New bishop's first task is to teach faith, pope says

Published: 2005-09-19

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- The first task of a bishop is to teach his people the Christian faith, helping them see that God loves each one of them and that he has revealed himself in Christ, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of new bishops. The 110 bishops, including five from Eastern Catholic churches, were appointed over the past year. They were in Rome for a course sponsored by the Congregation for Bishops and designed to give them practical information for dealing with their new responsibilities. Pope Benedict, who as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had been one of the key speakers at the course in previous years, told the bishops it was important for the Vatican to offer them "an adequate reflection on the challenges and problems that await you." Meeting the bishops Sept. 19 at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the new pope told the new bishops that their first task is to teach the faith.

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