"I kindly encourage you wrote the Pope in the message to the Catholic Biblical Federation , not only to go on spreading the knowledge of the great importance of the Scriptures for the contemporary experiences of Catholics and, above all, of the youngest generations, but also to guide them to interpret the Scriptures in accordance with the central perspective of Christ and its Easter mystery… May the peoples of Africa receive the Word of God as the spring of reconciliation and justice dispensing life and, above all, the real peace originating from the Resurrected One only". The Catholic Biblical Federation, now relying on 327 members from 129 countries, was established by Paul VI in 1969; it is presided over by Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia. "This Assembly stated Msgr. Paglia in an interview with the Vatican Radio has a double meaning: delving into the themes of the Scriptures as sources of reconciliation, justice and peace, and paying a contribution to the African Synod of next year. The ecumenical perspective is a meaningful aspect which is going to characterize the Assembly. The highest officers of the United Bible Society will be present as observers. The United Bible Society, under a certain point of view, is the Protestant counterparty of our Federation. It is really good that those two institutions pledge together to spread the Bible".
