EIGHTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 6, 1999 (VIS) - Shortly after 5 this evening, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, president delegate on duty, opened the eighth congregation of the Special Assembly for Europe. The Holy Father was present at this session, as were 162 synod fathers. Cardinal Jan Schotte, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, began the meeting by reading the list of the moderators who had been chosen for the nine language groups. The meeting closed at 7 p.m.

Following are selections from eight of the speeches given this evening:

ARCHBISHOP ANGELO MASSAFRA, O.F.M., OF SHKODRE, ALBANIA. "Evangelization is required to rebuild the human and Christian fabric; we use all means of communication: press, TV, radio. We urgently need suitable training for lay people committed in the social and political spheres. ... Spiritual and economic development is the only way to peace in the Balkans. Let us rebuild the destroyed bridges and homes ... but above all let us reconstruct consciences and hearts (that are now) full of hate. Racial conflict, mixed with and/or depicted as religious conflicts, have triggered man's most primitive instincts of destruction. May moral conscience rise up against the arrogance and logic of domination of man over man. ... I would like to propose to the Synod Fathers and the CCEE (this is my personal proposal) that they summon an Ecumenical and Inter-religious Conference for peace and dialogue, for the spiritual and moral reconstruction of the Balkans, and that this take place together with the commitment of Western governments to economic reconstruction."

CARDINAL JAN CHRYZOSTOM KOREC S.J., BISHOP OF NITRA, SLOVAKIA. "Looking at the past, I would like to give a brief and true testimonial to that part of the local Church persecuted in Slovakia. ... For us, the persecuted, there was no true Christian life without, at the same time, a certain degree of humility and love. ... As a clandestine bishop during the forty years of persecution, I secretly ordained almost 120 priests. All respected and lived celibacy. Among the laity, we have also had and still have today, people who respect and live celibacy! The Church needs truly faithful and holy sons and daughters."

CARDINAL LUCAS MOREIRA NEVES O.P., PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS. "As the fruit of two millennia of history, Europe is today experiencing a turning point of civilization never seen before. One of the main elements of this crisis is the effort for European unity. ... It is a pity that until now unity has been sought in the economic sphere (with the Euro), the political one (European Parliament) and the diplomatic sphere (abolition of passports). Moral and spiritual aspects are still too weak. Unity should be a form of courageous solidarity within the continent and Europe towards the rest of the world. We await the 'globalization of solidarity.' Here, the role of bishops comes in. He is not a substitute for the laity: the bishop is not a politician, an economist, a sociologist, an agent of culture. He is an illuminator of Christian conscience in lay persons who are deeply committed to the structures and the institutions that form the world - that form Europe."

CARDINAL KAZIMIERZ SWIATEK, ARCHBISHOP OF MINSK-MOHILEV, BELARUS. "The mysterious ways of Divine Providence caused me to spend 60 years of my priesthood in pastoral work in Belarus, within the territory of the Soviet atheistic-materialistic regime. Consequently, I felt the effects of the communist system. Among other things I spent two months in death row and ten years in a communist concentration camp. After the fall of the totalitarian system, I was an eye-witness to and participated in the subsequent religious freedom. A move towards faith began to spread. The rebirth of the Church may be considered a powerful force for the spiritual rebirth of the nation. ... The menace of pluralism arrives from the West (freedom wrongly understood). The different sects are the great peril. ... An important role must be given to liturgy. To bear witness with one's own holiness is 'the basic condition for a true evangelization'."

CARDINAL BERNARDIN GANTIN, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS. "Apart from discussions in the historical field, Europe has received so much and has also given so much that no more should be asked of it. Despite the degeneration in a spiritual sense and in the metaphysical dimension of human concerns, Europe, with its economic strength, its creative intellect, its technology, and the attention it gives to protecting and supporting freedom, continues to be an important center for the reawakening of conscience. Therefore Europe plays an important role at the heart of globalization, which is such a major issue today, and in the future of Christian faith. ... Even if today a demographic shift is taking place from the Christian community of Europe towards other continents, Europe still has a great missionary responsibility. We must be convinced of this."

ARCHBISHOP TADEUSZ GOCLOWSKI OF GDANSK, POLAND. "The approaching Jubilee of the Year 2000 leads the Church to reflect on the closing century, particularly on events at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Worker issues of the end of the 19th century and the end of the 20th century are closely related: in both cases technological development caused new problems as well as unemployment. At the end of the 20th century it is not only necessary to face the results of the technological revolution (electronic technology replacing workers, consequent unemployment and the need to change qualification and skills), but also to heal the wounds caused by the communist system. ... We have a need for witnesses of Christ - of lay apostles but also of priests: not as trade-unionists but as proclaimers of the Gospel, respecting the autonomy and the independence of the state and of the Church in full cooperation for the good of mankind and society. Christ is the hope for the working world: the Way, the Truth and the Life."

BISHOP MARIN SRAKIC OF DJAVKO, CROATIA. "Ecumenical dialogue takes place not only between bishops but also at a parish level. During the war (in Croatia) Catholic parishes organized charity work to help refugees and people in exile, and did not pay any attention to whether one was Catholic, Orthodox or Muslim. Unfortunately we cannot say the same for the Orthodox side. After the war priests from both Churches can meet in schools during the teaching of religion. Our Church also tries to make the lay faithful aware of the ecumenical spirit. However, we feel that this is a difficult task, because people suffered a great deal from the Serbs who sent them away from their homes. It takes time to heal war wounds. ... We are aware that the process of reconciliation and mutual forgiveness is long and difficult, but it is necessary. Up to now we have made several big strides forward. Ecumenical awareness is not easy for us, but neither is it impossible. On the contrary, it is necessary as an important condition for the credibility of our evangelization."

BISHOP VIKTOR JOSEF DAMMERTZ O.S.B., OF AUGSBURG, GERMANY. "I would like to make some observations: Priests must be clearly aware of their identity and they need new enthusiasm for their mission. Facing tasks that have become even more difficult and more involved, many priests maintain that too much is expected of them; they get discouraged and give up. They need companions on their journey who help them, instill them with courage and accompany them. We must be aware that it is Christ who truly acts in the pastoral program, who frees (us) from worries. It is necessary to rediscover a unity in one's inner life, returning to Sacred Scriptures and celebrating the liturgy with dignity. Today, the priest, above all the parish priest, is called more than ever to the service of unity. The new evangelization urges a new missionary zeal and an attentive vigil over the doubts and tragedies of so many people in difficulty. Priests depend on the support of faith, on Christian life, and on the prayers of their communities."

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