Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aparecida (Agenzia Fides) - The second day of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean began with an address by the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops who is one of the three CELAM 5 presidents appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.
In his address the Cardinal expressed gratitude to the Pope for coming to Aparecida and for "his powerful teaching". He then underlined the logic of the conference's activity “which is none other than the awareness that all of us here are called to live an experience of Church and to make our contribution to an event which will be most important for the future of Latin America ". The guiding criteria he said must be "unlimited love for Christ, the Church and the countries of Latin America, a love which must generate a profound spirit of communion…communion with God among ourselves and, in unity under the guidance of the Holy Father, with all our brothers and sisters of Latin America".
He said the theme of the Conference was "central to our Catholic faith and our Christian life", recalling that to be a disciple means "following Christ, listening to and living his word…... taking Christ seriously, founding our love on the Word of God and nourishing our faith with the Eucharist". Being a missionary means "announcing Christ, making Him known and loved, bearing witness to Him in daily life."
Cardinal Re said CELAM 5 "must be a clear sign and bright indication for the future, in a situation filled with challenges which this Continent prepares to face". "Each of us must be aware of our individual responsibility and task with regard to the situation of Christian life on this Continent. Together we will strive to read the signs of the times and with the wisdom of the Gospel illuminate the situations and religious, cultural, social, economic realities … of today". He spoke of an historic moment “a time to strengthen the faith, consolidate the Catholic identity, defend the dignity of every person, support the family, help the poor... guarantee the active presence of Catholics as faithful disciples of Christ". "Only by following Christ and accepting his teaching can we find adequate ways and criteria for building a future of unity and justice, the civilisation of love and peace" Cardinal Re concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/5/2007; righe 29, parole 427)
