News

The Pope said this today when meeting with members of the Korean episcopal conference, in Rome for their five-yearly visit.

"The Church in your countries has made remarkable progress since the arrival of missionaries in the region over 400 years ago, and their return to Mongolia just 15 years ago," said the Pontiff.

"This growth is due in no small part to the outstanding witness of the Korean martyrs and others throughout Asia who remained steadfastly faithful to Christ and his Church," he continued. "The endurance of their testimony speaks eloquently of the fundamental concept of "communio" that unifies and vivifies ecclesial life in all its dimensions."

The Holy Father continued: "With their eyes fixed on the Lord, the faithful must echo anew the Martyrs' cry of faith: 'we know and believe the love God has for us.' Such faith is sustained and nurtured by an ongoing encounter with Jesus Christ who comes to men and women through the Church: the sign and sacrament of communion with God and of unity among all people."

Eucharistic center

"The word communio also refers of course to the Eucharistic center of the Church as Saint Paul eloquently teaches," explained Benedict XVI. "The Eucharist roots our understanding of the Church in the intimate encounter between Jesus and humanity and reveals the source of ecclesial unity: Christ's act of giving himself to us makes us his body.

"The commemoration of Christ's death and resurrection in the Eucharist is the 'supreme sacramental manifestation of 'communio' in the Church' whereby local Churches allow themselves to be drawn into the open arms of the Lord and strengthened in unity within the one body."

The Pope urged the bishops to include "a sound and stimulating catechesis on the Eucharist" when promoting Sunday Mass. "This will foster a renewed understanding of the authentic dynamism of Christian life among your faithful.

"I join you in urging the laity -- and in a special way the young people in your region -- to explore the depth and breadth of our Eucharistic communion. Gathered every Sunday in the Lord's House, we are consumed by Christ's love and truth and empowered to bring hope to the world."

Missionary generosity

"I ask you to convey to your people my particular gratitude for their generosity to the universal Church," said the Pontiff. "Both the growing number of missionaries and the contributions offered by the laity are an eloquent sign of their selfless spirit."

"I am also aware," he added, "of the practical gestures of reconciliation undertaken for the well-being of those in North Korea. I encourage these initiatives and invoke Almighty God's providential care upon all North Koreans."

"Throughout the ages," the Holy Father concluded, "Asia has given the Church and the world a host of heroes of the faith who are commemorated in the great song of praise: 'Te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.' May they stand as perennial witnesses to the truth and love which all Christians are called to proclaim."

ZE07120304 - 2007-12-03