Meeting in Fatima on Tuesday, Portuguese bishops said that during Benedict XVI’s visit to Portugal this May 11-14, the Pope will speak to everyone, whether or not they are believers.
“The Pope will speak to all,” said Father Manuel Morujao, spokesman and secretary of the Portuguese episcopal conference. “The Church does not close the door to anyone and opens her heart to all.”
During a press conference at the end of the meeting of the bishops’ Permanent Council, Father Morujao also said that at the council’s next meeting, a pastoral note on the Pope’s visit will be released.
The note “will bring benefits for the quality of life of the Church and of society,” he affirmed.
Benedict XVI’s decision to visit Portugal was announced last September and the program was made public in December. It includes stops in Lisbon, Fatima and Oporto.
The Bishop of Rome will be in Portugal both for a pilgrimage and an official visit. He was invited by the Portuguese episcopal conference and by the Portuguese government.
F’laqgħa riċenti, l-Isqfijiet Portugiżi qalu li waqt iż-żjara tal-Papa Benedittu XVI fil-Portugal bejn il-11 u l-14 ta’ Mejju li ġej, huwa se jkun qed ikellem lil kulħadd, anki lil dawk li jħaddnux twemmin.
“Il-Papa se jitkellem ma’ kulħadd”, qal Fr Manuel Morujao, kelliem u segretarju tal-Konferenza Episkopali Portugiża. “Il-Knisja ma tagħlaq bibien f’wiċċ ħadd u qalbha miftuħa għal kulħadd” Waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet f’għeluq laqgħa tal-Kunsill Permanenti tal-Isqfijiet, Fr Morujao qal ukoll li fil-laqgħa li jmiss, se toħroġ nota pastorali dwar iż-żjara tal-Papa, nota li “ġġib ‘il quddiem il-benefiċċji għall-kwalita tal-ħajja tal-Knisja u s-soċjeta”.
Id-deċiżjoni tal-Papa li jżur il-Portugal tħabbret Settembru li għadda u l-programm taż-żjara sar magħruf f’Diċembru li għadda. Il-programm jinkludi waqfiet f’Lisbona, Fatima u Oporto.
L-Isqof ta’ Ruma se jkun fil-Portugal kemm bħala pellegrinagg, kif ukoll bħala żjara uffiċjali. Huwa kienmistieden mill-Konferenza Episkopali Portugiża u mill-Gvern Portugiż.
