Dear brothers,

I welcome you all and I thank each one of you for coming, also facing considerable difficulties.

Three years have passed since our last meeting. The tempest of the Covid-19 pandemic has imposed various limitations on our daily lives and our pastoral activities. Now it seems that the worst is over, and thanks be to God, we can meet again. But unfortunately, Europe and the entire world are convulsed by a war of particular gravity, in terms of the violation of international law the risks of nuclear escalation, and the grave economic and social consequences. It is a “piecemeal” third world war, to which you bear witness in the places where you carry out your mission.

Thank you for everything that the Pontifical Representatives have done and are doing in these situations of suffering. You have brought the proximity of the Pope to peoples and Churches; you have been points of reference in the moments of greatest disorientation and turbulence.

And in this context, I wish to remember with you the apostolic nuncios Archbishop Joseph Chennoth and Archbishop Aldo Giordano, recently lost to us during their service, as well as those who passed away in retirement over the last three years. These dear brothers of ours have preceded us along the way, and invite us to look ahead and upwards.

With this outlook, let us go forward in our work, in today’s Church and world, trusting in the Lord’s grace. As a Church we are engaged in a synodal journey that intends to foster precisely this dimension of synodality in the people of God. You too have been involved in the consultation. And then the 2025 Jubilee is on the horizon, for which the preparations are underway. As the Roman Curia we are beginning to apply the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium: born of an almost nine-year process, it will also take time to come fully into fruition, so to speak.

I entrust our meeting and all the intentions we have at heart to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, on the feast of her Nativity.

And now I leave the floor to you for any questions or suggestions you may wish to share.

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Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office, 8 September 2022