Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Vice-President Luis Hector Villalba, Vice-President of the Argentinean Bishops' Conference and Archbishop of Tucuman, presented the Holy Father Benedict XVI with the main challenges facing the Church in Argentina, during the Ad limina visit of the third and final group of Argentinean Bishops.
After renewing their adhesion and fidelity to the Holy Father and to his Magisterium, and expressing their gratitude “for the service that he offers the Church as Universal Pastor and his tender fatherly love,” the Archbishop also thanked him for his fruitful Magisterium, especially mentioning his personal letter written this past March 10, “written from his heart” in which he expressed his “anxieties and urgent pastoral concerns as Successor of Peter.” The Vice-President of the Bishops' Conference then mentioned several signs of ecclesial vitality of the Church in Argentina. Among them, he mentioned the publication of the document “Put Out Into the Deep,” which “hopes to encourage a new phase of evangelization in Argentina through a more organic, renewed, and efficient pastoral action.” It is then mission of every diocesan Bishop to implement it and adapt it “to the needs and characteristics of their own diocese.” As for the Continental Mission proposed in Aparecida and the document “Put Out Into the Deep,” he mentioned that “this is not something limited only to a certain time. The mission is permanent. That is to say, the mission should be the characteristic part, the key to all pastoral activity, with the intention of reaching out to all society, all people.”
The Bishops have also published a document entitled, “Towards a Bicentennial in justice and solidarity” (2010-2016), in light of the upcoming bicentennial anniversary of the country's independence (see Fides 17/11/2008). “In this document, as Bishops we right our brethren, proposing that we all join efforts in search of paths for overcoming difficulties and building a just and united nation. In this regards and in light of the sacred dignity of every human being and the integral concept of the person, we suggest several goals that we see as priorities in building the common good.”
However, along with these positive aspects, there are also a share of problems of challenges. Among them, Archbishop Luis Hector mentioned the lack of vocations to the priesthood and religious life; lack of religious formation among many faithful, along with the incoherence between faith and life; the increase in violence and insecurity with their criminal consequences of every kind; the increase of drug abuse which takes its toll on health and on lives, especially among the youth; the situation of the youth who do not study or work. While there has been a drop in the poverty level suffered in the crisis 2001-2002, the social gap of inequality between rich and poor has not been reduced. Corruption has not been eradicated either. “In recent years, in various documents and declarations, the Bishops' Conference has indicated that the root of the economic, social, and political crisis is a moral crisis. Thus, in response to the critical situation in our country, we choose the New Evangelization, as the best contribution that the Church can make in overcoming it.”
The Archbishop concluded his presentation, showing his complete fidelity, filial love and prayers for the Holy Father, on behalf of all the Bishops of Argentina. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2009)
