Benedict XVI: Missionary Work Crucial to the Church

AGI, May 8 — Pope Benedict exhorted missionary agency delegations to continue their “commitment of divine love,” the Italian news service reported.

Missionary groups, such as St. Peter’s Propagators of the Faith, have carried the Gospel’s good word with them, thus contributing to founding and solidifying churches in new territories, the Holy Father noted. The Church’s missionary unity has helped focus the clergy and religious people’s attention on evangelizing.

Pope Benedict said this attention to evangelizing has brought about “a re-awakening of faith and love among the Christian community.”

“Missionary work is essential to Christian communities,” he added. “May it never revert to issues merely organizational or tied up with specific interests of any kind. Having devoted yourselves to the task of evangelization you … have understood that missionary work is about speaking of God’s love and his salvation.”

Poland Bans Questionable TV During Pope’s Visit

ANSA, May 9 — Polish television is determined not to distract viewers’ attention during Pope Benedict’s visit this week, and will not allow sexually suggestive advertising or programming, the Italian news agency reported.

The state TVP network will not air sexy advertizements, raunchy soap operas and publicity for condoms, according to the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza.

All programming during the visit will be reviewed by a commission made up of Catholics journalists, who are expected to eliminate all trace of inappropriate sex from TV screens.

Chinese Bishop Ordained with Vatican’s Approval

ASIANEWS, May 8 — In the continuing evolution of Vatican-China relations, Father Paul Pei Junmin was ordained coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Liaoning with the Vatican’s approval, AsiaNews reported.

This came on the heels of the Chinese Patriotic Association’s forcing candidates and bishops to hold two illicit ordinations without Vatican permission. The events were branded by a statement of the press office of the Holy See as a “serious violation of religious freedom” and an obstacle to dialogue between China and the Vatican.

Bishop Pei, 37, was ordained by Bishop Jin Peixian before a crowd of 5,000 in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The presence of such a large number of believers is above all due to the fact that within the Church, it was known Bishop Pei had the approval of the Holy See.

The Diocese of Liaoning has more than 70 priests and as many seminarians; 150 sisters and approximately 100,000 Catholics.

The new bishop obtained master’s degrees in theology and biblical studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa.