By John-Henry Westen

ROME, November 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Sandro Magister, a keen Vatican reporter has noted the contrasts in how Pope Benedict XVI has addressed various bishops. In his latest piece Magister points out that while the Pope praised Italian bishops for their leading role in assuring Italy retained the most restrictive legislation dealing with selection and elimination of human embryos, he “read the riot act” to the bishops of Austria, many of whom are known for liberalism.

Magister quotes the Pope as telling the Austrian bishops on November 5 to “change course.” Quoting further from the Pope’s address to the Austrian bishops: ” You, dear brothers in the episcopacy, know this well: there are some topics relating to the truth of the faith, and above all to moral doctrine, which are not present in the catechesis and preaching of your dioceses to a sufficient extent, and which sometimes, for example in pastoral outreach to youth in the parishes or groups, are either not confronted at all or are not addressed in the clear sense understood by the Church. Thanks be to God, it is not like this everywhere. Perhaps those who are responsible for the proclamation [of the Gospel] are afraid that people may draw back if they speak too clearly. However, experience in general demonstrates that it is precisely the opposite that happens. Don’t deceive yourselves!”

See the Pope’s full address to the Austrian bishops:
In German https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/november/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051105_adlimina-austria_sp.html
In Italian https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/november/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051105_adlimina-austria_sp.html
In Portuguese https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/november/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051105_adlimina-austria_sp.html
In Spanish
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/november/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051105_adlimina-austria_sp.html

Read Magister’s full column here:
https://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=42191&eng=y