Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - From 5 to 12 September the 12th International Congress of the International Commission for Catholic Prison Pastoral is taking place in Rome at the Casa La Salle in via Aurelia Nuova 472-476) on the theme “Discovering the Face of Christ in every Prisoner ”. The Commission is composed of priests and lay people responsible for the pastoral care of people who work and live in prisons all over the world. The participants come from 56 different countries.
The aims of the Commission, established in the 1950s, are to: "reawaken and foster greater awareness and concern in the Church for prison pastoral care and apostolate"; "encourage Bishops' Conferences to establish and promote Prison Pastoral Care which is a mission of the Church, offering support "; "promote the humanisation, revision and reform of penitentiary systems all over the world ".
The Congress programme includes an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo, on 6 September, an address by Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir (Lebanon) on the theme “Discovering the Face of Christ in every prisoner- Jesus calls us!”; an address by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on the theme “Prison Pastoral Care- the Mission of the Church”; at the Basilica Parish of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome the inauguration of an exhibition of paintings produced by prison inmates in various parts of the world.
The agenda includes discussion in language and geographical position groups, reports from the outgoing council of administration and election of new members as well as a series of interventions: Jean Paul Laborde (United Nations) “The standards of the United Nations and guaranteeing the dignity of prisoners”; Mgr Giorgio Caniato, Inspector General, on “Catholic Pastoral in Prisons in Italy”; Prof. Dr. Michael Platzer and Prof. Dr. Anton van Kalmthout on “Vulnerable groups in prison”; Prof. Manfred Nowak, UN special rapporteur on torture, on the theme “Safeguarding the Rights of Detainees”; Fr Damase Masabo (Mercedario) on "Pastoral Care in Prison - a challenge for religious orders and congregations”; Bishop Vicente Jimenez Zamora (Spain) on the theme “Deus Caritas est - putting this message into practice in our daily activity in prisons”. The Congress will conclude with a Final Statement and a Mass in St Peter's presided by Archbishop Angelo Comastri, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2007; righe 28, parole 409)
