AMERICA - Pope Benedict XVI convokes 5th CELAM Conference in Brazil 13 - 31 May 2007

Monday, 24 April 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) -"The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, taking into consideration the wish expressed by CELAM and for the good of the Church in the countries of Latin America has formally convoked for 13 to 31 May 2007, the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops’ Conferences to be held in the city of Aparecida in Brazil. The theme of the Conference will be: “Disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ that our Countries may Have Life in Him ” (“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life ” - Jn 14,6).” These are the opening words of a letter addressed by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, to Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Archbishop of Santiago del Chile and president of the Council of Latin American Bishops Conferences (CELAM).
The letter says that the Pope thanks CELAM and all the member Bishops’ Conferences for the work of preparation already underway and extends his gratitude to all those working in this field. The letter invokes the intercession of Mary Mother of the Church “for a happy outcome to the important ecclesial event ”.
During 2006 CELAM has organised a series of meetings in preparation for CELAM 5 including: Meeting of Bishops’ Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean delegates for Basic Ecclesial Communities 24 to 26 May 2006 at Tolgo (Ecuador); Meeting of study and updating for Bishops of the 22 Bishops’ Conferences promoted jointly with the CELAM Biblical Centre (CEBIPAL) 12 - 16 June 2006 in Bogota (Colombia); Meeting on new religious movements and pastoral plans for the Bishops of continental Amazon region 28 - 30 August 2006 at Manaus (Brazil).
CELAM has also promoted a formation course Corso on-line starting May 11 for priests, religious and active laity and members of the Commission of the 5th CELAM Conference. The aim of the course is intellectual formation of the receivers of the fruits of the 5th CELAM Conference and its commissions members to underline the importance and validity of the teachings of the previous CELAM General Conferences held in Rio, Medellin, Puebla and Santo Domingo. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2006 - Righe 29, parole 393)


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