A quote from Pope Francis:
However, there are places where the Word of God has not yet been proclaimed or, although proclaimed, has not been received as the Word of salvation. There are places where the Word of God is emptied of its authority. The lack of the support or vigor of the Word leads to a weakening of the Christian communities of ancient tradition and curbs the spiritual growth and missionary fervor of the young Churches. We are all responsible if 'the message will run the risk of losing its freshness and will cease to have the freshness of the Gospel.' However, it remains valid to encourage a special pastoral effort to emphasize the central position of the Word of God in ecclesial life, promoting the Biblical inspiration of all pastoral ministry. We must ensure that the habitual activities of all Christian communities, in the parishes, associations and movements, truly have at heart the personal encounter with Christ communicated to us in His Word since, as St. Jerome teaches, 'ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’ ”
“The mission of the servants of the Word – bishops, priests, men and women religious and laypeople – is that of promoting and favoring this encounter, which inspires faith and transforms life; therefore I pray, in the name of all the Church, that you may fulfill your mandate: ensuring 'that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored', until the day of Jesus Christ.”
-- Audience with Catholic Biblical Federation, June 19, 2015
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