SUMMARY:
-
"ECCLESIA IN AMERICA" - FIFTEEN YEARS ON
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
"ECCLESIA
IN AMERICA" - FIFTEEN YEARS ON
Vatican
City, 4 December 2012 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy
See Press Office this morning to present the International Congress
"Ecclesia in America" on the Church in the American
continent, which will take place in Vatican City from 9 to 12
December. The Congress is promoted by the Pontifical Commission for
Latin America and the Knights of Columbus in collaboration with the
Institute for Guadalupan Studies. Participating in the conference
were Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., president of the Pontifical
Commission for Latin America, Professor Guzman Carriquiry, secretary
of the same Commission, and Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the
Knights of Columbus.
Cardinal
Ouellet began by recalling the Synodal Assembly that took place in
November and December 1997, convoked by Blessed John Paul II, which
was dedicated to the American continent and addressed the theme of
the "Encounter with the living Jesus Christ: The way to
conversion, communion and solidarity in America". This theme
will inspire the Congress as it works towards its aim of
"re-examining the prophetic intuition of Blessed John Paul II
and the basic content of the exhortation 'Ecclesia in America', as
well as intensifying the communion and co-operation of the Churches
in Canada and the United States with the Churches of Latin America in
order to address common problems and challenges faced by the mission
of the Church in the American continent".
"The
valuable heritage of Christian faith, which is at the origin of the
American 'New World' and inspires the life of its people, is now
subject to erosion caused by waves of secularisation and the impact
of a global culture increasingly distant from and hostile to the
proliferation of 'sects', and needs to be revitalised, reformulated
and brought up to date. The encounter between the strengths and
experiences of the Churches of God from different latitudes of the
continent will surely be fruitful and rewarding. Such an exchange
already occurs within the providential 'laboratory' created by the
increasingly important Hispanic presence in the United States and
Canada".
The
cardinal went on to mention some of the common problems and
challenges which have arisen during the last fifteen years and which
the Churches of North, Central and South America must face together.
"The theme of immigration is a controversial topic in the United
States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America; narcotrafficking
networks, drug abuse and related policies are subject of serious
concern and debate; there is an increase in urban violence,
especially among marginalised youths; the culture of life and the
institution of the family are gravely threatened throughout the
continent; the defence and promotion of religious liberty is of
concern everywhere, and situations of poverty and indigence are
widespread. ... This is all located within a context of shifting
political, economic and cultural relationships between the United
States, Canada, and the countries of Latin America, which are seeking
improved dialogue, comprehension and respect, and solidarity and
justice".
In order
to face these problems "in the light of the Church's mission",
it is fundamental to "strengthen the sense of communion in each
of the Churches and among them. This international Congress hopes to
co-operate in the creation of networks of friendship throughout the
continent, with a loyal sense of belonging to the Church. Without
true, strong unity, she cannot hope to exercise missionary and social
influence. In this respect, it can be understood why this
inter-American Congress is being held in the Vatican. Indeed, this
highlights the universal care of the Churches which represent over
fifty percent of the world's Catholics, in trust and devotion to
Peter's Successor, universal Pastor, first witness and guarantor of
unity and communion".
Professor
Guzman Carriquiry explained that the congress will be attended by
over two hundred participants linked to the American continent,
including both clergy and lay persons. It will open and conclude with
two Eucharistic celebrations: the first on 9 December in St. Peter's
Basilica, in which the Holy Father will greet the participants, and
the second on 12 December, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the
Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina.
On the
morning of 10 December in the Synod Hall, debates will be held on
"the event in Guadalupe as the origin of evangelisation in the
New World", "The post-Synodal Exhortation: prophecy,
teaching and commitment" and "The Apostolic Exhortation
'Ecclesia in America' with the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
star of the new evangelisation and mother of the civilisation of
love". Later there will be a discussion on fundamental issues
regarding co-operation between Churches throughout the continent. The
day conclude with the conference "The meaning of the Year of
Faith", presented by Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer
S.J., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
On 11
December participants will pray the rosary before the statue of Our
Lady of Guadalupe in the Vatican Gardens, followed by a screening of
a documentary on the image of the Patron of the Americas. On 12
December participants will attend the Holy Father's general audience.
In the afternoon Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley O.F.M., archbishop of
Boston, USA, will lead a conference on "Scenarios and proposals
for communion and co-operation between the Churches of the Americas
and for solidarity among their peoples".
Carriquiry
added, "The results of the Congress will be communicated to the
dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Episcopal Conferences of the
continent, and to the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 4 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Alberto
German Bochatey O.S.A., rector of the Santa Monica International
College, Rome, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of La Plata (area
4,652, population 917,000, Catholics 845,792, priests 146, permanent
deacons 6, religious 396), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in
Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1981. He
studied philosophy in the monastery of Santa Maria de la Vid in Spain
and theology in Rome. He has held the roles of director of the
Institute of Bioethics at the Catholic University of Buenos Aires,
editor of the magazine "Vida y etica". In 2010 he became
rector of the Santa Monica International College in Rome.
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