The meeting began with concern expressed over the growth in drug trafficking in the country. Starting on May 5, the Plenary Assembly of Argentine Bishop’s Conference took place over the next several days with important themes being pastoral action in favor of the family in view of the upcoming extraordinary Synod, Evangelium Gaudium, analysis of pastoral and social realities, preparation for the Bicentennial, and a National Eucharistic Congress in Tucuman. Conference President Msgr. José María Aranceto in responding to journalists noted that Argentinians must not become used to living amongst drugs and violence, or even worse, become indifferent to these realities. Msgr. Aranceto added that Our Lady of Guadalupe urges Argentinians to commit themselves to construct a society of solidarity and to continue to follow her example of missionary commitment to all the Latin American Church. Last year the Assembly of Bishops had also requested the government to give priority to the grave social problem that drugs have become, understanding the problem as a “tragedy that destroys the family.” The Assembly concluded May 10th, only a few days before Independence Day occurring on May 25th.