1

Pope Francis
2013 II
From June 4 to
August 31
Pope Francis Calls
Blessed John XXIII A
Model o !anctit"
Ponti Commemorates #0th
Anni$ersar" o the %ood Popes
&eath
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, June 04' 2013
(Zenit.org) - In his homily during
yesterdays morning Mass in the
chapel of Domus Sanctae
Marthae, Pope Francis referred to
Pope John XXIII as a "model of
sanctity. On the 50th anniversary
of Blessed Angelo Giuseppe
Roncallis death, Pope Francis will
pray before his tomb, asking for
his intercession before the Lord
for peace and unity for the Church
and for the whole human family.
This afternoon the Holy Father will
hold a meeting in the Vatican
Basilica with some 3,000 pilgrims
from the Italian diocese of
Bergamo, the birthplace of the
late Pontiff.
John XXIII, Angelo Giuseppe
Roncalli, was born in Sotto il
Monte, in the Italian province of
Bergamo, on November 25, 1881.
From a tender age he manifested
an inclination to the ecclesiastical
life. After completing his
elementary studies, he prepared
to enter the diocesan seminary.
He was outstanding from the
beginning both in his studies as
well as in his spiritual formation.
He was ordained priest on August
10, 1904. The young Roncalli
continued his studies at Rome in
Canon Law, which were
interrupted in 1905 when he was
elected secretary to the new
bishop of Bergamo, Bishop
Giacomo Radini Tedeschi, with
whom he worked for 10 years.
In addition to being the bishops
secretary, he had other
responsibilities during those years.
He served as a professor at the
seminary, studied local history,
was director of the diocesan
newspaper and assistant of the
Catholic Womens Union. With the
outbreak of the War, in 1915 and
for more than three years he was
chaplain to the wounded in the
military hospitals of Bergamo.
Unexpectedly, in December of
1920 he was invited by the Pope
to preside over the work of the
Propagation of the Faith in Italy.
In 1925, the year of his episcopal
ordination, he was appointed
Apostolic Visitor in Bulgaria, and
thus began his diplomatic period
which lasted until 1952. In 1934
he was appointed Apostolic
Delegate in Turkey and Greece.
He was then personally selected
by Pius XII as Apostolic Nuncio in
Paris in 1944. His next assignment
was to Venice, where he arrived
on March 5, 1953 and was created
2
a cardinal the following year. His
episcopate was characterized by
the scrupulous commitment with
which he carried out the duties of
bishop, the pastoral visits and the
holding of the diocesan Synod.
On October 28, 1958, at 76,
Cardinal Roncalli was elected
successor of Pius XII. This election
made many believe that his
pontificate would be one of
transition. However, from the
beginning John XXIII revealed a
style that reflected his human and
priestly personality, matured
through a significant series of
experiences. In addition to
restoring the good functioning of
the Curias organisms, he was
keen on conferring a pastoral seal
to his ministry, stressing its
episcopal nature as bishop of
Rome, while multiplying his
contacts with faithful through
visits to parishes, hospitals and
prisons.
However, undoubtedly the most
important contribution of this Pope
was the Second Vatican Council,
which he proclaimed from Saint
Pauls Basilica on April 25, 1959.
In his opening address on October
11, 1962, Pope John XXIII said
that "three years the arduous
work of preparation continued. It
consisted in making a detailed and
accurate analysis of the prevailing
condition of the faith, the religious
practice, and the vitality of the
Christian, and particularly the
Catholic, body. We are convinced
that the time spent in preparing
for this Ecumenical Council was in
itself an initial token of grace, a
gift from heaven. He also added
that "major interest of the
Ecumenical Council is this: that
the sacred heritage of Christian
truth be safeguarded and
expounded with greater efficacy.
That doctrine embraces the whole
man, body and soul. It bids us live
as pilgrims here on earth, as we
journey onwards towards our
heavenly homeland. It
demonstrates how we must
conduct this mortal life of ours. If
we are to achieve God's purpose
in our regard we have a twofold
obligation: as citizens of earth,
and as citizens of heaven.
"This twenty-first Ecumenical
Council can draw upon the most
effective and valued assistance of
experts in every branch of sacred
science, in the practical sphere of
the apostolate, and in
administration. Its intention is to
give to the world the whole of that
doctrine which, notwithstanding
every difficulty and contradiction,
has become the common heritage
of mankind-to transmit it in all its
purity, undiluted, undistorted. It is
a treasure of incalculable worth,
not indeed coveted by all, but
available to all men of good will,
he said.
In the perspective of an updating
of the whole life of the Church,
John XXIII invited to privilege
mercy and dialogue with the world
instead of condemnation and
opposition, in a renewed
awareness of the ecclesial mission
that embraced all men. In this
universal opening, the different
Christian confessions could not be
excluded, which were invited also
to participate in the Council to
begin a path of friendship. During
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the first phase it was evident that
John XXIII wanted a truly
deliberating Council, that would
respect all decisions after all
voices had been heard and
confronted. However, Pope John
XXIII did not live to see the end of
the Council, as he died on June 3,
1963.
In the year of his death he was
awarded the "Balzan prize for
peace and the testimony of his
commitment to peace with the
publication of the encyclicals
Mater et Magistra (1961) and
Pacem in Terris (1963), as well as
his decisive intervention in the
grave Cuban crisis in the autumn
of 1962.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed
him Blessed on !eptem(er 3'
2000) In the homil" or the
cele(ration he said that o
Pope John' *e$er"one
remem(ers the image o Pope
John+s smiling ace and t,o
outstretched arms em(racing
the ,hole ,orld)-
Pope+s Address on
Anni$ersar" o Pope
John XXIII+s &eath
VATICAN CITY, June 04, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of Pope Francis' address to a
group of pilgrims from the Diocese
of Bergano who visited St. Peter's
Basilica on the occasion of the
50th anniversary of the death of
Blessed Pope John XXIII.
* * *
Dear friends of the Diocese of
Bergamo,
I am pleased to welcome you
here, at the tomb of the Apostle
Peter, in this place that is home to
every Catholic. I affectionately
greet your Pastor, Bishop
Francesco Beschi, and thank him
for the kind words he addressed
to me on behalf of all.
Exactly fifty years ago, just at this
moment, Blessed John XXIII left
this world. Those who, like me,
[are of] a certain age, retain a
vivid memory of the commotion
that spread everywhere in those
days: St. Peter's Square had
become a sanctuary in the open,
day and night welcoming the
faithful of all ages and social
conditions, in trepidation and
prayer for the Pope's health. The
whole world had recognized in
Pope John a pastor and a father: a
shepherd because [he was]
father. What made him such? How
could he reach the hearts of so
many different people, even many
non-Christians? To answer this
question, we can refer to his
episcopal motto, oboedientia et
pax: obedience and peace. These
words, noted the then-Archbishop
Roncalli on the eve of his
episcopal ordination, are [in a
way] my story and my life.
(Journal of a Soul, retreat in
preparation for consecration as
bishop, 13-17 March 1925).
I would like to begin from peace,
because this is the most obvious
aspect that, which people
perceived in Pope John: Angelo
Roncalli was a man who was able
to communicate peace; a natural,
4
serene, friendly, peace; a peace
that, with his election to the
Pontificate, was manifested to all
the world and [came to be called
his] goodness. This was
undoubtedly a hallmark of his
personality, which enabled him to
build strong friendships
everywhere and in particular that
stood out in his ministry as
Representative of the Pope, which
he carried out for nearly three
decades, often in contact with
environments and worlds far
removed from that Catholic
universe in which he was born and
formed. It was in those
environments that he proved an
effective weaver of relationships
and a good promoter of unity,
inside and outside the Church
community, open to dialogue with
Christians of other Churches, with
members of the Jewish and
Muslim [traditions] and with many
other men of good will. In fact,
Pope John conveyed peace
because he had a mind deeply at
peace, the fruit of a long and
challenging work on himself, an
effort that has left abundant
traces in [his autobiography],
Journal of a Soul. There we can
see the seminarian, the priest, the
bishop Roncalli struggling with the
path to the gradual purification of
the heart. We see him, day by
day, careful to recognize and
mortify the desires that come
from his own selfishness, careful
to discern the inspirations of the
Lord, allowing himself to be
guided by wise spiritual directors
and inspired by masters such as
Saint Francis de Sales and St.
Charles Borromeo. Reading those
writings, we truly see a soul
taking shape, under the action of
the Holy Spirit working in His
Church.
