Church in the World

Pope alarmed by level of religious ignorance

Switzerland

In a series of recent encounters with bishops from Germany and Switzerland, Pope Benedict pointed out that the Church in both countries was facing a "common difficult situation caused by secularism" - namely, that among the last two generations of Catholics religious ignorance had reached an "alarming" level. He said the bishops had to "reflect seriously" on how to provide sounder education in helping people know and believe the fullness of Catholic faith.

"The Church in Germany must above all make newly visible the force and beauty of the Catholic faith," he said during an ad limina audience on 10 November with bishops from his homeland. Speaking in his native tongue, the 79-year-old Pope said secularisation had made believing "increasingly difficult", but he said it was also a "providential challenge" that the Church had to face "with courage". He said this required that Catholics had a solid knowledge of their faith. Hence he urged the bishops to be more vigilant about the curriculum of religious studies and seminary programmes so that they taught "the Deposit of the Faith, as presented by the Magisterium of the Church". The Pope said that because of the general loss of traditional Catholic formation in many families, it was urgently necessary to put young men interested in priesthood through an "introductory year" before admitting them to seminary.

Pope Benedict touched on similar topics in three different talks to Swiss bishops who were in Rome on 7-9 November to conclude a 2005 ad limina visit that was truncated by the illness and eventual death of Pope John Paul II. Benedict XVI addressed the bishops twice on their first day - during a homily at Mass and just before they met Vatican officials - and then at the conclusion of their meetings.

Though the Pope did not partake in any of the talks, he touched on the themes of the meetings. He said faith in God must appear in "a completely new way in all our thoughts and actions". But he indicated that this would be a return to traditional practices of the Church - for example, the distinction between the priest's and laity's role at Mass and a need to return to the Sacrament of Penance.