"Charitable work takes a central place in the evangelising mission of the Church", but those who work in this area must "not settle just for a technical mission or for solving problems or material difficulties. The help one offers must never be reduced to a philanthropic gesture but must be the tangible expression of evangelical love". This is the exhortation that Benedict XVI made today to the participants in the 27th Plenary meeting of the Papal Council "Cor Unum", gathered from 28 February to 1 March in Rome under the guidance of its president, card. Paul Joseph Cordes. The Pope expressed gratitude to the many Christians who work in some way or other in charitable activities, which are considered "a special place for meeting people who do not know Christ yet or who only know Him partly". And he insisted on the importance of the "training of the heart", that is, the "intimate and spiritual training that, from the encounter of Christ, brings out that sensitivity of the soul that alone enables one to get a deep understanding of and fulfilling the expectations and needs of man". "At times of suffering and pain he specified , this is the right approach". "Then, those who work in parish, diocesan and international organisations, they work on behalf of the Church he specified and are called to let an authentic experience of the Church transpire in their work". (continued)
