Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, March 31, the Pontifical Urban University (PUU) hosted the Congress: “The Pontifical Mission Societies: History – Legislation – Praxis,” organized and promoted by the Department of Canon Law, the “Cattedra di Diritto Missionario,” the Missiology Department, and the Superior Studies Institute for Catechesis and Missionary Spirituality.
Professor Cataldo Zuccaro, Rector Major of the PUU, in welcoming the many guests, highlighted that the Congress was an effort to promote the Pontifical Societies, who have given many academic institutions and formation houses the chance to continue carrying out their mission. After a brief presentation of the program by Prof. Vincenzo Mosca, Coordinator of the Congress, Prof. Alberto Trevisiol, Dean of the Faculty of Missiology at the PUU, in his talk on the “Historical Profile of the Pontifical Mission Societies: from the variations in the origins, to a common path,” explained the ends for which the many initiatives are carried out, making an appeal to all the faithful in the Church. The Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Jaricot, was also a paradigm for the other three that followed.
Fr. Vito Del Prete, PIME, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union and Professor in Missiology, spoke of the urgent need for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) to revise and deepen in their charisma and role in the new ecclesial context. The PMS, are a Pontifical institution, however they are also under the protection and responsibility of the Bishops, as their privileged instrument for missionary formation and animation.
In his talk on “The current praxis of the Pontifical Mission Societies: the organization of an itinerary. Perspectives,” Fr. Vito Del Prete showed that the fact that the PMS is Pontifical and Episcopal does not create antithesis but assumption of responsibility and unity. In any case, he added, there is a need to preserve the universality of the Societies, which is guaranteed by the Universal Solidarity Fund. There should be no “Roman centralism,” as the Pontifical Mission Societies are an Assembly: with a Superiors Committee, the Superior Council formed by the President and the 4 Secretary Generals and all the National Directors of the PMS, who determine and approve the distribution of funds, etc. If this Universal Solidarity Fund – sign of the communion among dioceses - should diminish, the PMS would lose its identity and become a so-called pulverization of Missionary Cooperation.
In his speech, Prof. Luigi Sabbarese, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, addressed the legislative history of the PMS, up until the approval of the new Statutes in May 2005. It is also fruit of the new ecclesiological and missiological installation. (Fr. Vito Del Prete) (Agenzia Fides 1/4/2009)
