Pope says bishops must lead holy lives to benefit selves, faithful

Published: 2004-09-17

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Bishops must live holy lives to benefit themselves and the faithful they lead, said Pope John Paul II. Living holiness in one's personal life "will always flow beyond to benefit the faithful," and it will contribute to the "moral authority" necessary to lead "an effective ministry," he said. The pope gave his message Sept. 17 to 130 recently appointed bishops who came to Rome for a meeting organized by the Vatican's congregations for Bishops and for Eastern Churches. A bishop's ministry "calls for paying witness to a holy life," he said, and "the Spirit of God, which has sanctified you ... awaits your generous daily response." "In order to confirm what we teach, the witness of our life is necessary," he added. The pope also called on bishops to "keep watch over the celebration of the sacraments and over worship in general," making sure the faithful experienced "a dignified celebration in which nothing is left to improvisation or chance."

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