Pastores gregis
Pastores gregis ( Latin : the shepherds of the flock) is the name of the post-synodal apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II on the subject: "The Bishop - Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the hope of the world". October 16, 2003, on which he signed the Apostolic Letter, was also the 25th anniversary of his election as Pope . “Pastores gregis” (PG) is the result of the 10th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (September 30 to October 27, 2001).
As an introduction
In the introduction, John Paul II writes: “The shepherds of the flock know that they can count on a special divine grace in the exercise of their episcopate .” As stated in the Roman Pontifical , the chief celebrant repeats the episcopal ordination after the invocation of the pouring out of the Spirit who guides and guides, during the solemn consecration prayer, the words that are already in the old text of the Traditio Apostolica (PG No. 1): “You, Father, know the hearts and have called your servant to the episcopate. Give him grace to lead your holy people ”. In this way the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Shepherd, is further fulfilled: He sent out the apostles as he himself was sent by the Father (cf. ( Jn 20:21 EU )) and wanted their successors, i.e. the Bishops should be shepherds in his church until the end of the world time (cf. ( Acts 20.28 EU ); ( 1 Petr 5.2 EU )). (...) That is the real reason why “the ideal image of the bishop, on whom the Church continues to count, is that of the Shepherd, who, in the holiness of life, like Christ, works generously for the Church entrusted to him and at the same time cares bears in the heart for all churches all over the world (cf. ( 2 Cor 11:28 EU )) ”. (PG No. 1)
Brief description
In his address to sign this document, John Paul II summarized the Good Shepherd's duties, which he also sets out in this letter : “... He should know his flock, love and care for everyone, be merciful and the lost sheep search. These are just a few of the qualities that characterize the office of bishop. He is called, following the example of Christ , to be the father, teacher, friend and brother of everyone. By faithfully following this path, he will be able to attain holiness, a holiness that should grow not only alongside his office, but through his office itself. "
The Pope goes on to describe the various tasks of the bishops and in his exhortation underlined that they “should teach the Gospel with apostolic openness and present it in an authentic way”; "He will see to it that the liturgical celebrations ... express the nature of the Church, which actively celebrates the cult of God for Christ in the Holy Spirit"; “He will face the challenges of the present day”; “He will be a prophet of justice and peace , truth and love ”; he will promote ecumenism ; “In the multiethnic society at the beginning of this third millennium he will also support interreligious dialogue ”.
So the first part of the letter deals with the identity and life of the bishop at the beginning of the third millennium. In the second part, the Pope concretizes the office of the bishop as shepherd of the diocese in the context of the challenges of today. The main concern and key message expresses the desire that the bishops should revive hope among believers and throughout the world.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Address for the signature of the Apostolic Letter
- ↑ ibid.
- ↑ Table of contents according to pronouncements of the Apostolic See No. 163 ( PDF ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. )
