VATICAN - Lettre du Pape Benoît XVI aux membres de l’Assemblée Générale de la Fédération Biblique Catholique : « La Parole de Dieu, source de réconciliation, de justice et de paix ».
Rome (Agence Fides) – Le message que vous apportez à Dar-es-Salaam, est clairement un message d’amour pour la Bible, et d’amour pour l’Afrique. Le thème de votre Assemblée Générale attire l’attention sur la manière avec laquelle la Parole de Dieu peut restaurer l’humanité dans la réconciliation, dans la justice et dans la paix. C’est là la parole de vie que l’Eglise doit offrir à un monde en ruines ». Telles sont les paroles du Saint-Père dans la Lettre adressée aux membres de la VII° Assemblée Générale de la Fédération Biblique Catholique, qui se tient à Dar-es-Salaam du 24 juin au 3 juillet, sur le thème suivant : « La Parole de Dieu, source de réconciliation, de justice et de paix ».
Le Saint-Père déclare notamment : « Le Christianisme est la religion de la Parole de Dieu… Seul le Christ, Verbe Eternel du Dieu Vivant, par le Saint-Esprit, peut ouvrir notre esprit pour comprendre les Ecritures ». Il demande ensuite aux participants de continuer à faire connaître l’importance profonde des Ecritures par l’expérience contemporaine des catholiques, et spécialement des générations plus jeunes… pour les guider à les interpréter à partir de la perspective centrale du Christ et de son mystère pascal ». Sur le thème de la réconciliation, le Pape Benoît XVI déclare que la communauté des croyants peut être le levain de la réconciliation seulement « si elle reste docile à l’Esprit, et rend témoignage à l’Evangile, seulement si elle porte la Croix comme Jésus et avec Jésus »
Après avoir invité tous les Chrétiens « à imiter l’ouverture de Marie qui ‘accueillit dans son cœur et dans son corps le Verbe de Dieu, et apporta la vie au monde’ », le Saint-Père conclut sa Lettre en souhaitant que les peuples d’Afrique « puissent recevoir ce Verbe comme Source de réconciliation et de justice dispensatrice de vie, et spécialement de la paix authentique qui vient seulement du Seigneur Ressuscité ». (S.L.)
(Agence Fides, 25.6.2008)site Fides
(4 Missionaries of Africa take part in this meeting: Richard Baawobr 1st Assistant General, Quinbert Kinunda, Laurent Balas and Aloysius Ssekamatte )
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VATICAN - Papal Letter addressed to participants of the Seventh General Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation on the theme “The Word of God - Source of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace”
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “ The theme of your General Assembly draws attention to how God's word can restore humanity in reconciliation, justice and peace. This is the word of life that the Church has to offer to a broken world.” These words are part of a Papal Letter which the Holy Father Benedict XVI addressed to participants of the Seventh General Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation being held in Dar es Salaam 24 June to 3 July 2008, on the theme “The Word of God - Source of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace”
The Pope writes “ Christianity is the Religion of the Word of God, "not a written and mute word, but incarnate and living. It is only Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, who through the Holy Spirit, can open our minds to understand the Scriptures ”. He encourages the participants to “ not only to continue to make known the profound relevance of the Scriptures to the contemporary experience of Catholics and particularly to the younger generations, but also to lead them to interpret them from the central perspective of Christ and his Paschal mystery. The community of believers can be the leaven of reconciliation, but only if "she remains docile to the Spirit and bears witness to the Gospel, only if she carries the Cross like Jesus and with Jesus”.
After urging Christians to “ the openness of Mary who received the Word of God "in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world"” the Holy Father concludes his Letter as follows “ May the peoples of Africa receive this Word as the life-giving source of reconciliation and justice, and especially of the true peace that comes only from the Risen Lord. Commending to the same Virgin Mary, the Seat of Wisdom, all those gathered for this General Assembly, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing. ”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2008)
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Pope to Catholic Biblical Federation
"God's Word Can Restore Humanity"VATICAN CITY, JUNE 24, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the letter Benedict XVI sent to the VII General Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation, underway until July 3 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The theme of the conference is "Word of God: Source of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."
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To the Most Reverend
Vincenzo Paglia
President of the Catholic Biblical Federation"Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace" (Eph 6:14-15). With these words of the Apostle Paul, I am pleased to greet the delegates and all those attending the Seventh General Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation taking place in Dar-es-Salaam from 24 June to 3 July 2008, dedicated to the theme: Word of God -- Source of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. The General Assembly is always a privileged opportunity for the members of the Catholic Biblical Federation to listen together to the word of God and renew their service to the Church, called to proclaim the gospel of peace.
The fact that your meeting is being held in Dar-es-Salaam is an important gesture of solidarity with the Church in Africa, more so in view of next year's special Synod for Africa. "The Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel" ("Gaudium et Spes," 4). The message you bring to Dar-es-Salaam is clearly a message of love of the Bible and love of Africa. The theme of your General Assembly draws attention to how God's word can restore humanity in reconciliation, justice and peace. This is the word of life that the Church has to offer to a broken world. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:19-20). May the African Continent set the context for the lectio divina which will assist you in these days and may your efforts help the Church in Africa to "pursue its evangelizing mission, in order to bring the peoples of the Continent to the Lord, teaching them to observe all that he has commanded [cf. Mt 28:20]" (cf. "Ecclesia in Africa," 6).
Christianity is the Religion of the Word of God, "not a written and mute word, but incarnate and living" (Saint Bernard, S. Missus est 4, 11 PL 183, 86). It is only Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, who through the Holy Spirit, can open our minds to understand the Scriptures (cf. Lk 24:15, Catechism, 108). I warmly encourage you therefore not only to continue to make known the profound relevance of the Scriptures to the contemporary experience of Catholics and particularly to the younger generations, but also to lead them to interpret them from the central perspective of Christ and his Paschal mystery. The community of believers can be the leaven of reconciliation, but only if "she remains docile to the Spirit and bears witness to the Gospel, only if she carries the Cross like Jesus and with Jesus" (Homily, Solemnity of Pentecost, 11 May 2008). In this regard, I wish to make my own a reflection from the Servant of God, Pope John Paul ii, who observed: "How indeed can we proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation without at the same time being committed to working for reconciliation between Christians?" (Ut Unum Sint, 98). Let this observation also find its way into your undertakings these days. May your hearts be guided always by the Holy Spirit in the unifying power of the word of God.
All Christians are called to imitate the openness of Mary who received the Word of God "in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world" (Lumen Gentium, 53). May the peoples of Africa receive this Word as the life-giving source of reconciliation and justice, and especially of the true peace that comes only from the Risen Lord. Commending to the same Virgin Mary, the Seat of Wisdom, all those gathered for this General Assembly, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, 12 June 2008
site Fides
(4 Missionaries of Africa take part in this meeting: Richard Baawobr 1st Assistant General, Quinbert Kinunda, Laurent Balas and Aloysius Ssekamatte )
