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NOVEMBER 24
Archbishop Karlic states that in 1999 there will be a special effort to promote the Church's Social Doctrine

Buenos Aires, 24 (NE) In the context of the National Meeting of Delegates for the Great Jubilee that took place last week, Archbishop Karlic of Parana said that in the next year there will be a special emphasis to promote «the Social Doctrine of the Church», since the year that comes «must be a year of social justice». In relation to the people who govern society, the President of the Argentinean Bishop's Conference highlighted that they must know that doctrine, stating the necessity to «announce from the Gospel which are the principles of a correct social and political life».

Archbishop of Medellin makes a new call to peace and reconciliation in Colombia

Medellin, 24 (NE) In a message to Colombian Catholics, Archbishop Alberto Giraldo Jaramillo of Medellin raised his voice once again to urge the people implicated in the conflict that affects Colombia to cease fire and allow the necessary space for the dialogs of peace. «We unite ourselves to those who have suggested a cease fire as the best testimony that we are initiating a new stage in the country's history» said Archbishop Giraldo. He reminded as well «the right and duty» of bishops, priests and pastoral agents to «announce clearly the Lord Jesus», the only fundament of authentic reconciliation between people.

Living the Gospel of Life: new document of North American Bishops on the value of human life

Washington, 23 (NE) «Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics» is the title of the new document recently made public by the North American Bishops. «In this statement we attempt to fulfill our role as teachers and Pastors in proclaiming the Gospel of Life», state the Bishops. In this document, the Prelates call every person in their country «especially those in positions of leadership to recover their identity as followers of Jesus Christ and to be leaders in the renewal of American respect for the sanctity of life». With great clarity the statement affirms that «direct abortion is never a morally tolerable option. It is always a grave act of violence against a woman and her unborn child». «Similarly, euthanasia and assisted suicide are never acceptable acts of mercy».

In a similar way, denouncing that Catholics today risk cooperating in a false pluralism that does not accept any truth, they highlight that «secular society will allow believers to have whatever moral convictions they please - as long as they keep them on the private preserves of their consciences, in their homes and churches, and out of the public arena». Nevertheless, the mission of Christian is to proclaim with life and word the Gospel of Life. «We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life». The statement ends invoking Holy Mary, Patroness of America, so that She «open our hearts to the Gospel of life, protect our nation, and make us witnesses to the truth».

NOVEMBER 23
Pope John Paul II inaugurated Special Assembly for the Bishops of Oceania

Vatican, 23 (NE) With the celebration of the Eucharist in Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II began yesterday the Special Assembly for the Bishops of Oceania. «In the moment in which the Universal Church prepares herself to cross the threshold of the Third Millennium of the christian age, the bishops of Oceania gather in communion, united to Peter's Successor to try to give a new impulse to the pastoral solicitude which drives them to announce Christ's Kingdom in the diversity of cultures and human, social and religious traditions, and in the admirable multiplicity of their people», said the Pope during his homily. Today will begin the sessions of the Synod, which will conclude next 12th of December.

Mexican Bishops urge to reconciliation before visit of Pope John Paul II

Mexico, 23 (NE) The Mexican Bishop's Conference made public yesterday a communique urging catholics in Mexico to prepare to receive the Holy Father «who comes as an apostle of Jesus Christ, messenger of the reconciliation and unity». In their message, the Bishops highlighted the necessity to grow in fidelity to Peter's Successor, who is the «rock of the Universal Church». «This fourth visit, gift of God and a present of the Pope, becomes for us a commitment of greater fidelity to Christ and His Gospel, in hope and renovation of christian life, in impulse to reconciliation and unity between all Mexicans».

Calling people to conversion in order to transform every sphere of human culture, the document remarked the importance of promoting the reconciliation and unity in every sphere, «working for the reconstruction of the social tissue that has been rended by our selfishness, promoting communion in the Church, lacerated by sin, and growing in the spirit of love and obedience to Christ's Vicar».

Encounter in Arequipa with the founder of the Christian Life Movement

Arequipa, 22 (NE) More than 2.200 members of the Christian Life Movement (MVC) in Arequipa (Peru) participated yesterday in the encounter with the founder of the MVC, Luis Fernando Figari, in an intense afternoon of faith, prayer and christian commitment. The joy and enthusiasm of the members of the Movement became gratitude for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon the Christian Life Movement over the last years in south Peruvian lands.

