Brian R Corbin's Reflections on Religion and Life

PLENARY ASSEMBLY ON EMIGRANT AND ITINERANT FAMILIES

VATICAN CITY, 13 MAY 2008 (VIS) – “The emigrant and itinerant family” is the theme of the 18th plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, which was inaugurated this morning by Cardinal Renato Martino, president of that dicastery.

In his opening address, the cardinal drew from the most recent documents published by the pontifical council, in order to illustrate the pastoral guidelines it follows in the various areas in which it undertakes its mission.

A communique released by the council explains that the plenary – which is being held in the Vatican from 13 to 15 May – is to be attended by 26 members, including cardinals, archbishops and bishops from various countries, and by 14 consultors, also of various nationalities, specialists in the various aspects of human mobility with which the council concerns itself. These aspects, listed by the communique, are: emigrants, refugees and displaced persons, foreign students, nomads, circus workers, tourists and pilgrims, seafarers, airport workers, drivers, women and children who live on the streets, and people of no fixed abode.

Over these days the plenary assembly is also scheduled to include testimonies from people who work directly with families in certain sectors of human mobility, from various countries: Australia , U.S.A. , Colombia , Dominican Republic , Great Britain , France , Italy , Spain and Germany .

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