15^th World Conference of Civil aviation Chaplains opens on Monday in Rome

June 09, 2012: "Evangelization in the New World Aviation" is the theme of the 15^th World Conference of Civil aviation Chaplains to be held in Rome from 11 to 14 June, organized by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant people. Over one hundred participants from 32 international airports in 15 countries, from Europe, the Americas and Africa, are expected to participate in the 4-day Conference, revealed a press release on Friday.
Airports are among the modern Areopagus of our time. The chaplains and pastoral workers of Civil Aviation come together in this seminar to find new ways and new expressions for evangelization in this area. The participants will analyze situations, reflect and exchange good practices and difficulties in order to identify concrete proposals for pastoral help at various airports in the world, the Press statement further added.
The pastoral ministry of civil aviation is addressed not only to passengers but also to the crew and ground staff, and also those who serve in various activities of the airport. It also takes care of all other users, including those who are in detention centers.
The highlight of the seminar will be the special audience with the Holy Father on Monday, June 11. The seminar will be opened by Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant people.
A presentation of the seminar will be made by the Under-Secretary, P. Bentoglio Gabriel. He will inform on issues that address the various speakers on the testimonies of some chaplains, the study groups and liturgical celebrations.
An illustration of the socio-cultural and religious perspectives of the contemporary world will be presented by Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca. Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, will speak on the new evangelization in the contemporary world. Today one cannot talk about new evangelization without considering the dialogue, especially in the real airport. So there will be presentations on inter-religious dialogue and ecumenism in relation to the new evangelization. The first will be presented by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, while the second by Rev. Tony Milner, Director for Theological Studies of the English College in Rome.
Cardinal Veglio, President of the Council, will present a report on the new evangelization in this broader context. There will be space for sharing experiences of various airport chaplaincies. Particular interest in the seminar will be the report of Mr. Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, Secretary for Civil Aviation, the International Federation of Workers in Transport (ITF), which will explain the work of the Federation in view of collaboration.