The prayers and religious songs were enclosed in an afternoon of encounter with the Lord Jesus as well as of sharing of the faith. «We meet together today to share our faith, to express our joy before a commitment, a commitment to answer the gift of the Lord that invites us to give ourselves to Love», said Luis Fernando words delivered to the participants. He remembered as well the hunger of God that «seals profoundly the reality of the human person», and the call made to every single person to, in a correct use of their freedom, walk the path of God's Plan to reach the Communion of Love.

He specially urged the participants to commit themselves with the call to sanctity, saying that the «call to sanctity isn't something impossible, and the members of the Christian Life Movement must proclaim, before a world swamped in ruptures, that sanctity is possible, that love is possible, and we must proclaim it not only by words, but with our whole life, with our everyday actions». «We must understand -he continued- that that call to sanctity constitutes the mission of each one in order to reach fulfillment, in order to reach happiness».

In some important words, Luis Fernando remembered the service that could be done for the world answering God's call, «adhering ourselves with all our heart to the Lord Jesus and cooperating to create spaces where light can remove darkness and allow the construction of the Civilization of Love in the world». He asked as well to the members of the MVC to live in everyday life, as Holy Mary did, the dynamism of sanctity «that cannot be kept enclosed because it is the dynamism of love», that must communicate and announce the Good News brought by the Lord Jesus to the world».

NOVEMBER 22
Chilean Bishops urge to national reconciliation

Santiago, 22 (NE) «Hope and reconciliation» is the title of the Document made public yesterday after the 76th General Assembly of the Bishop's Conference in Chile. In their documents, the Bishops stated the necessity of the Chilean people to walk the path of reconciliation. Truth and justice are inseparable of repentance and pardon, affirmed clearly the document, urging to attain a national peace that requires the search for truth, justice, pardon and reconciliation.

The bishops remembered as well that truth and justice, united to pardon, «can be reached easier if we believe that the reconciliation between human beings has it's deepest roots in the reconciliation with God». The call made by the Chilean Bishops is in continuity with the efforts made by Archbishop Errázuriz of Santiago, recently elected President of the Chilean Conference of Bishops, to attain the reconciliation in Chile.

Cardinal Biffi highlights the unity of faith in the Lord Jesus

Rome, 22 (NE) «Jesus Christ alive in the Church» was the theme of the catechesis given in Rimini by Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, Archbishop of Bologna. In his words, he strongly emphasized the necessity to grow in a solid and responsible relationship with the Son of God and his message of salvation. «Jesus Christ is someone you just can't avoid -he said-. Sooner or later one meets Him. And when one meets Him, you are not longer the same».

The Archbishop of Bologna said as well that in the world there are different approximations to the Lord Jesus, stating that «there is no pluralism in the Church in relation to Christ. Saint Peter's answer is the answer of everyone. The identity of the conviction of each one of us with the faith of Peter is the "stone" of comparison that judges our legitimate belonging to the Church». «Who alters this faith cannot have a place in the Church», he said.

Archbishop remarks the importance of Marian piety for Vietnamese Catholics

Rome, 21 (NE) Archbishop Etienne Nguyen Nhu The, of Huê (central Vietnam) remarked recently the importance of the filial Marian piety for the Catholics in Vietnam. In an interview made public by the agency «Fides», Bishop Nguyen Nhu The recalled the last pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of La Vang, saying that «all the Church in Vietnam feels stimulated and expresses the unity of the Vietnamese faithful around the Virgin of La Vang». He said as well that the manifestation of popular faith had consolidated in the faith, hope and charity the Catholics of that region in Asia. «The people have returned to their homes better. Some have changed much their life», he remarked. The Archbishop stated too that the testimony and prayers of the local Christians have helped the Church to gain more space in a country were the communist government gives very little freedom to religion.

NOVEMBER 21
Archbishop Errázuriz is new President of Chilean Conference of Bishops

Santiago, 21 (NE) After a meeting of the Chilean Bishops, Archbishop Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa of Santiago was elected new president of the Chilean Bishop's Conference. The Archbishop of Santiago was born the 5th of September 1933. He studied Philosophy and Theology in Switzerland, and was ordained there as a priest in 1961. Elected General Superior of the Schönstatt Institute, he was then named by the Holy Father Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and later Archbisop-Bishop of Valparaiso. On May this year he succeeded Cardinal Carlos Oviedo as Archbishop of Santiago.

