This afternoon, the Catholic Cathedral of Liverpool celebrates the Vespers, which will broadcast live by the BBC, to open the meeting on "Migration, a new space of evangelisation and solidarity", jointly organised by Ccee (Council of European Bishops Conferences) and Secam (Symposium of Bishops Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), the second step of the yearly meetings between African and European bishops, after the meeting on new forms of slavery held in Elmina, Ghana, in November 2007. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between the bishops of the two continents for evangelisation and human promotion. This time, Liverpool (2008 European Capital of Culture), on the invitation of the archdiocese headed by archbishop Patrick Kelly, hosts a dozen European bishops (from as many countries) and about ten African bishops as well as delegates of two Vatican ministries and Catholic humanitarian agencies. The meeting will last until November 23rd where the bishops will reflect on the hot issue of migration. They will also discuss the situation of migration across the world, especially in Africa and Europe, the policies of their continents, the new forms of slavery, the pastoral of refugees, migrant workers and students. A final document will be drawn up at the end.
