An invitation to the population of Gabon to "behave exemplarily in accordance with the spiritual and moral values", and to the Church, as an "urgent task", to "take care of "the transmission of the faith and the in-depth study of the Christian mystery": this was said by Benedict XVI today to the bishops of Gabon, who are on a visit ad limina, exhorting them to "organise the Bishops Conference in a more appropriate way". "The people of Gabon are sometimes attracted by consumerism and permissiveness complained the Pope and therefore they become less attentive to the poor of the country . I encourage them to increase their sense of fraternity and solidarity". Benedict XVI also found "some slackening in the life of the Christians, who seem to be in the grips of the seductions of the world". The Pope urged the bishops to take care of the "extensive education" of their congregation "to give them the opportunity to found their Christian life on clear principles". And he expressed the wish that the youth "may not be afraid of being the first evangelisers of their peers". The lack of callings, as highlighted by the Bishops of Gabon, was pointed out by the Pope, who asked to take "very special care" of the seminary of Libreville. He concluded by recalling the precious role of missionaries, the Catholic teaching, and priests in general.
