Bishop Andrés Stanovnik of Reconquista, Argentina, secretary-general of CELAM, told ZENIT that members of the council’s executive committee at an audience today explained to the Holy Father the state of preparations for the meeting, which was approved by Pope John Paul II.
«Approval does not mean convocation,» explained the Argentine prelate. «The convocation of the meeting is now in the Pope’s hands.»
Yet, he said that the visiting cardinals and bishops perceived the same spirit with which the previous Pope approved this initiative. «Benedict XVI saw favorably what John Paul II already initiated,» said Bishop Stanovnik.
Among the dates proposed for holding the conference was February, 2007. The last such assembly was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1992.
