SIXTH GENERAL CONGREGATION
Thursday morning, 10/8/09
Today, Thursday 8 October 2009, at 09:00 a.m., with the chanting of the Hour of Terce,
The Sixth General Congregation began, with the chating of Terce, followed by continuation of the interventions by the Synodal Fathers.
Cardinal Arinze presided.
The following delivered interventions:
- Cardinal Ennio ANTONELLI, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family (VATICAN CITY)
- Cardinal Péter ERDŐ, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest (HUNGARY), President of the Council of the European Episcopal Conference (C.E.E.C.)
- Rev. F. Kieran O'REILLY, S.M.A., Superior General of the Society of African Missions (UNION OF SUPERIORS- GENERAL)
- Mons. Marcel UTEMBI TAPA, Archbishop of Kisangani (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
- Mons. Alfred Adewale MARTINS, Bishop of Abeokuta (NIGERIA)
- Mons. Louis Ncamiso NDLOVU, O.S.M., Bishop of Manzini (SWAZILAND)
- Mons. Paul R. RUZOKA, Archbishop of Tabora (TANZANIA)
- Rev. F. Emmanuel TYPAMM, C.M., Secretary General of the "Confederation of the Conferences of Superiors Major of Africa and Madagascar" (CAMEROON)
- Mons. Martin Albert HAPPE, M. Afr., Bishop of Nouakchott (MAURITANIA)
- Mons. Vincent COULIBALY, Archbishop of Conakry, President of the Episcopal Conference (GUINEA)
- Mons. Nicolas DJOMO LOLA, Bishop of Tshumbe, President of the Episcopal Conference (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
- Mons. Jorge FERREIRA DA COSTA ORTIGA, Archbishop of Braga, President of tlinethe Episcopal Conference (PORTUGAL)
- Mons. Angelo AMATO, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (VATICAN CITY)
- Mons. Peter Martin MUSIKUWA, Bishop of Chikwawa (MALAWI)
- Mons. Barry Alexander Anthony WOOD, O.M.I., Auxiliary Bishop of Durban (SOUTH AFRICA)
- Mons. Buti Joseph TLHAGALE, O.M.I., Archbishop of Johannesburg, President of the Episcopal Conference (SOUTH AFRICA)
- Mons. Valentin MASENGO NKINDA, Bishop of Kabinda (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
- Mons. John Olorunfemi ONAIYEKAN, Archbishop of Abuja (NIGERIA)
- Cardinal Paul Josef CORDES, President of the Pontificial Council "Cor Unum" (VATICAN CITY)
- Mons. Cornelius Fontem ESUA, Archbishop of Bamenda (CAMEROON)
- Mons. Philippe OUÉDRAOGO, Archbishop of Ouagadougou (NIGER)
- Rev. F. Damian WEBER, C.M.M., Superior General of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (UNION OF SUPERIORS-GENERAL)
Summaries of the interventions may be found on
www.vatican.va/news_services/press/sinodo/documents/bollettino_23_ii_speciale-africa-2009/02_inglese/b10...
An unusual event during the Synod affecting one of the participating bishops is made clear in the following letter of the Delegate Presidents and of the Secretary General of Synod of Byshops to His Exc. Mons Francois Haxier MAROY RUSENGO, Archbishop of Bukavu (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO), which was read and delivered at the closing of the Sixth General Congregation.
LETTER OF THE DELEGATE PRESIDENTS
AND OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF BUKAVU
Excellency,
The Bishops united in the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops under the presidency of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, have learnt that in their Archdiocese of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo there have been disorders including burnt down parishes, insults inflicted on priests taken hostage with ransoms, generating a situation such that now you are obliged to return among your faithful, preys of torment and danger.
Pertaining to this, on behalf of the Assembly, we express our fraternal solidarity in the hope that reconciliation and the Good News of the Gospel, as we are reminded during these days of Synod reflection, may be welcomed as the path shared by all to accomplish conditions of human life founded on the values of justice, reinforced by peace, which is a gift from God.
We would be obliged to you if you would express our cordial feelings of religious solidarity to all the members of the People of God who live and suffer in this Archdiocese: the priests, the religious, the deacons, the catechists, the laity and all men of good will,
At the same time, we invite the legitimate civil authorities to do everything possible to bring back order in justice to establish and guarantee peace, necessary for a normal life of the dear population.
Trusting in the mercy of God and the intercession of Mary, Queen of Africa and Queen of Peace, we assure you of our prayers for justice and peace to bring your Archdiocese, in the Great Lakes region, and all of Africa, peaceful days and a serene life.
SEVENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION
Thursday afternoon, 10/8/09
The Synodal Fathers met starting at 16:30 p.m., and suspended the session one hour later, in order to allow them to attend the concert "Youth against War - 1939 -2009" at Rome’s Reconciliation Auditorium, in the presence of the Holy Father Benedict XVI.
The following Fathers intervened at this congregation:
- Cardinal André VINGT-TROIS, Archbishop of Paris, President of the Episcopal Conference (FRANCE)
- Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi OKOGIE, Archbishop of Lagos (NIGERIA)
- Mons. Orlando B. QUEVEDO, O.M.I., Archbishop of Cotabato (PHILIPPINES), AND General Secretary of the Federation of Asian Episcopal Conferences (F.A.B.C.)
- Mons. Matthew Kwasi GYAMFI, Bishop of Sunyani (GHANA)
- Mons. Francisco CHIMOIO, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Maputo (MOZAMBIQUE)
- Mons. Edward HIIBORO KUSSALA, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio (SUDAN)
- Mons. John Anthony RAWSTHORNE, Bishop of Hallam, President of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (C.A.F.O.D.), from the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales
- Mons. Jude Thaddaeus RUWA'ICHI, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Dodoma, President of the Episcopal Conference (TANZANIA)
- Mons. Francesco COCCOPALMERIO, President of the Pontificial Council for Legislative Textes (VATICAN CITY)
- Mons. Edward Gabriel RISI, O.M.I., Bishop of Keimoes-Upington (SOUTH AFRICA)
Summaries of the interventions may be found on
www.vatican.va/news_services/press/sinodo/documents/bollettino_23_ii_speciale-africa-2009/02_inglese/b12...
FOLLOWING THE SYNOD
I just discovered a convenient guide for following the Synodal assembly, courtesy of the English service of Vatican Radio. It's quite nifty: it shows you the program for the day at a glance, and provides the link to any intervention you might be interested in.
www.radiovaticana.org/en3/sinodo_africa_09/mappa_interat...
On the webpage, click on 'Follow the Synod'. Topics listed on the title page link to corresponding provisions found in the Synodal assembly's Instrumentum Laboris.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 09/10/2009 21:23]