Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Macao (Agenzia Fides) – The Presidents of the Bishops Conferences and local Bishops of Portuguese-speaking nations (Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Macao, Mozambique, Portugal, Santo Tome, and Timor) will meet in Macao (China) September 24 – 28 to reflect on “The Social Responsibilities of Christians in an Era of Globalization.”
This 8th Encounter of Portuguese-speaking Churches is an attempt to encourage mutual understanding and a firm relationship among the various churches, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the main questions that affect the life of the Church and society, trying to find “modes of cooperation and participation among the Churches that contribute to their positive activity,” as the program explains. Bishop Joseph Lai of Macao will give a conference on the first day entitled “China and the Catholic Church.”
The Portuguese contingent will be formed by Bishop Jorge Ortiga, President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference (CEP), Msgr. Carlos Azevedo and Fr. José María. Representing the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference will be Archbishop Luis Soares Vieira of Manaus, Vice-President of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB), and Bishop Joao Alves dos Santos of Paranaguá, head of the Afro-Brazilian Pastoral Office.
According to a statement from Bishop Jorge Ortiga, President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference (CEP), these encounters “began with the concern we had for sharing our lives, our needs, our limitations, so as to create a spirit of cooperation.” “The various Churches have a social responsibility, that is why we wish to create a more effective circulation of goods and services. The Portuguese Bishops’ Conference has a solidarity fund that distributes aid according to the petitions it receives.”
According to Archbishop Soares, “these encounters help to strengthen the fraternal bonds among the Portuguese-speaking countries” and “the CNBB is trying to work more closely in friendship with the African Bishops.” The encounter should help to spread an awareness of the mission and shows that Brazil has sent several missionaries to Africa in the past, as well.
The last meeting of this nature took place in Fatima (Portugal) in October 2006 (see Fides 17/10/2006) and was attended for the first time by representatives from Macao and East Timor. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2008)