Here, then, we come to the
second and decisive word:
obedience. If peace was the
outward hallmark, obedience
constituted for [Pope John] the
inner disposition: obedience, in
fact, was the instrument with
which to achieve peace. Firstly,
[obedience] meant to [Pope John]
something very simple and
concrete: performing that service
in the Church, which his superiors
asked of him, without seeking
anything for himself, with no
escape from anything that was
required of him, even when it
meant leaving his homeland,
dealing with worlds unknown to
him, remaining for many years in
places where the presence of
Catholics was very scarce. This
willingness to be led, like a child,
built his priestly path, of which
you are well aware: from
secretary of Bishop Radini
Tedeschi and at the same time
teacher and spiritual father in the
diocesan seminary; to [his service
as] Papal Representative in
Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece,
France; [his election as] Shepherd
of the Venetian Church, and finally
as Bishop of Rome. Through this
obedience, the priest and bishop
Roncalli, however, also lived a
more profound faithfulness, which
could be called, as he would say,
abandonment to Divine
Providence. He always recognized,
in faith, that through that path of
life apparently driven by others,
led by their tastes or on the basis
of their own spiritual sensitivity,
5
God was designing a project of His
own.
Even more profoundly, through
this daily abandonment to the will
of God, the future Pope John lived
a purification, which allowed him
to detach himself completely from
himself, and to adhere to Christ,
thus allowing the holiness to
emerge, which the Church has
[now] officially recognized. Jesus
tells us, Whoever loses his life for
me will save it. (Lk 9:24) Here is
the true wellspring of Pope Johns,
of the peace that he sowed
throughout the world. Here is the
root of his holiness: in this, his
evangelical obedience.
This, then, is a lesson for all of us,
and also for the Church of our
time. If we let ourselves be led by
the Holy Spirit, if we mortify our
selfishness to make room for the
love of the Lord and to His will,
then we will find peace, then we
will be builders of peace and
peace will spread around us. Fifty
years after his death, the wise and
fatherly guidance of Pope John,
his love for the Churchs tradition
and awareness of the constant
need of renovation, the prophetic
intuition of the convocation of the
II Vatican Council and the offering
of his life for its success, remain
as milestones in the history of the
Church of the twentieth century
and as a beacon of light for the
journey that lies ahead.
Dear people of Bergamo, you are
rightly proud of the Good Pope, a
shining example of faith and
virtues for whole generations of
Christians from your land. Keep
his spirit, continue to deepen the
study of his life and his writings,
but above all, imitate his holiness.
From heaven, may he continue to
accompany with love your Church,
which he so loved in life, and may
he obtain for her from the Lord
the gift of many holy priests,
vocations to religious and
missionary life, as well as to
family life and for lay commitment
[to service] in the Church and in
the world. Thank you for your
visit! I cordially bless you
Pope Concludes Month of May
With Rosary at St. Peter's Square
In$ites Faithul to
Follo, ./ample o the
Blessed 0irgin Mar"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 04, 2013
(Zenit.org) - To conclude the
Marian month of May, Pope
Francis participated with
thousands of faithful present in
praying the Rosary on Friday
evening at St. Peter's Square. The
event, which was held on the feast
of the Visitation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary to her cousin
Elizabeth, was presided by
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, vicar
general of His Holiness for Vatican
City and archpriest of the Basilica.
After the recitation of the Rosary,
Pope Francis offered a meditation
on the feast day of the Visitation,
which he said shows the Blessed
Mother's attitude in the events of
Her life.
"Three words sum up Mary's
attitude: listening, decision, and
action," the Pope said. "They are
6
words that also show us the path
before us of what the Lord asks of
us in life."
"Mary knows how to listen to God.
But be careful: this is not a simple
'hearing' but a 'listening' based on
paying attention, a welcoming, an
openness toward God. It isn't the
distracted manner that we
sometimes have when dealing
with the Lord or others when we
hear their words, but we don't
really listen.
The Holy Father went on to say
that the Blessed Mother always
went in depth to grasp the
meaning of events in Her life
rather than "stopping at the
surface of things."
"This is also true in our lives:
listening to God who speaks to us
and listening to our everyday
reality, paying attention to people
and to facts because the Lord is at
the door in our lives and He calls
in many ways, putting signs along
our path and giving us the ability
to see them.
Reflecting on the Virgin Mary's
decisiveness, Pope Francis stated
that She never avoided the
burden of making decisions, which
in itself is an example for all when
we are faced with similar
circumstances.
"Often we tend to postpone
[decisions]," the Pope said, "to let
others decide for us. Often we
prefer to be caught up by events,
chasing the fashion of the
moment. Sometimes we know
what we have to do, but we don't
have the courage or it seems too
difficult because it means going
against the grain."
"Mary goes against the current.
She listens to God, reflects and
tries to understand the reality [of
the situation] and decides to
entrust herself completely to
God.
The final aspect of the Virgin Mary
Pope Francis concluded his
mediation with was the word
"action". The Holy Father said that
upon knowing what God wants
from Her, the Blessed Mother does
not linger, but "goes in haste."
"Sometimes, the Pope concluded,
"even we stop with just listening,
just reflecting on what we should
do, perhaps we are even clear
about what decision we should
make, but we don't take the steps
to act upon it. Above all we don't
put ourselves in play, don't move
'in haste' toward others to bring
them our assistance, our
understanding, or our charity.
1orld,ide .ucharistic
Adoration 2a3es Place in 4ome
Cathedrals and Dioceses Around
the World Synchronize to Year of
Faith Event in St. Peter's Basilica
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, June 04, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Sunday at 5pm
local time, cathedrals and
dioceses around the world
synchronized with the Holy Father
in Rome during the Worldwide
Eucharistic Adoration which took
place in St. Peter's Basilica.
The Year of Faith event is the first
time in the Church's history that
7
such a celebration was held
simultaneously around the world.
The initiative, which was under
the theme of "One Lord, One
Faith" involved also parishes,
religious congregations and lay
associations around the world.
The Holy See also invited those
participating across the globe to
pray for two intentions by the
Holy Father.
The Pope's first intention was:
"For the Church spread
throughout the world and united
today in the adoration of the Most
Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity.
May the Lord make her ever more
obedient to hearing his Word in
order to stand before the world
`ever more beautiful, without stain
or blemish, but holy and
blameless. That through her
faithful announcement, the Word
that saves may still resonate as
the bearer of mercy and may
increase love to give full meaning
to pain and suffering, giving back
joy and serenity.
Pope Francis second intention
focused on those suffering around
the world, particularly those who
are victims of slavery, war, human
trafficking, drug running, and
violence.
5For the children and ,omen'5
the 6ol" Father+s intention
continues' 5,ho are suering
rom e$er" t"pe o $iolence)
Ma" their silent scream or
help (e heard (" a $igilant
Church so that' ga7ing upon
the cruciied Christ' she ma"
not orget the man" (rothers
and sisters ,ho are let at the
merc" o $iolence) Also' or all
those ,ho ind themsel$es in
economicall" precarious
situations' a(o$e all or the
unemplo"ed' the elderl"'
migrants' the homeless'
prisoners' and those ,ho
e/perience marginali7ation)
2hat the Church8s pra"er and
its acti$e nearness gi$e them
comort and assistance in hope
and strength and courage in
deending human dignit")-
Pope9 5.$er"thing is :ost in
1ar' .$er"thing is %ained 1ith
Peace5
Ponti Pra"s or Fallen
and 1ounded !oldiers'
;ngoing Conlict in
!"ria
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 04, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Sunday, Pope
Francis greeted the faithful on
Sunday who were gathered in St.
Peter's Square for his weekly
Angelus address where he
reminded the faithful to put their
trust in Divine Providence.
The Holy Father spoke on the
feast of Corpus Domini which,
although celebrated on Thursday
in Italy, was celebrate on Sunday
in other countries.
Referring to the Gospel on the
multiplication of the loaves and
fishes, Pope Francis reflected on
the disciples' response in the face
of the hunger of the crowds
saying that they had "a human
attitude which looks for a more
realist solution" and "does not
create too many problems."
8
However, Jesus' attitude, the Pope
continued, "is sharply different
and it is determined by his union
with the Father and by
compassion for the people, that
piety that Jesus has towards all of
us."
"Jesus knows our problems, he
knows our weaknesses, he knows
our needs. With those 5 loaves of
bread Jesus thinks: This is
providence! From this little bit God
can draw out what is necessary
for everybody. Jesus puts himself
entirely in the hands of the
heavenly Father, he knows that
with him all things are possible."
The Holy Father went on to say
that the Jesus' act of dividing the
crowd into groups of 50 was not
by chance, rather the crowd has
become "a community nourished
by the bread of God."
Prior to reciting the Angelus, the
Holy Father reminded the faithful
that the Gospel on the Feast of
the Body and Blood of Christ is a
calling to "convert to faith in
Providence" as well as to "know
how to share the little that we are
and have.
Painful Concern for Syria
After the recitation of the Angelus,
Pope Francis expressed his
"painful" concern over the
continuing conflict in Syria. The
conflict, the Holy Father said, "has
disturbed Syria for more than 2
years and especially harms the
unarmed population, which
aspires to peace in justice and
understanding."
