Hello All!   
                   This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.   
                   The following press release is Copyrighted by the   
                             Vatican Information Service.   
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   
                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   THE TASK OF THE MISSION IS TO TRANSFIGURE THE WORLD   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2010 (VIS) - Following this morning's concelebration of   
   the Eucharist to mark the end of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of   
   the Synod of Bishops, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray   
   the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.   
      
   Referring once again to the theme of the synodal assembly - "The Catholic   
   Church in the Middle East. Communion and Witness" - the Pope noted how today   
   also marks World Mission Day, which has as its theme: "Building Ecclesial   
   Communion is the Key to the Mission".   
      
   "There is", he explained, "a surprising similarity between the themes of these   
   two ecclesial events. Both invite us to see the Church as a mystery of   
   communion which, by her nature, is destined for all of man and for all mankind.   
   ... For this reason the next Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,   
   due to be held in 2012, will be dedicated to the theme: 'The new evangelisation   
   for the transmission of the Christian faith'. At any time and in any place -   
   also in the Middle East today - the Church is present and works to welcome each   
   human being and offer him Christ, the fullness of life".   
      
   "In today's liturgy", the Pope went on, "we read St. Paul's testimony   
   concerning the final reward the Lord will give 'to all who have longed for his   
   appearance'. This is not a passive or solitary period of waiting; quite the   
   contrary, the apostle lived in communion with the risen Christ, so that 'the   
   message might be fully proclaimed' and that 'all the Gentiles might hear it'.   
   The missionary task is not to revolutionise the world but to transfigure it,   
   drawing strength from Jesus Christ".   
      
   "Christians today, as the Epistle to Diognetus says, also 'show that life is   
   wonderful, and that their shared life is extraordinary. They spend their time   
   on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey established laws, but   
   with their lives they surpass those laws. They are killed and thereby they are   
   given life. Even when they do good they are persecuted and every day their   
   numbers grow'.   
      
   "To the Virgin Mary, who from the crucified Christ received the new mission of   
   being Mother to all those who wish to believe in Him and follow Him, we entrust   
   the Christian communities of the Middle East and all missionaries of the   
   Gospel".   
   ANG/VIS 20101025 (420)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)