VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2004 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, presented the Holy Father's Message for the 25th World Day of Tourism to take place on September 27, 2004 on the theme: "Sports and Culture: two vital forces for mutual understanding, culture and development among countries." Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, council secretary, also spoke during the press conference.
Cardinal Hamao said that sports and tourism "are presented as instruments not only for physical development, but also for the spiritual and cultural development of the individual and society."
"The importance that our society gives to sports and the complex reality that surrounds this activity require specific pastoral care. The pastoral ministry in tourism must benefit from its criteria and initiatives. ... It is a task that this year's World Day of Tourism proposes to the Church and also to society in general which will have to increase its efforts and resources in order to develop ethical behaviour in the practice of tourism and sports."
Archbishop Marchetto officially announced the celebration of the World Congress on Pastoral Ministry of Tourism which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand on July 5-8 on the theme "Tourism at the service of encounters among peoples." Among the many reports are "The Social and cultural dimension of international tourism, Acceptance, Evangelizing Mission, From the perspective of the peoples that welcome tourists." In addition, there will be a round table dedicated to "The dimension of sexual tourism and initiatives to combat it."
"The choice of the conference location," said the prelate, "is a clear sign of the significance that we want to give to the congress' sessions. We are interested in promoting reflection on the understanding of tourism from the view point of the 'welcoming countries,' especially the most advanced, since in many of these countries tourism is enthusiastically welcomed and stimulated sometimes by hopes that do not always correspond to the global reality of the country."
In this context, he explained, "the pastoral ministry for tourism must directly concern social and ethical conditions, the repercussions that it can have on religious life and the cultural identity of individuals and the community. ... Acceptance must be reciprocal in this encounter. The welcoming country's effort to receive the visitor must correspond with the effort of the visitor to do the same with his host, in terms of their customs, culture and identity. Only in this way will the encounter that tourism fosters be able to be constructive and will be a specific strength for peace and coexistence among peoples."
OP/MESSAGE TOURISM:SPORTS/HAMAO:MARCHETTO VIS 20040625 (460)
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