"This tragic situation of war brings
with it tragic consequences:
death, destruction, enormous
economic and environmental
destruction as well as the scourge
of kidnappings," the Holy Father
continued. "In deploring these
facts, I would like to assure my
prayer and my solidarity for the
persons who have been kidnapped
and for their families and I appeal
to the humanity of the kidnappers,
that they might free their victims.
Let us pray always for our beloved
Syria."
The Holy Father also spoke
regarding the Mass he celebrated
earlier that morning with wounded
soldiers and relatives of those who
died in peace keeping mission.
Pope Francis called on the faithful
to prayer for those who have the
wounded and those who have
fallen in "peace missions that seek
to promote reconciliation and
peace in countries in which much
blood of brothers continues to be
spilled in wars that are always
foolish."
"Everything is lost with war.
Everything is gained with peace,"
the Pope said. His remarks were
followed by a moment of prayerful
silence in remembrance of those
who have died, the wounded and
their families.
9
Ponti Cele(rates
!unda" Mass ,ith
Italian !oldiers and
Families
%athered to Pra" or 2hose
1ho 6a$e &ied or 1ounded
or the !a3e o Peace
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 04, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Sunday morning,
Pope Francis celebrated Mass in
the chapel of Domus Sanctae
Marthae with a group of about 80
people led by the Italian military
ordinary Archbishop Vincenzo
Pelvi, who also concelebrated with
the Pope.
The group consisted of relatives of
Italian soldiers who died in peace
keeping missions over the past 5
years, particularly in Afghanistan.
Also present were soldiers who
were wounded on those missions,
along with their family members
who joined the Pope in praying for
those who died or were wounded
for the sake of peace.
According to a communique
released by the Holy See, the day
chosen for this Mass with the Holy
Father falls on Republic Day where
Italy "expresses in different ways
a debt of love to the military
family, as Archbishop Pelvi
mentioned in his brief greeting of
the Holy Father at the beginning
of the celebration.
At the end of the Mass the "Prayer
for Italy, composed by Bl. John
Paul II (March 15, 1994), was
recited. Pope Francis, as is
customary, greeted individually
those who were present at the
Mass.
The ecclesial community of the
military ordinariate offered the
Pope a beautiful work from Naples
in terracotta that represents St.
Joseph the worker showing
carpenter tools to the child Jesus,
who is holding a chest containing
the objects that symbolize the
crucifixion: nails, hammer, tongs.
Francis: Commandments Aren't
Fashionable, But Are Hymn to
Love
!a"ing +<es+ to :o$e Means
!a"ing +=o+ to =on>:o$e' Pope
./plains
By Kathleen Naab
Pope Francis+ Message
to the %erman =ational
.ucharistic Congress
VATICAN CITY, June 09, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of the message sent by Pope
Francis sent to Archbishop
Joachim Meisner of Cologne and
Archbishop Robert Zollisch,
President of the German Bishops'
Conference on the occasion of the
National Eucharistic Congress in
Cologne.
* * *
To our venerable brothers
Cardinal Joachim Meisner
Archbishop of Cologne
and Archbishop Robert Zollitsch
President of the German Bishops
Conference
10
With the motto "To whom shall we
go, Lord? (John 6:68) Catholics
from Germany and nearby
countries are gathering together
now for the National Eucharistic
Congress in Cologne. This event
situates itself in this citys long
tradition of veneration of the
Eucharist. Cologne was one of the
first to celebrate the Feast of
"Corpus Domini, from its
inception in the 13th century, with
processions of the Most Blessed
Sacrament, and was the site of
the World Eucharistic Congress in
1909. So, I gladly send from
Rome Cardinal Josef Cordes as my
special envoy to show my deep
spiritual communion with German
Catholics, and to express the
universal communion of the
Church. May the heavenly Father
grant to all the participants
abundant fruits of grace from the
veneration of Christ in the
Eucharist.
"Lord, to whom shall we go? With
this question, in the face of many
who misunderstood Jesus, who
wanted selfishly to profit from
him, St. Peter is the spokesman of
his faithful followers. The disciples
do not seek the worldly payoff of
those who were satiated (cf.
John 6:26) and who, nevertheless,
worked for bread that does not
last (cf. John 6:27). Of course,
Peter too knows hunger; for a
long time he was unable to find
the bread that filled him. Then he
met the man from Nazareth. He
followed him. Now he knows his
Master not only from hearsay.
Being with him every day Peter
has developed a trust without
reservations. This is faith in Jesus;
it is not without reason that Peter
expects the longed for "life in
abundance from the Lord (cf.
John 10:10).
"Lord, to whom shall we go? We
too, who belong to the Church
today, pose this question. Even if
it is more hesitant on our lips than
on Peters, our answer, like that of
the Apostle, can only be the
person of Jesus. Yes, he lived
2000 years ago. But we can
encounter him in our own time
when we listen to his Word and
are near to him in a special way in
the Eucharist. Vatican Council II
calls it the "sacred action par
excellence, adding that "no other
action of the Church can equal its
efficacy by the same title and to
the same degree ("Sacrosanctum
Concilium, 7). May the Holy Mass
never become a superficial routine
for us! May we draw more and
more from its profundity! It is
precisely the Mass that inserts us
in Christs immense work of
salvation, to sharpen our spiritual
vision by his love: by his
"prophecy in act with which, at
the Last Supper, he initiated the
gift of self on the cross; by his
irrevocable victory over sin and
death, which we boldly and
festively proclaim. "We need to
learn how to live the Holy Mass,
Bl. John Paul II said once to young
mean at a Roman seminary who
had asked him about the deep
concentration with which he
celebrated the sacred liturgy (Visit
to the Pontificio Collegio Germano
Ungarico, Oct. 18, 1981). "Learn
to live the Holy Mass! We are
helped to do this by pausing in
adoration before the eucharistic
Lord in the tabernacle and
11
receiving the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
Lastly, this question is posed by
certain of our contemporaries,
who - with lucidity or obscure
presentiment - are in search of
the Father of Jesus Christ. The
Redeemer wants to meet them
through us, who, thanks to our
Baptism, have become his
brothers and sisters, and who, in
the Eucharist, have received the
power to participate with him in
his mission of salvation. With our
life and our words we must
proclaim to them that which we
have seen together with Peter and
the Apostles: "Lord you have the
words of eternal life (John 6:68).
Our testimony will enflame them
as we have been enflamed by
Christ, All of us, bishops, priests,
deacons, religious and laity have
the task of bringing God to the
world and the world to God.
Encountering Christ, giving
ourselves to Christ, proclaiming
Christ - these are the pillars of
our faith, which are concentrated
in the focal point of the Eucharist.
The celebration of the Eucharistic
Congress during the "Year of
Faith proclaims with renewed joy
and certainty: the Churchs Lord
lives in her. With my cordial
greeting I bestow from my heart
to all of you the Apostolic
Benediction.
From the Vatican, May 30, 2013,
the Solemnity of the Most Holy
Body and Blood of Christ
Francis
Ponti 4elects on the
Compassion o %od
&uring Angelus Address
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 10, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
reflected on the mercy of Christ
during his Sunday Angelus
address in St. Peters on Sunday.
The Holy Father spoke on the
theme given that the month of
June is dedicated to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus.
Speaking on the Sunday Gospel
on the widow who lost her only
Son, the Holy Father told the
faithful gathered that Christ
showed his love and compassion
for man.
"This "compassion is Gods love
for man, it is mercy, that is, Gods
attitude in the encounter with
human misery, with our indigence,
our suffering, our anxiety, the
Pope said. "The biblical term
"compassion recalls the maternal
viscera: mothers, in fact,
experience a singular reaction in
the face of suffering children. This
is how God loves us Scripture
says.
When relating the event that
Christ brought the widows son
back to life, Pope Francis called on
the faithful to never forget that
God looks upon all with mercy, as
well as urging them to "go to
Jesus.
After reciting the Angelus, the
Holy Father commented on the
beatification that same of two
12
Polish religious sisters: Zofia
Czeska Maciejowska, who founded
the Congregation of the Virgins of
the Presentation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and and Malgorzata
Lucja Szewczyk, who founded the
Congregation of the Daughters of
the Sorrowful Mother of God. Both
were beatified in Krakow, Poland.
Pope Francis concluded his
address by greeting the various
groups of pilgrims from Italy and
around the world.
"Today let us not forget Gods
love, Jesus love: he looks upon
us, he loves us and awaits us. He
is all heart and mercy. Let us go
to Jesus with confidence, he will
always forgive us, the Pope said.
Francis+ 0ideo Message
to +10 !?uares or 10
Commandments+
52he 2en Commandments
come rom a %od ,ho has
created us or lo$e' rom a %od
,ho has orged a close
alliance ,ith humanit"' a %od
,ho onl" ,ills the good or
man5
VATICAN CITY, June 10, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of the text from a video message
sent by Pope Francis to the "10
Squares for 10 Commandments"
initiative, sponsored by the
Charismatic Renewal.
