Congress in Rome

“Mother and Teacher of all nations—such is the Catholic Church . . . to hold the world in an embrace of love, that men, in every age, should find in her their own completeness in a higher order of living, and their ultimate salvation. She is ‘the pillar and ground of the truth’”. (Mater et Magistra, Pope John XXIII).

I was honoured to be able to participate in a recent Congress in Rome, organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (PCJP), to mark the 50^th Anniversary of Pope John XXIII’s encyclical, Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher – on Christianity and social progress). The theme of the Congress was: Justice and Globalisation: From Mater et Magistra to Caritas in Veritate.

There were 233 participants and officials from around the world. Sylvie Compper and Marie-Christine Hyasine from French Guyana, represented the AEC Justice and Peace Commission and I represented T&T. On the first morning of this three-day Congress (May 16-18), we had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI who addressed us and blessed us “so that we may accomplish with renewed zeal our mission as instruments and witnesses of the Caritas in veritate in re socialis”. These words were uttered by Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson, President of PCJP, who opened and closed the Congress.

Since there were more than 35 sessions, there is much information to distill. The programme and all papers are available on the following website specially created for the Congress: http://dottrinasocialedellachiesa.net/.

The overall theme for Day 1 was: “The New Evangelisation of Society and Globalisation: The Role of the Social Doctrine of the Church”. Social Pastoral Care and Social Action were considered in contexts such as “the universal destination of goods, the role of ecclesial communities and the various Catholic, Christian and non-confessional associations, the nature and the tasks of Justice and Peace Commissions.”

The theme on Day 2 was: “Man and His Environment: Justice and Politics”. Working groups focussed on issues in four continental areas: Africa, The Americas, Asia and Europe. Topics included “work and the common good, remuneration, social policy, material and non-material (natural, technological, intellectual) resources and integral development, active policies for the balance at the territorial, regional and global level for the production and distribution of wealth.”

Rapporteurs reported to the General Assembly during a plenary session and Bishop Mario Toso, Secretary of PCJP made concluding remarks.

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a. Catholic Relief Services which “reach more than 100 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents… assisting impoverished and disadvantaged people, working in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.” CRS’ operations “serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity”. CRS’ involvement in peace-building initiatives in areas such as Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Europe is noteworthy.

b. Ashankur Women Center (India): As Sr Daphne Sequeira said, “Ashankur means Shoots of Hope”. The project focusses on “the empowerment of marginalised women in India to enable them to increase their control over decisions affecting their lives both within and outside their households. This is accomplished through self-help groups, skills training, organic farming, micro-finance, and other social and economic empowerment progammes for rural women.”

c. The Basic Needs Basket, developed by the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection, is used as an advocacy tool to address the plight of the poor in Zambia. It gives a snapshot of the socio-economic situation of citizens in a given area.

d. Roots of Peace (USA): Heidi Kuhn and her team work “to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empower the local communities scarred by these inhumane weapons.” They work “to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse.”

e. Progetto Policoro (Italy): A national project linking North and South churches in Italy – aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting youth entrepreneurship. It is a three-year educational/formation programme for youths – based on the Gospel.

f. The Prison Pastoral Care Project (Spain) focusses on restorative justice principles – inside and outside prisons – as “an act of evangelisation and promoting integral human development.”

Next week I shall share more information about the witness of Catholics around the world. Christian love, service and solidarity are alive.