Taking his cue from the forthcoming General Episcopal Synod on the Word, Benedict XVI continued his speech to the newly-appointed bishops, whom he received in audience in Castelgandolfo this morning, saying: "Before being a transmitter of the Word, the Bishop, along with his priests and as any devotee, must be a listener of the Word", since he went on "there is no primacy of holiness without listening to God’s Word, that is the guide and the nourishment of holiness". Then, he exhorted the bishops to "rely every day on God’s Word to be the masters of faith and the true educators of your devotees". Then, he went on and stated that, "to face the big challenge of secularism that is distinctive of contemporary society, the Bishop must meditate on the Word in prayer every day, so that he can be an effective crier in announcing it, a true doctor in illustrating and defending it, an enlightened and wise master in transmitting it". (continued)