The Charismatic Renewal hosted
the event in the context of the
40th anniversary of the
movement's establishment in
Italy. The Pontifical Council for
Promoting New Evangelization and
the Italian episcopal conference
collaborated in the initiative.
* * *
Good evening all!
I am happy to join you, who are
participating in the main Squares
of Italy, in this rereading of the
Ten Commandments. A project
called "When Love Gives Meaning
to Your Life, on the art of living
through the Ten Commandments
given by God not only to Moses
but also to us, to the men and
women of all times. Thanks to
those in charge of Renewal in the
Holy Spirit - they are good these
<people> of Renewal in the Holy
Spirit, congratulations! - who
organized this praiseworthy
initiative in collaboration with the
Pontifical Council for Promoting
the New Evangelization and the
Italian Episcopal Conference.
Thank you, to all those who
contributed with generosity to the
realization of this special project
of the Year of Faith. Lets ask
ourselves now: What meaning do
these Ten Words have for us?
What do they say to our time,
agitated and confused, which
seems to want to do without God?
The Ten Commandments are a gift
of God. The word "commandment
is not fashionable; it reminds the
man of today of something
negative, the will of someone who
imposes limits, who puts obstacles
to life. And unfortunately history,
including recent <history>, is
marked by tyrannies, ideologies,
logics that have imposed and
13
oppressed, which have not sought
mans good, but rather power,
success, profit. But the Ten
Commandments come from a God
who has created us for love, from
a God who has forged a close
alliance with humanity, a God who
only wills the good for man.
Let us trust God! Let us trust in
Him! The Ten Commandments
point out a path to follow, they
also constitute a sort of "ethical
code for the building of a just
society, to the measure of man.
How much inequality there is in
the world! How much hunger for
food and for truth! How much
moral and material poverties
derive from the rejection of God
and from putting so many idols in
His place! Let us allow ourselves
to the guided by these Ten Words
that illumine and orientate the one
who seeks peace, justice and
dignity. The Ten Commandments
indicate a path of liberty, which
finds its fullness in the law of the
Spirit written not on stone tablets,
but in the heart (cf.
2 Corinthians 3:3). Written here
are the Ten Commandments! It is
essential to recall when God gave
the people of Israel, through
Moses, the Ten Commandments.
At the Red Sea the people
experienced great liberation. They
touched concretely the power and
fidelity of God, of the God who
renders us free. Now, on Mount
Sinai, God Himself indicated to
His people and to all of us the way
to remain free, a path that is
etched in mans heart as a
universal moral law
(cf. Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronom
y 5:1-22). We must not see the
Ten Commandments as limitations
to liberty. No, they are not this,
but we must see them as
indications for liberty. They are
not limitations but indications for
liberty! They teach us to avoid the
slavery to which the many idols
reduce us that we build ourselves
- we have experienced this so
many times in history and we are
experiencing it also today. They
teach us to open ourselves to a
dimension that is larger than the
material, to live respect for
persons, overcoming the avidity
for power, for possession, for
money and to be honest and
sincere in our relations, to protect
the whole of creation and to
nourish in our planet lofty, noble
and spiritual ideals. To follow the
Ten Commandments means to be
faithful to ourselves, to our more
authentic nature, and to walk
towards the genuine liberty that
Christ taught in the Beatitudes
(cf. Matthew 5:3-12.17; u!e 6:2
0-23). The Ten Commandments
are a law of love. Moses went up
the mountain to receive the
tablets of the law from God. Jesus
does the opposite: the Son of God
abases Himself; he descends into
our humanity to indicate to us the
profound meaning of these Ten
Words. Love the Lord with your
whole heart, your whole mind,
and your whole strength and your
neighbor as yourself
(cf.u!e 10:27).
This is the most profound meaning
of the Ten Commandments: the
commandment of Jesus that bears
within it all the commandments,
the Commandment of Love. That
is why I say that the Ten
Commandments are
Commandments of Love. Here is
14
the heart of the Ten
Commandments: the Love that
comes from God and that gives
meaning to life, love that makes
us live not as slaves but as true
sons, love that animates all our
relations: with God, with ourselves
- we often forget this - and with
others. True liberty is not to follow
our egoism, our blind passions,
but to love, to choose what is
good in every situation. The Ten
Commandments are not a hymn
to "no, but to "yes. A "yes to
God, a "yes to Love, and because
I say "yes to Love, I say "no to
non-Love, but the "no is a
consequence of that "yes that
comes from God and makes us
love.
Let us rediscover and live the Ten
Words of God! Let us say "yes to
these "ten ways of love, made
perfect by Christ, to defend man
and guide him to true liberty! May
the Virgin Mary accompany us on
this path. I impart from my heart
my Blessing upon you, upon your
dear ones, and upon your cities.
Thank you all!
VATICAN CITY, June 10, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis admits
that the very idea of a
commandment is not fashionable
today, but that the Ten
Commandments come from a God
who wants what is best for us.
They are "not a hymn to 'no,' but
to 'yes,'" he says, "a 'yes' to God,
a 'yes' to Love, and because I say
'yes' to Love, I say 'no' to non-
Love."
The Pope offered this reflection in
a video message prepared for one
of the events within the "10
Squares for 10 Commandments"
initiative, organized by the
Charismatic Renewal movement in
Italy. The movement is marking
its 40th anniversary in Italy.
"The Ten Commandments are a
gift of God," the Holy Father said.
"The word 'commandment' is not
fashionable; it reminds the man of
today of something negative, the
will of someone who imposes
limits, who puts obstacles to life.
[...] But the Ten Commandments
come from a God who has created
us for love, from a God who has
forged a close alliance with
humanity, a God who only wills
the good for man."
Francis exhorted, "Let us trust
God! Let us trust in Him! The Ten
Commandments point out a path
to follow" in a world of injustice.
He added that the
Commandments "indicate a path
of liberty."
"We must not see the Ten
Commandments as limitations to
liberty. No, they are not this, but
we must see them as indications
for liberty. They are not
limitations but indications for
liberty! They teach us to avoid the
slavery to which the many idols
reduce us that we build ourselves
- we have experienced this so
many times in history and we are
experiencing it also today,"
Francis said. "They teach us to
open ourselves to a dimension
that is larger than the material, to
live respect for persons,
overcoming the avidity for power,
for possession, for money and to
be honest and sincere in our
relations, to protect the whole of
15
creation and to nourish in our
planet lofty, noble and spiritual
ideals. To follow the Ten
Commandments means to be
faithful to ourselves, to our more
authentic nature, and to walk
towards the genuine liberty that
Christ taught in the Beatitudes."
The Pontiff spoke of Jesus'
fulfillment of the Commandments
with the Beatitudes, noting that
the heart of the Decalogue is "the
Love that comes from God and
that gives meaning to life, love
that makes us live not as slaves
but as true sons, love that
animates all our relations: with
God, with ourselves - we often
forget this - and with others."
"True liberty," he said, "is not to
follow our egoism, our blind
passions, but to love, to choose
what is good in every situation.
The Ten Commandments are not a
hymn to 'no,' but to 'yes.' A 'yes'
to God, a 'yes' to Love, and
because I say 'yes' to Love, I say
'no' to non-Love, but the 'no' is a
consequence of that 'yes' that
comes from God and makes us
love." Pope: God Looks Upon All
With Mercy
Pope !ends Message to
Italian Association or
Blind and 0isuall"
Impaired
.ncourages %roup to Continue
to 2a3e an Acti$e Part in
!ociet"
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, June 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis sent an
audio message to the Italian
Association for the Blind and
Visually Impaired this morning.
The 75 members were at the Le
Torre Center in Tirrenia, Italy for a
summer program that specializes
in rehabilitation studies and
vacations.
In his message, the Holy Father
expressed his gratitude for the
groups affection and prayers,
while conveying his joy that
"thanks to modern technology, I
can come to you.
"The Gospels tell us that Jesus
had a particular care for the blind.
Besides other sick persons, He
healed many blind persons, the
Pope said.
"But the healing of a visually
impaired person has special
symbolic meaning: it represents
the gift of faith. It is a sign that
concerns us all because we all
need the light of faith to walk
along the path of life. This is why
Baptism, which is the first
Sacrament of Faith, was also
called 'illumination' in antiquity.
The Holy Father prayed that Christ
would renew in the members of
the association the gift of faith, so
that their spirits "may alway have
God's light, the light of love that
makes sense of our lives,
illuminates it, gives us hope, and
makes us good and available to
our brothers and sisters.
Concluding his message to them,
Pope Francis urged the group to
not only spread a culture of
solidarity towards the disabled,
16
but also encouraging them to take
an active part in society.
"I entrust you all to the protection
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our
Mother. I ask you to pray for me
and for my service to the Church
and I wholeheartedly bless you,
together with your loved ones,
the Pope said.
