AFRICA - Mid-February in Rome, the second Symposium of the Bishops of Africa and Europe

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "Evangelization today: communion and pastoral cooperation between Africa and Europe. Man and God: the Church's mission to proclaim the presence and love of God". This is the theme of the Second Symposium of the Bishops of Africa and Europe to be held in Rome from 13 to 17 February 2012. The event is organized by the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE). According to a statement sent to Fides participants include some 70 delegates from the Bishops of the Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Europe, as well as representatives of the Vatican Dicasteries and partner organizations such as "Aid to the Church in Need" and "Missio".
The Symposium is part of a collaborative project between the two continental organizations that began in November 2004. This collaboration aims to deepen the common responsibility of African and European Bishops towards evangelization and human advancement, their continents in particular and the world at large.
During the next Symposium in Rome, the Bishops of the two continental organizations will, among other things, evaluate the progress made to date, check the current situation of pastoral communion between Europe and Africa and seek areas of collaboration for the future. They also plan to discuss the upcoming Synod of Bishops, scheduled at the Vatican in October 2012 on the theme of the New Evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/02/2012)