{"id":2032,"date":"2019-10-01T12:17:42","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T16:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/?p=2032"},"modified":"2019-10-01T12:17:46","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T16:17:46","slug":"plenary-assembly-of-the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-2019-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/plenary-assembly-of-the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-2019-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Address of the Apostolic Nuncio, S.E. Mgr. Luigi Bonazzi, to the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Cornwall, September 23, 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very dear brother bishops of the Church of Jesus Christ\nin Canada,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am pleased to greet you with fraternal\naffection, grateful as always and once more for the opportunity of spending\ntime with you, sharing the joys and challenges that are part of our Episcopal\nministry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As on other occasions, I have to say that\nmy first words are words of thanks.   I thank you for your fraternal friendship as\nbrother bishops.   I thank you for the\nmany forms of concrete help that I receive: your advice; your correspondence\nincluding the promptness with which you reply to my letters; the invitations to\nvisit your dioceses and for the hospitality that you always extend to me.  And I thank you for the ministry you carry\nout in strengthening and building up the Church in Canada.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience with the Holy\nFather and his message for the Bishops of Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 29 past, at the conclusion of my vacation, I\nhad the joy of being received in Audience by the Holy Father.  Much to my surprise, I realized that I was\nexpected. Pope Francis in fact, had prepared a gift bag containing several\nbooks which, once seated, he gave me straightaway.  He remembered that last year I had asked him for\nthe gift of some of his books (duly signed by him). Recalling my desire from\none year ago, He himself had prepared the gift bag in anticipation of my visit.  Truly, love knows how to anticipate; love\nknows how to wait:  I was deeply touched\nby this experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Audience was a half an hour of intense dialogue \u2013\nfatherly, brotherly, filial.  Knowing\nthat in a few weeks I was going to be with you for this Plenary Assembly, I\nasked him if he had a word, a thought for you. \nSpontaneously he told me: \u201cThat they be Pastors, Pastors with joy!\u201d  And so I offer you this word of Pope Francis:\n\u201cBe Pastors, Pastors with joy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cJoy of the Gospel\u201d, of which we are ministers (Eph\n3,7; Col 1,23), requires that it must be proclaimed and witnessed by \u201cPastors\nwith joy.\u201d  Is it possible to be\n“Pastors with joy” when every day we are called to cope with difficulties\nthat tire us out and that do not have simple solutions?  Yes, it is possible!  First and foremost because each one of us can\nsay in serene confidence that he has been called by the Good Pastor:  \u201cIt was not you who chose me, but I who chose\nyou and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last<\/em>\u201d (John\n15:16).    It comes to mind in this\ncontext, the experience of Pope Benedict XVI when in the Conclave of 2005 he\nrealized that he was on the way to being elected.  As he recalled in his book interview \u201cLight\nof the World<\/em>\u201d: \u201c…from the moment this burden weighed on me, I could\nonly say to the Lord: \u2018what are you doing with me?\u2019  Now it is You who bear the responsibility;\nyou must guide me!  I cannot.  If you wanted it from me, then you must help\nme too!  In this sense, I was, we could\nsay, in a relationship of constant dialogue with the Lord:  if He chooses me, He must also help me<\/em><\/strong>\u201d\n(cf. p. 20).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also the experience of Pope Francis, as\nexpressed and contained in his motto \u201cMiserando\natque eligendo<\/em>\u201d.  \u201cI am\u201d \u2013 says\nPope Francis \u2013 \u201ca sinner on whom the Lord has turned his gaze.  And this is what I said when they asked me if\nI would accept my election as pontiff.\u201d\u2026 \u201cI am a sinner, but I trust in the\ninfinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I accept in a spirit\nof penance<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d (Interview with Pope Francis, by Father Antonio Spadaro,\nS.J., 19th<\/sup> August 2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The voice of the Good Pastor who has reached us with\nhis call, and his gaze on each one of us \u2013 on me and on you \u2013 a gaze which is\nat the same time one of mercy and one of confident election (\u201cMiserando atque eligendo<\/em>\u201d): this is the\npermanent reason for the joy of the Pastor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joy of being a Bishop expresses itself in the joy\nof evangelizing.  