Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Argentina and Chile, thirty years after the historical events that marked their nations, will bring together their peoples once more for three main reasons: to thank God for the papal mediation, to recall the Church's intervention with gratitude, and to renew the value of peace in the international and national arena. Thus, the Argentinean Bishops' Conference has asked that the faithful participate in the Mass to be held on December 22, at 7pm, in the Basilica of Lujan, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the papal mediation that prevented a war between Argentina and Chile. There will also be a Mass held in the Chilean Shrine of Maipu, which all the people are invited to attend, along with the the leaders of both nations.
The President of the Bishops' Commission for Social Pastoral Ministry, Bishop Jorge Casaretto of San Isidro, explained that the Mass at the national shrine will have the theme of “We want peace, let us form minds of dialogue,” after which there will be a civil act in Plaza Belgrano, where President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will give an address. The Mass will be presided by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, and the homily will be given by Bishop Casaretto, Church authority at the National Peace and Justice Commission, who is in charge of the event.
“The act is mainly a religious one, however it is fundamental that representatives from the people participate, as they are the ones who benefited from the papal mediation of John Paul II,” Bishop Casaretto said. The Bishops want it to be “an act in which unity and communion among Argentineans is evident and strengthened by the exchange and bonds of friendship with the Chileans.” As a fraternal act between the two peoples, an Argentinean family in Chile will receive an image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and a Chilean woman living in the country will be presented with one of Our Lady of Lujan.
In addition, in all the dioceses they are making plans so that it can be an event with great symbolic value. For example, in the Archdiocese of Mendoza, the commemoration will take place on December 23, in the Basilica of San Francisco, presided by Archbishop Jose Maria Arancibia of Mendoza, and concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Sergio Buenanueva, and the clergy. In the Archdiocese of Rosario, there will be a special Mass today in the Cathedral, celebrated by Archbishop Jose Luis Mollaghan, as “a sign of gratitude to the Holy See, which opened its doors to the light of hope, in a moment in which the conflict had reached a high level of tension and the armies of both countries had moved its troops towards the borders to begin the fighting.”
In Salta, the Mass will be held on Sunday, December 21, in the Cathedral there, also presided by local Archbishop Mario Cargnello. Later, there will be a tribute ceremony to Our Lady of Peace, “in gratitude for the day on which peace was obtained through papal mediation efforts.” In Rafaela, there will be an evening Mass held at the Cathedral on December 21, presided by Bishop Carlos Franzini, following the March for Peace that will be held by the youth from parishes across the city. In the Diocese of San Francisco, local Bishop Carlos Tissera will celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass on December 21, in gratitude and to invoke God's protection on the country, especially in terms of the employers and all institutions in general, that they may seek peace and the common good. In the Diocese of Avellanada-Lanus, Bishop Ruben Frassia recommended that in all the Masses on December 20-21, “we may thank the Lord for the gift of the papal mediation and pray for peace among people and in our families.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 18/12/2008)
