The Pope has emphasised the importance of defending values, the definition of marriage and the regulation of fertility by natural methods in a letter he sent to the Maltese bishops.

It was particularly important for Christians to be able to defend and explain the institution of marriage, “established by God as a lifelong union between a man and a woman, open to life and uniquely suited to the education and upbringing of children”, Pope Benedict XVI wrote in a letter dated August 6 and published on the Gozo Diocese website.

The letter was sent following the ad limina visit to the Vatican by Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech last month.

“The various movements dedicated to marriage and family life can carry out an essential task, and I know you will continue to support their work, especially in preparing couples for marriage and in promoting the regulation of fertility by natural methods that respect the dignity of spouses and offspring alike,” the Pope wrote.

He also asked the Maltese bishops to consider releasing some of the clergy to serve as evangelists in other parts of the world.

He said that contemporary society brings about many challenges which call for a clear presentation of the life-giving message of the Gospel.

“So often secular society proposes models of life and patterns of behaviour that seem to promise greater freedom but in reality offend against human dignity and lead to forms of enslavement, from which it is hard to break loose.

“It is vital to present the Christian faith as a ‘yes’ to life, to growth, to love, to justice, to all that leads to human flourishing.”

He said Malta was blessed with a rich tradition of Catholic faith and practice as well as committed teachers and catechists, both lay and religious, who are ready and willing to give of their time and expertise in order to help communicate the Gospel message.

“Yet there is always more to discover and to learn, there is always room for further growth and renewal.”