The identity of the\nChurch, in fact, is to evangelize.  This\nhas been recalled anew by Pope Francis speaking recently (September 2) to the\nBishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: \u201cAnd what is the\nidentity of the Church? Saint Paul VI said it clearly: it is the vocation of\nthe Church to evangelize, indeed: her identity is to evangelize<\/em>.\u201d  It is worth reading and meditating once again\non the splendid Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI Evangelii Nuntiandi<\/em> in which he concluded by illustrating the\ncharacteristics of every evangelizer, exhorting \u201cwhoever they may be, to\npray without ceasing to the Holy Spirit with faith and fervor and to let\nthemselves prudently be guided by Him as the decisive inspirer of their plans,\ntheir initiatives and their evangelizing activity<\/em>.\u201d  These, the evangelizers – first and foremost we\nthe Bishops – are called to be: \u201cAuthentic Witnesses<\/em><\/strong> (76), Artificers\nof Unity<\/em><\/strong> (77), Servants of the Truth<\/em><\/strong> (78), Lovers\nof Love<\/em><\/strong> (79) with the Fervor of the Saints <\/em><\/strong>(80)\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Audience there was also a moment when the\nquestion was raised about my mission in Canada:   I will tell you, briefly, that Pope Francis\nhas invited me to continue.  I welcomed\nwith joy this decision, which manifested to me with clarity, the will of\nGod.  I wish also to confess that never\nbefore as in these days, am I sensing that to be Apostolic Nuncio in Canada is\na mission that far exceeds my abilities. \nI must therefore, like Pope Francis, say to each of you:  please, do not forget to pray for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expression of Appreciation for the Work of the\nConference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I take this occasion to express my appreciation and\ngratitude to H.E. Msgr. Lionel Gendron, who is completing his term of Office as\nPresident of the CCCB. [\u2026]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My thanks go also to the outgoing Executive Committee who\nhave served the Conference with such dedication and generosity, and since now I\nassure of my prayer and offer my best wishes and collaboration to the new\nExecutive Committee that will be formed this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I commend the Conference for its many initiatives\nwhich are bearing much fruit for the good of the Church in Canada.  In particular I think of the work being done\nto support health care providers in the face of the legalization of physician\nassisted suicide, the ongoing work of the Bishop\u2019s Working Group for\ncoordinating Indigenous Initiatives and the continual effort to ensure\nResponsible Ministry and the protection of minors and vulnerable Adults as the\nConference continues its work of implementing the 2018 Guidelines.  As I said in my address on the Feast of the\nPope in June of this past year and which brought together representatives of\nthe different levels of government, members of the diplomatic community as also\nfrom various religious denominations and the wider community:  \u201cI am very pleased to note that the\nprotection of minors has been a major priority of the Church in Canada since\nthe 1980\u2019s.  The historical engagement of\nthe Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) in the area of prevention\nremains relevant and valuable to this day. \nTheir recent document \u201cProtecting Minors from Sexual Abuse:  A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for\nHealing, Reconciliation and Transformation<\/em>\u201d is a most valuable resource for\nCatholic Bishops and Religious Superiors in Canada and around the world.  It was held up as a best practice at the\nimportant meeting at the Vatican last February\u201d (Address of the Apostolic Nuncio, Feast of the Pope<\/em>).    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initiatives of the Holy See this past year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of that February gathering of the presidents of the\nepiscopal conferences and religious superiors and which took place in Rome, Pope\nFrancis did not shy away from the necessary self-confrontation that the Church\nmust embark upon if she is to respond as he rightly noted, to the \u201ccry of the\nlittle ones who plead for justice.\u201d  In a\nmanifestation of parrhesia,<\/em> the Pope\nexplained:  \u201cIn this meeting we sense the\nweight of the pastoral and ecclesial responsibility that obliges us to discuss\ntogether, in a synodal, frank and in-depth manner, how to confront this evil\nafflicting the Church and humanity.  The\nHoly People of God looks to us, and expects from us not simple and predictable\ncondemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken\u201d (Address of Pope Francis, Vatican Meeting on\nthe Protection of Minors in the Church<\/em>).  \nIt is clear that Pope Francis sees this as the way forward, this\nsynodality and the willingness to confront the challenges facing the Church\nwith parrhesisa<\/em>.  I have no doubt that this spirit permeates\nyour Plenary Assembly as you confront the pastoral challenges that face the\nChurch.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other work dear to Pope Francis and which has\nimplications for episcopal conferences, is the reform of the Roman Curia.  The very title of the Constitution that will\nimplement this reform is instructive:  Praedicate Evangelium<\/em>.  It reflects what Pope Francis calls the\n\u201cmissionary option\u201d, one capable of transforming everything, \u201cso that the\nChurch\u2019s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and\nstructures can be suitably channelled for the evangelization of today\u2019s world\nrather than for her self-preservation\u201d (cf.\nno. 27, Evangelii Gaudium<\/em>).  This is both\nthe overarching and foundational basis for every administrative institution\nwithin the Church and accords with the Church\u2019s very nature as missionary.  Of course, among the guiding principles we\nnote subsidiarity and decentralization, with greater responsibilities assigned\nto individual bishops, as well as Conferences of bishops.  As Pope Francis noted in Evangelii Gaudium<\/em>: \u201cIt is not advisable for the Pope to take the\nplace of local bishops in the discernment of every issue which arises in their\nterritory <\/em>(no. 16). Excessive centralization, rather than proving\nhelpful, complicates the Church\u2019s life and her missionary outreach<\/em>\u201d (no. 32).  How this will impart the work of the\nConference remains to be seen, but I am confident that this Assembly \u2013 You, the\nBishops of Canada, praying, thinking and acting \u201ctogether\u201d \u2013 will be capable of\ntaking up the added responsibilities and competencies that will be entrusted to\nyou, in the spirit of proclaiming the Gospel. \n<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the\nHoly See and Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 15 we will mark the 50th<\/sup>\nanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See\nand Canada in 1969.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This anniversary offers us the occasion to reconsider\nand deepen the relations between the Holy See and Canada, but at the same time,\nto reflect upon the relationship between Canada and the Catholic Church.  Between the civil society and the religious\ncommunity, in fact, there is a clear distinction of roles and of services, characterized\nby activities and competencies which are distinct but not distant.  A prudent and independent cooperation between\nthe Church and the State in the pursuit of the common good of the Society (cf.\nPope Francis: Meeting with the Bishops of <\/em>Madagascar, 7 September 2019) remains\na constant and ongoing challenge and endeavor.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            In regards to the observance\nof the 50th<\/sup> anniversary, I can tell you that there is, both on the\npart of Canadian authorities and on the part of the Holy See, the desire and\nintention to have, in the period between October 2019 and October 2020, some\nsignificant celebrations, including the visit to Canada of a high authority\nfrom the Secretariat of State.   It is an\nevent that the Apostolic Nunciature will not fail to prepare in closest\ncollaboration with the executive of the CCCB. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Finally, \u201cPastors with joy\u201d:  This is the word of Pope Francis for you and\nwhich I reiterate together with my fervent wish, that these days of your\nPlenary Assembly may be days in which is renewed and deepened within each one\nof you, the joy of being a Pastor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Thank you. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/a>\nThe Apostolic Letter constituting an Apostolic Nunciature in Canada puts it\nthis way:  Whoever considers all that\nimplied when just relations are established among peoples, when people work for\npeace and social tranquility, as well as for harmony among citizens, while\nfavoring the realities of the Church, to whom greater ease is granted for the\ndiffusion of religion, as well as promoting the goods of Nations, understands\nthe numerous advantages that flow from this friendship, thus fostering unity of\nminds and, by the same token, a strong civic spirit.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Address of the Apostolic Nuncio, S.E. Mgr. Luigi Bonazzi
\nTo the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
\n(Cornwall, September 23, 2019)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[45,22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2034,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032\/revisions\/2034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuntiatura.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}