” “Hence Ignatius’ development of a view of the Church that invites the Christians to "move together in agreement with the bishop’s thought". In his letters, one can sense "a sort of constant, fertile dialectics between two typical aspects of Christian life specified Benedict XVI -: on one side, the hierarchical structure of the church community, on the other the fundamental unity that binds together all the faithful in Christ. As a consequence, the roles cannot be opposed". He highlighted: "The specific responsibility of the bishops, the presbyters and the deacons in the building of the community is clear. The invitation to love and unity applies to them in particular". In other words, Ignatius’ "realism" "invites today’s and yesterday’s faithful to a progressive synthesis between configuration to Christ (union with Him, life in Him) and devotion to His Church (unity with the Bishop, generous service to the community and the world)". In other words, urged the Pope, "we must achieve a synthesis between communion of the Church within itself and mission, that is, proclamation of the Gospel to the others". "Let’s pray that the Lord may help us find this unity he concluded and may help us be found unblemished at last, because it is love that purifies the souls". ” ” ” “
