CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Switzerland/1: Pope Francis meets Swiss bishops “You have the great and beautiful responsibility to keep the faith alive in your own land”, said Pope Francis in a speech to the members of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference and the abbots of Swiss monasteries, received on 1 December in audience on the occasion of the ad Limina visit. After thanking the president of Swiss Bishops, Monsignor Markus Büchel, for the words addressed to him, the Pope spoke of Switzerland as “a country of peace and of cultural and religious coexistence”, home to important international institutions. Even those who are distant from the Church, the Pope noted, “recognize the positive role played by Catholics and Protestants in the social field: their charitable commitment brings to the poor and excluded a reflection of the tenderness of the Father”. Referring to the Great Jubilee of the St.Maurice abbey due to be celebrated next year, Francis explained: “It is an impressive witness of 1500 years of continuous religious life, an exceptional event in Europe”. His Holiness thus invited to keep alive the faith in the “resurrected Christ”. “The mission entrusted to you the Pope said – is to “feed the flock, proceeding, according to the circumstances, in front, at the centre, or behind”. “The People of God cannot exist without their pastors, bishops and priests; the Lord has given the Church the gift of the apostolic succession in the service of the unity of faith and its full transmission”. A precious gift, “with ensuing collegiality – the Pope said – if we make it effective, enhance it to support each other, to live and lead those whom the Lord sends us towards the encounter with the One who is’ way, truth and life”. “In this way, he assured, especially young people will find “reasons to believe and hope”. The Pope spoke words of encouragement “to pursue efforts for the formation of seminarians”, a challenge “for the future of the Church”. We need priests with “solid knowledge of tradition and magisterium” but also “conformed” to Christ. “In the fraternal life they will find effective support against the temptation of withdrawal into themselves or into a virtual life, and a permanent antidote to loneliness”. The Church, the Holy Father concluded, “comes from the Pentecost”. Hence the invitation to go out and “preach the Gospel to all”. “We must to proclaim the Good News – he urged – do not bend to the fantasies of men. Many times we get tired of answering, without realizing that our interlocutors do not seek answers. We have to announce, anticipate, ask questions”. Switzerland/2: Caritas, need for policies against poverty The annual survey of Caritas Switzerland, conducted in all cantons, focuses this year on the link between poverty and housing. Presented in Bern November 25, the study reveals that “590 thousand people in Switzerland are in a state of poverty and more than a million are at risk.” In many cases poverty is caused by “high rental fees”. In addition to costs, there was is the problem of “inadequate housing”, which sometimes gives “rise to health problems or family tensions”, thus placing limitations “to everyday life and preventing participation in social life.” Caritas also criticized municipal policies that in recent months “deliberately eliminated low lease accommodations to alienate people affected by poverty”. Caritas highlighted a lack of awareness on the existing link between housing difficulties and poverty, acknowledged only in the political strategies against poverty of the Canton of the city of Basel. Caritas thus called for the promotion of measures to combat poverty making available an adequate number of dignified housing units for people in a state of poverty. Portugal: the Patriarch asks for homes and jobs for all On the occasion of the homily pronounced for the Episcopal ordination of Msgr. João Marcos, appointed coadjutor bishop of the city of Beja, the Patriarch of Lisbon said that “the Kingdom to be built must include the guarantee of the land, of a home, and of work, as priority issues”. “A land that is for everyone, a home that will welcome every family, a guaranteed job for everyone: this is a way to recognize in practice what is confessed through the faith, because the dignity of every man is already divine”, said Msgr. Manuel Clemente. Recalling the message of Pope Francis directed to the popular movements worldwide during the meeting held in the Vatican on 28 October, the Patriarch added: “there is no greater poverty than that which does not allow to make a living and removes dignity from work: a worker cannot be deprived of his employment for alleged economic reasons”. Msgr. Marcos (65 years), former spiritual director of the seminary dos Olivais and of the seminary Redemtoris Mater, choosing as his episcopal motto “My yoke is easy,” asked the priests and seminarians present to assist him in his important ministry: “Pray for me, stand firm in the faith in the Lord, love Him generously, serve Him with joy”.
