Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
(Photo R.Foini)
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - A total of 267 newly appointed bishops from five continents have gathered in Rome to take part in formation courses offered to them by various Dicasteries of the Holy See from 15 to 22 September. This September event, which has become a regular part of the initiatives of the Roman Curia, takes on a new meaning this year: for the first time, a large part of the working sessions at the Pontifical Urbaniana University will be attended jointly by both the bishops taking part in the course organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization (Department for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches) and those taking part in the event organized by the Dicastery for Bishops.
In particular, 114 bishops are taking part in the courses organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization, while 153 participants are attending the events offered by the Dicastery for Bishops. The latter also include 25 bishops of the Eastern Rite (for whom the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches is responsible) and 5 newly ordained bishops who serve in the Roman Curia.
The joint working sessions, which are taking place in the Urbaniana premises, opened yesterday, Tuesday, 17 September, with a contribution from the Secretariat of State on the action of the Holy See "in the globalized world" and will end today with a speech by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell on the apostolate of the laity. On the other days of the week, the two groups will hear talks and participate in debates on specific topics in two different places: the course entitled "Living the Episcopal Mission in a Synodal Church" organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization will take place at the Pontifical College of St. Peter, while the course organized by the Dicastery for Bishops will take place at the Pontifical College of St. Paul. The work of the formation course for new bishops, organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), began on Monday morning, 16 September, with the speeches of the Pro-Prefect, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu (Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery) and Archbishop Emilio Nappa (Deputy Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies).
The two groups of newly appointed bishops will be received in Audience by Pope Francis: those attending the Course organized by the Dicastery for Bishops tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 19, while the group participating in the Course organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization will meet the Pontiff on Saturday, Sept. 21,
will be received in audience by Pope Francis, as the culmination of a week of work that is also intended as a sign and reflection of the communion that embraces and unites the universal Church, and as a moment of collegiality, mutual knowledge and the possible building of links between different local Churches.
The study seminars reserved for the newly ordained bishops in the ecclesiastical districts entrusted to the missionary work were launched in 1994 with the aim of offering all new bishops, at the beginning of their term, the opportunity to deal with the many implications of the exercise of the episcopal office by listening to conferences, receiving information and experiencing days in Rome marked by dialogue and prayer, shared with brother bishops from all over the world. (Agenzia Fides, 18/9/2024)
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