See preceding page for earlier entries on 10/17/12.
Pope convenes all Apostolic Nuncios
to a meeting at the Vatican next June
P.S. It turns out that the day after Cardinal Bertone annnounced to the Synodal Assembly that the Holy Fahter was sending a delegation of cardinals and bishops to Syria, the cardinal had another announcement to make Wednesday morning, when he made a regular intervention at the Assembly to speak about the task of the Apostolic Nuncios, who serve as the Pope's ambassadors to 170 nations of the world, in the New Evangelization.
15th General Congregation
Wednesday morning, Oct. 17, 2012
Today, Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Memory of Saint Ignatius of Antiochia, Bishop and martyr, at 9:00 a.m, with the chant of the Hour of Terce, the Fifteenth General Congregation began for the continuation of the interventions by the Synodal Fathers, along with some auditors.
President delegate on duty was Cardinal Laurent MONSENGWO PASINYA, Archbishop of Kinshasa (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO).
At this General Congregation, which ended at 12:35 am with the prayer of Angelus Domini 253 Fathers were present.
Here is the Vatican's English translation of Cardinal Bertone's intervention:
The transmission of the faith is a very fundamental task of the Church, during which she is also able to represent her very own essence: she is in fact a community that has always been involved in the double movement of receiving and transmitting the precious treasure of the faith.
This task is declined in a different way according to the situations and historical eras, and today has taken on the profile of new evangelization in an ever growing way, that is to say the renewed announcement addressed to those who, while already being in contact, in different ways, with the Christian message, find themselves - to use the image of a Gospel parable - like the rocky terrain, or the one infested by briars, or even like the open road, where evil steals the good seed of the Word (cf. Mt 13:18-22).
In this intervention, I would like to underline the contribution that the Pontifical Representatives - and all the structures of the Holy See which coordinate their mission - hope to offer to the transmission of the faith in the context of the new evangelization.
In the first place, the Pontifical Representatives render a specific service, which is that of watching over and protecting the libertas Ecclesiae - the freedom of the Church around the world.
This is a service that is necessary for the mission of the Church, wherever “the legal or social order is inspired by philosophical and political systems which call for strict control, if not a monopoly, of the state over society”, as well as in “countries which accord great importance to pluralism and tolerance, but where religion is increasingly being marginalized” (Cf. Benedict XVI, Speech to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps to the Holy See, January 10 2011).
In these context, the action of the Pontifical Representatives, through the instruments of diplomatic dialogue with the civic authorities and in accord with the local episcopacy, aims not to seek anachronistic privileges, but to guarantee to the Church, in the best way possible, that freedom in the internal government and practice of othe Church's legitimate mission, and that, when present, is reflected in benefits to others and other religious traditions, and nurtures the harmony of all society.
In a similar way, the work of the Observers and Representatives of the Holy See at International Organizations, besides serving the cause of peace and the defense of fundamental human rights, is also meant to guarantee the right of citizenship [??? - Does he mean right of representation in international organizations?] - to the Church, for her institutions and, I would say, for the Christian vision of the human person, today endangered by certain basic elements of the so-called dominant culture.
With this service, the Pontifical Representatives also are conscious of the direct responsibility they have, as members of the Episcopal College, in the proclamation of the Gospel and thereby the promotion of new evangelization.
This responsibility, first of all, is aimed at favoring communion between local bishops and the Roman Pontiff. Making present the solicitude, proper to the Successor of Peter, for the whole Church, her representatives are by nature called to being the builders of communion, which in itself is a powerful factor of evangelization (cf. Jn 13:35).
I would like to assure, before this distinguished assembly, the commitment that the Nuncios and the Apostolic Delegates intend to activate to favor, on one hand, acceptance by local bishops of the Pontifical Magisterium and any instructions from the organisms of the Holy See, and on the other hand, to help the Pope and his collaborators to better know and understand the reality of the local Churches, the assets and resources that they work with, as well as their difficulties.
Then, we must not forget the more direct work of evangelization performed by the Pontifical Representatives, when they are called to the various Dioceses for episcopal consecration, special occasions, or pastoral visits.
Through this form of ministry they make present in a very special way, among the People of God, the person of the Pope, his care and solicitude for Christ’s whole flock, a presence that is especially felt by the faithful, and which contributes to making the Church’s Catholicity more visible.
Without a doubt, the ministry of the Pontifical Representatives is part of the Church and her history, which must always renew and perfect itself to be appropriate to the needs of our times.
For this reason, the Holy Father decided to call all the Nuncios, the Apostolic Delegates and the permanent Observers in the international organizations to a meeting for reflection in Rome next June, following on from the one held more than ten years ago on the occasion of the Great Jubilee 2000.
It will be an opportunity for an exchange of experiences and to deepen the feeling of mission for the Pontifical Representatives in today’s circumstances. I am certain that I can count on your prayers for this.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 18/10/2012 10:57]