The 47th plenary assembly of Bishops has started today in Lourdes (France) with the opening lecture of his president, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois. Among the participants 112 Diocesan Bishops, 17 Emeritus Bishops, three overseas Bishops and one Apostolic Nuncio. The assembly will be held until Sunday 9 November and bishops will discuss the three main themes which had already been central to the work of three working groups: "Religious indifference and Church visibility", bioethics and "give life to our Churches." A debate on "the basics of inter-religious dialogue" is also on the agenda. In today’s opening lecture, Cardinal Vingt-Trois recalled the Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI to France saying that it has been "an important moment in the life of our Church." "The meetings in Paris and Lourdes have proved to attentive and impartial observers that the image of a decaying Church does not reflect the reality," he added. We have seen the young, teenagers, students, young professional workers and families with children having a central place in this Church." And it is good to hear the "positive comments" on the Apostolic Journey coming from outside "the ecclesial world."
