Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM) began its 32nd Plenary Assembly on May 12 (yesterday). The Assembly will last until May 16 and is taking place at the “Virgen de Fatima” Seminary in the outskirts of Managua. The Assembly is being attended by around 60 Bishops, including the directors of CELAM, the presidents of the 22 Bishops' Conferences of Latin America, delegates, CELAM center directors, special guests, and a small support team of the General Secretariat. Among the special guests are Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Archbishop Octavio Ruiz Arenas, Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Archbishop Henryk Josef Nowacki, Apostolic Nuncio in Nicaragua.
Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes of Managua, President of the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference (CEN), inaugurated the Assembly, welcoming all the attendants. “For us it is a great pleasure to have you here, and I welcome you to this cathedral on behalf of our priests and faithful,” Archbishop Brenes said. “Your presence in Nicaragua, and here in the Archdiocese of Managua, strengthens our faith and pastoral activity in a special manner in the spirit of Aparecida (Brazil), which invites us to become authentic disciples and missionaries.” He also thanked the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and Pope Benedict XVI's delegate for the CELAM Assembly, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, for his presence, also on behalf of the priests and faithful of Nicaragua.
“May the protection of Our Mother, Mary Most Holy, bless CELAM's workshops and our activity being carried out in each of our dioceses,” Archbishop Brenes concluded.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided an Inaugural Mass for the Assembly in the afternoon in the Cathedral of Managua, in which he exhorted the Latin American prelates to bear witness to the truth with courage. “Our time, marked by the decay of values, requires strength and great courage,” said Cardinal Re. He also recalled the fact that today Bishops must maintain a clear vision of the present challenges and have the strength and courage to face them. “Fortitude is needed to announce the truth of the faith and even more so, the Bishop needs great fortitude in governing the diocese, in which he should enter in direct contact with the people,” the prelate added. In this sense, he affirmed that the Apostle Paul is for all priests, religious, and laity an example that can inspire us and give us strength to carry out our tasks and responsibilities. The CELAM Assembly will focus on the missions. On the first day, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Leopoldo Gonzalez of Guadalajara (Mexico) was elected as the new Secretary General of the organization. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2009)