Francis9 52he Church is
not an =%;5
Ponti .mphasi7es =ecessit"
o Po$ert" and Praise in
Proclaiming the %ospel
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - In his daily Morning
Mass, Pope Francis told the
faithful present that poverty and
praise of God "are the two key
signs of an evangelical and
missionary Church. The Holy
Father echoed that same words he
said the day after his election to
the papacy, warning that a rich
Church can become an NGO (non-
governmental organization).
The Pope reflected on the Gospel
of the day, which recounted
Christs exhortation to the
Apostles on how to proclaim the
Kingdom of God. Jesus call to go
proclaim the Gospel with neither
gold nor silver, he said, is Christs
call to proclaim his Word "with
simplicity. That simplicity, the
Pope continued, "gives way to the
power of the Word of God,
because if the Apostles had not
had confidence in the Word of
God, they would probably have
done something else.
Meditating on Christs mandate to
give freely what they had received
freely, Pope Francis conveyed the
importance of proclaiming the
Gospel as a grace, while warning
that "when we leave grace a little
to one side in our proclamation,
the Gospel is not effective.
"Evangelical preaching flows from
gratuitousness, from the wonder
of the salvation that comes and
that which I have freely received I
must freely give, the Holy Father
said.
"This is what they were like at the
beginning. St. Peter did not have
a bank account, and when he had
to pay taxes, the Lord sent him to
the sea to catch fish and find the
money in the fish, to pay. Philip,
when he met Queen Candaces
finance minister, did not think,
'Ah, good, lets set up an
organization to support the Gospel
...' No! He did not strike a deal
with him: he preached, baptized
and left.
The Holy Father also warned that
in announcing the Kingdom of God
"as a free gift, there is a
temptation to seek some form of
strength or authority in preaching
the Gospel. The temptation, he
continued, cause a confusion
where "proclamation becomes
proselytizing.
"The Church does not grow
through proselytizing but by
drawing people to her". And this
attraction comes from the
testimony of those who freely
17
proclaim the gratuity of salvation,
Pope Francis said.
"Everything is grace. Everything.
And what are the signs of when an
apostle lives this gratuity? There
are so many, but I will underline
only two: First, poverty. The
proclamation of the Gospel must
follow the path of poverty. The
testimony of this poverty: I have
no wealth, my wealth is the gift I
received, God: this gratuity is our
wealth! And this poverty saves us
from becoming managers,
entrepreneurs.
The Church, he continued, should
bring forth their works with a
heart of poverty and not of an
investment broker. "The Church is
not an NGO, the Holy Father
exclaimed.
The Pope went on to say that the
other sign of living in gratuity is
praise, stressing that in praising
the Lord, it is essentially a
gratuitous prayer.
"These two are the signs of an
apostle who lives this gratuity:
poverty and the ability to praise
the Lord, the Pope concluded.
"And when we find the apostles
who want to build a rich Church
and a Church without the
gratuitousness of praise, the
Church becomes old, the Church
becomes an NGO, the Church
becomes lifeless. Today we ask
the Lord for the grace to
acknowledge this generosity:
'Freely you have received, freely
give'. Recognizing this gratuity,
this gift of God . Let us move
forward in preaching of Gospel.
Pope !ends Message to
Filipino Catholics
Catholic :eaders Consecrate
=ation to the Immaculate
6eart o Mar"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
MANILA, June 11, 2013 (Zenit.org)
- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Vatican Secretary of State, sent a
message to Archbishop Jose
Palma, President of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the
Philippines expressing the Holy
Fathers closeness to the Filipino
Catholics as leaders led a national
consecration to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary.
The consecration took place in
cathedrals, parishes, shrines and
chapels throughout the
Philippines on Saturday.
"The Holy Father unites himself
spiritually with you on this
important occasion, praying that
the Most Pure Heart of our Blessed
Mother Mary may inspire all
Filipinos to devote themselves
through her, to Jesus her divine
Son, Cardinal Bertone stated in
the message.
The Vatican Secretary of State
also conveyed Pope Francis hope
that the devotion to the Blessed
Mother would lead Filipinos to
"appreciate and respect more the
value of life in all its stages.
"[The Holy Father] hopes that
devotion to Marys Immaculate
Heart, beating in unison with that
of her unborn child, may inspire
18
an ever greater appreciation and
attention to all human life, from
conception through natural death,
and lead to greater service to the
poorest and the weakest, those
who are closest to God himself,
the statement read.
Francis+ Address to
Italian President
5In toda"s ,orld religious
li(ert" is more oten airmed
than ulilled5
VATICAN CITY, June 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of the address Francis gave to
Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano when the two met last
Saturday.
Mister President of the Republic,
I wish to thank you heartily for
your welcome visit, which gives
me the opportunity to express my
most cordial greeting to you and
to all the Italian people, whose
representatives have elected you
recently for a new mandate to the
highest office of the State. I
extend, then, my greeting and my
gratitude to all the members of
the different delegations that
accompany you.
Your visit, Mister President, is
inserted in a now long history of
relations, and it confirms once
again, even after troubled and
painful events, the normality and
excellence of relations between
Italy and the Holy See. These
relations were developed
especially after the Conciliation
and the insertion of Lateran Pacts
in the Italian Constitution, and
then in a new point of view, after
the Second Ecumenical Vatican
Council and the Agreement for the
Revision of the Concordat.
Confirmed many times with full
reason by both parties is that the
dialogue between Italy and the
Holy See has as its principal end
the good of the Italian people and,
as the ideal background, its
unique historical role in Europe
and in the world. In this
connection, Italy can truly be an
example in the community of
peoples, as has been recognized
many times also by very diverse
personalities and, in recent times,
it seemed evident from the
intensity of the relationship of
esteem and friendship between
you, Mister President, and His
Holiness Benedict XVI.
In Italy the collaboration between
State and Church, is always
geared to the interest of the
people and of society; it is
realized in the daily relations
between civil entities and those of
the Catholic community,
represented by Bishops and their
organizations, and in an
altogether particular way by the
Bishop of Rome. So, also this first
visit of the President to the Pope -
after your participation at the
Mass for the beginning of the
Petrine ministry - can be
expressed effectively with the
image of two hills, the Quirinale
and the Vatican, which regard one
another with esteem and
sympathy.
Recalled in this year 2013 is the
17th centenary of the Edict of
19
Milan, seen by many sides as
symbol of the first affirmation of
the principle of religious liberty. A
century ago the celebration of this
event represented a stage in the
historic process that fostered the
awareness and contribution of
Catholics in the building of the
Italian society, a contribution that
continues to be important for the
Nations journey.
In todays world religious liberty is
more often affirmed than fulfilled.
In fact, it is constrained to suffer
threats of various sorts and not
rarely is violated. The grave
outrages inflicted on such a
primary right are a source of
serious concern and must elicit
the unanimous reaction of the
countries of the world in
reaffirming, against any attack,
the intangible dignity of the
human person. It is a duty of
everyone to defend religious
liberty and to have it promoted by
all. Found, moreover, in the
shared protection of such a moral
good is, also, a guarantee of
growth and of development of the
whole community.
The historical moment we are
living is marked also in Italy, as in
many other countries, by a
profound and persistent global
crisis, which accentuates the
economic and social problems,
burdening especially the weakest
part of society. Phenomena that
seem worrying above all are the
weakening of the family and of
social bonds, the demographic
decline, the prevalence of logics
that privilege profit over work, the
insufficient attention to the
younger generations and to their
formation, in view also of a serene
and secure future.
In this context, which is certainly
not easy, it is essential to
guarantee and to develop the
general establishment of
democratic institutions, to which
in the past decades Italian
Catholics have contributed in a
decisive, loyal and creative way.
In a moment of crisis such as the
present it is urgent, therefore,
that a new consideration of the
political commitment be able to
grow, above all among young
people, and that believers and
non-believers collaborate together
in promoting a society where
injustices can be overcome and
every person is accepted and is
able to contribute to the common
good in keeping with his/her
dignity, putting to good use their
own capacities. The distance
between the letter and the spirit
of the regulations and of the
democratic institutions must
always be recognized and it calls
for the commitment of all the
subjects involved to fill it always
again. We, Catholics, also have
the duty to be ever more
committed to a serious journey of
spiritual conversion so that every
day we come closer to the Gospel,
which pushes us to a concrete and
effective service to persons and to
society.
True also in the civil realm is what
the faith assures us: we must
never lose hope. How many
examples, in this connection, have
we been given by our parents and
grandparents, facing in their times
20
harsh trials with great courage
and a spirit of sacrifice! Benedict
XVI stated many times that the
present crisis must be an occasion
for a fraternal renewal of human
relations. The Italian people also
-- drawing with trust and
creativity from their very rich
Christian tradition and from the
examples of their Patron Saints
Francis of Assisi and Catherine of
Siena, as well as from numerous
religious and lay figures, and from
the silent testimony of so many
women and men --, can and must
overcome every division and grow
in justice and peace, thus
continuing to carry out its peculiar
role in the European context and
in the family of peoples, and work
to create a culture of meeting.
