"Unfortunately, the Church can
no longer count on the support of society at large to promote the
Christian understanding of marriage as a permanent and indissoluble
union ordered to procreation and the sanctification of the spouses".
But
the "swift and dramatic changes" taking place in contemporary society
according to Catholic teaching on marriage and the family pose not only a
"serious challenge, new possibilities to proclaim the liberating truth
of the Gospel message to transform and elevate all human relationships".
A goal, in the words of Benedict XVI towards which care in the
formation of young people is essential.
Receiving the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church of India for
their quinquennial visit “ad Limina Apostolorum”, Benedict XVI
recommended that “families look to the Lord and his saving word for a
complete and truly positive vision of life and marital relations, so
necessary for the good of the whole human family”.
In view of this, the Pope has requested the support of bishops
and priests for a "the sound and integral education of young people in
the ways of chastity and responsibility will not only enable them to
embrace the true nature of marriage, but will also benefit Indian
culture as a whole"
The importance of formation of religious was also stressed by the Pope, protagonists, even in India, of many
valuable works of education and charity.
"The Church - he added -
insists that preparation for religious profession is to be marked by
long and careful discernment with the goal of ensuring, before final
vows are made, that each candidate is firmly rooted in Christ, solid in
his or her capacity for genuine commitment and joyful in the gift of
self to Jesus Christ and his Church."
"To the Bishops of a Church which
indicates the Apostle Thomas as its founder and has over three million
faithful, particularly in Kerala, Benedict XVI stressed the importance
of the ministry of unity. "
This responsibility is particularly
important in a country like India, where it reflects the unity of the
Church in the rich diversity of its rituals and traditions. "