Vatican City, May 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Today, the Vatican released a letter from Pope Benedict XVI, commending the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), which celebrates its 50th anniversary, for “invigorating…the new evangelization” called for by John Paul II.
The letter, addressed to Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop of Santiago de Chile and president of the council, comes on the occasion of its 30th plenary assembly, being held in Lima, Peru from May 17th to the 20th.
In the letter, made public yesterday, the Pope noted CELAM’s founding 50 years ago by Pope Pius XII "with the aim of supporting the pastoral work of bishops and, at the same time, of responding to some of the grave problems of the Church in Latin America."
Over the last half century, the Holy Father continued, CELAM has helped "to face up to the challenges of the Latin American subcontinent with harmonized efforts and ecclesial spirit, ... and to invigorate what over the years has become known as the 'new evangelization'."