AMERICA/BRAZIL - “This is a favourable time granted us by Divine Providence!”: in view of the Pope’s visit in May Bishops issue Message to the people of God in Brazil and launch nation-wide solidarity campaign involving young people

Thursday, 12 April 2007

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - In a message addressed to the People of God in Brazil on the occasion of the forthcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI the Catholic Bishops of that country write: "we rejoice for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, and for the CELAM General Conference and we call on you to accompany these events with your prayers”. The message is signed by the president and vice president of the Bishops’ Conference respectively Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop of São Salvatore dà Baia and Bishop Antônio Celso di Queirós of Catanduva-SP, and conference secretary general Bishop Odilo Pedro Scherer, auxiliary of São Paulo.
"The Pope’s visit will give new impulse to our activity of evangelisation", the Bishops write, expressing gratitude to the Pope for choosing Brazil to host CELAM 5. “This is a favourable time a gift of divine providence! Let us rejoice and open our heart to welcome the working of the Lord. Let us live the grace of our vocation to be disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ that our peoples may have life in Him" the Bishops conclude.
During his visit the Pope will have a meeting with young Catholics on May 10. In preparation for the meeting the Bishops’ Conference has launched a campaign with the title “solidarity in action, a forest which grows: young people must be like an immense forest filled with life and hope as well as fruits.” The youth campaign is a response to the Pope’s Deus Caritas est encyclical and his message for World Youth Day where he says: “with your enthusiasm and charity, stimulate the activities of the parishes, the communities, the ecclesial movements and the youth groups to which you belong. Be attentive in your concern for the welfare of others, faithful to the commitments you have made".
During a three week campaign launched on Easter Sunday young people are asked to collect food, clothes and medicines for the poor, to donate blood, to visit and assist the suffering, the needy, people in prison, build homes for the poor, take part in social and political activities. Each group will write a report on these activities by May 6. The reports will be included in a letter to be handed to the Pope on the occasion of his visit. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 12/4/2007; righe 31, parole 451)


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