Four encouragements” “

For the first time, the German bishops met in Berlin for their spring plenary. During their assembly, held from 6 to 9 March, the 70 bishops discussed various topical questions, including youth ministry, the German Katholikentag (Catholic Congress), the pastoral care of prison inmates, religious education in schools, even the role of the Church during the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, due to take place in Germany. Time was also found on the agenda for a meeting with exponents of other religions: on 9 March some bishops participated in a conference of rabbis, also attended by Cardinal Walter Kasper. We present a brief résumé of some of the salient points debated during the plenary. YOUTH, A NEW “biotopE OF THE FAITH”. A study day chaired by Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, chairman of the Commission for youth ministry, was dedicated to the pastoral care of youth. The need emerged to devote greater attention to the “existential” aspects of the young, and support them in their attempt to give form to their own life, with particular attention to the poor and the disadvantaged. Bishop Bode called for a youth ministry that is “evangelising, missionary and able to attract” young people without prospects. In the final communiqué presented by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, President of the German Bishops’ Conference, the importance of eucharistic adoration as “central theme of youth ministry” is emphasized; the need is also recognized to forge a relation between liturgy and diakonia (service in the community). What’s needed, he said, is “a new ‘biotope of the faith’, in which the call of the individual may freely be developed and the community reinforced”. During the study day six work groups were set up, each devoted to a particular aspect of the pastoral mission to the young. Bishop Bode summed up the results of the day in four “encouragements”: “the courage to form a network, to deepen bonds of faith, to commit oneself to social and charitable work, and to look to the universality of the Church”. Dialogue with and on the young, and youth ministry – says the document presented by Cardinal Lehmann – “represent an important element of the pastoral action of the German Catholic Church. The youth commission will evaluate the study day, tackle the important questions raised in the discussions and refer the results to the Bishops’ Conference. Various events, such as WYD 2008 in Sidney and the Catholic Congresses in 2006 and 2008, represent good opportunities for continuing to develop the network and deepen commitment”. WORLD CUP, HOSPITABLE CITIES AND CHURCHES. “We in the Church wish to help the slogan of the football World Cup ‘The world as guest with friends’ become a reality. We wish hospitality to be a success in this great event”, declared Cardinal Lehmann on the activities planned by the German Catholic Church on the occasion of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup that will take place in twelve German cities (Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hanover, Kaiserslautern, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart). The opening ceremony and the inaugural match will take place at Munich in Bavaria (9 June) while the final will be played in Berlin (9 July). Thousands of fans from all over the world are expected to converge on Germany for the event. “Hospitality means that the Churches should increasingly become more ‘open Churches’ than they usually are. We approve of all those initiatives that, for example, combine visits to churches with attempts to illustrate to visitors the witness to faith given by painting and architecture, or that provide opportunities for dialogue. The Catholic Church shall especially be present in the context of the cultural programme of various cities”, said the cardinal, who expressly mentioned “the contribution of communities of Catholics who speak a language other than German”. “We are delighted and grateful – he continued – “for the willingness they have expressed to meet with the teams and fans of other countries”. Lehmann however, underlined that “the Bishops’ Conference expressly supports the statements of individual bishops who call for respect for Sunday as a day of rest”, since “hospitality in no way means that the opening hours of shops should be prolonged”. The cardinal lastly announced that an ecumenical celebration in Munich Cathedral would be held on the occasion of the inaugural match on 9 June.