Italy, Germany, Denmark

Italy: the conclusion of the Permanent Bishops’ Council "Walking, building and confessing:" in the closing remarks of the Permanent Bishops’ Council (Rome, March 18-19) cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Genoa, repeated the three key words pronounced by Pope Francis during the Mass with the cardinals the day after his election, entrusting the Pope’s words to the confreres as a "benchmark for pastoral care, an encouragement as you return to your dioceses", is written in the final statement of the meeting. The "events which over the past weeks have set the pace of the life of the Church" also set the pace of the encounter. "’To walk’ – His Eminence said – exhorts us not to be fearful of the greyness of our times, but bravely tread together with confidence. ‘To build’ highlights the reference to purification: not to work for ourselves but for the Church, recognizing God’s primacy and finding in Him the truth that makes us free and capable of obedience. ‘To confess’ brings us to the central content of Gospel proclamation: Our Lord Jesus, our only Saviour, the Crucified Christ, amidst the disgraceful foolishness of a world that marginalizes – and sometimes even destroys – innocent lives". "Once again – said cardinal Bagnasco – the Divine Providence has given us a concrete token of the Church, a communion that brings the bishops around the Successor of Peter for an affective and effective collegiality, supported by full and open adhesion to His teachings, and by constant and factual cooperation". On the morning of March 19 the members of the permanent Council attended the solemn Mass that inaugurated the Pontificate. The bishops sent a message to Pope Francis at the end of the meeting. During the permanent Council the bishops examined a set of tasks that lie ahead with a view to the forthcoming General Assembly of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Germany: annual congress on illegality The yearly Congress on illegality, organised by the Catholic Forum ‘Living in Illegality’, the Council for Immigration and the Catholic Academy of Berlin, opened in Berlin on March 20. Now in its 9th year, the Congress closes today and its name is "Irregularity and the European immigration regime: between defensive measures and offers of support", with Church leaders, scientists and welfare experts along with civil-service and party delegates. Monsignor Norbert Trelle, president of the Forum and president of the Immigration Committee of the German Bishops Conference (Dbk), took stock of the current state of lawful monitoring measures and the rights that anyone is entitled to, regardless of their residence permits. "The Forum aims to go on with the debate to get the urgent, requisite improvements that people need", mgr. Trelle said. In addition, the bishop of Hildesheim called the Länder to take measures to let status-less children attend school and to make health care actually usable by illegal immigrants too, who are in fact deterred from contacting health-care facilities.Denmark: a Mass for the Pope in Copenhagen "Although until yesterday Pope Francis had served as archbishop of a great city, in an important continent, most of only now realize who he is and what he has done for the Church. It’s too soon to comment on how he will carry out his assignment, with which tones, and to which areas he will devote himself the most, compared to his predecessors. We have obtained an important indication in the choice of his name", wrote the archbishop of Copenhagen, Monsignor Czeslaw Kozon, a few days ago in a letter to the members of his diocese. "The greatest challenge for Pope Francis and for us with him, is to awaken and rekindle enthusiasm for faith in Christ", he said. For the Archbishop, "many people need to experience the joy of faith, to witness its importance for us as Christians and for the world around us". "We shall not forget Pope Benedict – concludes Msgr. Kozon – I thank him for his service and for his example. May God grant him many fruitful years in this world". A thanksgiving Mass for the Holy Father will be celebrated today in Copenhagen’s Cathedral.