By Luis Fernando Figari

During the Synod of Bishops for America in Rome, in 1997, Cardinal Rivera solicited that the Holy Father place the apostolic exhortation that he would elaborate in the exercise of his Petrine ministry at the feet of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Numerous voices were added to the voice of the Archbishop of Mexico. And the Holy Pontiff, responding to the significance of Holy Mary of Guadalupe in the impulse of the first evangelization and in the heart of America, accepted.

On the 23 rd of January of 1999 the emotional ceremony was carried out at the Basilica of Guadalupe, before the beautiful image impressed on the tilma (cloak) of the Blessed Juan Diego. Almost one hundred years after the realization of the Plenary Council of Latin America in Rome, which being initiated in May culminated under the presidency of the Lima Archbishop Manuel Tovar on the 9 th of July of 1899, Pope John Paul II placed at the feet of the Virgin the document belonging to this American synod, in line with the preparations for the Great Jubilee of the 2000 years of our faith.

Ecclesia in America are the initial words of the pontifical exhortation, whence its name comes. The Church in America covers a rich and varied set of pontifical orientations about diverse aspects of the Christian life. A rich introduction points out the document's orientation to the urgency of the new evangelization in the whole American lands.

Six chapters and a conclusion follow the aforementioned introduction. The first chapter, "The encounter with the living Christ", constitutes an appealing development on the meaning of the encounter with Lord Jesus. From a perspective of encounter with the Lord Jesus in some passages of the New Testament, the Church is presented as the place for these encounters today. Within this perspective the Virgin Mary emerges highlighting her mission and assistance on the path of encounter with her Son. The Holy Father remembers the apparition of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, on the hill of Tepeyac, in 1531, indicating her decisive role in the evangelization of America . These are passages where the Star of the first and new evangelization is presented with tenderness and familiar simplicity. Among so many things that could be mentioned, with regards to the places of encounter with the Lord Jesus , it is worth singling out the clear accent placed by the Holy Father on the Eucharist, emphasizing the real and substantial presence of Lord Jesus in the Sacrament of Love.

The second chapter, "Encountering Jesus Christ in America today", reminds us of the gift of encountering the Lord, recalls what the arrival of faith on American lands meant over five hundred years ago, and deepens on the answer of the gift of sanctity. The Pontiff remembers St. Rose of Lima , vanguard of the numerous blessed and saints which sprouted from the seed of faith in America . He highlights the identity of the sons and daughters of the Church, and its expressions in the culture and piety of its peoples. Here the Pope discusses pastorally, from the Christian outlook on life and its development, issues such as: education, social action, globalization, the burdensome weight of the external debt, corruption, the evil of drug addiction, and other matters.

As a consequence of the gift of Lord Jesus who makes himself open to encounter and who has met with our peoples, the Pope reminds us of the importance and urgency of authentic conversion and of its global dimension. He underlines the calling to a new life style founded upon Jesus Christ, to sanctification for everyone, and to penitence and reconciliation in the personal conformation to Jesus Christ. The development of an ecclesiology of communion and the means to achieve it in the life of the Church cover a considerable part of the fourth chapter called "The path to communion". The ecclesiological dimension of Vatican II is clearly discussed, emphasizing how "This communion, present in the Church and essential to her nature, must be made visible in concrete signs". Here the Pope covers numerous areas which call for communion in the Lord Jesus to be made concrete within the Church and from the Church.

"The path to solidarity" and "The mission of the Church in America today: The New Evangelization" are the two final chapters. From the perspective of the social doctrine of the Church and the dynamics of communion the Pope identifies several important areas where a communion of solidarity must be constructed. He concludes with an intense reflection on the new evangelization, beginning from the reality of the first evangelization of America . He finally adds some notes of gratitude and hope and the " Prayer to Jesus Christ for the families of America ".

The importance and multitude of themes dealt with in this very rich document invite us to a reflexive reading. The urgency of a new evangelization encompasses The Church in America from the beginning to the end, inviting to live the encounter with the Lord in the coherence of Christian life and in the announcement of the Good News.