Pope says being Christian entails participating in life of church

Published: 2004-02-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Being Christian is more than a social stance: It entails participating in the life of the church, Pope John Paul II said in a message to French bishops at the end of an "ad limina" visit to the Vatican. In his address Feb. 20 to bishops from the province of Paris and from the military ordinariate, the pope said, "The Christian way cannot be based upon a sociological viewpoint or upon basic knowledge of the Christian message if these things don't also bring about participation in the life of the church. "It would be a sign of faith that is completely external to the person," he told the bishops, who were making visits required of all heads of dioceses every five years. The pope underlined the importance of priests, catechists and parents setting an example of living the faith. He said children and young people are especially sensitive to any discrepancies between people's words and their actual behavior.

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