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PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE
Third Asian Congress on
Pilgrimages and Shrines Final Document
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THE EVENT
Pilgrimages and Shrines, Places of Hope. With this central theme, the Third Asian Congress on the Pastoral Care of Pilgrimages and Shrines took place. The Congress was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Human Mobility of the Bishops' Conference of Japan and the Archdiocese of Nagasaki. Bishops, Directors of pilgrimages and Rectors of Shrines were present from the following countries: Australia, Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The three days of meeting, from October 15-17, 2007, were held in Nagasaki (Japan), the city that has a Shrine dedicated to the 26 Martyrs crucified for their faith in 1597.
In an era overwhelmed by divisions, acts of violence and natural calamities, pilgrimages and shrines are places of hope which comes from the encounter with God. This commitment supports the communities by strengthening them in their faith and renewing them in their lifestyle through conversion, reconciliation and prayer, and it encourages them to give witness to the Gospel to evangelize and be united. Concretely, the pilgrimages and shrines area lighthouse that proclaims and testify the Gospel also with attention to the ecumenical, interreligious and intercultural dialogue. To carry out this task better, the Congress was a laboratory for active and creative participation and a space for listening, deepening and dialogue in order to grow in hope. |