The reorganization of the secretariat of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, World Youth Day in Cologne, a future visit by a delegation to Iran, a joint Swiss-Brazilian ecumenical declaration on access to water as a human right, and the events planned for the year of vocations to the priesthood and for the Year of the Eucharist, are among the main issues discussed by the Swiss episcopate during their recent assembly in the Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln (6-8 June). The assembly the first after the death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI – commemorated Karol Wojtyla, underlining the fact that all the Swiss bishops had received their episcopal ordination from John Paul II, who visited Switzerland a year ago. The bishops also recalled the “open dialogue” conducted with Cardinal Ratzinger at the time of his service as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and during their ad limina visit to Rome last February. The Swiss bishops are also waiting with joy for the next WYD in Cologne, in which over 1200 Swiss youth have already enrolled. They will be accompanied by eight bishops. A revamped secretariat of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference was also announced. It will be divided into four main sectors: faith, evangelization and formation; ecclesiastical ministries and services; Church and world; and pastoral care. Lastly the Swiss episcopate’s Commission for the Media awarded the Catholic Prize for Communication 2005 to Jean-Luc Ballestraz for “his passion for the media in the joy of communicating the Gospel”. The Prize will be handed over at a ceremony at Foire du Valais at Martigny between 30 September and 9 October 2005.
