VATICAN - PMS General Assembly: “Being credible witnesses to the Risen Christ, with respect for others, seeking dialogue but above all loving as we are loved by Christ”

Rome (Fides Service) - Concluding the first two days 4 and 5 May of the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies during which national PMS directors from all over the world reflected on missionary activity in the present day multi-cultural and multi-religious situation, the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, said “our multicultural societies are a challenge for missionary activity. Where is the line between paralysing respect and charismatic boldness, ‘parresia’ in the proclamation of the Gospel? Where is the line between dialogue and fidelity to the Church’s deposit of faith? Despite the difficulties we must not be afraid - the Archbishop said -, because as we read in these days of Easter liturgy season, the Risen Christ goes before us to Galilee, homeland of the Gospel and of the encounter with others”.
Archbishop Hoser thanked Fr. Jean-Claude Veder for giving the second part of his intervention: "Intercultural Inculturation as a Path for missionary theology and activity ". The Professor from Mauritius said that while the term "multiculturality" expresses a space for coexistence of people who are different, "interculturality" instead is born where there is a desire to start dialogue between cultures in view of reciprocal enrichment. This is not easy nor is good will sufficient, it demands a process founded on education to dialogue and acceptance of those who are different from ourselves. In this context the Church is called to become incarnate by means of “intercultural inculturation” following the example of “Jesus of Nazareth, altruist par excellence ”.
Much of the work of the assembly on 5 May consisted of reflection and sharing of experience in ten language groups and then presenting the findings to the Assembly. Interventions revealed the different situations of Christians in the world, ranging from the Holy Land, to Belgium, Tunisia, the Amazon region of Brazil, India and in Kenya. Many proposals were made for missionary activity in the world today and the participants agreed that first of all it is necessary to be credible witnesses of the Risen Christ, respect for those who are different without losing one’s own identity, seeking to start dialogue, but above all loving as we are loved by Christ. In this sense emphasis was laid on the necessity of missionary formation for the People of God at all levels. (G.R.) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2006 - Righe 29; Parole 402)