International Congress of Formators - Consecrated Men and

Women in Solidarity Against Persecution

2015-04-10 LOsservatore Romano

Cardinal Joo Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the
Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, along with
Archbishop Jos Rodrguez Carballo, Secretary
of the Congregation, denounced with the fragile
and powerful voice of the Gospel, the
persecution of Christians taking place in
different parts of the world.
They released a statement on behalf of all
consecrated people attending the international
congress on the theme Formed to Consecrated
Life in the Heart of the Church and of the
World, which was held from 7-11 April in Rome .
The increasingly atrocious news from the Middle East shocked congress participants,
who, in communion with Pope Francis and with all the Church, raised a prayer so that peace,
the gift of the Risen Lord, may overcome hatred and violence and so that all people may
recognize themselves as brothers and sisters. The message implored governments to
implement concrete interventions to bring peace between peoples and to break the spiral of
violence in which so many innocent victims, women and children in particular, are embroiled.
The preceding afternoon, 52 workshops were held on various subjects, including but not
limited to: the world of young people aspiring to embrace consecrated life; formation for
communication in the digital era; the prophetic dimension of consecrated life; the poor as
agents of formation; the complementary and reciprocal man/woman relationship in consecrated
life; dialogue with cultures and enculturation in formation; and justice, peace and the integrity
of the environment in the formation processes.