The bishops of the Tuscan Episcopal Conference met for the summer session from 10 to 13 June in the monastery of Camaldoli. “A moment – is underlined in a statement released today – which allowed us to fully experience the relaxed and fraternal atmosphere that usually characterizes meetings between Tuscan bishops, thanks also to the attentive welcome of the Prior General Matteo Ferrari and the Camaldolese monastic community, with which the bishops shared the Eucharistic celebration and other moments of prayer”.
The Tuscan bishops expressed gratitude to Card. Giuseppe Betori, who left his mandate as archbishop of Florence, for the service rendered in all these years also as president of the Tuscan Episcopal Conference, and gave a cordial collegial welcome to the elected archbishop of Florence, Don Gherardo Gambelli, who the On June 24th he will receive his episcopal ordination surrounded by his brother bishops of the Tuscan dioceses.
During the work, the press release continues, “the bishops carried out a survey of the emerging pastoral problems, to be dealt with in subsequent in-depth sessions of the Tuscan Episcopal Conference in the next pastoral year, based on the verification carried out on the recent ad limina visit, culminating in the audience with Pope Francis last March and enriched by meetings with the dicasteries of the Apostolic See, where significant elements for the future of the Churches in Tuscany were highlighted in an atmosphere of mutual listening”. According to the prelates, “the ongoing synodal path can only offer the best conditions to accompany communities for growth in communion and mission at the service of the Gospel in today’s socio-cultural context”. The bishops also “started a discussion on the project for the renovation of the offices and services of the General Secretariat of the Italian Episcopal Conference, for which the Tuscan bishops did not fail to offer considerations and stimuli for the subsequent steps of reflection required”.
The Franciscan Friar Matteo Brena, commissioner of the Holy Land for Tuscany, updated on the situation in Israel and Palestine, leading the bishops to further question themselves on what choices to make in order to never leave the last word to war, continuing to support the Christian communities local, concretely contributing to achieving peace in this tormented land, courageously generating eloquent signs of closeness, also going so far as to re-propose the experience of pilgrimage in possible ways.
The Tuscan bishops also approved the development of the Regional Information Agency project, which will be the tool available to the Churches of Tuscany to help in the dissemination of news and information to newspapers (newspapers, TV, radio and more). In this regard, the bishops met Domenico Mugnaini, in charge of the regional Commission for social communications and director of Toscana Oggi. Furthermore, the Regional Commission for university pastoral care shared a project hypothesis for the orientation of students in the final years of secondary schools, to help young people reflect on their future and question their choices for tomorrow.
Finally, the bishops appointed Don Luca Bolognesi, of the archdiocese of Florence, spiritual assistant of the regional Fratres Confederation of Tuscany.
