Inspired by love

After being in office for 10 months, Pope Benedict XVI has certainly created a charisma all his own. He leaves no doubt that he's a Pope with a clear mission. And his mission is always gaining momentum.

Now that he has given Catholics, and all the world, his long-awaited first encyclical God is love, he has surely confirmed his very authentic belief that the Church is in the world and exists for the world. The Pope, together with bishops, priests and laity, can never accept a role so narrowly spiritual that its prophetic voice in preaching the fullness of the gospel is silent or leads its members to renounce their involvement in society.

Indeed, as Pope John Paul II said in his message to the bishops of England and Wales in 1980, "each baptised person is called to participate actively in the Church's mission so that in our day she may make her presence felt in action".

On his part, Benedict XVI made it very clear in his encyclical that the deed is the most important confession of faith (una fede incarnata nelle opere). At this point one's memory quite easily goes back to the late UN Secretary-General Dag Hammerskjøld's statement: "In our era the road to holiness passes through the world of action".

Addressing the Polish bishops during their visit ad limina to the Pope last November (all Bishops' Conferences visit the Holy Father every five years), Pope Benedict stressed the need to educate the laity in the study and development of the Church's social teaching, which is one of the basic priorities in all programmes of adult education and formation: "Education in the faith must first of all consist in developing all that is good in human being.

"The development of voluntary service, inspired by the Gospel spirit, is a great opportunity for education. It might be worthwhile creating Caritas youth groups in parishes or schools".

A very special way in which the Church shares its love with humankind is through its activity with those in need. And this is so very appropriately pointed out in Pope Benedict's encyclical in note 25 (b):

"The Church is God's family in the world. In this family no one ought to go without the necessities of life. Yet at the same time caritas-agape extends beyond the frontiers of the Church.

"The parable of the Good Samaritan remains as a standard which imposes universal love towards the needy whom we encounter 'by chance' (cf. Luke 10:31), whoever they may be. Without in any way detracting from this commandment of universal love, the Church also has a specific responsibility: within the ecclesial family no member should suffer through being in need.

"The teaching of the Letter to the Galatians is emphatic: "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, and especially to those who are of the household of faith".