Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - Over 400 participants from 98 different countries including about a hundred cardinals and bishops, will gather in Rome 14 to 18 September at the Aurelia Convention Centre for an International Congress on the theme ‘Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church’. The congress is organised jointly by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to mark the 40th anniversary of the Constitution Dei Verbum promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. A statement released today by the Holy See Press Office said the congress is for people who operate in various areas of biblical work: pastoral, translation and studies and that representatives of other Churches and other religions will be among the participants.
Conferences and discussion groups will focus on various aspects of biblical work: exegetics, catechesis and liturgy; ecumenical dialogue, relations with Judaism, interreligious dialogue; the challenge of new religious movements and the growing problem of fundamentalism; the question of religious values in a secularised context, the theme of justice and peace in a globalised world. The programme includes prayers, liturgies and cultural events as well as a Seminar on «Creative methods for proclaiming the Word of God», presenting the variety and vast scope of concrete biblical work all over the world.
Rather than look back on the past forty years the aim of the Congress is to consider the present situation, discuss fundamental problems and challenges in this 21st century which must be met with biblically inspired pastoral which takes into consideration the ecclesial context, ecumenical dialogue, dialogue with different cultures and religions, with society, with the world. The Congress intends to be an internal platform of exchange on ways to foster access to the Bible and develop biblical work in ways suited to our times.
The apex of the congress will be a Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica followed by a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI. In conjunction with the Congress there will be an exhibition «Ut Dei Verbum currat (2 Ts 3,1)» involving about 30 organisations. Exhibits will include material and information on the Bible: biblical translations and specialised publications for courses of biblical formation, material for diffusion via the Internet, radio and television.
For more information see the web site of the Catholic Biblical Federation www.c-b-f.org or the Congress web page www.deiverbum2005.org. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2005 Righe 34; Parole 488)
