The Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona highlights the "excellent service" of the associations of the faithful to the training of Christians and evangelization. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

The Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona, Lluís Martínez Sistach, at the University of Navarra, highlighted the right of the faithful to "found and direct associations". In this sense, he praised the "excellent service they render to the training and spirituality of Christians and to evangelization". Cardinal Martínez Sistach made these statements on the occasion of the inauguration of the VIII International Symposium of high school Martín de Azpilcueta, dedicated to "The Associations of the Faithful. Canonical and civil aspects".

As an example, he mentioned the diocese of Barcelona, where there is "an endless number of movements, associations, foundations... that work, with creativity, in a wide field of realities". He also indicated that "most of the associations in the Church are private, which makes them responsible for their actions".

For the Archbishop of Barcelona, it is urgent "the explicit advertisement of Jesus Christ"; as well as to propitiate "that the men and women of today, the young people, meet personally with Christ". This is the basic attitude of the "new Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Barcelona", he remarked. In this way, he considered primordial and current "the Christian training and a solid, deep and authentic spirituality". "It is necessary -he added- to extol the values of responsibility, solidarity, austerity, seeking the common good above the particular, without ever detaching the actions from their ethical values".

Growing mobility of the youth

Cardinal Martínez Sistach expressed that the demonstration held in Madrid in October has meant "a contribution of many thousands of citizens to the social coexistence on a capital topic , that a democratic society has to value properly". On the other hand, he trusted that the next Worldworkshop in 2011 (Madrid) will congregate about two million young people, "both because of the years that it has not been celebrated in Europe, and because of the growing mobility of the youth and the desire of young people to meet the Pope".

Finally, referring to the pontificate of Benedict XVI, he valued "his magnificent service to the Church with his rich and profound magisterium, his three encyclicals, homilies and documents". group He also highlighted "his ecumenical concern, and application apostolic concern for the good of the unity and communion of the Church, ready to welcome into his bosom all those who ask for it, such as the Lefebrians and Anglicans".

Report on 98.3 Radio