The Archbishop of La Serena, Mons. René Rebolledo Salinas, turned a year as president of the Episcopal Conference of Chile and shared a balance of what has lived at this time, as well as his gaze on the social and political scenario of the country, and the challenges ahead.
Chosen to occupy the position of president of the Episcopate on April 17, 2024, just over a year to walk this mission, the Prelate thanked the bishops for their trust and generosity, especially those who are part of the Permanent Committee, where “communion, fraternity and great collaboration” between them evidence.
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“This is our priority: the evangelizing mission of the Church!”
The priority of the episcopate, said Mons. Rebolledo Salinas, is the announcement of the Gospel “This is our priority: the evangelizing mission of the Church!”, Exclaimed, objective that the bishops assumed through the pastoral orientations agreed for the period 2023-2026, which encourage to announce Jesus Christ “walk together.”
They are priority challenges of the Church: “to encourage and strengthen evangelizing processes from the centrality of Jesus Christ; foster more evangelical relationships and more synodal structures in our way of being a Church; Live our prophetic mission in the middle of the world in dialogue with culture, going out to meet the poor and young people; continue to promote in our church a culture of care and good treatment,” he listed.
Pope Francis: a broad, deep and transcendent teaching
In reference to the recent departure of Pope Francis, the Prelate acknowledged that his teaching was “broad, deep and transcendent.” In that sense, she chose to make memory grateful and recalled that her trip to Chile “has marked a before and after” for the local church, encouraging them “to look straight at the pain caused by abuse”, and promoting them “to build a culture of care”, with the formation of agents for prevention and accompaniment and repair paths with the victims.
From Francisco’s “testament”, he rescued two gestures made by the Holy Father about the end of his life: his visit to the Regina Coeli prison and the Easter blessing, both signs of total delivery, even in weakness.
He also referred to the election of Pope Leo IXV, who found the bishops gathered in his 131st Episcopal Assembly, a moment that the archbishop lived as “a special blessing of the Lord.”
“In this month and a half elapsed since his choice, the Pope encourages us in his person, gestures, words and priorities to love the Lord, his church and, in it, the poorest and most in need, retaking and reinforcing the calls to disarm words and actions, for the good and peace of humanity,” summarized Mons. Rebolledo of this time of the new pontificate.
Jubileo 2025: Announce joy and hope in Christ
After the 2025 jubilee, with the motto “Pilgrims of Hope”, the archbishop recalled the words of Pope Francis by convening this special time, wishing that “it can be for all a moment of living and personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, ‘door’ of salvation.”
In that line, he assured that each of the bishops is “a witness of joy and fruits in the communities that account for this year of blessing and grace”, and encouraged to continue announcing joy and hope in Christ “to a world that suffers by wars and so many other situations, such as a Chile injured by violence and other other criminal acts.”
He also asked that this jubilee strengthen the centrality of Jesus Christ “in our lives, families and communities”, in turn strengthening “our prophetic mission in the encounter with the young and the poor, as with the sisters and brothers violated.”
Give young people the space that corresponds to them in the Church
Held in January the first National Youth Day, which had it as a host archbishop in La Serena, the prelate highlighted the positive impact that this meeting had: celebrations, songs, dialogue and testimonies. In conclusion, he stressed the urgency of strengthening youth pastoral and giving young people the space that corresponds to them in the Church and society.
“It is a real challenge to enhance in the youth communities of the parishes, colleges, universities and apostolic movements the human, fraternal and cordial relationship that arose between them as a precious fruit of this day,” he said.
Elections: An opportunity to work together for the good of Chile
As for the news of Chile, Mons. Rebolledo Salinas emphasized the next elections as a new opportunity, in the first place, “to participate actively and co -responsible” in the search for the common good; and also to generate agreements and join forces.
On the part of the Church, he reiterated the commitment to “actively collaborate to favor the meeting, dialogue and agreement”, and work with the authorities for Chile.
“Life is a beautiful gift of God”
Given the bills on abortion and euthanasia, the archbishop reiterated that “life is a beautiful gift of God” and invited to seek the path of the Lord “to face the challenges related to abortion and euthanasia that involve us all.”
Within that framework, he called to respond to the crisis caused by this type of project, both with reason and with the testimony of the Gospel. And in this jubilee year, he invites “giving reason for our hope.”
“The Lord’s fidelity is great!”
Finally, when he turned 21 years of Episcopal Ministry, the Archbishop thanked God, his brothers bishops and the people who have accompanied his way. This accompaniment “is the ‘anointing’ with which the people bless their shepherds,” he said.
“The Lord will know how to reward them for their great generosity, constant prayer and valuable help, which I deeply appreciate. The loyalty of the Lord is great; it is what I experiment every day!” He concluded.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.