Campaign in Sao Paulo to launch new catholic radio

Sao Paulo, 21 (NE) Archbishop Claudio Hummes of Sao Paulo met this week with different delegates of Church associations, archdiocesan commissions as well as people related to the mass media. The object of the meeting was to launch a campaign to raise funds in order to begin a new catholic radio. Archbishop Hummes stated that communication media is one of the greatest challenges of our times. «Without mass media our voice does not reach farther than the room where we are», he said. He expressed his confidence about the success of the campaign, saying that «we are sure that we will be able to launch the radio on the 19th of March of next year. It is necessary we advance and think big, because this archdiocese is very big».

Bishops offer help to attain national reconciliation in Colombia

Bogota, 20 (NE) The Church in Colombia offered recently through a group of Bishops their help to president Pastrana in order to do everything they can for the process of peace that the government is negotiating with the FARC. In a meeting with the Colombian president, the prelates expressed their preoccupation about the waves of violence that the conflict is generating in the people of Colombia. «We think that this is a unique opportunity to attain the national reconciliation» stated Bishop Hector Lopez of Ariari.

NOVEMBER 20
Luis Fernando Figari states the necessity to regain search for truth integrating faith and reason

Arequipa, 19 (NE) Before an audience of nearly 800 people, Luis Fernando Figari, founder of the Christian Life Movement, pronounced an important conference yesterday in the city of Arequipa (Peru) in which he highlighted the necessity of a correct search for truth in the light of a harmonious integration between faith and reason. The important academic act began with a presentation by Dr. Stanley Simons, Rector of Saint Paul's University, after which Figari talked about the relation between faith and reason in the modern world, having as «background» the Holy Father's recent encyclical «Fides et ratio».

Stating that the truth that God communicates to human beings about Himself is further out than the reach of reason, he said that at the same time «this revealed that truth answers the fundamental questions of human existence». In relation to this he reminded that «the act of faith is the adhesion to this revealed universe that reaches its personalized plenitude in the Lord Jesus». Impelled by faith and nurtured by it, man advances in his perception of what has been revealed to him.

«Reason -he stated- sees in the revealed truth the climax of every truth and discovers the harmony between what he can discover by natural exercise and the truth transmitted to him in the faith of the Church. The great gift of Revelation does not cancel man's aspiration to deepen in the greater significance of what has been revealed by God using his reason. Precisely Theology concretizes that search for deepening in the truth that seals the human spirit with the characteristic of an "explorer", as has been highlighted by the Pope in the Fides et ratio».

«Thus, even counting with the invaluable gift of revelation which discloses to human beings what God wished to reveal about himself and about the origin, mission and destiny of man, man's reason has the doors open to deepen in what is contained in the revelation, exercising himself in the theological sciences, as well as he also has open the doors to use his reason to deepen in himself, in human development, and in its surroundings, illuminating everything that is needed by the light that comes from the revelation».

«It is clear -he continued- that there are two paths to reach the truth. With natural reason and its exercise a certain point can be reached. Through the reception of revelation a reality which transcends the capacity of reason to attain it is apprehended. And with the grace of faith it can deepen into it by the exercise of that same reason. I would like to express now that both paths are not opposed, as an important group of those people who dedicate themselves to investigate reality from natural reason seem to believe today. By the contrary, both harmonize in the unity of truth, according to God's design. And I would add that when what is of greater significance illuminates the fragmented truths to which reason has reached by its own, these are enriched, and the light that flows from that harmony allows to capture the richness of the objective reality in a unitary dimension, as a rainbow that shows a variety of colors in an harmonious succession, bringing together beauty and the evidence of a complex reality which is apprehensible.

