The force of witness

Topical issues like the financial crisis in Europe, the electoral campaign and the demonstrations in Paris against the Romeo Castellucci’s performance titled “Sur le concept du visage du fils de Dieu”, considered blasphemous, along with the presentation of the report on “Ecology and the Environment” and a reflection on “Sunday” as the “day of the Lord”. The plenary meeting ongoing in Lourdes November from 4 to 9, under the presidency of Cardinal Vingt-Trois covers many areas of reflection. The French bishops also received a message of Benedict XVI who highlighted the importance of Christian witness in a society “strongly influenced by secularization” and by “indifference” towards the sacred realm. Referring to the Year of the Faith, the Pope said the reflection of the French bishops on Sunday will “encourage the faithful to rediscover the regular participation in the Eucharist as indispensable for the vitality of Christian life”. European crisis and presidential elections. In his opening remarks, Card. André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, President of the French Bishops’ Conference met everyone’ expectations as he addressed the themes that are most meaningful to the French people. “This Assembly,” he said in the Assembly’s opening speech, “takes place in a sombre European atmosphere and many of our fellow citizens are seriously worried about their future”. According to the archbishop, the crisis that Europe is experiencing is not a crisis in governance, nor a crisis in the redistribution of wealth. It’s an authentic “crisis in the system” that ought to be addressed in the electoral campaign, with specific behavioural rules and commitments: “respect your enemy”; don’t propose what’s “impossible” so as to preserve “lucidity and sincerity”; keep control of public debt to prevent “passing on an excessively heavy burden to the next generations”. Christians in the Middle East. In his prolusion, the Archbishop also tackled the situation of Christians in the Middle East and he conveyed his concern for the uncertain outcomes of the revolutions for democracy that have taken place in those countries. This theme was also at the centre of a message conveyed by the President of the Assembly of the Orthodox bishops of France Metropolitan Emmanuel to the Catholic bishops gathered in Lourdes. “The political upheavals in the region – states the message – have made Christians’ presence even more unstable. The wind of democracy that has blown during the Arab spring, by paradox, has once more questioned the very existence of religious pluralism. The tragic events that have taken place in Egypt against the members of the Copt community stress the urgent need to unite our voices in order to put an end to violence”. And he added: “Eastern Christians represent a primary ecumenical commitment. To a certain extent, the will and the hope of unity among Christians are conditions that may prompt the creation of an anti-Muslim front, but most of all it will trigger a dynamism of inclusion whereby the acceptance of diversity within Christianity can represent the point of departure for the peaceful coexistence of society as a whole”. Cherishing the memory of the meeting in Assisi the Metropolitan added: “Interreligious dialogue is part and parcel of the common yearning to live together in peace”, but for this to happen, it is necessary that religious leaders “ensure that religious symbols are not instrumentally used by the political realm to justify violence and legitimize hatred”.A message to Muslims. During the assembly of the French Bishops the Muslim community celebrated the “Feast of Sacrifice” also called Aïd El Kebir, or ‘id adha, which commemorates Abraham’s faithfulness to God, who didn’t hesitate to sacrifice his son Ismail. Considered a major feast of the Muslim world, it marks the end of the pilgrimage to the Mecca. On behalf of the Bishops, Michel Santier, bishop of Créteil and father Christophe Roucou, sent a message of good wishes in which they refer to the meeting in Assisi and to the many collateral interreligious meetings held in France, during which the representatives of all religions celebrated a Day of prayer and reflection with the Pope for world peace. “It was a reason for joy – the bishops write – the fact that together we have given a sign that the faithful can join their efforts to serve peace and justice when some spread the idea that they are the cause of violence and war. We pray to God to help us so that in our country may be taken initiatives enabling us to overcome fear and show our solidarity to the peoples that have undertaken new directions for democracy. We hope the right to freedom of conscience and worship are respected worldwide”.