AMERICA-Even in America the Day of charity of the Pope, "a sign of communion with the Pope and the response to the needs of the poorest brothers and sisters"

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Day of charity of the Pope is celebrated around the world, even though with different dates but still close to the solemnity of the Saints Peter and Paul. As far as the American continent is concerned, in Argentina the Day is celebrated on 2 and 3 July, with the slogan "Love is the force that changes the world". As written by father Osvaldo Leone, head of the Commission, which organizes the Day in Argentina, it is "an appropriate gesture to express the filial support of the Catholics to the Holy Father, praying for him and for his mission as Universal Pastor". Recalling the slogan Fr. Leone chose, he adds that "it is an invitation to all Catholics to reach out to our poorest brothers and sisters with a concrete gesture that reaches the whole world".
In Bolivia, this day falls on 3 July and, according to the note sent to Fides by the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz, it is the appropriate moment "to celebrate communion, solidarity and closeness within the Church, so we can unite as a family of the children of God together with the Vicar of Christ".
The Honduran Catholic Church already celebrated the Day for the charity of the Pope, on Sunday, June 26, urging us not to forget the people in need and the merciful love of God manifested in solidarity. Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, recalled the importance of following Christ's example in assisting the brother in need. In the celebration, in the Cathedral of Tegucigalpa, the Cardinal pointed out that our offer "intends to promote the charity of the faithful in the world, to assist the needs of many people and become aware of the mission as members of the Church".
Even in Mexico the Day was celebrated last Sunday. The Archbishop of Yucatán, Mgr.Emilio Carlos Berlie Belaunzarán, sent a letter to his parishioners to motivate their participation in the collection, "a typical expression of the participation of all the faithful to the initiatives of the Bishop of Rome for the benefit of the Universal Church. This gesture has a unique symbolic power: it is a sign of communion with the Pope and the response to the needs of the poorest brothers and sisters".
Colombia has proposed July 10 to celebrate the Day for Charity of the Pope: the Bishops' Conference has invited to celebrate it in all the parishes of the country collecting the so-called "Peter's Pence" intended to help the poorest in the world.
Under the slogan "God loves he who gives with joy ", in Ecuador, on Sunday, June 26 the Day of Prayer and Charity of the Pope was celebrated. In the note sent to Fides by the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference, what is remembered is that Ecuador benefited especially from this aid by the Holy Father, in the Apostolic Vicariate of the Amazon (Méndez, Zamora, Napo, Sucumbíos, Aguarico y Puyo ) affected by natural disasters.
In Peru, the collection of Peter's Pence will take place on Sunday, July 3. Father Raul Cornejo Corrales, National Delegate for the collection of the Pope has asked the faithful to cooperate generously in order to demonstrate loyalty to the union of the Peruvian Catholic Church and the Holy Father, especially because this year, 60 years of priesthood will be celebrated . "This charity event - he said - is important for everyone, because it encourages others to strengthen the ties of solidarity with our poorer brothers". (EC) (Agenzia Fides 06/28/2011)