Pope Calls Politics a Big Part of Lay Vocation

From Zenit:

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A big part of the vocation of Christian laypeople is their participation in politics, says Benedict XVI.

The role of the laity in the temporal order, and especially in politics, is key for the evangelization of society, the Pope affirmed today when he received in audience the bishops of Paraguay. The prelates have been in Rome since Sept. 8 on their five-yearly visit.

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Benedict XVI explained that the specific vocation of the laity "consists in instilling the Christian spirit in the temporal order and transforming it according to the divine plan." He affirmed that "a significant aspect of their mission" is "the exercise of politics."

Hence, it is necessary "to encourage them to live this important dimension of social charity with responsibility and dedication," in order to promote "justice, honesty and the defense of true and authentic values, such as the safeguarding of human life, marriage and the family," he added. In this way, "they contribute to the real human and spiritual good of the whole society."

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