Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Argentinean Bishops are holding their Plenary Assembly for the Bishops’ Conference, which began on April 7 and will run until April 12. The first day began with an exchange of reflections on the country’s difficulties and was followed by a Mass presided by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
Following the discussion on pastoral affairs, the Bishops showed their general concern for the growing tensions that threaten to establish a climate of social confrontation, especially due to the repercussions of the farmers’ uprising that has not yet been resolved. They also showed their concern for the project underway that would legalize drug consumption, saying, “drugs are synonymous with death, more in fact, as we have gone from being a country used for trafficking, to a country with a very high rate of consumption.” With all these concerns, the Bishops decided to celebrate a Mass for the country at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan, to place under the Virgin’s protection, all “the worries and hopes of the Argentinean people” and to pray for the country, in this “delicate and providential moment in our nation’s history.”
According to the spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference, Fr. Jorge Oesterheld, the Bishops will go to the Marian shrine dedicated to the Patroness of Argentina in order “to pray the Prayer for the Country,” which they are now also asking be recited in the local parishes all over the country. The Mass today (Wednesday) is scheduled to take place at 7pm and will be presided by Archbishop Agustin Radrizzani of Mercedes-Lujan, second Vice-President of the Bishops’ Conference.
In a message to all the faithful, the Bishops explained that they would be on their pilgrimage, “as all faithful, going to the house of Our Mother of Lujan to ask Her to intercede before Her Son for the most urgent needs of the country.” They will especially pray that She may help all Argentineans to “value and construct, with perseverance, healthy social relations, placing aside confrontational attitudes, hate, revenge, and all fighting in order to promote equality and justice for all, work to cultivate a general openness to dialogue in truth and respect of others, as it is the only path in search of the common good.” They also encourage the democratic institutions of the Republic and federalism, respecting the national Constitution, to guarantee a peaceful coexistence for all people. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/4/2008; righe 31, parole 396)
