VATICAN - “The Life and the Ministry of the Bishop”: a book containing the acts of two Study Seminars for newly appointed Bishops in mission territories organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “The Life and Ministry of the Bishop” is the title of a volume containing the acts of two Study Seminars held respectively in 2003 and 2004 for recently appointed Bishops in mission territories organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The book is published by the Urban University Press. The first Seminar held in September 2003 for English speaking Bishops brought together 170 bishops from 36 different countries: 15 African countries, 5 North and Central American countries, 15 Asian countries and 1 country in Oceania. In September 2004 the second Seminar for newly appointed French, Portuguese and Spanish speaking bishops brought together 118 bishops from 34 different countries: 23 French or Portuguese speaking African countries; 8 Central and South American Spanish speaking countries, 2 Asian French or Portuguese speaking countries and 1 French speaking country in Oceania.
The Seminars included updating or refresher courses in various disciplines, theological and pastoral. Conferences were given by cardinals and bishops of the different Curia departments and other experts. In the light of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Pastores gregis and other documents of the Magisterium the speakers reflected on the three duties of the bishop, “to teach, to sanctify and to tend the flock entrusted to him”, with special regard to the different situations in Churches in mission territories. Themes included formation, (in seminaries and religious institutes, lay formation), relations with the Curia and with Bishops’ Conferences, social doctrine, ecumenism, inter-religious dialogue, evangelisation, inculturation, liturgy, family, the media… Of particular interest was a talk given by the then Cardinal Ratzinger on the evangelisation of cultures, in which the future Pope Benedict XVI illustrated very clearly the sensitive relation between the proclamation of the Gospel and the various realities of the different local cultures. For his part, Pope John Paul II received both groups of bishops in special audiences and he stressed the importance of the Seminar as an opportunity to intensify communion and share experiences.
The book contains the conferences given by the following people: F. Arinze, O. Braga, A. Cacciavillan, A. Caloia, D. Castrillón Hoyos, J. Cordes, N. Eterovic, J. Foley, F. González Fernández, F. Galbiati, W. Kasper, J. Koonamparampil, F.A. Machado, F. Macharski, E. Martínez Somalo, J. Mejía, A. Nicora, F. Pompedda, J. Ratzinger, F. Rodé, L. Sandri, R. Sarah, T.A. Sarr, A. Scola, C. Sepe, A. Silvestrini, A. Spreafico, E. Szoka, A. López Trujillo, E. Wamala. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/3/2006; righe 29, parole 392)