Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, called on priests in the country to prepare themselves spiritually to welcome Pope Benedict during his March 23-25 visit.
“Undoubtedly this is one of the best ways to prepare one's self as a priest and as the Church for such an important event: though information and formation for one's self and for others, always in and from the truth,” Archbishop Pierre said during a meeting with priests of the Archdiocese of Mexico City on Feb. 19.
He noted the great social impact Pope Benedict has had as a pastor, leader and thinker, “especially during these times of secularism and modernization.”
Yet beyond this impact, “what interests us is understanding his message, his testimony and his guidance in the faith.”
Archbishop Pierre encouraged priests to be “docile disciples consumed by missionary zeal” and to bring “to the heart of the culture” a “unified and complete meaning of human life which neither science, nor politicians, nor the economy nor the media can provide.”
“Mexico waits to hear the Pope speak to her of God! May Jesus Christ speak to all men and women and remind each Mexican believer of his or her great vocation to become greater disciples and missionaries,” he said.