In a similar way, the founder of the Christian Life Movement said that today sciences have individualized and assumed more and more specialized fields, to the extent of excessively centering in their own object as to become exclusive, losing contact with the fundament and thus in many cases loosing their way. He later stated that in our time reason was «enclosed in a functionalist prison that culminates its expression in an agnostic world, lacking correct routes, as well as lacking a further significance than what is near, strange to that fulfilling significance over which there is no other». In this sense, he affirmed the necessity to «return to the permanent fundaments of what is real, looking further out, looking deep, leaving aside simplistic and superficial visions, liberating of fragmentary prisons to be able to see what is fundamental and question oneself about it».

«The correct search for truth -he said later - must occupy the centrality which it has in human nature. And that centrality must be obtained from the light given by faith to understand the human being and the noble destiny to which he is called as God's cooperator in the forge of himself and as a constructor of culture. A broader vision is urgent». «It is urgent a deeper vision that allows to understand the importance of the search for truth, having in perspective that in the actual situation, it is urgent to deepen in the relation of truth with the University and other centers of study», he added.

«Before the luminosity of facts in themselves and before what is recalled of them in the last words of the Holy Father's encyclical -said Figari at the end of his conference- it is left to wish that the model of harmonious integration between faith and reason that can be seen as an example in the Immaculate Virgin Mary becomes the personal horizon of all those who seek and explore the truth, and that as the Throne of Wisdom her example be an encouragement in our pilgrimage, and that her intercession may obtain for us the guide that leads safely to port to all those who make in our life a fundamental place for the search of wisdom and permit us a fulfilling encounter with the Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life».

Archbishop Yanes affirms that laws should be coherent with moral order

Madrid, 19 (NE) Archbishop Yanes, of Zaragoza, President of the Spanish Conference of Bishops, expressed recently against the legalization of the unmarried couples in Spain, stating how dangerous that type of union is for marriage and the family. In a recent Pastoral Letter, the Prelate expressed his regret for such aims of legalization, pointing out the little conscience that there is in society around the consequences of a law which recognizes unmarried couples.

In his letter, the Archbishop of Zaragoza denounced the danger that exists «in creating a new artificial figure that consecrates a kind of a marriage that is not at all a true marriage; while it has all or almost all the rights, it lacks any of the strong commitments of marriage». «It will be a legislation that, because of its uncontrollable dynamics, will displace the matrimonial institution», he added. «The State and its laws -he affirmed-, should be coherent with the moral order», highlighting that when politics and legislation act without any ethics «they become a destructive force for man». «Laws can never legitimate immorality», he said.

NOVEMBER 19
Pope John Paul II names Archbishop Carlos José Ñáñez as new Archbishop of Cordoba

Buenos Aires, 18 (NE) Pope John Paul II named yesterday Archbishop Carlos José Ñáñez, Coadjutor of Tucuman, as new Archbishop of Cordoba, in Argentina. «My intention is to go with a spirit of service and unite myself from my bishop's ministry to the effort that the Church has assumed in many places and also in Argentina of preparing the celebration of the Jubilee and insisting more and more in the responsibility of the New Evangelization», pointed out the new Archbishop of Cordoba in an interview given to the Catholic agency AICA.

Born in 1946, Archbishop Ñáñez was ordained priest in July 1971. Graduated in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome, Pope John Paul II elected him as Auxiliary Bishop of Cordoba on December 12, 1990. Two years later he was named Archbishop Coadjutor of Tucuman. He will be succeeding Cardinal Raúl Francisco Primatesta, who presented some years ago his resignation having reached the age limit set by the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop Lozano Barragan explains main topics that Pope John Paul II will develop in his next pastoral visit to Mexico

Mexico, 18 (NE) Bishop Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral of Sanitary Agents, affirmed that the Holy Father will approach mainly three topics in his next visit to Mexico: the family, the relationship among the developed countries and the poor nations, and the problem of secularism. In an official document published by the Mexican Conference of Bishops, Bishop Lozano pointed out that during the Synod of America, carried out at last year, the Holy Father expressed a special interest in the problem of the growing number of people that live as if God didn't exist. He affirmed also that the topic of the family is «a central one in the messages of Saint Peter's Successor», mainly in America «where this is still the cell of society». He finally indicated how the suffocating indebtedness of the less developed countries, which results directly in poverty, constitutes a serious concern for the Holy Father.

