“We live in a de-Christianised world, in a time that some define, mistakenly, as post-Christian” and our “contemporary society, with its consumerism, hedonism, practical materialism and moral relativism is a challenge to us all, Christians”. After visiting the Community of Sant’Egidio yesterday, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, was received in audience by Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo. During his meeting with the Community, Hilarion observed that “the future of humanity depends on our response, as Christians, to this challenge”. “It is a common challenge and also our answer must be common”, he explained. “Only together we can put forward all the spiritual and moral value of the Christian faith” and “offer our Christian vision for the family, procreation and for a human love which is not based only on pleasure”, continued Hilarion. Then he concluded by saying that Christian preaching can only be effective and convincing in our contemporary world “if we are able to live this mutual love among us, Christians”.

© SIR - sept 18 2009