. Already within itself, the family which fulfills its mission to further the good of its members is a school of humanity, fraternity, love and communion which prepares mature and responsible citizens. Open collaboration between ecclesial realities and the family will enhance the maturation of a spirit of justice, solidarity, peace and even the courage of conviction. It is a matter of supporting parents in their responsibility to educate their children, while protecting their essential right to give their children the education they deem the most appropriate. Parents remain the first and foremost educators of their children, so they have the right to educate them in accordance with their moral and religious convictions. In this regard, you will be able to delineate common and coordinated pastoral directives to be followed in order to validly promote and sustain Catholic schools.
Dear brothers, I encourage you to continue your commitment toward the building of communion between the various Churches of Europe, facilitating adequate collaboration toward fruitful evangelization. I also invite you to be a prophetic voice in the midst of society, above all in places where the process of secularization on the European continent tends to render any talk of God ever more marginalized. May you be supported in this task by the intercession of the Virgin Mary and all the patron saints of Europe. I also ask you to please pray for me and with all my heart, I give you my blessing.
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