To the Bishops of France: Ad Limina Addresses

To the Bishops of France: Ad Limina Conferences 

Pope John Paul II

Bishops' Conference of France - 1
On 28 November 2003, the Holy Father spoke to the first group of French Bishops on their ad limina visit. He urged the Bishops to "pay attention to [their] own spiritual life," at a time when the Church was viewed negatively by secular society. The Pope also encouraged dioceses to work together in providing such services as catechesis.

Bishops' Conference of France - 2
On 6 December 2003, the Holy Father received at the Vatican a second group of French Bishops on their visit ad limina Apostolorum. He encouraged them to face the crisis in priestly vocations with hope, making several suggestions as to how it may be met more effectively.

Bishops' Conference of France - 3
On 18 December 2003, the Holy Father spoke in his Private Library to French Bishops from the Ecclesiastical Province of Marseilles and the Archbishop of Monaco on the essential role of committed consecrated persons in our day. Without the consecrated life, the Church would be deprived of many spiritual gifts, places to seek God, specific apostolates, and missionary motivation.

Bishops' Conference of France - 4
On 24 January 2004, the Holy Father spoke at the Vatican to a fourth group of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. He focused on the "alarming situation" in their Country of the dwindling number of priests and the lack of vocations, encouraging them "to hope and to be ever more determined."

Bishops' Conference of France - 5
On 30 January 2004, in his Private Library at the Vatican, the Holy Father spoke to the fifth group of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. They came from the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Dijon and Tours and the Prelature of the Mission of France. In his talk, the Pope urged the Bishops to reaffirm the need for all Catholics to take part in the Sunday Eucharist.

Bishops' Conference of France - 6
On 7 February 2004, the Holy Father spoke to the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Lyons and Clermont, France, the sixth group in the series of French Prelates currently making their ad limina visits to Rome. The Pope urged the Bishops to be open to new charisms, associations, and movements. He underlined the true nature of a diocese as a "family of communities."

Bishops' Conference of France - 7
On 13 February 2004, the Holy Father spoke to a seventh group of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. They came from the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Bordeaux and Poitiers in Southwestern France. The Pope's theme was youth. He suggested that the diocesan community pay greater attention to the formation of young people at home and at school.

Bishops' Conference of France - 8
On 20 February 2004, the Holy Father spoke to an eighth group of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome, from the Ecclesiastical Province of Paris and the Military Ordinariate of France and were led by Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris. The Holy Father focused in his Discourse on evangelization and catechesis and the need to inspire in their people a "new springtime".

Bishops' Conference of France - 9
On 27 February 2004, the Holy Father spoke to the ninth and final group of French Bishops making their ad limina visit to Rome. The Pope's talk focused on the role of the Church and Christians in France, in Europe and in the world. He also recommended that the Bishops pursue relations with the civil Authorities and with those elected to the national and European Parliaments, and especially Catholics.