NOVEMBER 18
VE Multimedia offers a computer program with the Encyclical «Fides et ratio» in seven languages

Lima, 18 (NE) Yesterday was placed in the internet a computer program with the Holy Father's last encyclical «Fides et ratio» in seven languages: english, spanish, french, italian, german, portuguese and latin. VE Multimedia, a catholic association of renown tradition which seeks to use new technologies to the service of the New Evangelization offers for free this program which becomes an excellent opportunity to study in depth the important teachings of Pope John Paul II contained in his last encyclical.

In hypertext format, the new program allows to perform searches for words or phrases, do personal annotations to any part of the encyclical or find instantaneously any desired paragraph. The fact that it contains this important document in seven languages allows an interactive compared reading. This program is available for free in the Christian Electronic Library, a well-known library of documents of the Magisterium and of the Tradition of the Catholic Church in the internet. You can visit this site in www.multimedios.org. The program can be easily downloaded from there to the user's computer.

Conclusions of Vatican meeting ask to protect men not only as an «individual being», but as «a person, created to the image of God»

Vatican City, 17 (NE) The conclusions of the recent meeting of European Politicians and Legislators were made public yesterday. This encounter, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family, council presided by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, was developed around the topic «The human rights and the rights of the family». Among other things, the conclusions highlighted the necessity of protecting man «not only as an individual being», but as a «person, created to the image of God». In the same way, the document points out some areas in which the human rights are still not fully appreciated or respected, such as the right of life.

On the other hand, the conclusions denounce the efforts of some groups that seek «to obtain an international consent in relation to certain "new rights"». Among these they include the term «reproductive health», formula under which they look forward to legalize the «right» to abortion. The recent document also, points out how the participants of the encounter commit «to promote and defend the rights of the family, based on the marriage between a man and a woman».

Argentinean Bishop recalls universal call to sanctity

Buenos Aires, 17 (NE) Bishop Alfonso Delgado, of Posadas, reminded recently to Argentinean Catholics the «universal call to sanctity». Against many beliefs that express a separation between faith and daily life, Bishop Delgado stated that Christian life «doesn't consist on extraordinary or great things», as well that «to love God and the others is certainly within the possibilities of anyone». The Bishop of Posadas pointed out also that the person's relationship with God should be expressed «in the demands of Christian apostolate; in the participation on solving the problems of society; in the love to the Church and its mission». He finally added that facing the exciting challenge of reaching sanctity «its worth beginning right now».

NOVEMBER 17
Cardinal Rivera urges economy to «look towards» human persons

Mexico, 17 (NE) Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico, recently stated that the economic model that a state uses must always be referred to the human person, and therefore, must seek to promote work and common good. Actually Mexico has a high rate of unemployment and poverty, which makes more urgent the necessity to take care of the individual person, said the Mexican Cardinal.

Highlighting some of the fundamental criteria of the Church's social doctrine, he remarked that «the salary of a job must allow the worker and his family to a dignified life in a material, social, cultural and spiritual sense». The Archbishop of Mexico warned that «the lack of job creates psychological and moral dramas because of the frustration and hopelessness they generate».

Exhibition in Buenos Aires expresses links between Faith and Art

Buenos Aires, 16 (NE) Last week was inaugurated in the city of Buenos Aires the VII Biennial of Sacred-painting - 1998. The event looks forward to express the synthesis between faith and culture, which is a demand not only of culture, but of faith. As Pope John Paul II affirmed in the constitution Letter of the Pontifical Council for Culture in 1982, «a faith that is not made culture is not a fully welcomed faith, nor completely thought, nor faithfully lived». In that same spirit the present edition of the Biennial has been organized by the Vicary of Culture of the diocese of Moron, with the auspice of the Pontifical Council for Culture. «I observe -wrote recently Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of this Council, to Bishop Vicente Oscar Vetrano, Vicar for the Culture of the diocese of Moron - how the biennial of sacred art starts to occupy an important place in Argentinean arts, being at the same time a concrete way of expressing the cultural wealth of a country that is inspired in Christian values».

The National Culture Rooms will show until the 11th of December this selection of 107 paintings from 1.619 that were presented by artists from Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile. The exhibition, which has a remarkable tradition of over a decade, is a valuable effort in the evangelization of culture. As Cardinal Poupard stated, «in this crossroad of history, in the threshold of a new millennium, sacred art which has been a transmission vehicle of faith for centuries, has now a bigger importance than ever».