Mister President, I renew my
gratitude to you for this very
welcome meeting. And I am
happy to take this occasion to
express my appreciation to you
and to all Italians for the warm
affection with which they received
me after my election: they made
me feel at home again! Thank
you. May Italy always be a
welcoming home for all! I assure
you of my prayer for this, while
blessing you and your loved ones
from my heart, and all those at
the service of public affairs and
the whole Italian people. Thank
you.
Pope+s @>and>A 1ith
!tudents o Jesuit
!chools
52o ,or3 or the common good
is a dut" o a ChristianA5
VATICAN CITY, June 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of the transcription of the q-and-a
session Francis had with students
from Jesuit schools.
* * *
Dear youngsters, dear young
people!
I prepared this address to give
you, but there are five pages!
Somewhat boring . Lets do
something: Ill make a little
summary and then I will give this,
in writing, to the Father Provincial.
I will also give it to Father
Lombardi, so that you all have it
in writing. Are you happy with this
or not? Yes? Good. Lets follow
this course.
The first point of this written is
that in the education we give as
Jesuits the key point is - for our
development as persons
- ma"nanimity# We must be
magnanimous, with a big heart,
without fear. To wager always on
great ideals, but we must also be
magnanimous with small things,
with daily things; we must have a
wide heart, a great heart. And it is
important to find this
magnanimity with Jesus, in the
contemplation of Jesus. Jesus is
the one who opens for us the
windows to the horizon.
Magnanimity means to walk with
Jesus, with the heart attentive to
what Jesus is saying to us. In
regard to this, I would like to say
something to educators, to
workers in schools, and to
parents. Educate. In educating,
there is a balance to be kept; the
steps must be well balanced: a
firm step in the area of security,
21
but another step in the area of
risk. And when that risk becomes
security, the next step looks for
another area of risk. We cant
educate only in the area of
security: no. This is to impede
personalities from growing. But
we cant educate either only in the
area of risk: this is very
dangerous. Remember well this
balancing of the steps.
We have reached the last page.
And to you, educators, I would
also like to encourage you to seek
new, unconventional forms of
education, in keeping with the
needs of the place, of the times
and of the persons involved. This
is important in our Ignatian
spirituality: always go that "step
farther, and do not be at peace
with conventional things. Seek
new forms in keeping with the
places, the times and the persons.
I encourage you in this. And now,
I am ready to answer some
questions that you wish to ask:
youngsters, educators. I am at
your disposition. I have asked the
Father Provincial to help me with
this.
--Father Pro$incial: Holiness,
the questions werent prepared, so
will you take them as they come?
OK. Just checking, so .
--A "oung man: I am Francesco
Bassani, of the Leo XIII Institute.
Im a boy who, as I wrote in my
letter to you, Pope, see!s to
believe. I seek . yes, I seek to be
faithful. However, I have
difficulties. Sometimes I have
doubts. And I think this is
absolutely normal at my age.
Given that you are the Pope whom
I believe I will have a long time in
my heart, in my life, because I am
meeting you in my adolescent
phase of growth, I would like to
ask you for a word that will
sustain me in this growth and
sustain all the youngsters with
me.
--6ol" Father: To walk is an art,
because if we always walk in a
hurry, we get tired and we cant
reach the end, the end of the
road. On the other hand, if we
stop and dont walk, we wont
reach the end either. To walk is in
fact the art of looking at the
horizon, to think whereI want to
go, but also to endure the
exhaustion of the walk. And so
many times the walk is difficult,
its not easy. "I want to remain
faithful to this path, but its not
easy, listen: there is darkness;
there are days of darkness -- also
days of failure, also days of falls .
one falls, falls. However, always
think of this: have no fear of
failures; have no fear of falls.
What matters in the art of walking
isnt not to fall, but not to "stay
fallen. To get up fast,
immediately, and to continue
walking. And this is beautiful: this
means to work every day, this is
to walk humanly. But it is also
hard to walk alone, hard and
boring. To walk in community,
with friends, with those who love
us: this helps us, it helps us in
fact to arrive at the end to which
we must go. I dont know if Ive
answered your question. Are you
with me? You wont be afraid of
the path? Thank you.
>>A "oung ,oman: Well . I am
Sofia Grattarola of the
22
Massimiliano Massimo Institute.
And I would like to ask you, given
that you, as all children, when you
were in elementary school, you
had friends, no? And given that
today you are Pope, do you still
see these friends?
>>6ol" Father: I have been Pope
for two and a half months. My
friends are 14 hours by plane from
here, they are far away. But I
want to say something to you:
three of them came to see me and
greet me, and I saw them and
they write to me, and I love them
so. We cant live without friends:
this is important, its important.
>>A small girl [Teresa]: But did
you want to be Pope? Francesco,
did you want to be Pope?
--6ol" Father: Do you know
what it means for a person not to
want so much good for himself? A
person who wishes, who wants to
be Pope, does not wish good for
himself. God doesnt bless him.
No, I didnt want to be Pope. OK?
Come, come, come .
--A lad": Holiness, we are Monica
and Antonella of the choir of the
Students of Heaven of the Social
Institute of Turin. We want to ask
you: as we, who were educated in
Jesuit schools, are often invited to
reflect on Saint Ignatiuss
spirituality, we would like to ask
you: at the time you chose the
consecrated life, what drove you
to be a Jesuit rather than a
diocesan priest or one of another
Order? Thank you.
--6ol" Father: I lodged several
times at the Social Institute of
Turin. I know it well. What pleased
me most about the Society was its
missionary nature, and I wanted
to become a missionary. And
when I studied philosophy, I wrote
to the General - not about
theology - I wrote to the General,
who was Father Arrupe, asking
him to send me to Japan or
somewhere else. But he thought
well, and he said to me, with so
much charity: "But you have had
an illness of the lung, and that
isnt so good for such strong
work, so I stayed in Buenos
Aires. But Father Arrupe was very
good, because he didnt say: "But
you arent so holy as to become a
missionary: he was good, he had
charity. And what gave me so
much strength to become a Jesuit
was the mission: to go outside, to
go out, to go out always to
proclaim Jesus Christ, and not
remain somewhat shut-in in our
structures, so often short-lived. It
was that which moved me. Thank
you.
--A lad": Well, I am Caterina De
Marchis, of the Leo XIII Institute
and I wondered: why have you
given up all the riches of a Pope,
such as a luxurious apartment, or
a huge car, and instead you have
gone to a small apartment in the
neighborhood, and taken a bus for
Bishops. How did you ever give up
wealth?
--6ol" Father: But, I believe its
not just about wealth. For me its
a problem of personality: its this.
I have a need to live among
people, and if I lived alone,
perhaps somewhat isolated, it
wouldnt do me good. A professor
asked me this question: "But why
dont you go to live there? I
23
answered: "But, listen to me,
professor: for psychiatric
reasons. Its my personality. Also
the apartment, the one [of the
Papal Palace] is not so luxurious,
tranquil . But I cant live alone,
do you understand? And then I
think that, if the times speaks to
us of so much poverty in the
world, this is a scandal. The
poverty of the world is a scandal.
In a world where there are so
many, many riches, so many
resources to feed everyone, one
cant understand why it is that
there are so many famished
children, so many children without
education, so many poor! Poverty,
today, is a cry. All of us must
think if we can become somewhat
poorer: We must also do this. How
can I become a bit poorer to
resemble Jesus better, who was
the poor Master. This is the thing.
But its not a problem of my
personal virtue; its only that I
cant live alone, and also in regard
to the car that you mentioned: its
a question of not having so many
things and of becoming somewhat
poorer. This is it.
--A (o": My name is Eugenio
Serafini, I `m of the CEI Institute,
Ignatian educational center. I wish
to ask you a brief question: how
did you decide that you would not
be a Pope but a parish priest, how
did you decide to become a
Jesuit? How did you do this?
Wasnt it difficult for you to
abandon, to leave your family,
your friends, wasnt this difficult
for you?
--6ol" Father: Listen, its always
difficult: always. It was difficult for
me. Its not easy. There are
beautiful moments and Jesus
helps you, He gives you some joy.
But there are difficult moments,
where you feel alone, you feel
arid, without interior joy. There
are dark moments, of interior
darkness. There are difficulties.
But its so beautiful to follow
Jesus, to follow Jesus path, which
you then weigh and go forward.
And then more beautiful moments
come. But no one must think that
there wont be difficulties in life.
Now I would also like to ask a
question: how do you think of
going forward with difficulties? Its
not easy. But we must go forward
with strength and with trust in the
Lord, with the Lord, everything
can be done.
