Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rios Gallegos (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishop of Punta Arenas (Chile), Bishop Bernard Bastres Florence, and the Bishop of Rio Gallegos (Argentina), Bishop Juan Carlos Romanin, encouraged their fellow compatriots to “remember with gratitude” the Church's intervention for peace 25 years ago, through Servant of God John Paul II. The Prelates expressed this thought in a declaration that was signed in front of the relics of the Founder of the Salesian Congregation, Saint John Bosco, which since April 25 have been traveling all over the world on a six-month tour.
“We gather here, before the relics of Saint John Bosco, to give thanks for having reached an accord that brought peace to these two sister-republics, as occurred 25 years ago in the signing of the Peace and Amnesty Treaty between Argentina and Chile, as fruit of the mediation of Pope John Paul II and his Cardinal Antonio Samore,” they said.
The Bishops continue: “Chile and Argentina are two sister peoples who prayed at great lengths that an accord would be reached, in order to avoid the use of force in resolving the conflict. The mediation of the Catholic Church played a definitive role in the resolution of the controversy, which was in danger of turning into a war.”
The Prelates also affirmed that the signing of the accord and the Church's intervention “was an admirable example of the construction of peace through the ever-useful path of dialogue, whose end is not in force or interests, but in affirming equal justice, the sure and stable foundation of peaceful coexistence.”
On Monday, July 20, the city of Rio Gallegos received a visit from the relics of Saint John Bosco. The relics, along with the image that accompanies them, arrived at the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, where the community received them. The following day, the relics were taken to the Cathedral of Rio Gallegos, where they remained on exposition the whole day, for the veneration of the faithful. There, there were three celebrations of the Word: one for kids, one for the youth, and one for adults.
In the evening, the Bishop of Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego, Antartida, and the Malvinas Islands, Juan Carlos Romanin, SDB, presided the Mass in honor of the Patron of Patagonia, in front of his relics, in concelebration with the priests of the Diocese. In the early morning hours, on Wednesday July 22, the image continued its travels through the cities of Puerto San Julián and Caleta Olivia, in the Province of Santa Cruz. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2009)
