On Friday, December 21st, Pope Benedict met with the Roman Curia to extend to each of the members his Christmas greetings. However, the Holy Father surprised them with the gift that he gave to them: You are to be missionaries in our times!!!!
Part of the surprise was his reference to his presence and meetings in Brazil earlier. "In Brazil the bishops of Latin America were meeting to discuss their role as missionaries and disciples of Christ. Turning to his main theme, he noted that some people felt that theme was "perhaps excessively concentrated on interior life at a time in which the great challenges of history" require a more active response.
But in fact, the Pope argued, the proper responses to historical crises require a commitment that can only come from interior life in Christ. This was "borrowed" from the Catholic World News publication of Friday, December 21st.
