” “"It is certainly not easy to announce and testify the Gospel today", but "no difficulty can separate us from Christ’s love". It was said today by Benedict XVI, as he received in the first part of the general audience in the Vatican Basilica the prelates of the Bishops Conference of Piedmont on their visit "ad limina". "The Christian faith began the Pope is confronted with many challenges, which in today’s socio-cultural context are due to the agnostic tendencies that are going on in the doctrinal sphere, as well as to claims of full ethical and moral independence". "It is certainly not easy to announce and testify the Gospel today", admitted the Pontiff, according to whom, however, "a sound spiritual foundation remains within the people, a foundation that is embodied, among other things, in their attention to the requirements of Christian life, the intimate need of God, the rediscovery of the value of prayer, the esteem for the devoted priest and his task". Not to mention "a deeper need for tending to holiness, the high standard of Christian life", in "lay devotees" and "groups of apostolic commitment". Hence the Pope’s invitation to the Bishops to "bravely go on, when faced with difficulties", and to all of God’s people to testify "with fervour" their "common adhesion to Christ" so as to build the Church "in love and truth". ” ” ” “
