As to his election as president of the French Bishops Conference that took place in Lourdes yesterday during the plenary meeting of the French Bishops, that will end on November 8th , the archbishop who, will be appointed cardinal by the Pope at the next consistory, confesses: "I am impressed at the trust that my brethren have proven to place in me, by electing me so quickly. I have the feeling I am starting an adventure I do not know the details of". Then, as to the priorities he will give to his mission, he adds: "I think that, chiefly in the light of my twenty years’ experience as a bishop, there is a very important primary mission, which is helping the bishops work with each other", so that "their different sensitivities and tendencies can be expressed within the Bishops Conference". One of the priorities listed by mgr. Vingt-Trois is ecumenical dialogue, the intention to "establish close contacts with the Christian churches, with which we have favourable and fruitful ecumenical relationships".
