Zuppi: «La pace è responsabilità di ciascuno»

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi opened the permanent council of the Italian Episcopal Conference on September 21, stating that peace is the responsibility of every individual. During his introduction to the meeting, which runs through September 23, the president of the conference noted that a Church faithful to love and capable of walking together can serve as a beacon of hope.

Zuppi identified several priorities for the Italian Church, including the need to implement proposals from the synodal journey document, Lievito di pace e di speranza, and the ongoing reflection on reforming the statutes of the Italian Episcopal Conference. He argued that listening, shared responsibility, and common searching are essential parts of preaching the Gospel rather than just organizational tools.

The cardinal emphasized that preaching must remain connected to the concrete lives of people, including their work, studies, relationships, and daily concerns. He warned that the Church risks wasting energy trying to preserve what it already possesses instead of focusing on the people it is sent to serve. Zuppi suggested that the Gospel should engage in dialogue with science, art, and politics to better reach people in their search for understanding.