” “"Being missionaries means communicating to one’s brothers God’s love revealed in the design of salvation", because "knowing and welcoming this Love is essential for life". These words sum up the meaning of the "missionary task that Jesus entrusted to His disciples", defining it "a pastoral urgency felt by all the local Churches", and were pronounced today by the Pope as he received in audience the national directors of the Papal Missionary Institutions. "Your presence began Benedict XVI is evidence of the missionary commitment of the Church in all continents, and the ‘papal’ character highlights the special relation that binds you to Peter’s See". "The consistency of intentions and the wished-for unity of the evangelising action grow insofar as every activity revolves around God that is Love", went on the Holy Father, quoting his first Encyclical, "Deus Caritas est". Only in this way, warned the Pope, "will your every action never be reduced to mere organisational efficiency or related to particular interests of any kind, but it will always turn out to be a manifestation of God’s Love". Finally, as he pointed out the "promising missionary cooperation" that has been carried out over the last few years, Benedict XVI identified in the "spirit of universal mission" the "distinctive sign" of the birth of the Papal Missionary Institutions. (to be continued).” “
