The Nordic Bishops' Conference Autumn Session Reykjavik 14 to 20 September 2012 A Year of Faith The Diocese of Reykjavik marked the imminent beginning of the Year of Faith in the presence of all the Nordic Bishops on Sunday 16 September 2012 in the Cathedral of Christ the King - the official date being 11 October. The President of the Bishops' Conference, Mgr. Anders Arborelius, in his homily encouraged the faithful to give witness to their faith, grow in faith and inspire faith in others. All over the world, the Catholic Church will give priority to a new evangelisation inspired by the Second Vatican Council, opened by Pope John XXIII fifty years ago. On 16 September the Bishops made a pilgrimage to Skálholt, one of the two medieval sees of the Church in Iceland in commemoration of Saint Thorlak the Patron Saint of Iceland The Bishops will take an active part in the evangelization and their contributions will be published throughout the region. Translations to e.g. English, Polish, Lithuanian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic, and Tamil will be provided. An Audience with President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson The President of the Republic of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, received the Bishops in an audience on 18 September. The President spoke of his visit to the Holy Father Pope Benedict in Rome 2011, and showed much interest in the life of the Catholic Church in the various Nordic Countries. A Rectors' Conference There are Seminaries for the education of Catholic Priests in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. To obtain a stronger and closer co-operation between the superiors of these institutions, the Bishops have established a Rectors' Conference. There are about 60 candidates to the priesthood in the five countries. Traditionally, the candidates have studied in Rome or at Catholic faculties in other European countries. For the first time since the Middle Ages, Catholic Theology at university level is taught also in our countries. World Youth Day The next World Youth Day will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 23-28 July 2013. Some hundred Nordic participants are expected. The Bishops of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Reykjavik will be among the pastors to instruct and accompany the participants. 75 Conferences Bishop Gerhard Schwenzer, former Bishop of Trondheim (1974 - 1983) and Oslo (1983-2005) has taken part at the Conference for the 75th time. The Nordic Bishops´ appeal for Peace in Syria and the Middle East ”Why so much horror? Why so many dead?” These were the words of Pope Benedict XVI when he visited Lebanon close to the Syrian border. He was there to promote forgiveness and reconcialiation, and he moved the hearts of many people, ours included. May his courageous initiative for peace be fruitful. We deplore the “permanent condition of despair” of a steadily growing number of victims. We, also, appeal to the responsible of the nations and of international organisations to cause the battles in Syria to be ended immediately and permanently. The parties to the conflict should be moved to engage in real and meaningful dialogue. Through our solidarity and our prayers for an immediate peaceful and better future, we are united with all men and women of good will, whatever religion they belong to. Reykjavik, 19 September 2012 Bishop Anders Arborelius OCD Bishop Czeslaw Kozon Bishop Bernt Eidsvig Bishop Berislav Grgic Bishop Teemu Sippo Bishop Peter Bürcher Bishop Gerhard Schwenzer .