Cardinal Parolin in Aparecida: We must continue to pray for peace

By Silvonei José Protz and Lisa Zengarini

Faced with our human inability to resolve the numerous armed conflicts ravaging the world today, we must continue to invoke peace through prayer, said Cardinal Parolin. He was speaking on the sidelines of a two-day retreat he is leading for Brazilian bishops to mark the opening of their 61st General Assembly at the Marian Shrine of Aparecida.

The meeting began on April 10 with an opening Mass during which the president of the Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), Most Rev. Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre, recited a special prayer for peace and spoke about major conflict zones in the world today. .

Speaking to Silvonei José Protz of Vatican News, Cardinal Parolin stressed the importance of prayer in these difficult times, so that peace can prevail.

Feeling of helplessness in the face of current crises

“I sincerely believe that apart from our continued efforts, we need prayers because it seems that we have reached an impasse, that we are unable to find paths to peace and to think in terms of dialogue to resolve current conflicts,” he said. “We can say that we experience our helplessness: we therefore really need to turn to the Lord and to his Mother.”

World peace was also one of the themes discussed by the Vatican Secretary of State with Brazilian President Ignacio da Lula Silva in Brasilia, before the meeting with the bishops, during which the relations between the Brazil and the Holy See and domestic issues.

Meeting with President Lula

“It was a fruitful meeting – said Cardinal Parolin – and we were able to talk about issues that specifically concern Brazil, broadening our view on major internal challenges such as poverty, inequality, hunger and justice, as well as as on the problems of the world today and, above all, the theme of peace.

The 480 Brazilian bishops gathered in Aparecida will discuss the updating of their guidelines for evangelization in Brazil (Diretrizes Gerais Da Ação Evangelizadora – DGAE) in light of the changing reality of the Latin American nation, emphasizing on three axes: the period 2021-2024. Synod of bishops on synodality; the Jubilee of Hope 2025; and young people.

Themes discussed at the Assembly

During this year's discussions, bishops will experiment with the method of “Conversations in the Spirit” first used at the Synod on Synodality in October 2023, where delegates gathered around round tables.

Cardinal Parolin was invited to lead the two-day retreat that traditionally opens the assembly to reflect on the three key words that define synodality: communion, participation and mission.

Focus on synodality

These three themes are fundamental for the life of the Church, explained Cardinal Parolin. “They draw attention to the fact that we are communion, that all, by virtue of Baptism and Confirmation – the sacraments of Christian initiation – must participate, and that we must participate in proclaiming the Gospel, firstly to ourselves, because as Evangelii Nuntiandi reminds us that before evangelizing, the Church must allow itself to be evangelized. »

Commenting on his first impressions upon meeting the Brazilian bishops all gathered in their country, Cardinal Parolin said he was particularly struck by their large number, which reflects the size of the country, but, above all, by their deep commitment to evangelization. and building a better world. Brazilian society imbued with Christian values.