杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Catholic Church in Latin America and the Caribbean has begun the journey toward its first-ever Ecclesial Assembly.

The event, originally scheduled for Spring 2021, will instead take place on 21-28 November of this year, and will focus on the theme: 鈥淲e are all missionary disciples on the move.鈥�

On Sunday, Church leaders from the region鈥攁long with lay faithful, clergy, and religious men and women鈥攎et in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City.

Discerning needs of Church

杏MAP导航 Francis joined virtually in the event through a video message sent to Peruvian Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo, the president of the Episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM).

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 noted the importance of the first-ever regional Church assembly, which will unite clergy and lay faithful in discerning the needs and pastoral direction of the local Church.

鈥淲e have much to learn,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is a meeting of the people of God: lay men and women, religious men and women, priests, bishops. All the people of God walking together: praying, speaking, thinking, discussing, and seeking the will of God.鈥�

Close to God鈥檚 people

The 杏MAP导航 went on to give assembly-members two criteria as they 鈥渙pen new horizons of hope.鈥�

First, he urged the Church to remain in contact with ordinary Catholics.

鈥淢ay this Assembly not be an elite group separated from the holy, faithful people of God,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the Second Vatican Council鈥檚 assertion that the people of God 鈥渋s infallible 鈥榠n credendo鈥�.鈥�

鈥淥utside the people of God an elite group crops up, an elite illumined by one ideology or another,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut this is not the Church. The Church is found in the breaking of the bread. The Church gives herself to all, without exclusion.鈥�

The Ecclesial Assembly, he added, is one sign of a Church that excludes no one.

In prayer

The second criterion which the 杏MAP导航 offered was prayer.

鈥淭he Lord is in our midst,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ay the Lord help us hear His voice: this is our request that He might be with us.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his video message to the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean by promising his prayers.

And he encouraged the Assembly to be courageous and to recall him always in mutual prayer.