Pope says faithful must take God's message to all people

Published: 2005-07-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world "thirsting for true human values," the faithful should be taking the Gospel message to all people, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of pilgrims from Madrid, Spain. The Holy Spirit "impels us to bring to every man and woman the love that God the Father showed us in Jesus Christ," the pope said. This love is "obliging, generous, unconditional" and must be offered not just to those who listen to the Gospel message, "but also to those who ignore or reject it," he said. Pope Benedict made his remarks July 4 to a group of pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Madrid who marked the end of their diocesan synod with a visit to the Vatican. The pope told them missionary zeal must include helping with "intense diligence" the people of one's own diocese -- people who have "worries and hopes, suffering and difficulties."

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