--A "oung girl: Hello, my name
is Federica Iaccarino and I come
from the Pontano Institute of
Naples. I would like to ask you for
a word for young people today, for
the future of the young people of
today, given that Italy is in a
situation of great difficulty. And I
would like to ask for aid to be able
to lead her to improvement, for
help for us, to be able to take
these youngsters forward, to take
us youngsters.
--6ol" Father: You say that Italy
is going through a difficult
moment. Yes, theres a crisis. But
I will say to you: not only in Italy.
The whole world at this time is in
a moment of crisis. And the crisis,
the crisis is not something bad.
Its true that the crisis makes us
suffer, but we must - and you
young people especially - must be
able to read the crisis. What does
this crisis mean? What must I do
to help to come out of the crisis?
24
The crisis that we are living at this
time is a human crisis. They say:
but, its an economic crisis, its a
crisis of work. Yes, its true, but
why? Because the problem of
work, the problem of the
economy, is a consequence of the
great human problem. What is in
crisis is the value of the human
person, and we must defend the
human person. At this moment .
but I have already said this three
times before, but I shall do so a
fourth. I once read an account of
a Medieval Rabbi of the year
1200. This Rabbi explained to the
Jews of that time the story of the
Tower of Babel. It wasnt easy to
build the Tower of Babel: bricks
had to be made; and how is a
brick made? One must find the
clay, the straw; mix them, put
them in the oven: it was
enormous work. And after this
work, a brick became a real
treasure! Then they would take
the bricks to the top to build the
Tower of Babel. But if a brick fell,
it was a tragedy, the worker who
dropped it was punished; it was a
tragedy! However, if a man fell,
nothing happened! This is the
crisis we are going through today:
its the crisis of the person. The
person doesnt count today.
Money counts. And Jesus, God has
given the world, the whole of
creation. He has given it to the
person, to man and woman to
take it forward, not money. Its a
crisis; the person is in crisis
because the person today - listen
well, this is true - is a slave! And
we must free ourselves from these
economic and social structures
that enslave us. And this is your
task.
--A small (o": Hello, I am
Francesco Vin, and I come from
the Saint Ignatius School of
Messina. I want to ask you if you
have ever been to Sicily.
--6ol" Father: No. I can say two
things. No, or not yet.
--2he child: If you come, we will
await you!
--2he 6ol" Father: But Ill tell
you something: I know a very
beautiful film about Sicily, which I
saw ten years ago, called Kaos,
with "k: Kaos. Its a film based
on four stories of Pirandello, and
this film is very beautiful. I was
able to see all the beauties of
Sicily. This is the only thing I
know about Sicily. But its
beautiful!
--A proessor: Holy Father, I am
Professor Jesus Maria Martinez .
[at this moment there was
applause which, moreover,
characterized several moments of
the dialogue between the Holy
Father and the participants at the
audience].
--2he 6ol" Father: But, there
are fans!
--2he proessor: They are
students of Spanish because Im
Spanish: Im from San Sebastian.
They are students also of religion,
and I can say that the students,
the professors wish you all the
very best: this is certain. I dont
speak on behalf of anyone, but
seeing so many former pupils,
also so many personalities and
also us, adults, students,
educated by the Jesuits, I wonder
about our political, our social
25
commitment in society, as adults
in the Jesuit schools. Can you give
us a word: how our commitment,
our work today, in Italy, in the
world, can be Jesuit, can be
evangelical?
--2he 6ol" Father: Very good.
To be involved in politics is an
obligation for a Christian. We
Christians cannot "play Pilate,
wash our hands: we cant do this.
We must be involved in politics,
because politics is one of the
highest forms of charity, because
it seeks the common good. And
lay Christians must labor in
politics. You will tell me: "But its
not easy! But neither is it easy to
become a priest. They are not
easy things in life. Its not easy.
Politics has become too soiled, but
I ask: why has it become soiled?
Why have Christians not become
involved in politics with an
evangelical spirit? With this
question that I pose to you, its
easy to say "the fault is somebody
elses. But, what do I do? Its a
duty! To work for the common
good is a duty of a Christian! And
so many times the place to work
in is politics. There are other
ways: a professor, for instance.
However, political activity for the
common good is one of the ways.
This is clear.
--A "outh: Father, my name is
Giacomo. In reality, Im not alone
here today, but I bring a great
number of youngsters who are
youths of the Student Missionary
League. So, Father, first of all my
gratitude and that of all the
youngsters that I have also heard
over these days, because finally
with you we have found that
message of hope which before we
felt constrained to rediscover in a
tour around the world. Now, to be
able to hear you in our homes is
something that is very powerful
for us. Above all, Father, allow me
to say, from a post, from a place,
this light has been lighted in this
place where we, young people,
had really begun to lose hope. So,
thank you, because you have
gone to the bottom of it all. My
question is this, Father: we, as
you well know from your
experience, have learned to
experience, to live with many
sorts of poverty, which are
material poverty - I am thinking
of the poverty of our twinship in
Kenya --; which are spiritual
poverty - I am thinking of
Rumania, I am thinking of the
wounds of the political
vicissitudes, I am thinking of
alcoholism. So, Father, I would
like to ask you: how can we,
young people, coexist with this
poverty? How must we behave?
--2he 6ol" Father: First of all, I
would like to say something to all
you young people: dont let
yourselves be robbed of hope!
Please, dont let yourselves be
robbed! And who robs your hope?
The spirit of the world, riches, the
spirit of vanity, arrogance, pride.
All these things rob one of hope.
Where do I find hope? In the poor
Jesus, Jesus who made himself
poor for us. And you spoke of
poverty. Poverty calls us to sow
hope, so that I, too, will have
more hope. This seems a bit
difficult to understand, but I recall
that Father Arrupe once wrote a
good letter to the Centers of
Social Research, to the Social
26
Centers of the Society. He spoke
about the way the social problem
should be studied. But in the end
he said to us -- he said to all of
us: "Look, we cant speak of
poverty without having the
experience with the poor. You
have spoken of the twinship with
Kenya: the experience with the
poor. We cant speak of poverty,
of abstract poverty, which does
not exist! Poverty is the flesh of
the poor Jesus, in the child who is
hungry, in the one who is sick, in
those social structures that are
unjust. Go, look at the flesh of
Jesus there. But dont let
yourselves be robbed of the hope
of wellbeing, of the spirit of
wellbeing that, in the end, leads
you to become a nothing in life! A
youth must wager on lofty ideals:
this is the advice. But hope, where
do I find hope? I find it in the
flesh of the suffering Jesus and in
real poverty. There is a connection
between the two. Thank you.
=o, I gi$e all' to all o "ou' to
"our amilies' to e$er"one' the
Blessing o the :ord)
Pope+s Message to the
Italian Association o
the Blind and the
0isuall" Impaired
VATICAN CITY, June 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of Pope Francis audio message to
the Italian Association of the Blind
and the Visually Impaired who are
gathered in Tirrenia for a time of
vacation and rehabilitation.
--- --- ---
Dear Friends,
I greet you with affection. I know
that you are gathered at Tirrenia
for a period of sojourn, and that
some of you wished to come to
Rome. Thanks to modern
technology, I can come to you! I
thank you for your esteem, for
your affection and, above all, for
your prayers.
The Gospel tells us that Jesus had
a special care for the blind. He
healed many of them, along with
so many other sick people.
However, the healing of the
person deprived of sight has a
particular symbolic meaning: it
represents the gift of faith. And it
is a sign that concerns all,
because we all have need of the
light of faith to journey on the
path of life. Because of this,
Baptism, which is the first
Sacrament of the faith, in times
past, was also called
"illumination.
I pray to the Lord to renew in
each one of you the gift of faith,
so that the light of God will always
be in your spirit, the light of love,
which gives meaning to our life,
illumines it, gives us hope, and
makes us be good and be at the
disposition of our brothers.
I also wish every good for your
association, the Italian Union of
the Blind and of the Visually
Handicapped. Spread always the
culture of meeting, of solidarity, of
hospitality to persons with
disability, not only asking for the
just providence, but fostering their
active participation in the life of
society.
I entrust you all to the protection
of Mary Most Holy, our Mother. I
27
ask you to pray for me and for my
service to the Church, and I bless
you, along with your dear ones,
from my heart. Pope Calls Child
Labor a Disgusting Phenomenon
Calls on International
Communit" to Create More
.ecti$e Measures to Com(at
./ploitation
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 12, 2013
(Zenit.org) - At the conclusion of
his weekly General Audience, Pope
Francis commemorated the World
Day Against Child Labor, an
initiative of the International
Labor Organization that brings
attention to the plight of exploited
child laborers.
The Holy Father called child labor
a "disgusting phenomenon that is
constantly increasing, particularly
in poor countries.
"There are millions of children,
mostly baby girls, who are victims
of this hidden form of exploitation
that often leads to abuse, ill-
treatment and discrimination, the
Holy Father said.
