In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
 

Your Eminences,
Reverend Fathers, Reverend Sisters,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to thank Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, for his presence this morning, and also Cardinal Luis Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and President of the Catholic Biblical Federation. I also extend a warm welcome to the members of the Steering Committee, the Regional Coordinators, the General Secretariat and the Friends of the Catholic Biblical Federation. To each one of you and to all those whom you represent, I express my heartfelt gratitude for your service to the Word of God.

The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, whose sixtieth anniversary we celebrate this year, concludes with the following words: “Pray for us so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you” (2 Thes 3:1). This request of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians conveys a strong desire, a firm conviction and a pastoral approach that can guide our reflection together.

The teaching of Dei Verbum is unequivocal; we are called “to hear the Word of God with reverence and to proclaim it with faith” (cf. DV 1), and “easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful” (DV 22). This same vision is reflected in your Constitution, which affirms that the Catholic Biblical Federation “promotes and develops the Biblical Pastoral Ministry in such a way as to allow the Word of God as present in Sacred Scripture, to become a dynamic source of inspiration for all areas of the life and mission of the Church in today’s world” (Constitution of the Catholic Biblical Federation, Art. 9).

In these days of deliberation, I encourage you to examine anew your personal and ecclesial fidelity to this mandate, which is nothing less than the proclamation of the kerygma, the saving mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, your mission and vision should always be inspired by the conviction that the Church draws life not from herself but from the Gospel. From the Gospel she continually rediscovers the direction for her journey, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who teaches all things and reminds us of everything the Son has said (cf. Jn 14:26). Therefore, hearing the Word of God and proclaiming it are properly ecclesial acts: the Bride listening with attentive love to the voice of the Bridegroom (cf. Song 2:8–10).

At the same time, ensuring easy access to Sacred Scripture for all the faithful is essential, so that everyone may encounter the God who speaks, shares his love, and draws us into the fullness of life (cf. Jn 10:10). In this regard, translations of the Scriptures remain indispensable, and I thank you for your commitment to promoting lectio divina and every initiative that encourages frequent reading of the Bible.

Yet today, new generations inhabit new digital environments where the Word of God is easily overshadowed. New communities often find themselves in cultural spaces where the Gospel is unfamiliar or distorted by particular interests. We must therefore ask: what does “easy access to Sacred Scripture” mean in our time? How can we facilitate this encounter for those who have never heard the Word of God or whose cultures remain untouched by the Gospel? I hope these questions inspire in you new forms of biblical outreach, capable of opening pathways to the Scriptures, so that God’s Word may take root in people’s hearts and lead all to live in his grace.

Ultimately, your mission is to become “living letters… written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God” (2 Cor 3:1-6), bearing witness to the primacy of God’s Word over the many voices that fill our world. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the womb through which the Word became flesh, teach us the art of listening, strengthen us in obedience to his Word, and guide us to magnify the Lord (cf. Lk 1:46). With these sentiments, I impart my Apostolic Blessing upon all of you and your loved ones. Thank you.