Editing Pope Benedict XV (section)

=== ''Humani generis redemptionem'' ===
The encyclical ''[[Humani generis redemptionem]]'', from 15 June 1917, deals with blatant ineffectiveness of Christian preaching. According to Benedict XV, there are more preachers of the Word than ever before, but "in the state of public and private morals as well as the constitutions and laws of nations, there is a general disregard and forgetfulness of the supernatural, a gradual falling away from the strict standard of Christian virtue, and that men are slipping back into the shameful practices of paganism."<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 2</ref> The Pope squarely put part of the blame on those ministers of the Gospel who do not handle it as they should. It is not the times but the incompetent Christian preachers who are to blame, for no one today can say for sure that the Apostles were living in better times than ours. Perhaps, the encyclical states, that the Apostles found minds more readily devoted to the Gospel, or they may have met others with less opposition to the law of God.<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 3</ref>

As the encyclical tells, first are the Catholic bishops. The [[Council of Trent]] taught that preaching "is the paramount duty of Bishops."<ref>[Sess., xxiv, De. Ref., c.iv]</ref> The Apostles, whose successors the bishops are, looked upon the Church as something theirs, for it was they who received the grace of the Holy Spirit to begin it. Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Christ sent us not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel."<ref>[I Cor. i:17]</ref> Council of Trent Bishops are required to select for this priestly office those only who are "fit" for the position, i.e. those who "can exercise the ministry of preaching with profit to souls." Profiting souls does not mean doing such "eloquently or with popular applause, but rather with spiritual fruit."<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 7</ref> The Pope requested that all the priests who are incapable of preaching or of hearing confession be removed from the position.<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 9</ref>