Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Mary of Nazareth welcomes the Son of God to History” is the theme of 21st International Mariological Congress organised by the International Pontifical Marian Academy to mark the 150th anniversary of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception” 4 to 7 December at the Lateran University in Rome. The following day the Congress participants will take part in a solemn Mass presided by Pope John Paul II in St Peter’s Basilica on December 8th , Feast day of the Immaculate Conception.
The Congress will open on Saturday 4 December with a solemn liturgy in the Basilica of St Mary Major. The Congress will be presided, on behalf of the Pope, by Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Nine morning conferences will give a multi-disciplinary and systematic vision of the theme. In the afternoons 12 different language sections (Africa, Asia, and Europe, Croat, French English, German, Italian Latin America, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Spanish) will offer talks by national Mariology experts. The Congress will close on 7 December with a summary of contributions offered in the plenary and linguistic sessions. Important Marian Congress started in 1900 a Lyons and since 1950 they have been organised every four years by the International Pontifical Marian Academy with the participation of specialists ion the field of Mariology, scholars and experts from all over the world. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/12/2004 - Righe 18, Parole 220)
