In a world marked by new forms of slavery and injustice, the Church
must evangelize constantly and fearlessly, even in the face of
persecution, Pope Benedict XVI said.
The Pope, addressing directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies
May 14, said Catholic activity at every level needs to be infused with
the missionary spirit.
“All the sectors of pastoral life, of catechesis and of charity
should be characterized by the missionary dimension: The Church is
mission,” he said.
Evangelization, he added, must begin with a firm faith and an
enthusiastic desire to share it with others. The Church’s evangelization
efforts are aimed at “transforming the world according to God’s plan,”
leading men and women to “read freedom” and out of all forms of slavery,
he said.
“New problems and new forms of slavery, in fact, are emerging in our
time,” the Pope said.
“This is true in the so-called First World, which
is well-off and rich, but uncertain about its future. And it is true in
developing countries where, partly because of a globalization that is
often profit-driven, there’s an increase in the masses of poor, of
emigrants and of the oppressed, in whom the light of hope grows weak.”