Your Eminence,
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate!
1. Welcome to the house of the Bishop of Rome, who receives you with great
joy because of the bond of communion that unites the Bishops, as successors of
the Apostolic College, around Peter. The principal objective of your pilgrimage
to the tombs of the Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, is to rekindle the
grace of the episcopal ministry and to draw new energy for your pastoral
mission. As the Successor of Peter, it is my task to strengthen you in faith and
in your apostolic service (cf. Lk 22:32). At the same time, I have the
opportunity, through you, to assure the priests, deacons, religious and laity of
the particular Churches entrusted to you of my spiritual closeness: "May the God
of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one
another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 15:5-6).
2. Your ad limina visit occurs at a special moment. While it is only a
few weeks until the beginning of the third millennium, these days remind us of
those extraordinary events which 10 years ago marked a turning-point in your
homeland. The Berlin Wall fell. The barbed wire was replaced with open doors.
The Brandenburg Gate, for decades the symbol of separation, became once again
what it had been before: the symbol of Germany's unity. When I see you, dear
Brothers, as shepherds of Dioceses in old and new Länder gathered around
me during these days of your ad limina visit, I thank God who guides
history with his providence, and repeat a phrase from the Book of Psalms:
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Ps 133:1).
The significance of the historical moment we are experiencing prompts me to
take as the basic theme of this ad limina visit: the Church, which "in
Christ is in the nature of sacrament, that is, a sign and instrument of
communion with God and of the unity of all mankind" (Lumen gentium, n.
1). Later I will discuss further aspects of this theme with the other two groups
of your Brother Bishops, but today I would like to look with you at the context
surrounding your Church as "the household of God among men" (cf. I Tm 3:15; Rv
21:3) in your land. The social reality is certainly too complex to be adequately
described in a few sentences. A few clear-cut features must suffice for
understanding the essentials.
The "velvet revolution", which paved the way to freedom without bloodshed
aroused great hopes 10 years ago. Everyone at the time spoke of rosy prospects.
But many of those who built castles in the air must be happy today if they can
build their lives on a fairly secure basis. You have courageously taken up the
challenges of the last decade and you continue in word and deed to help those
who wish to put their lives on a solid footing. For this I express my sincere
gratitude to you and to all who support you in this often difficult task.
I congratulate you on all the good that distinguishes the Church in Germany.
She is socially present, politically relevant, charitably involved and
financially generous wherever she is needed. Here I would like to cite one
example among many others: the important service that Church counseling centers
perform in many areas, especially for pregnant women in distress. Nor can we
forget the energy and devotion shown by the association of German Dioceses,
despite their own difficult financial circumstances, to support the Bishop of
Rome's pastoral ministry for the universal Church. My thoughts also turn to
Berlin, where it has been possible to build a suitable structure for the papal
representative, thanks in no small way to your contribution. These facts show me
that your heart beats for the Successor of Peter, who is "the perpetual and
visible source and foundation of the unity of both the Bishops and the whole
company of the faithful" (Lumen gentium, n. 23). In view of such a firm
conviction, we can be sure that the household of God in Germany will also be
built on solid rock in the future.
4. People in your country live in a consumer society, in which the majority
of the population enjoys greater material prosperity than ever before. Although
this is without doubt an achievement, we cannot overlook its darker side: since
the recent turning-point, particularly in the new Länder, one can really
speak of "consumer shock". In the interests of the economy, many material needs
were created and continually increased through clever advertising, giving the
impression that one can always have it all. Material goods have often become so
paramount, that any desire for religious and moral values is stifled. But in
time man senses a lack, if his hands have been filled but his heart remains
empty: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4; cf. Dt 8:3).
In this connection, I would like to mention my concern for the meaning of
Sunday, which is increasingly threatened with erosion. I appreciate your efforts
to safeguard Sunday as the Lord's day and man's day. In my Apostolic Letter
Dies Domini I developed these points in detail. Moreover, I cannot
fail to mention the guidelines you have given on the economic and social
situation in Germany, which were developed following a broad consultation
process with the Evangelical Church communities and received great attention in
public opinion. In so doing you have been prompted by an idea that is very dear
to me as well: man, as a person, may never be overwhelmed by economic interests.
This is a real risk, because consumer society, in which God is often considered
dead, has created enough idols, a particular one being the idol of profit at any
cost.
5. Another phenomenon in your milieu is the communications media. In the
network of the modem mass media news can be spread across the globe in a matter
of seconds. Often the individual is no longer merely informed; he is so drowning
in information, as it were, that he can no longer grasp, let alone absorb and
select the news. As a result he becomes lonely, anxious and disoriented. This is
because in a pluralistic society whatever promises novelty and sensation is
presented indiscriminately. Certainly, there are also valuable programs of
information and entertainment. But people must be taught mature judgement if
they are to choose wisely.
The information society is thus a challenge for Pastors. On the one hand,
efforts must be made to increase people's critical maturity, as I just
mentioned; on the other, it is a question of promoting good quality news. The
Church is also called to "evangelize" the mass media! If used properly, they can
become a kind of "pulpit" for Pastors. You must carefully choose the men and
women who have the task of speaking for the Church on radio and television
committees and councils. It should be your concern to support young people who
wish to serve the truth in the world of journalism!
Daily experience shows that the Church is an attractive topic for many
journalists. This fact should not be underestimated. Therefore, it is advisable
in principle not to avoid them. "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone
who calls you to account for the hope that is in you" (I Pt 3:15). This,
however, does not eliminate the obligation of reasonable confidentiality,
required both by due mutual respect and by the need for calm reflection on the
problem to be examined. Therefore, you should carefully decide on a case by case
basis whether it is worth appearing before the cameras and speaking into the
microphone.
