"The yearly World Day of Prayer for Callings is an apt opportunity to highlight the importance of callings in the life and mission of the Church and to pray more intensively for such callings to grow in terms of numbers and quality": this is written by Pope Benedict XVI in his Message for the XLIV World Day of Prayer for Callings (Sunday 29th April) about "The calling at the service of the Church communion", announced today by the Newsroom of the Holy See. "God writes Benedict XVI has always chosen some people to cooperate more straightforwardly with Him in the accomplishment of His design of salvation", and communion among the believers "promotes the flourishing of generous callings at the service of the Church". Currently, one billion and 115 million Catholics are assisted by 406 thousand priests (150 thousand are religious people) and 882 thousand nuns. In Italy priests are 32,990, religious people 18,610 and nuns 122,356. (continued)
