“Edifying the Church as family of God and as place of mutual help and availability”: this is the first task of a bishop, shown in the "Deus Caritas Est” encyclical. This morning, during the Hearing, that task was recalled by Benedict XVI to the participants in the Meeting of the new bishops. It is the evangelical icon of the “washing of feet”. The bishops must be inspired by it for only Christ “can tell us, in an authoritative way, how to love and serve the Church”. Following His example, every bishop “should be “everything for everybody”, by proposing the truth of faith, and by celebrating the sacraments of our sanctification and witnessing the charity of the Lord”. The “promptness” in welcoming “those who knock at our door with open soul”, giving them advice, comforting them and supporting them along God’s path, must be meant “in the first place, for priests”, as well as for “the young who prepare themselves for sacerdotal and religious life”. Moreover, the Pope encouraged the bishops “to be attentive guardians” of the “ecclesial communion, and to promote and defend it through constant watch”. It is an “act of love requiring discernment, apostolic courage and patient bounty”. (To be followed)
