Pope asks French bishops to encourage vocations to religious life

Published: 2003-12-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even if their numbers are diminishing, the religious men and women who dedicate themselves completely to serving others are "a sign of the credibility of the church," Pope John Paul II said. Concrete acts of charity demonstrate the credibility of the church's message of the compassion of Christ for all humanity, the pope told a group of French bishops Dec. 18. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses. The pope said their reports "underline the crisis consecrated life is going through" with declining numbers and an aging membership. The consolidation of orders in an attempt to pool resources is a positive move, the pope said, but it must be done with care and attention to safeguarding the gifts of each congregation. Pope John Paul urged the bishops to do all they can to promote vocations to the religious life in their dioceses.

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