Freedom sought outside God is always a negative
October 13, 2006
Pope Benedict II [images/stories/PopeBenedictXVI/popeBenedict2.jpg]Editor’s note: The following is the address of Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of Western Canada during their ad limina visit to the Vatican Oct. 9. “We should celebrate and rejoice. . . he has come to life; he was lost and is found” (Lk 15:32). With fraternal affection I warmly welcome you, the bishops of the Western Catholic Conference of Canada, and I thank Bishop (Gerald) Wiesner for the good wishes offered on your behalf. I warmly reciprocate them and assure you, and those entrusted to your pastoral care, of my prayers and solicitude. Your meeting with the successor of Peter concludes the visits ad limina Apostolorum of the Canadian bishops’ conference. Notwithstanding the increasingly secular climate within which you serve, your reports contain much from which you can draw encouragement. In particular, I have been heartened to note the zeal and generosity of your priests, the selfless dedication of the religious present in your dioceses and the increasing readiness among the laity to embolden their witness to Christ’s truth and love in their homes, schools, places of work and in the public sphere.