10/7/09 SUMMARY
- THE POPE ENTRUSTS THE SYNOD FOR AFRICA TO THE MADONNA OF THE ROSARY
- A DELEGATION OF SYNODAL FATHERS VISITS THE CAPITOL
- WORKING GROUPS - FIRST SESSION (WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 - MORNING)
- FIFTH GENERAL CONGREGATION (WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 - AFTERNOON)
- NOTICES
THE POPE ENTRUSTS THE SYNOD FOR AFRICA
TO THE MADONNA OF THE ROSARY
Speaking in Polish this morning during the General Audience in Saint Peter’s Square, the Holy Father Benedict XVI entrusted the work of the Synod to the Madonna of the Rosary: “The work of the Synod for Africa is in progress. Join me in entrusting this important event in the life of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary. Through the ministry of the Church may the people of Africa recover the paths that lead to reconciliation, justice and peace”.
A DELEGATION OF SYNODAL FATHERS
VISITS THE ROMAN CAPITOL
This morning, a delegation of the II Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops met with the Mayor of Rome at the Capitol.
At the core of the discussion were the themes of cooperation in development, the OGM, regulating migratory flows, welcoming political refugees and Rome’s contribution in light of the FAO’s summit in November.
They also spoke about the rally organized by the Municipality of Rome for Africa scheduled for October 19th on the theme “Africa: What type of partnership for reconciliation, justice and peace?”.
The group of Synod Fathers, led by the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Mons. Nikola Eterovic, gathered in prayer in the Basilica of Saint Mary in Ara Coeli, before the meeting.
The Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops commented on Vatican Radio:
We are grateful to the Honourable Gianni Alemanno for the invitation he extended to the presidency of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to visit his offices and to exchange greetings.
Every year the city of Rome welcomes millions of pilgrims; many of these come from Africa and Rome does everything possible to make them feel at home. This is a universal vocation of Rome.
On the other hand, the representative bishops of 244 Synod Fathers, all Africans, wished to thank the mayor and exchange some opinions on themes close to their hearts: collaboration between Africa and Europe, how to improve it, political refugees, immigration and also the possible and hoped for development of agricultural production in Africa.
The Mayor of Rome commented:
We have emphasized that the city of Rome is closely following the Synod for Africa, because we expect clear messages from this Synod for relaunching cooperation and development between Europe and Africa.
This is for two reasons: the first is to achieve a balanced development of this continent and that it definitely progresses from a state of underdevelopment.
The second concerns the possible regulation of migratory flows, in such a manner that each person may choose whether to live in their own country or to migrate to Europe according to legal and regular flows which must be supported as an alternative to illegal immigration.
WORKING GROUPS - FIRST SESSION
(Wednesday morning, 10/7/09)
This morning, Wednesday, 7 October 2009, on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, the task of the Working Groups of the II Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops began.
224 Synodal Fathers were present, for the election of the Moderators and the Relators of the Working Groups and for the beginning of the discussion on the Synodal theme.
Moderators and the Relators of the Working Groups were elected.
FIFTH GENERAL CONGREGATION
(Wenesday afternoon, 10/7/09)
Today, Wednesday, 7 October 2009, at 16:30, with the Prayer for the II Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops prayer, in the presence of the Holy Father, the Fifth General Congregation began, with more interventions by the Synodal Fathers:
- Cardinal Jean-Louis TAURAN, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue (VATICAN CITY)
- Mons. Tarcisius Gervazio ZIYAYE, Archbishop of Blantyre (MALAWI), President of the Episcopal Conference, President of the Association of Members of Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.)
- Mons. Robert SARAH, Archbishop Emeritus of Conakry, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (VATICAN CITY)
- Rev. Raymond Bernard GOUDJO, Secretary of the Commission "Justitia et Pax" of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Francophone Africa (CERAO), Ivory Coast (BENIN)
- Mons. Ambroise OUÉDRAOGO, Bishop of Maradi (BURKINA FASO)
- CardINAL Francis ARINZE, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacrements (NIGERIA)
- Mons. Adriano LANGA, O.F.M., Bishop of Inhambane (MOZAMBIQUE)
- Mons. Francisco João SILOTA, M. Afr., Bishop of Chimoio (MOZAMBIQUE), Second Vice-President of the Symposium of EpiscopaL Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.C.E.A.M.)
- Mons. Fulgence RABEMAHAFALY, Archbishop of Fianarantsoa, President of the Episcopal Conference (MADAGASCAR)
- Mons. Louis PORTELLA MBUYU, Bishop of Kinkala, President of the Episcopal Conference (REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
- Mons. Maurice PIAT, C.S.Sp., Bishop of Port-Louis (MAURITIUS)
- Mons. Joseph AKÉ YAPO, Archbishop of Gagnoa, President of the Episcopal Conference (IVORY COAST)
- Mons. Fulgence MUTEBA MUGALU, Bishop of Kilwa-Kasenga (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
- Mons. Jean-Bosco NTEP, Bishop of Edéa (CAMEROON)
- Mons. George NKUO, Bishop of Kumbo (CAMEROON)
Summaries of their interventions may be found on
www.vatican.va/news_services/press/sinodo/documents/bollettino_23_ii_speciale-africa-2009/02_inglese/b09...
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/10/2009 21:18]