RUSSIA Russian Catholic bishops pray for peace

The 56th plenary assembly of the Episcopal Conference met in Saint Petersburg. The call to dedicate all efforts to defend the rights of the Church and religious freedom. Particular attention was paid to the formation of candidates for the priesthood. The Church must be free from all forms of coercion and violence.

Moscow () – The 56th plenary assembly of the Russian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KKER) was held a few days ago at the “Mary Queen of Apostles” seminary in Saint Petersburg. The Archbishop of the Mother of God of Moscow, Msgr. Paolo Pezzi, presided over the meeting. In attendance were the Bishop of the Transfiguration of Novosibirsk, Monsignor Josif Werth, the Bishop of Saint Joseph of Irkutsk, Monsignor Kirill Klimovič, the Bishop of Saint Clement of Saratov, Monsignor Klemens Pikkel, together with the Auxiliary Bishop of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Monsignor Nikolaj Dubinin (OFM Conv), the apostolic nuncio Monsignor Giovanni D’Aniello and the secretary of the KKER, Father Stefan Lipke (SJ).

Also participating in the conference were the adviser to the nunciature, Msgr. Petr Tarnavsky, the director of the “Renovabis” charitable foundation, Fr. Tomas Schwartz, the directors of the Union of Religious Communities of Russia (Corsum), Sr. Oksana Britik (Usjk ) and Fr. Darij Kharasimovič (OFM Conv), together with the rector of the seminary, Msgr. Sergei Timašov.

The bishops renewed their call to pray for peace, asking Catholics and believers of all denominations to pray for all humanity, and especially for the people of Ukraine and Russia, accompanying their prayer with fasting and acts of mercy. Sincere thanks were expressed to the collaborators of “Caritas South of Russia” and to all those who have helped refugees “of all origins and orientations”, hoping for an ever greater collaboration of all people of good will, both in this field as in all forms of care for the needy.

In the “tense atmosphere” currently prevailing, the KKER calls on priests to strive to defend the rights of the Church, and first of all the right of believers to profess their faith freely, especially in hospitals, places detention and all other social institutions. All restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic were lifted, calling on all priests and believers to maintain reasonable care and prevention measures. The importance of the service of religious communities and consecrated persons was recalled, expressing the desire to increasingly strengthen this fruitful cooperation.

The formation of candidates for the priesthood was a topic that received particular attention, pointing out the positive dynamics of the seminary, and advocating the importance of further development of the pre-seminar. Lay people now have the opportunity to receive theological training at the “St. John Chrysostom” Institute of the St. Petersburg Seminary. At the moment you can only participate in the courses in person, but a distance participation modality is being prepared.

Great gratitude was expressed for the fruits of the synodal process, which will continue in the discussion of important issues, in the spirit of openness and dialogue within the local Churches, and also by participating in the continental dimensions of Europe and Asia, and at the universal, until autumn 2024. One of the wishes of the Russian bishops is the development of contacts with the local Churches of other countries, renewing the tradition of meetings with the Catholic bishops of Central Asia.

The Bishops intend to do everything possible so that the Catholic Church in Russia is increasingly a space free from all forms of coercion and violence, both for children and young people and for adults. For this, it is proposed to organize training courses at all levels, in particular for those who participate in the accompaniment of victims of violence in various contexts.

In 2023, the Russian Church will commemorate some significant events, such as the 240th anniversary of the original Mogilev Eparchy, the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in Saint Petersburg, and also the 100th anniversary of the confiscation of the ecclesiastical property by the Bolsheviks. These anniversaries will also provide an opportunity to clarify the many concerns about the current management of Catholic Church property and buildings, especially in the city of Moscow.