AMERICA/BOLIVIA - "The world needs to change": Cardinal Turkson opens the World Meeting of Social Movements

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Santa Cruz (Agenzia Fides) - "The world needs to follow a process of change": said Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, during the inauguration of the World Meeting of Social Movements, held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia from 7 to 9 July 2015.
According to the Cardinal, this task must be carried out by popular movements, taking into account that the concern for Mother Earth and the dignity of people is not exclusively in the hands of religious leaders, scientists, politicians or businessmen. Representatives of many different social realities, and not only Catholics, are discussing the topic: "The future of social movements in favor of environment" (see Fides 26/06/2015).
"The protests of the poor have been of vital importance to make world leaders understand, in recent years, that one cannot continue with the destruction of the planet and ignore their needs. The Catholic Church wants to hear this cry and be part of it", said Cardinal Turkson. "The Catholic Church wants to join its hands in these processes and contribute every day with its social cooperatives, its neighborhood councils, its peasant and indigenous communities, for the overall development of the excluded, as individuals, families and peoples" he concluded.
The meeting has far exceeded expectations because, according to the note sent to Fides, there are about 1,500 participants. The conclusions will be delivered to the Holy Father, who will participate in the closing of the Meeting, as part of his pastoral visit to Bolivia, from 8 to 10 July. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2015)


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