Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sarajevo (Agenzia Fides) - The Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences of South-East Europe (Albania; Bulgaria; Bosnia Herzegovina; Greece; the SS Cyril and Methodius Bishops' Conference of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia; Romania; and Turkey) met in Sarajevo from 25-27 February 2005 to examine their common responsibility for peace and the Gospel in this part of Europe. “The social situation, stability and solidarity” was the theme examined by the bishops and representatives of European political and ecclesial institutions. The peoples of South-East Europe - while different in many ways - are, on the one hand, faced with serious challenges: emigration (especially among the young), poverty, unemployment, corruption, economic inequality, lack of services, and political instability. In some countries the number of abortions, abandoned children, and young girls who become ‘commodities’ is frightening. The status of ethnic and religious minorities remains problematic. On the other hand, there is a sense that a new page in the history [of South-East Europe] is being written: there is investment in formation, solidarity, intercultural dialogue. There are widespread great expectations about the European Union. The Church is aware of possessing a social doctrine which pushes it to be in the forefront.
The President of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', Mgr Paul Cordes, noted that today 'sharing suffering' is a positive sign of the times. Ecclesial aid agencies are therefore called to be faithful to the Christian news brought by Jesus Christ which is the heart of their service. The Church's charitable activity is never limited to mere technical organisation or the work of officials. The confrontation with modern culture and secularisation is a challenge with a new aspect for the churches and religions of the South-East European countries. On the one hand there is the search for the right secularisation capable of distinguishing between the religious and political spheres, and on the other one senses the danger of a materialist culture, closed to every transcendent dimension. The addresses showed that the confrontation with secularisation urgently needs the process of ecumenism and the meeting between the different religions.
The visit made by the participants in the Sarajevo meeting on the afternoon of Saturday 26 February to the Jewish community, the Islamic centre, and to the Orthodox Church, offered signs of hope in reconciliation on the journey. The celebration of Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday, in the Cathedral, were significant meetings with the local Church. The Presidents wrote a letter to Pope John Paul II expressing their affection for him and their communion with him in this time of trial: “With Totus tuus in our hearts, we invoke in a special way the Mother of Heaven that she may guard you and be close to you at all times”. The sixth meeting of the Bishops will be held in Thessalonika (Greece) from 3-5 March 2006. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/3/2005; Righe 30; Parole 418)
