Belarus: looking forward to the Pope’s arrival in 2010Belarus is expecting Benedict XVI in 2010. Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Metropolitan of Minsk-Mohilev, released the news. “The Belarus’ bishops will convey the official invitation to the Pope during their ad limina visit in November”, he said. “Benedict XV has already received two invitations to visit our Country by President Alexander Lukashenko”, the Metropolitan said. “Through the Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone last year, and this year” from Lukashenko himself “during his visit to the Apostolic capital past April”. Also archbishop Kondrusiewicz said he invited the Pope on various occasions and that this was his answer: “When God wills and when the doors open”. The apostolic visit is due to take place in the spring or in the summer. In addition to Minsk, the Pope is expected to visit the national sanctuary of the Mother of God in Budslau. As relates to the possibility of an encounter between Benedict XVI and Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill, that could take place in Minsk, Kondrusiewicz declared: “Today this is possible. During his recent trip to Belarus, Patriarch Kirill appreciated Catholic-Orthodox relations”. The ad limina visit of Belarus’ bishops is due to take place next December 10, “the first visit of Benedict XVI”, pointed out archbishop Kondrusiewicz. Among the more urgent problems of the Belarus’ Church that will be presented to the Pope, said the Metropolitan of Minsk-Mohilev, figures “the decreasing numbers of priests and the need to promote vocations; the need for better education for the youth; evangelization and Catechesis” to spread the “‘sensus ecclesiae’ among the faithful; the importance to “launch Catholic media and publishing houses” and to build new churches. Portugal: Fatima, the anniversary of the apparitionsThousands of faithful took part in the celebration of October 13th anniversary pilgrimage in Fatima, presided over by the Cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon. This is the first celebration in the Sanctuary since the announcement of the Pope’s forthcoming visit in May 2010. Msgr. José Policarpo underlined the happiness of the entire nation for a very special event: “the presence of the Holy Father will certainly be a point of reference and an important zest of attraction for all Portuguese Christians. Our Church feels a special bond with the Papal figure”, the Cardinal declared. “Each Pope is different. Benedict XVI is a mystic, an artist, a timid man with an extraordinary sensitivity, to whose presence one always feels perfectly at ease”. The homily of Msgr. Policarpo focused upon the identity and the mission of the priest. “It has to be worthy of the solicitude manifested by God towards his entire People and each single person. As a shepherd with his flock, he ought to know his lambs, know what they need, look after the weak and sick ones, look for them when they get lost, and carry them on his shoulders when they get sick”. “However, all Church members are priests, since they were consecrated by the Holy Spirit and this mystery can become fruitful thanks to the love that was passed down to them”. From the Marian sanctuary the patriarch of Lisbon recalled, “We cannot even imagine the intensity with which Mary loved the world with her vocation, in accepting God’s calling identifying with the plan of redemption, in sharing with her Son the redeeming sacrifice, the Mother Virgin represents the perfect example of how everyone must radically live priestly love in their own hearts”.Spain: bishops at the school of communicationA communication workshop-seminar on how to improve one’s communication skills is currently taking place near Madrid. It is attended by some twenty bishops. The initiative is promoted by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference Commission for the Means of Social Communication chaired by Mgr Joan Piris, bishop of Lleida. The event is co-supported by the “Carmen de Noriega” Foundation following the guidelines of the Vatican directory “Apostolorum successores” for the pastoral ministry of bishops by which the pastors of the Church are invited to make a correct use of communication means in the exercise of their pastoral mission, with special regard to their evangelization work. The technical coordination of the seminar has been entrusted to Santiago Álvarez de Mon, from the University of Navarra, with the assistance of other experts including Joaquín Navarro-Valls and Giovanni Maria Vian. The intensive course is practice-oriented with exercises on how to speak in public, the oratory technique applied to radio and television programmes, participation in live programmes as well as on how to hold a press conference. The “Carmen Noriega” Foundation is a non-profit organisation with the aim of helping the Church boost its communications.
