” “”Announcing the Gospel with courage and serenity”: this is the exhortation by Benedict XVI to the Swiss bishops received this morning in hearing. On taking into consideration the society’s “faith weakening”, the Pope warned against those who “question the points of the doctrine of the Church, “even priests in some cases”. Some even think, in relation to faith, they have a right to choose the teachings that can be admitted and those that are to be rejected”. Then, there was an invitation to celebrate “liturgy in conformity with the rules fixed by the Church”, and to “keep the central role for the Eucharist”, a role that belongs to it. Before the crisis of the reconciliation sacrament, Benedict XVI asked the bishops to re-launch the penitential pastoral and to ask “the priests to be constant confessors”. As for “pastoral restructuring”, which became necessary owing to the reduction in the number of priests, the Pope recalled that the “role played by the priest is central”, even though he may rely on the collaboration of deacons and laymen. The ministry of the priest is “absolutely indispensable for the life of the Church”, and must not be underestimated. Finally, Benedict XVI took into consideration both the religious vocation question (the most important subject of the pastoral in the two years from 2005 to 2006), and ecumenism, encouraging its spreading in all the communities in the territory. ” “