6. Your mission as Pastors, Venerable Brothers, is, is carried out in an
increasingly secularized society, in which religious values do not have great
importance. Many people live as if God did not exist. The economic
secularization of 200 years ago has been followed, in the century now drawing to
a close, by waves of intellectual secularization, with no end in sight. In your
country this process has also accelerated in the wake of reunification. There
are many confirmations of this diagnosis: united Germany has not become more
Protestant - as was initially thought - but simply less Christian. The
fundamental consensus on Christian values as the basis of society seems to be
crumbling. The Church must ask herself about her own role in a society where
references to God are becoming increasingly rare, because in many areas there is
no more room for him,
This challenge puts particular pressure on you, dear Brothers. I know the
significant historical and cultural role that the Church has played and
continues to play in Germany: it is also expressed in a unique legal form and
ultimately in the accords between the Holy See and the new Länder. On the
one hand, I deeply appreciate this great heritage, which should be preserved; on
the other, I can well understand your suffering over the numerous defections of
the faithful and, as a result, the Church's decreasing influence in the life of
civil society. I also know that you are asking yourselves whether the Church's
rights and duties in your country will be effectively maintained. This tension
is also felt at the parish level, where priests, deacons and pastoral assistants
are sometimes forced to perform balancing acts: on the one hand, they are
obliged to provide a broad "pastoral service" for a partly indifferent majority;
on the other, they must show appropriate pastoral concern for the "Church of the
called or committed", that is, to those who really want to follow Jesus.
This is not a Gordian knot that can just be cut. It must instead be patiently
loosened through assiduous prayer, sincere reflection and the planning of
courageous little steps that make the Church's witness to the splendour of truth
credible in your homeland. To meet this challenge of secular society, the true
alternative is not to take refuge in the "little flock" (Lk 12:32). You must
instead be ready for dialogue, that is for critical and reasonable
discussion, enduring the tensions that cannot be resolved at the moment. The
Gospel solution is not to withdraw from society! It is instead a question of
making yourselves heard - in season or out of season (cf. 2 Tm 4:2)! Be involved
wherever you think you must speak out for God and man! You are not of the world,
but do not remove yourselves from the world (cf. Jn 15:19)! Your voice is needed
in a secularized society where there is more and more silence about God.
7. The conditions surrounding the Church in Germany, however, should not be
regarded as simply agnostic or religiously indifferent. Whether excluded or
silenced, God is there, and an ardent longing for him is still present in the
hearts of many. For, in the end, man cannot be content with what is merely
human. He seeks a truth that transcends him. Even if without a clear perception,
man searches for this truth, because he realizes that therein lies the meaning
of his life. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, whom I canonized last year and
proclaimed a co-patroness of Europe on the occasion of the recent Special
Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, expressed this insight in a saying: "Whoever
searches for the truth, is searching for God, whether he knows it or not".
Answering the God-question is a great opportunity for the Church. So open the
Church's doors to everyone who is sincerely searching for God! Whoever asks the
Church about truth should expect that the Word of God written and handed on will
be reliably and completely explained to him (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 10). In
this way the search for truth is protected from the dangers of a confused,
irrational and syncretistic religiosity, and the Church of the living God will
be seen as "the pillar and bulwark of the truth" (I Tm 3:15).
The truth of faith must be matched with authenticity in life. In her varied
activities, the Church is without doubt present in many different areas of
society in your country, a fact that is recognized by circles that have no
connection with the Church. However, so that this involvement will not harm her
true mission, I ask you to examine and, if necessary, to sharpen the Christian
image of institutions that work in the Church's name. A purely horizontal love
of neighbour must be more and more crossed with the vertical love of God. The
Cross, in fact, is not only an emblem that we Bishops wear on our chests. It is
the great plus sign that identifies us as Christians. Therefore, in Catholic
homes the Cross should be more than a piece of jewelry or furniture. It should
be the trademark of the tireless commitment of the numerous Church workers in
the social, educational and cultural fields. Under the arms of the Cross the
"culture of life" flourishes, where people are welcomed, particularly those who
are usually marginalized all too quickly: the unborn and the dying. Therefore,
the spiritual and moral formation of personnel in ecclesiastical or
Church-related institutions must be encouraged in every way! For true solidarity
with people must be solidly based in God. By sending his Son into the world God
showed that he is a passionate "lover of life" (Wis 11:26).
8. Dear Brothers! I would not like to end these thoughts without confiding
something to you. Three times in my Pontificate I have been granted to visit
your beloved land as a pilgrim. Among the many moving impressions I cherish is
the melody of a song that the faithful sang with great fervour: "A glorious
house appears over all the land..." This hymn speaks of joy over the Church and
of the pride one should feel in belonging to her. Great numbers of the faithful
in Germany are still filled with these sentiments. I am thinking of priests,
deacons and religious who support the Church by the witness of the
service and way of life. I am thinking the many men and women who live their
vocation as lay people. They collaborate full-time or as volunteers in the care
of souls, or contribute their talents to parish and administrative councils. Nor
can I forget the Church associations, some of which resemble mighty trees by
their impressive age, and the young spiritual communities, some of which are
still tender plants. I would particularly like to mention those who pray in
silence and breathe life into the Church's work. Bring everyone my heartfelt
greeting! Invite the young people especially to World Youth Day in the Year
2000: the Pope is expecting them!
9. There is no better way to express my hope for you and all Catholics in
your country than what St Peter said: "Like living stones be yourselves built
into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Chris that you may declare the wonderful deeds
of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (I Pt 2:5, 9b)
Through the intercession of Mary, the "house of gold" who is the model of
the Church, I hope that in the new millenium the Church in Germany will be and
will increasingly become what you sing in your beautiful hymn: "A glorious house
appears over all the land".
With these thoughts and hopes, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and to
everyone entrusted to your pastoral care.