First Congress of Catholic University students in Cajamarca: a moment of encounter with God for Peruvian youths

Cajamarca, 16 (NE) The city of Cajamarca (Peru) has experienced recently some intense days of faith with the realization of the First regional Catholic Congress for University students. Under the motto «University and professional life facing the Third Millennium of Faith», more than 300 delegates from different cities of Peru like Chimbote, Chiclayo, Trujillo and Huaraz met for the congress that concluded yesterday. This important encounter was inaugurated by Bishop Angel Francisco Simon Piorno, of Cajamarca.

In some words delivered to the participants, Bishop Simon Piorno encouraged the youths to maintain an active Catholic presence in university. Stating his support to the congress organized by the Christian Life Movement, Bishop Simon Piorno highlighted the necessity of evangelizing the culture as well as to dialogue with society seeking to announce the Gospel. He pointed out the university as a privileged place to announce the Good News brought by the Virgin Mary's Son. The different conferences, the liturgical celebrations as well as the group meetings generated a climate of encounter with God that impelled the young students to come closer to the sacraments and to commit into making concrete their encounter with the Lord in their daily life as an answer to the invitation made by the Holy Father to a New Evangelization.

Parishes in Saint Louis launch massive invitation to collaborate in activities with the Holy Father

Saint Louis, 17 (NE) The Archdiocese of Saint Louis is living intense days of preparation before the visit of Pope John Paul II. Catholics in the archdiocese are collaborating with their Shepherds to have everything ready for the Holy Father´s pilgrimage to the north american city. With that in view, the parishes of the archdiocese have launched a massive invitation to Catholics to actively collaborate in the different activities with the Pope. Around 16000 voluntaries are expected to help in the works before and during the visit of the Holy Father.

NOVEMBER 16
Cardinal Ortega affirms that true cause of social violence is the lack of values

Miami, 15 (NE) Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of La Habana, declared in the last edition of «Aquí la Iglesia» that the violence that has been taking place in Cuba has its origin in a «rupture of values» rather than in the economic crisis, clarifying that «rupture doesn't mean total absence, but disorientation and insecurity». He also said that in the process «the first visible sign was prostitution, later windows, terraces and balconies of La Habana started to be sealed with grids fearing the assaults, and then a little time ago appeared surreptitiously among people a destructive agent and "starter" of crimes: drugs».

Later on Cardinal Ortega stated: «I feel how we are, from the psychological and social point of view, not prepared to face a crisis that doesn't have to do, but in small scale, with the material conditions that affect our country, because it is also present in consumer societies, even with wealthy economies». Facing these challenges, the duty of the Church and the commitment of each Christian is to live and promote moral and evangelical values amid a «disoriented» society.

Archbishop Bergoglio highlights the importance of the apostolate with the youth as well as promoting participation of lays in the New Evangelization

Rome, 15 (NE) «We are living a moment of rediscovery, of rebirth and of challenge», pointed out recently Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, in relation to the pastoral with the youth in Argentina. In a recent interview published in the Italian edition of «L'Osservatore Romano», the Argentinean Prelate highlighted the efforts that this archdiocese is making to announce Christ among the youth. Archbishop Bergoglio expressed also the «deep devotion and evangelizing force» that young people have, and that, as he pointed out, is proved by the hundreds of thousands that every year pilgrim to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lujan. This «has left a deep sign in the heart of our youths», he stated, observing then the necessity of understanding the youth's deeper yearnings in order «to diffuse and testify the Good New they need to listen».

In relation to the call made by the Holy Father to a New Evangelization, Archbishop Bergoglio pointed out the influence that the recent «New Age» currents have, as well as the post-modern culture, the mass media and the globalization in the process of "dechristianisation" of society. In order to face them, he affirmed, «we should respond appropriately if we don't want the "dechristianisation" to increase». «In our archdiocese the New Evangelization is an indispensable duty», he added. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires also emphasized the necessity of promoting the participation of the lays in the New Evangelization, as a main pastoral point on the way to the Third Millennium. Together with this, he also indicated as central points, continuing with what his predecessor, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino had started, the promotion of communion, the «evangelization of Buenos Aires inhabitants», as well as «take charge of the world of poverty and pain».

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