Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result of the community's constant prayer (cf. "Evangelii Nuntiandi," 75). Moreover, for the mission to be effective, communities must be united, that is, they must be "of one heart and soul" (cf. Acts 4:32), and they must be ready to witness to the love and joy that the Holy Spirit instils in the hearts of the faithful (cf. Acts 4:32).
Pope Benedict XVII, retired in prayer, will always be with you, and together we will move ahead with the Lord in certainty. The Lord is victorious.
Pope Benedict XVIConcern for the fate of the great rivers of the earth must lead us to reflect soberly on the model of development which our society is pursuing. A purely economic and technological understanding of progress, to the extent that it fails to acknowledge its intrinsic limitations and to take into consideration the integral good of humanity, will inevitably provoke negative consequences for individuals, peoples and creation itself.
Pope Benedict XVIIt is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives.
Pope Benedict XVIYoung people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world.
Pope Benedict XVI