Foster communion and mission, nuncio tells U.S. bishops

Published: 2004-11-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Through the work of its bishops, the U.S. church will find the resources to overcome the "crisis of confidence" caused by the clergy sex abuse scandals, said Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the pope's representative in the United States. "Every act of ecclesial governance must foster communion and mission," said Archbishop Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The power of governance goes beyond good administration and must be used as a means for building the kingdom of God, he said. The archbishop spoke Nov. 15 at the opening session of the U.S. bishops' Nov. 15-18 general meeting in Washington. He summarized a series of speeches Pope John Paul II gave earlier this year to groups of U.S. bishops making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican, required of heads of dioceses every five years to report of the status of their dioceses.

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