Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In a message of encouragement and hope released on the occasion of a national congress of the Cambodian Church, which opened in Phnom Penh on Saturday, Benedict XVI called on Cambodian Catholics to bear witness to Jesus' love and to the universal import of the Good News in Cambodia, where many clergymen and believers "have died", bearing witness to their faith with courage when the country fell into "darkness".
In the presence of the delegates from the country's three territorial divisions, today's meeting, which was also open to all believers, saw the congress draw to a close with two major events as the highlight, namely the release in Cambodian of the catechism and the Vatican Council II documents and a video message from Benedict XVI himself.
"In this Year of Faith," the pope said, "I invite you to keep your eyes fixed on the person of Jesus Christ who is the origin and end of our faith (cf Heb, 12: 2) and to reiterate the Good News to the world today. In Him, the examples of faith that have marked our history, find their full light."
In addition, "remembering the period of troubles that precipitated your country in the darkness, I would like to emphasize the faith, courage and perseverance of your pastors and of your Christian brothers and sisters, those so many who have died, is a noble testimony to the truth of the Gospel."
This "testimony has become a priceless spiritual strength to rebuild the Church community in your country," where, in the pope's own words, many "adult baptisms" are a "happy sign" of things to come.
Finally, the pope urged Cambodian Catholics to be the "leaven in the dough of your society, witnessing to the love of Christ for all, building bonds of brotherhood with members of other religious traditions, and walking on the paths of justice and mercy."