The request was made openly today by Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, president of the Roman Work for Pilgrimages, when presenting the 10th Italian Theological Pastoral Congress, organized by that institution. The four-day congress opens Saturday.
Monsignor Andreatta believes that such a papal encyclical will encourage reflection on a subject that is «so delicate and at times problematic and difficult, but which is of increasing interest to public opinion and affects the concrete life of individuals.»
The congress will gather top Catholic theologians of Italy to study «Creation, Sanctuary of God: Pilgrimage as Search, Encounter, Contemplation and Witness.»
Among the participants will be Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope´s vicar for Rome; Bishop Rino Fisichella, new rector of the Lateran University; and Father Bruno Forte, rector of the School of Theology of Southern Italy. Former Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff of Rome will also attend.
