Pope to Balkan bishops: Temper nationalism with Gospel values

Published: 2007-05-04

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Individualism and nationalism need to be tempered by living life according to Gospel values, Pope Benedict XVI told bishops from the former Yugoslavia. By being living witnesses to hope and faithful to Christ, bishops and their pastoral programs can help shape the future of the Balkan states, he said. "In fact, consciences correctly formed by the Gospel will be more easily inspired to build a society" that has at heart the well-being of the human person, he said in a May 4 message to bishops from Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The pope's message came at the end of the bishops' "ad limina" visits to the Vatican, which heads of dioceses make every five years. Pope Benedict said there is often "exaggerated emphasis" placed on the needs and interests of the individual, and this overshadows "the duties that all people have toward God and toward their own community."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .