Pope says personal faith is essential, but so is church community

Published: 2006-03-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While personal faith in Jesus is essential in a Christian's life, Jesus also came to gather his disciples into a new people of God, the community of the church, Pope Benedict XVI said. "A slogan in vogue a few years ago, 'Jesus, yes; the church, no,' is completely irreconcilable with the intention of Christ," the pope said March 15 at his weekly general audience. The audience, held in St. Peter's Square under bright, sunny skies, marked the beginning of a series of audience talks Pope Benedict planned on "The Mystery of Christ and his Church." "In the catechesis that begins today, I want to demonstrate how the light of Christ's face is reflected in the face of the church, despite the limits and shadows of our fragile and sinful humanity," the pope said. Pope Benedict criticized the "individualistic interpretation" of Christ's ministry espoused by "liberal theologians" such as the late German theologian Adolf von Harnack.

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