AMERICA/BRAZIL - Bishops of Brazil express affection, communion, loyalty and gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI for choosing their country to host the 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean and urge contemplative religious to accompany the event with prayer

Aparecida (Agenzia Fides) - All America is preparing to live the great ecclesial event of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean. Final preparations are being made at the National Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, the Conference venue. The Pope will arrive in Sao Paulo today 9 May to start his first Apostolic Visit to Latin America, also called the 'continent of hope'. In the five day visit the Pope will meet with political authorities, canonise the first Brazilian born saint, have a meeting with thousands of young Brazilians in Pecaembú sports stadium and on the last day, preside a solemn Mass to open the 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida.
At the end of their own 45th general assembly last week in Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo, the Bishops made public a letter addressed to Pope Benedict XVI expressing affection communion, loyalty and gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI for choosing their country to host the 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean and for coming from Rome to be present at the event.
"Your Holiness, with vibrant expectation Brazil awaits your visit and prepares to pray with you and welcome you, because they love you the Pope, the Successor of Saint Peter. Your presence here, your apostolic journey is a witness of missionary discipleship…the canonisation of Frei Antônio de Sant'Ana Galvão will be a great blessing for all of us an a strong incentive to strive for holiness in the Church" the Bishops write in the letter. They conclude with a prayer that the Blessed Virgin Mary may "indicate to the continent of hope paths for evangelisation", and they welcome the Pope asking for his apostolic blessing on their assembly and on the 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida.
Bishop Carlos Collazi, president of the Bishops' Conference of Uruguay has called on all ecclesial communities throughout America, enclosed orders especially to pray that the Conference may be " a new Pentecost for our pilgrims Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean and help us grow as disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ ". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/5/2007; righe 27, parole 368)