(ANS – La Paz) – The Bishops of the Permanent Council of the Bolivian, Chilean and Pervuvian Episcopal Conferences met in La Paz for the 5th tripartite meeting. At the end of the meeting they released a joint declaration entitled “Vis-vis genuine integration”.

The Bishops' communiqué thanked God “for the experiences of communion and fellowship marking mutual relationships amongst our Churches”.

The Bishops renewed their commitment to fostering integration amongst the three countries, encouraging, amongst other things, actions by Catholic universities aimed at promoting a culture of encounter through study and research. “We wish to facilitate mutual understanding and the sharing of experiences to make a critical contribution to overcoming nationalist ideologies and to abandon everything that might still keep us apart. The more we get to know one another the more possibilities we have of journeying together.”

Other situations studied were the increase in drug trafficking which is destroying  the dignity and life of the people, and pastoral challenges and opportunities presented by migration and the ongoing marginalisation of the poor.

At the same time they reinforced the value of the family and the choice of “journeying with the young by offering them the Gospel in an ever-renewed way as a project for fullness of life, and priestly and consecrated life as paths to total love.

At the conclusion of the meeting the President of the Chilean Episcopal Conference (CECh) and Archbishop of Santiago, Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati SDB, said that the Church is communion and therefore is called to create communion, solidarity and integration. He highlighted Benedict XVI's call at Aparecida to make [South America] a continent of hope and love and added that the bishops of the three countries welcome Pope Francis' invitation with all their might, to go to the peripheries, “be humble, simple instruments but very much committed to communion, fellowship and solidarity with our people.”

At the end the Communiqué says: “We invite all Catholics and people of good will in our countries – politicians, businessmen, teachers, professionals, each one in particular – to exercise their responsibility as instruments of integration, justice and unity amongst our peoples. May God bless you and may the Virgin Mary, under the various titles we use to call on her, help us on our journey.”

Published 28/10/2013