Cardinal Bergoglio calls on Argentineans to "never get used to" poverty

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 29, 2004 / 22:00 pm

In a recent letter to catechists in Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of the Argentinean capital, said the upcoming National Eucharistic Congress will be an opportunity to pray to God for "the grace of an apostolic zeal that is strong and fervent in the Spirit" and which will keep us from "ever becoming used to" poverty.

The Cardinal explained that during the Congress, which will take place September 2-5, the Church in Argentina will come together "to pray to the Lord that our daily celebration [of the Mass] will help us to make the so often postponed dream of a nation truly reconciled and unified a reality.  We do so with the sad acknowledgment that there are people who do not have enough to eat in this blessed and abundant land."
 
"Our Church in Buenos Aires is in need of boldness and fervor, which are works of the Holy Spirit and which carry us forth to cry out and announce Jesus Christ with all our lives.  We need much boldness and courage to continue walking forward today in the midst of so much confusion," said the Cardinal.
 
"As catechists in difficult times, you should pray to God for boldness and fervor which will help you to remember.  In our capacity to remember "we find the strength necessary as a people to not fall into a paralyzing and anxious fear," he added.

Lastly, the Archbishop announced that catechists of the Archdiocese and the entire country will set out on "a pastoral itinerary" which will culminate in the celebration of the National Meeting of Catechists at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lujan.  "It will be an appropriate time to reflect upon the identity and person of the catechist, as we also recall with gratitude those that came before us who, as faithful witnesses, knew how to make their ministry bear fruit," the Cardinal concluded.