Chilean bishops to address youth riots at upcoming meeting

Santiago, Chile, Nov 10, 2011 / 12:25 pm

Bishops in Chile will discuss issues facing young people in the country including recent protests over education funding that have turned violent.

The Chilean bishops' conference will meet for its 102nd plenary assembly Nov.14-18 in the city of Punta de Tralca.

Youth in the capital of Santiago have held numerous protests within the last few months over education policies and have demanded that the government provide education to all Chileans free of charge. Some of the protests turned violent after young people clashed with riot police.

The Chilean bishops have urged peaceful resolution and decided to devote part of their upcoming assembly to the issue.

The meeting will open on Nov. 14 with a Mass celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Chile, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo. Youth outreach will be a main topic at the bishops’ assembly, as the Church in Chile will be launching a national Youth Mission in 2012 as part of the Great Continental Mission taking place across Latin America.

Fifteen young people from various regions in Chile have also been invited to address the bishops on issues of importance to them.

The bishops will also elect a new secretary general as well as two bishops who will represent them at the 13th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Oct. 2012 in Rome on the topic of evangelizing the modern world.