VATICAN - Message to Catholics in Brazil for the Lenten Fraternity Campaign 2007, the Pope recalls with gratitude the many courageous men and women missionaries dedicated, “even at the risk of their life, to spreading the Catholic faith in the villages and towns of the region”

Thursday, 22 February 2007

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Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion of the annual Lenten Brotherhood Campaign in Brazil, this year with the theme “Fraternity and Amazon" and the motto "Life and Mission in that Land " (see Fides 20/2/2007), Pope Benedict XVI addressed a special message to the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Brazil Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop São Salvador da Bahia.
The Holy Father says he supports the Lenten Campaign which will begin on Ash Wednesday: “Lent is a season when every Christian is called to reflect on the different social situations of the Brazilian people in need for greater fraternity”. The theme chosen this year is to promote effective solidarity with the peoples in the Amazon. This concern “is part of the theme of environment protection since this vast territory is a common patrimony which, for its human socio-political, economic and environmental reality, calls for special attention on the part of the Church and society in Brazil”.
In this context, the Message continues, ecclesial activity promotes “a process of widespread evangelisation to encourage missionary impulse and create conditions for all the people of the Amazon region to discover or grow in the faith”. In continuity with his Predecessors, the Pope expresses gratitude to “the numerous courageous missionaries past and present dedicated, even at the risk of their life, to spreading the Catholic faith in the villages and towns of the region; men and women who out of love for God dedicate themselves body and soul to building up the Kingdom of God in the land of Santa Cruz”.
The Pope concludes expressing the hope that the different realities of civil society will show ever greater solidarity with the peoples of the Amazon region “meeting the ethical demands of justice and respect for life”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2007, righe 23, parole 301)