chURCHES IN BRIEF
Portugal: Social Communications DayThe National Social Communications Day will take place in Fatima next September 29-30, on the theme: “Digital era: Revolution in culture and in society”. In presenting the event to the press, the director of the National Communications Secretariat (SNCS), Msgr. António Rego, said that “the active participation of the Catholic Church to new social communication media is extremely important. The digital presence in Facebook, Twitter and in the other networks was essential and proved to be particularly efficient in promoting the mutual encounter of individuals”. The Day will see the participation of the president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Msgr. Claudio Maria Celli along with over one hundred social communication experts, some of whom work within the Church, and others who follow religious themes in non-specialized press, “in order to deepen the knowledge of the way in which religious journalism is using all of this interactivity to boost communication and spread the message”. “It’s evident that the so-called moralist prospect is a possible temptation, however, evangelical creativity transmitted through these communication tools is much more important”, concluded the SNCS director.Turkey: a book on relations with the Holy See”Istanbul, an encounter of two Worlds” is the title of the volume written by Rinaldo Marmara, cultural attaché of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference (CET), that will be presented next October 10 in Istanbul, in the framework of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Turkey, established by Msgr. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, future pope John XXIII, apostolic delegate in Turkey from 1935 to 1944. The Apostolic Delegation, now nunciature, where Roncalli stayed, is located in the district of Sisli. It is owing to the commitment of the mayor, Mustafa Sarigül, “a man open to dialogue and loved by minorities” that the book was published. “We hope – is written in the introduction – that this seed will produce fraternity, the cement of peace, which the contemporary world, today more than ever, is in dire need of”. The volume titled “Istanbul, the encounter of two worlds”, is a reminder of the “two Worlds, two Cultures, two Religions, that come together in this beautiful city located on the shores of the Bosphorous, to initiate official diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Turkey. The originator of these relations is unquestionably Msgr. Roncalli: during his stay in Istanbul, as Apostolic Delegate, he interweaved the fraternal and friendly relations between the two different Worlds. After his election as Pope John XXIII, the previously established friendly relations between Turkey and the Holy See turned into real diplomatic relations”. The book has a foreword by the mayor Sarigül, along with that of the Consul General in Istanbul Gianluca Alberini, Msgr. Loris Capovilla, former secretary of the Pontiff and Msgr. Ruggero Franceschini, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Turkey.Romania: bishops, declaring their own faithCatholic bishops of Romania encourage the faithful to take part in the population census of October 20-31, and to declare their Catholic identity and their adhesion to Catholic Church teachings. The appeal was made during an ordinary session of the Romanian Bishops’ Conference (CER) held September 20-23 in Chisinau (in the Moldovan Republic), on the invitation of Msgr. Anton Cosa, bishop of Chisinau, permanent CER delegate. “Our faith – states the pastoral letter sent by the Catholic Bishops of Romania – is our life! Declaring one’s Catholic identity isn’t just a moral obligation to bear witness. It also contributes to providing an authentic picture of the Catholic Community in Romania and in Europe. Restoring the real dimension of our community will benefit our Churches – the Roman-Catholic and the Greek-Catholic ones – and it will contribute to the positive continuation of our religious life and our future activities”. During the meeting the prelates announced the forthcoming items on the agenda: the International Catholic Action Forum (FIAC), scheduled to take place in Iasi, August 22-26 2012; the meeting of the CER Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, in November 2011; and the upcoming national meeting of those in charge of the Pastoral Care of the Family in the dioceses and Eparchies of Romania.
