The secretaries of the eight Central European Bishops’ Conferences (Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary) that took part in the great pilgrimage to Mariazell in 2004 met in the Marian sanctuary on 16 January. Between 5 and 8 February 2006, as part of a pilgrimage to Rome, the representatives of the eight countries will deliver the book of their testimonies and experiences of the meeting in Mariazell to Benedict XVI. The local Churches of the eight countries will also join together at the world meeting of families due to be held in Valencia. Each country will organize a pilgrimage for families and for the participants in the pastoral care of families, to meditate further on the theme of the meeting in Valencia. The local Churches of the eight countries will inform each other of these pilgrimages. Bishop András Veres, representative of the Hungarian Bishops’ Conference, also conducted talks with the representative of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference concerning the programme of the meeting that will be held in Mariazell from 19 to 21 June, with the aim of reinforcing collaboration between the Catholics of the two countries. On the 850th anniversary of the foundation of Mariazell, the Austrian Bishops Conference is inviting the representatives of the Catholic Church in the eight countries to participate in an international pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary on 8 September 2007. Pope Benedict XVI will also participate in the event.
