Pope John Paul II on Sunday told a synod of 4,500 Catholic bishops here that they should take the path of poverty if they wanted to gain credibility with their congregations.
The pontiff, who celebrated mass with 280 cardinals, bishops and prelates and members of the synod in Saint Peter's basilica, called on his audience to examine their consciences on their attitude towards earthly riches and the uses to which they are put.
To be "credible," he said in his homily, they should be "detached from personal interests."
"It is the path of poverty that will allow us to convey to our contemporaries the fruits of salvation. As bishops we are called upon to be poor in the service of the Evangelist."
He also said his audience should be "prophets who offer courageous support to a society gripped by consumerism, hedonism and an economy which produces an unacceptable gulf between luxury and misery, between a small number of 'ill gotten gains' and innumerable Lazaruses sentenced to misery."
The pontiff urged bishops to "raise voices" to defend the weak and to denounce abuse. But he cautioned that their voice should be credible.
"They must prove themselves by conduct detached from private interests and through concern for the most weak.
"They must be an example to the communities to which they are entrusted by teaching and supporting the principles of solidarity and social justice which are the tenets of the church's social doctrine," he said.
Referring to the papal address, Belgian cardinal and secretary general of the synod, Jan P. Schotte, told a press conference: "This theme will certainly be taken on board, but it will be difficult to approach in an exhaustive manner."
The pope arrived at the service a quarter of an hour late and looked tired and frail having only got back from his pastoral visits to Kazakhstan and Armenia on Thursday.
The synod, which will discuss the bishop's calling, opens on Monday and will continue until October 27. |
