Interview
The bishops from Central and Eastern Europe on ad Limina visit, were received by Pope Francis in the Vatican. Archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky, president of the Bishops’ Conference, highlights the crucial challenges in the life of the Church and future prospects
It is a Church faced with secularization, whilst preserving her solid presence in the Country. Eight years after their last ad Limina Apostolorum visit, on November 8 the bishops of Slovakia were in Rome and in the Vatican to pray on the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul, visit the dycasteries in charge of various sectors of Church life and meet the Holy Father (November 12) – thereby strengthening the ties between the local and the Universal Church. The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia, archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky, tackles the crucial challenges the Church of Slovakia has had to face over the past years, those of today, as well as the expectations linked to the visit, concluded November 14.
The last ad Limina visit by Slovakian bishops took place in 2007. What are the major changes the Catholic Church has had to face over the past years?
“First of all, there have been major changes initiated by Pope Benedict XVI in terms of the geographic and formal reorganization of our dioceses. In 2008 the eparchy of Bratislava was erected. The eparchy of Presov was elevated into the archeparchy, thereby elevating Presov into a Greek-Catholic Metropolitan archeparchy. There ensued territorial transformations of the Catholic dioceses of Latin rite. This led to the elevation of the archdiocese of Bratislava and the erection of the diocese of Zilina.
Today we gratefully acknowledge the benefits that this transformation has brought to the spiritual life of our Country
Along with the spiritual growth of the community of faithful. However, it appears that secularization has equally increased throughout society”.
What are the major joys and sufferings of the Catholic Church in Slovakia in this period?
“This generation of engaged lay faithful, the young as well as the middle-aged, who greatly respect their responsibilities towards God, lead their lives according to the tenets of Christian life and of moral law. This is a source of immense joy for the Church. They stand as an authentic guarantee for the future of our Country. However, our joy is blemished with suffering, as we have also come to realize that although many people have been baptized, their parents have failed to transmit them the faith. That’s why many of them have become spiritually passive. This situation has several causes, one of which is society’s prevailing mentality, which aims at stripping the gift of individual freedom, while lacking the tools – and perhaps also lacking the interest – to ensure the proper implementation of such freedom”.
In your opinion – and on the basis of your personal experience – what are the main tasks and ways to address this challenge?
“Like in the rest of the world, the Catholic Church of Slovakia is faced with a pivotal challenge, namely, how to live according to the Gospel in contemporary society with joy and at peace with individual conscience.
Every generation needs to look at its predecessors, drawing inspiration from their knowledge and their testimony, while at the same time taking upon themselves the decision to live by the Gospel. From this perspective I consider the pastoral care of the family a fundamental activity and that of the young generations a priority. In the field of youth ministry it should be said that there is a future for those communities who care for their older ones and look after them. There is a future for societies who love children as well as the elderly”.
What are your expectations about the visit ongoing in the Vatican?
“An Ad Limina visit always corresponds to the evaluation of the life of the national Church in all her dimensions. This means that priority should be given to spiritual assistance to faithful at all stages of their life. Other issues include developing vocations aimed at spiritual assistance; we also expect to focus on the vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in contemporary society. The Synod of Bishops of October last inevitably determines the main topic of our meeting with the Holy Father. As president of the Bishops Conference, from our meetings with the Holy Father and the representatives of Vatican dicasteries I expect increased spirituality, the experience of the unity of the Church led by Pope Francis, as well as renewed impetus for the life of our outgoing Church”.
