AUCKLAND The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has asked the Holy See if they can make their ad limina visit to the Vatican in November, 2011. New Zealands bishops last made an ad limina visit in September 2004. Due to Pope John Paul IIs failing health in 2005 and the election of Pope Benedict XVI, many episcopal conferences have seen their five-yearly schedule of visits disrupted.
In ad limina visits, bishops often in regional or national groups express their solidarity with the See of Peter by travelling to Rome about every five years to pray at the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul.
They also meet the Pope and deliver an account of their dioceses to him.
NZ Catholic Bishops Conference secretary Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland said the New Zealand bishops would go to Rome whenever they are invited, but have expressed their preference for November, 2011. This would avoid clashing with events like World Youth Day in Madrid, Bishop Dunn told NZ Catholic. He added that many bishops from around the world have been making ad limina visits to Rome recently as the Holy See tries to reduce the backlog.
During their last ad limina visit in 2004, the New Zealand bishops informed Pope John Paul II about vocations promotion in this country and the challenges posed by legislative social engineering, such as the introduction of civil unions law.
The then-Pope warned of the split between the Gospel and culture and noted the importance of Sunday Mass observance. He appealed directly to young people to evangelise culture and defend the sanctity and uniqueness of marriage. Pope John Paul II also praised the achievements of Catholic schools in New Zealand.
The New Zealand bishops are meeting their counterparts from Australia and Oceania in Sydney this month in a regular four-yearly gathering.