Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Church Has Antidote to Individualism, Says Pontiff

Affirms That Church Serves Society by Educating in Solidarity

SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA, Italy, JUNE 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Church must overcome individualism by educating in solidarity and sharing, Benedict XVI explained at the beginning of his 10th apostolic trip in Italy.

The Pope affirmed this Saturday in the homily he delivered at the shrine dedicated to Mary "De Finibus Terrae" (at the end of the earth) in Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy.

The Holy Father began his homily by greetings the sick, who were in the front rows. More than 20,000 faithful filled the area around the shrine, which was bathed in sunlight.

In his homily, the Pontiff spoke about the Church's social role: "In a context that tends to give more and more incentives to individualism, the first service of the Church is that of educating in a social sense, in attention to neighbors, in solidarity and in sharing."

"The Church," he went on, "charged as she is by her Lord with a spiritual mission that she continually renews, shows herself to be capable of exercising a positive influence even on the social level because she promotes a renewed humanity and open and constructive human relationships, in respect and in service, first of all to the least and the weakest."
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 9:35 PM