“The Church must direct her own reflection and adapt her structures to the new needs of immigrants, their families and local churches”, writes Bishop António Vitalino of Beja, chairman of the Portuguese Episcopal Commission for human mobility, in a message to mark the Portuguese national holiday on 10 June, which this year arrived almost in tandem with the beginning of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, in the second half of 2007. In this regard the bishop draws attention to the need for “the Lisbon strategy to impact on the relation between Europe and Africa and for immigration to be placed high on the agenda of the future development of a Europe characterized by the enlarged participation of citizens, greater cohesion between member states and greater solidarity between central and peripheral countries”. On the other hand, the bishop points out “the missionary commitment of the Church over the last five decades, as expressed in religious and family support, in the creation of social structures of solidarity, in the promotion of Portuguese language and culture, and in the work of mediation performed in consular and government structures. However, the challenges that emerge require new energies, mainly linked to integration, participation and intercultural dialogue”.
