Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ljubljana (Agenzia Fides) - The General Secretaries of Europe’s 34 Bishops’ Conferences are to meet in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 24 - 27 June 2006. Items for discussion by the representatives of the Bishops’ Conferences include: collaboration between the European Bishops’ Conferences on urgent pastoral matters: migration, the mass-media society, responsibility for creation, the relationship with Muslims in Europe, the relationship between Europe and Africa; pastoral care of vocations in Europe; the reception of Pope Benedict XVI’s first Encyclical “Deus Caritas est” and the imminent World Meeting of Families (Valencia, Spain, 1-9 July 2006) the role and figure of the General Secretary of a Bishops’ Conference; ecumenical issues. In particular, developments in the process of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (Sibiu, Romania, 4-9 September 2007) and the growing presence in Europe of pentecostal, evangelical and Free Churches; issues connected with the process of European unification: the debate about the EU constitutional Treaty and the research programme of the European Union. Part of the time in Ljubljana will also be dedicated to exchanges about current issues affecting the Bishops’ Conferences: Church-State relations and human trafficking. The timetable will also include moments of prayer and the celebration of Mass. On Sunday 25 June, the participants will visit the city of Ljubljana, and the Library in the diocesan Major Seminary. In the afternoon they will go on pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Brezje and Bled. On Tuesday 27 June, the Secretaries will attend a concert in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio and all the Slovenian Bishops. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/6/2006, righe 17, parole 214)
