Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tuparenda (Agenzia Fides) – On May 13 at the shrine of Tuparenda (Ypacarai- Paraguay) CELAM Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences opened its 29the ordinary assembly which will close on 16 May. The meeting is attended by 9 Cardinals, 16 Archbishops and about 40 Bishops from all over Latin America as well as guest Bishops from the Untied States and Europe, the Papal Envoy Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect della Congregation for Bishops who is also President of Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Bishop Cipriano Calderón Polo, Vice-President of the Commission.
The agenda comprises several tasks: panorama of social and ecclesial realities in the various countries of Latin America and the Caribbean: examination, discussion and approval of general lines of the CELAM’s New Global Plan 2003-2007 “Towards a Church, Home and School of Communion and Solidarity: humanising globalisation, globalising solidarity”. To be noted two important conferences: “Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops” (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re) and “The Holy Rosary and Popular Piety” (Rev. Antonio González Dorado, S.J.).
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re on his arrival at Assunzione (Paraguay) said that the priority of the Latin American Bishops must be the sanctification of the faithful without neglecting social and human problems: “Their main concern will always be the proclamation of the Gospel, while sustaining human promotion”. Among the challenges facing the Churches in Latin America corruption and violenza which, he said, can be eliminated with unity. “The Church teaches that the power which can improve society its not violence, but love; hence the need to work to build the covilisation of love.” Mons. Jorge Jiménez Carvajal in his opening message called for the “evangelisation of culture, la science and research, that they may be at the service of the human being”
The Assembly will conclude with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Caacupé where there will be a solemn concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving. (R.Z.) (Fides Service 14/05/2003; lines 28; words 364).
