Religion and social situation: the diary of the 106 Argentine bishops who visit the pope – 29/04/2019

The serious economic and social crisis that plagued the previous presidential climate of last October caused great central concern and 106 Argentine bishops went in three rounds to meet the pope, asking him again to visit his country. The first group of 33 bishops began their "ad limina" visit on Monday morning, which means "on the threshold" of the apostles, who are the four great pontifical basilicas. Francisco will receive them Thursday at 10 o'clock in the morning, after paying homage to the tomb of San Pedro.

The archbishops and bishops of the Northeast, Platense and Litoral regions celebrated Monday a liturgical ceremony in front of the remains of the Apostle Saint Paul, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, dedicated to the missions. After that, meetings with the main Vatican dicasteries began. The first took place in the Congregation of Catholic Education and will be followed by 19 other congregations and pontifical councils. The pilgrimage through the Roman Curia includes the Secretary of State. In all Vatican organizations, the bishops of Argentina have anticipated their reports on the pastoral situation in their respective dioceses.

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Monday to Friday morning.

The "ad limina" visit is governed by canon law and provides that each bishop must come every five years to Rome to see the pope. renew their links with the church by visiting the pontifical basilicas ("Ad limina" means "at the thresholds of the tombs of the apostles") and update and strengthen their relationship with the dicasteries of the Curia.

It had been ten years since the Bishops of Argentina had come to Rome. Last time, in 2009, arrived at the head of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergogliowho now receives them as pontiff.

On their arrival in Rome, 29 of the 33 bishops participated this Sunday a Mbad of thanksgiving for the beatification of the four martyrs of La Rioja, who were raised to the altars by the papal envoy, Cardinal Antonio Becciu. The liturgy was celebrated at the Argentine Church in Rome, Buenos Aires.

Six archbishops were present. That of La Plata, Victor Fernandez, very close to the pope; the Andrés Stanovnik Correntino; that of Paraná, Juan Puiggari; Eduardo Martin of Rosario; Sergio Fenoy, Santa Fe; and Ramón Dus, of Resistencia.

The celebration was presided over by Bishop Carlos Azpiroz Costa, Archbishop of Bahía Blanca. In his long homily, he asked for inspiration for the four martyrs of the Church, killed during the worst military dictatorship that Argentina has endured. Referring to Bishop Monsignor Enrique Angelelli, the Archbishop asked that "Blessed Enrique helps us to continue to walk just with one ear in the world and the other in the city".

He also mentioned the blessed martyr Carlos de Dios Murias, conventual Franciscan, the blessed Gabriel Priest and the martyr Wenceslao Pedernera, catechist. and the inspiration they gave to all members of the Church.

For its part, Pope Francis reminded the four blessed martyrs in her prayer of Regina Coelli, who during the Easter period replaces the Angelus of noon. He asked that his example "support those who work for a more just and more inclusive society".

Other meetings in the dicasteries are planned on Monday and Tuesday. They include meetings with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Department of Integral Human Development.

In addition to presenting the work done in the pastoral plan, the bishops of Argentina will speak with the agencies of the Curia the Argentinian situation. His opinions will focus on the recent message of the Argentine Church during Holy Week, in which he warned: "We suffer so much from the shadows on the social level"with "working conditions so unfair to the dignity of the people".

The first group of 33 bishops will go on Wednesday May 1 on pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. John of Letran, which is the Cathedral of the Pope Bishop of Rome. The next day, Thursday, very early, the episcopal Argentineans will be in front of the tomb of the first bishop of Rome, in the catacombs of the basilica that bears his name. At 10 am (five hours less in Argentina) the pope will receive them, with which a two-hour dialogue is planned.

With the liturgy in the basilica of Santa María la Mayor, the largest temple in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary, will complete the ad limina visit of the first group.

The next day, Sunday 5 and until 11 May, the 29 pastors of the Buenos Aires region will be in Rome, among them, the president of the episcopal commission, Bishop Oscar Ojea: Friday the 10th, they will be received for two hours by the pope.

Finally, the largest group of 44 bishops will make their ad limina visit between 12 and 18 years old. They include the regions of Patagonia, Center, Cuyo and North-West, which will dialogue with Francisco Friday 17 at 10 o'clock.