With renewed thrust

On November 22 the XCVI plenary assembly of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference opened in Madrid. Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, delivered the opening address, followed by the speech of the apostolic nuncio to Spain Msgr. Renzo Fratini.An encouragement from the Pope. “It was a great joy that the Successor of Peter was here with us”, said Card. Antonio María Rouco Varela, referring to the recent visit of Benedict XVI to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona. “The Pope came first of all to speak to us about God – the cardinal remarked. – This is undoubtedly the common feature of his speeches in Santiago and Barcelona. Being a great theologian, Benedict XVI is well aware that the Church as a whole is at the service of the proclamation of God’s grace and Salvation”. “Nothing diverts the Holy Father’s Magisterium from proclaiming the Word and mercy of the Lord – His Eminence said -: “neither the diverse apostolic commitments to which his Church is called to respond, nor the misunderstandings and manipulations coming from the outside”. The Pope, said Cardinal Rouco, “spoke about God using suggestive, beautiful, consistent and profound words. He reminded us that the pilgrim Church in Spain has a rich, similarly beautiful language. Peter’s successor confronted us with our past, our present and our future, to confirm our faith and to encourage us in our effort for the new evangelization”.Living faith. “We thank God that in contemporary Spain religious faith is a living reality, marked by thriving and diversified participation in social life ranging from open and peaceful cultural debate to generous and immediate help towards the needy”, pointed out the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. For the cardinal, “it is unquestionable that in his description of Spain’s situation vis a vis the Church and her relations with secular State and society, the Pope wished to highlight the positive aspects and that as it happened in the past, such aspects are to be found in the force of faith”. However, it is equally true that “directly and indirectly Benedict XVI equally referred to some of the current problems, which have been identified and highlighted by the Church”. “It is with immense gratitude that we receive the teachings of Benedict XVI in his second visit to Spain. It will certainly give a major thrust to our evangelizing mission. To its light we will be able to resume our commitments with renewed thrust”.Reason and faith. “The visit of His Holiness Benedict XVI” to Spain “is a historical, providential milestone for the Holy Father and for the pilgrim Church in Spain”. Also Msgr. Renzo Fratini recalled the Pope’s visit to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona. “The Pope of the dialogue between faith and reason, between faith and art, identified in Spanish culture a central role also as relates to the encounter between faith and secularism. The Holy Father looks forward to the positive contribution by this particular Church to such a delicate theme, on the basis of the real possibilities underlying this noble nation”, declared Msgr. Fratini. According to the apostolic nuncio “Spain can count on a glorious religious heritage with notable personalities”. There are “great maestros, some are renowned and others are yet to be studied, whose works encountered during the studies in prestigious humanistic academic environments such as Alcalá or Salamanca, often bound to the practice of a holy life, could serve to collect the lymph of a thought that has often been marked by love”.A hope for Europe. “With such a rich patrimony, providing concrete answers to contemporary questions, it will be possible to engage in dialogue with contemporary thought, preserving it from utilitarian temptations whilst offering encouraging perspectives” underlined Msgr. Fratini. “With this hope, based on solid roots, the Pope calls us to a commitment that belongs to the mission – the nuncio pointed out -. It is a question of preserving and expanding openness to the transcendent”, so as to create a Europe, which, in accordance with her Christian roots, will fully respond to her vocation and mission in the world”. Msgr. Fratini also said that he was impressed by the headline of the Osservatore Romano of November 11, in reference to the Pope’s general audience of the previous day: “From Spain a hope for Europe”. “I believe – he remarked – that this expression well summarizes the task entrusted by the Holy Father to all the Catholics in the country”. Finally, Msgr. Fratini recalled that in his farewell Benedict XVI recalled to the Spanish population that he expects them all in Madrid for the WYD in August 2011.