Addresses to the Bishops of Switzerland

Addresses to the Bishops of Switzerland

Pope Benedict XVI

Homily to the Bishops of Switzerland
During their ad limina visit in February 2005, the Members of the Bishops' Conference of Switzerland were to have been received by the late Pope John Paul II, but illness prevented him from granting them the customary Audience during the quinquennial ad limina visits. Pope Benedict XVI desired to honour this custom and invited the Swiss Bishops to meet him on Tuesday, 7 November 2006. The Holy Father opened the Meeting by presiding at a Eucharistic concelebration in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel at the Vatican.

Audience with the Bishops of Switzerland
On Tuesday, 7 November 2006, in "Sala Bologna" at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father granted the Bishops of Switzerland a papal audience, deferred from their ad limina visit of February 2005. The Pope addressed a series current difficulties in proclaiming the Faith in today's world.

Concluding Discourse to Bishops of Switzerland
On Thursday afternoon, 9 November 2006, at the conclusion of the ad limina visit of the Bishops of Switzerland, the Holy Father spoke once again to the Swiss Prelates. The Pope cautioned against being drawn endlessly into current controversies (abortion, contraception, ordination of women), at the expense of proclaiming the greatness of the Faith, which concerns our relationship with God.