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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Made public today was a Letter from Benedict XVI to bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, in which he authorises the publication of the final document of the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM). On May 13, during the course of his apostolic trip to Brazil, the Pope inaugurated the conference at the Brazilian shrine of Aparecida. The Letter is addressed to “Brother Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean”. The Final Document was presented to the Holy Father for approval on 11 June by the three presidents of the 5th General Conference of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida received in audience (see Fides 12/6/2007).
In his Letter, the Pope calls for the final document "to be light and impulse for fruitful pastoral and evangelising work in the years to come," observing that the text contains "many useful pastoral indications motivated with rich reflections in the light of the faith and of the current social situation. "Among them," the Pope adds, "I read with particular appreciation the exhortation for priority to be given, in pastoral programs, to the Eucharist and the sanctification of the Day of the Lord, as well as the expressed wish to strengthen the Christian formation of the faithful in general and of pastoral workers in particular. In this context I was happy to learn of the desire to create a 'Continental Mission,' which Bishops' conferences and dioceses are all called to study and put into effect, channelling all their vital energies to this end.”. The Letter concludes invoking the protection of Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of America and Star of Evangelisation. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/7/2007; righe 24, parole 341)
