Message of 8 peoples” “

“The Katholikentag of the Catholics of Central Europe (MEKT) is a clear sign of the fact that in the new Europe, communion is stronger than all the conflicts of the past and the present”: so declared Cardinal CHRISTOPH SCHÖNBORN , president of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, which met for its spring assembly in Seggauberg in Steiermark from 8 to 11 March. Schönborn was speaking during the press conference held in Vienna on 12 March. “Naturally we must also look at the ‘sore points’ of the construction of the new Europe”, he added, referring to the problems posed by imminent EU enlargement. In the view of Father Karl Schauer, superior of Mariazell, the MEKT is a “European miracle”: “At Mariazell in particular I continuously experience that Croats and Slovenes or Slovakians and Czechs celebrate Mass together and naturally understand each other”. “If the same also happens during the pilgrimage”, he adds, “something great will happen”. The plenary assembly of the Austrian bishops was in fact dominated by the MEKT: it was almost exclusively dedicated to questions to do with the organization of the great pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary in May. Here are some details about the aims and preparations for the event. WHAT IS THE MEKT? The Episcopal Conferences of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria are the organizers and promoters of the event, defined by the document of the Austrian bishops “a process lasting roughly a year”. The slogan chosen for the event is “Christ – Europe’s hope”. The declared aims of the MEKT are: first, “enabling the Church to transcend frontiers and give signs of reconciliation, since the tragic history of the 20th century has divided the peoples in our region. This sad legacy needs to be overcome: it cannot poison our common future”; second, “rediscovering together the sources of Christianity in our continent – along the European roads of pilgrimages and in the great sanctuaries – and making this positive heritage bear fruit for the future”; third, “acting together as Christians in the construction of Europe” and, fourth, “promoting social responsibility”. This year-long “process” has been punctuated by eight symposia, each hosted by one of the participating countries. Each meeting is dedicated to significant ethical and social questions, including bioethics, pastoral work, and the family, analysed with an exchange of experiences between the different countries. The last symposium in May will tackle the problems of the agricultural sector in view of EU enlargement. PREPARATIONS. Cardinal Schönborn referred to the preparations in the Austrian dioceses and in the other countries for the “pilgrimage of peoples, which will mark the culmination and conclusion of the MEKT. It is estimated that some 60,000 pilgrims will converge on Mariazell, including 6,000 young people, accompanied by 200 bishops from the eight countries. The cardinal announced the sending of the official invitation to attend the “pilgrimage of peoples” to the ecumenical Council of the Churches in Austria and expressed his own joy that numerous Austrian parish priests – over 100 in the archdiocese of Vienna alone – have agreed to provide accommodation to the pilgrims of other countries. Schönborn stressed that the choice of the Marian sanctuary of Mariazell as the goal of the pilgrimage was made in response to a preference expressed by the participating countries, since this sanctuary is “deeply rooted in the Churches of these countries”. He also described as “significant” the fact that “all the steps for the Katholikentag of the Catholics of Central Europe were taken together”. On the possible presence of the Pope, Schönborn said that a decision would be taken by the end of March. The pilgrimage will open on the evening of 21 May with a celebration for youth in the basilica of Mariazell, followed by a prayer vigil. On the morning of 22 May the statue of Our Lady will be borne in procession. Then, at 11 o’clock, the eucharistic celebration will begin. There will be a festivity for the young on Saturday evening, and the pilgrimage will end on Sunday morning with an open-air celebration.