His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has offered words of encouragement to teachers in their role of spreading the Gospel during the Bishops of England and Wales’ recent ad limina visit.

He said, “If the full saving message of Christ is to be presented effectively and convincingly to the world, the Catholic community in your country needs to speak with a united voice. This requires not only you, the Bishops, but also priests, teachers, catechists, writers – in short all who are engaged in the task of communicating the Gospel – to be attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, who guides the whole Church into the truth, gathers her into unity and inspires her with missionary zeal.”

He later emphasised that all people have a responsibility to pass on Christ’s message to the next generation, citing Cardinal Newman as an example of one who did this despite its difficulties, “Make it your concern, then, to draw on the considerable gifts of the lay faithful in England and Wales and see that they are equipped to hand on the faith to new generations comprehensively, accurately, and with a keen awareness that in so doing they are playing their part in the Church’s mission. In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free. Cardinal Newman realized this, and he left us an outstanding example of faithfulness to revealed truth by following that “kindly light” wherever it led him, even at considerable personal cost. Great writers and communicators of his stature and integrity are needed in the Church today, and it is my hope that devotion to him will inspire many to follow in his footsteps.”

Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales welcomed the Pope’s words of encouragement, saying, “The Holy Father has clearly affirmed the vitally important role of those who work in, or support through governance, our schools and colleges.”

Lay people play a large part in Catholic education in England and Wales, in their roles as governors, teachers, chaplains and support staff. Working alongside priests and parents, these lay people make a huge contribution to the spiritual and intellectual development of children in our schools. There are nearly 50,000 teachers working in Catholic schools in England and Wales, teaching over 750,000 pupils in over 2300 schools.