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POPE-GERMANY Nov-20-2006 (650 words) With photo. xxxi
Help young people see value of marriage, pope urges German bishops
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The church needs to help young people realize that true happiness and fulfillment are found in permanent commitments such as marriage, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of German bishops.
Young people today are afraid of definitively committing themselves to something, fearing it is "unfeasible and opposed to freedom," he said.
"It is very important to help young people say 'yes' to the definitive, that it does not clash with freedom, but represents the greatest opportunity" for being free, he said.
The pope met Nov. 18 with bishops from Germany, the second group of prelates from his homeland to make their "ad limina" visits during his pontificate. Bishops make the visits to the Vatican every five years to report on the status of their dioceses.
The pope told the bishop that not only are young couples shying away from the permanent bonds of marriage, they are also finding it "difficult to accept children" into their lives and give them the solid, lasting base needed to grow.
"By patiently spending the rest of their lives together, (a couple's) love reaches its true maturity," the pope said, adding that only in this environment of a lifelong love based on marriage can children "learn to live and love."
The pope told the bishops to encourage children to be part of church life so that they may "encounter faith."
Being altar servers, joining the church choir and participating in an ecclesial movement are all ways young people can come in closer contact with the word of God and "experience the joy of taking part in Mass," he said.
He cautioned bishops against expanding the role of lay people beyond what is permissible, even though the church in Germany is facing a decrease in the number of priests and new vocations.
Some changes being made to offer people needed pastoral care threaten to overshadow or obscure "the image of the parish priest" as "a man of God and the church who guides a parish community," he said.
Only priests or collaborators with proper theological and canonical formation as well as experience and zeal to save people's souls should head pastoral structures, he said.
The pope also urged the bishops to continue in their efforts toward full Christian unity such as through "common prayer and reflection of sacred Scripture."
Ecumenism should not "run out of steam" in just issuing joint documents, he said; it must become "visible and effective," such as when members of different Christian communities speak out together, promoting Christian values in society and politics.
Earlier, the pope met with Germany's president, Horst Koehler, in the Vatican. During the 35-minute private audience, the two men discussed international concerns, including the Middle East, according to a Vatican statement.
They also underlined the importance of interreligious dialogue, education, and fostering a sense of equality and solidarity on the global level, especially toward Africa, it said.
Later that evening, Koehler offered Pope Benedict a classical music concert in his honor in the Vatican.
The Berlin Philharmonic Quartet performed for the pope and guests in the apostolic palace. After the performance, the pope thanked the president, saying he couldn't have given him "a more beautiful gift than this."
Pope Benedict said being part of a musical ensemble provided an apt metaphor for life. Just as a musician must know how to play his or her part, he or she must also know how to sit back and listen to the other players, he said.
The recital is not about "each one putting himself at the center" of attention, but performing with a "spirit of service" so that the composer's work can come to life "and reach the hearts of listeners."
The pope asked that all Christians "be instruments" that harmoniously translate the intentions of God, "the great composer."
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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