The examination of a document “on terrorism and on the contribution of the Church to its eradication”, with a view to the “achievement of peace, unity and solidarity” among all Spaniards and throughout Spain, is one of the top priorities at the 79th plenary assembly of the Spanish episcopate, now underway in Madrid (until 22 November). The urgency of the question was stressed, in his opening address, by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. He explained that the document, drawn up during the permanent Council in June, consists in a “study on terrorism, its causes, origins and consequences”. Cardinal Rouco focused a good part of his address on the current situation of the evangelising mission in Spain, stressing that the Church “has not sought, nor is seeking, any privileges, but a space of real and positive freedom for the specific exercise of her mission: of religious worship by celebrating the mysteries of salvation , by teaching and by charity, rendering the love of Christ visible today in conformity with the Accords between the Holy See and the Spanish State of 3 January 1979 , and by promoting the active presence of Catholics in the most noble causes for a just, prosperous and caring society, attentive to the signs of the time and, in particular, with the task of arousing consciences to the needs of the more disadvantaged members of society”. In view of the forthcoming visit of John Paul II to Spain, scheduled for the spring of 2003, Cardinal Rouco recalled the fruits of the Pope’s first apostolic journey to Spain in October 1982. “We are convinced he said that this next visit will once again be transformed into a providential opportunity for the Lord’s grace on behalf of the pilgrim Church in Spain”. The assembly of Spanish bishops consists of 3 cardinals, 12 archbishops, 49 residential bishops, 14 auxiliaries, 1 coadjutor and 37 retired bishops.
