Rome, Italy, Jan 6, 2012 / 12:03 pm
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano published remarks on Jan. 4 by two Italian bishops who urged Catholics to spread the Gospel in local shopping malls.
“Each mall is located within the territory of a specific parish and thus they are places for the new evangelization which pastors must not ignore,” said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.
“The lights of shopping malls can thrill people and make them believe they can run away from their problems, he added. “But this is not possible. All men and women carry a nostalgia for God in their hearts and are ever seeking after Him.”
Reporter Fabrizio Contessa included reflections in his article by Archbishop Fisichella as well as Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin. The former archbishop celebrated a Mass before Christmas at one of Rome’s largest malls, while Archbishop Nosiglia opened several mall chapels on Jan. 3.