October 28, 2009. Brazil is the largest country in South America in both size and population. But the beauty of this region contrasts with the tragedy of poverty in Brazil, since half of its inhabitants live in absolute poverty.
Raymundo Damasceno, Archbishop of Aparecida and the president of the Latin American Episcopal Council says that to eradicate poverty and corruption in Latin America, people need basic stability and structure.
Mons. Raymundo Damasceno
President of CELAM
“In the favelas the population is abandoned. They have no resources to access education, health or work. Nor are they building in those places. The state must provide education and improved living conditions for those living in favelas. That is the solution.”
According to Archbishop Damasceno, the Church in Latin America must respond with what he calls “a permanent state of mission"
Mons. Raymundo Damasceno
President of CELAM
“We want our parishes to be missionary. We shouldn’t have to wait for people to come to us, instead the parishes are going to meet the most most needy, disadvantaged and most distant people."
This sense of "permanent mission" refers to the evangelization the promotion and development of the individual.
Mons. Raymundo Damasceno
President of CELAM
"It is not just to help you live a spiritual life, a supernatural life in communion with God but also to live a life with dignity, carried out all aspects of the person. In the family, social and cultural matters.”
In fact that was the message behind Benedict XVI speech at the inaugural session of the V General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2007.
The trip marked the Pope’s first intercontinental voyage of his pontificate.
Mons. Raymundo Damasceno
President of CELAM
“This visit was a boost for the whole Church in Latin America to continue working with the missionary spirit."
A solution to end the scourge of poverty. A solution that involves all of Latin America.
BR/MC -- JM
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