Vatican conference encourages ministry to seafarers

January 21, 2014

Greeting participants to a Vatican-sponsored conference on the Apostolate of the Sea, the president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants said that seafarers and their families should be shown “the loving face of the Church.”

Cardinal Antonio Mario Veglio reminded the conference participants that many fishermen and other seafarers live in a “pitiful situation,” in danger because of the weather, the uncertain return on their work, and the possibility of pirate attacks. He said that Blessed John Paul II had made a particular point of encouraging an ecumenical approach to pastoral work in the maritime world, stressing cooperation among the few ministers working in the field.

 

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Further information:

• Apostolates of the Sea: Strengthening Solidarity Between Nations (VIS)