Pope Francis concluded his appeal
by calling on the international
community to bring about more
effective measures to combat
child labor. The 76 year old Pontiff
also stated that all children have
the right to pray, study, pray and
grow in their families.
"It is their right and our duty, the
Pope stressed. "A serene
childhood allows children to look
towards life and the future with
confidence. Woe unto those who
suffocate their joyous momentum
of hope!
Pope Francis9 Christ
Calls <ou to Be the
People o %od
Ponti 4elects on Mission o
the Church in 2oda"s 1orld
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 12, 2013
(Zenit.org) - During his weekly
%eneral Audience today, Pope
Francis reflected on the Church as
the people of God inviting the
faithful to live the "twin
commandments of love for God
and neighbor. The address was
part of the Holy Fathers
continuing catechesis on the
Creed.
To be "People of God, the Holy
father said, does not mean that
God belongs to a specific people,
but that it is He who calls us to be
part of Him.
"Jesus does not say to the
Apostles and to us to form an
exclusive group, an elite. Jesus
says: go and make disciples of all
Nations, the Pope said.
"Saint Paul states that in the
people of God, in the Church,
"there is no longer Jew nor
Greek ... since you are all one in
Christ Jesus" I would also say to
those who feel far away from God
and the Church, the one who is
fearful or indifferent, who thinks
he can no longer change: the Lord
calls you to join his people and
28
does so with great respect and
love!
The Holy Father continued his
discourse saying that in order to
become a member of the people
of God one must be reborn, not
physically but in Spirit. Drawing
from the words of Jesus to
Nicodemus, Pope Francis said that
one must be born through water
and spirit to enter the Kingdom of
God.
"It is through Baptism that we are
introduced to this people, through
faith in Christ, a gift from God that
must be nurtured and grown
throughout our life.
2he :a, o :o$e
Continuing his catechesis, the
Pope emphasized the most
important law for Gods people to
follow: the law of love; "the love
for God and for your neighbor.
This love, he continued, is not one
live on a sentimental level, but is
one that recognizes "God as the
only Lord of life and, at the same
time, receives ones neighbor as a
true brother.
"How much we still have to do in
order to live this new law
concretely, that of the Holy Spirit
who acts in us, that of charity, of
love!, the Pope exclaimed.
"When we look in the newspapers
or on television, there are so
many wars between Christians:
but how can this happen? In the
people of God, how many wars! In
the neighborhoods, in the
workplace, how many wars out of
envy, jealousy! Even in the family
itself, how many internal wars! We
must ask the Lord to make us
understand this law of love.
Concluding his catechesis, Pope
Francis called on the faithful to
fulfill the mission of the People of
God, which is to bring hope and
the salvation of God into the
world. In doing so, the Pope said,
Christians are called "to be the
yeast that leavens the dough, salt
that gives flavor and protects from
corruption, light that illuminates.
*2o (e Church' to (e %od+s
People'- the Pope concluded'
*according to the great design
o the Father+s lo$e' it+s li3e
(eing the lea$en o %od in our
humanit"' it means
announcing and (ringing the
sal$ation o %od into this
,orld o ours' ,hich is oten
lost' in need o ans,ers that
encourage' that gi$e hope'
that pro$ide ne, $igor in the
Bourne")-
;n the People o %od
VATICAN CITY, June 12, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of Pope Francis address during his
weekly General Audience held in
St. Peters Square today.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today I would like to briefly
highlight another term with which
the Second Vatican Council has
defined the Church, as "the People
of God " (cf. Dogm. Const. Lumen
gentium, 9; Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 782). And I do so
29
with some questions, on which
everyone can reflect.
1. What does it mean to be
"People of God"? Firstly it means
that God does not belong
specifically to any people; because
it is He who calls us, summons us,
invites us to be part of his people,
and this call is addressed to us all,
without distinction, because God's
mercy wants salvation for
everyone (1Tm 2,4).. Jesus does
not say to the Apostles and to us
to form an exclusive group, an
elite. Jesus says: go and make
disciples of all Nations (cf. Mt
28,19). Saint Paul states that in
the people of God, in the Church,
"there is no longer Jew nor
Greek ... since you are all one in
Christ Jesus" (Gal 3,28). I would
also say to those who feel far
away from God and the Church,
the one who is fearful or
indifferent, who thinks he can no
longer change: the Lord calls you
to join his people and does so with
great respect and love!
2. How does one become a
member of this people? It is not
through physical birth, but
through a new birth. In the
Gospel, Jesus says to Nicodemus
that one must be born from
above, out of the water and the
spirit to enter into the Kingdom of
God (cf. Jn 3:3-5). It is through
Baptism that we are introduced to
this people, through faith in
Christ, a gift from God that must
be nurtured and grown throughout
our life. Let us ask ourselves: How
can I grow the faith that I
received in my Baptism?
3. What is the law of God's
People? It is the law of love, love
for God and love for your neighbor
according to the new
commandment which the Lord has
left us (cf. Jn 13:34). A love,
however, that is not sterile
sentimentalism or something
vague, but that which recognizes
God as the only Lord of life and, at
the same time, receives ones
neighbor as a true brother,
overcoming divisions, rivalries,
misunderstandings, selfishness;
both things go together. How
much we still have to do in order
to live this new law concretely,
that of the Holy Spirit who acts in
us, that of charity, of love! When
we look in the newspapers or on
television, there are so many wars
between Christians: but how can
this happen? In the people of God,
how many wars! In the
neighborhoods, in the workplace,
how many wars out of envy,
jealousy! Even in the family itself,
how many internal wars! We must
ask the Lord to make us
understand this law of love. How
beautiful it is to love each other as
true brothers. How beautiful! Let's
do one thing today. Maybe we all
have people we like and others we
dislike; maybe many of us are a
little angry with someone; then,
say to the Lord: Lord, I am upset
with this person or that. I will pray
for him and for her. Praying for
those with whom we are angry is
a good step in this law of love. Do
we do it? Let's do it today!
4. What is the mission of the
People of God? To bring into the
world the hope and salvation of
God: to be a sign of God's love
which calls everyone to have a
30
friendship with him; to be the
yeast that leavens the dough, salt
that gives flavor and protects from
corruption, light that illuminates.
All around us, just by opening a
newspaper - as I said- we can
see that the presence of evil is
there, the Devil acts. But I would
like to say out loud: God is
stronger! And I would like to add
that the sometimes dark reality,
marked by evil, can change, if we
first bring the light of the Gospel,
above all with our lives. If in a
stadium, think of here in Rome at
the Olympic Stadium, on a dark
night, one person turns on a light,
you can just barely see it, but if
more than 70,000 spectators each
turns on his own light, the
stadium lights up. Let's make our
life a light of Christ; together we
will bring the light of the Gospel
into the entire reality.
5. What is the end of this people?
Their end is the Kingdom of God,
begun here on Earth by God
himself, and that must be
extended until its completion,
when Christ will appear (cf.
Lumen gentium, 9). The aim then
is full communion with the Lord,
to enter into his own divine life,
where we will live the joy of his
love without measure.
Dear brothers and sisters, to be
Church, to be God's People,
according to the great design of
the Father's love, it's like being
the leaven of God in our
humanity, it means announcing
and bringing the salvation of God
into this world of ours, which is
often lost, in need of answers that
encourage, that give hope, that
provide new vigor in the journey.
May the Church be both a place
of God's mercy and hope, where
everyone can feel welcome, loved,
forgiven and encouraged to live
according to the good life of the
Gospel. And to make the other
feel welcome, loved, forgiven,
encouraged, the -Church must
have its doors open so that
everyone can enter. And we must
go out through those doors to
announce the Gospel.
Speaker:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our
continuing catechesis on the
Creed, today we consider the
Church as the People of God,
called to new life in Christ. We
become part of this people
through Gods gift of faith and
spiritual rebirth in the waters of
Baptism. Our law is the twin
commandment of love for God and
neighbour. Our mission is to be a
leaven of the hope born of Gods
love in our world wounded by sin
and evil. Amid the darkness that
so frequently surrounds us, we
are called to be so many points of
light, illumining all reality and
showing the way to a better
future. Gods goodness is stronger
than any evil! Our destination is
the Kingdom of God which Christ
inaugurated on earth and which
will attain its fullness in the joy of
heaven. This is what it means for
the Church to be Gods People, an
essential part of his loving plan for
our human family. May the Church
always be a place where everyone
can encounter Gods mercy and
feel welcomed, loved, forgiven
and encouraged to live the good
life of the Gospel.
31
Pope Francis (in Italian):
I offer an affectionate greeting to
all the English-speaking pilgrims
and visitors present at todays
Audience, including those from
England, Scotland, Ireland, Malta,
Australia, Japan, South Korea,
Vietnam and the United States.
May your stay in the Eternal City
confirm you in love for our Lord
and his Church. God bless you all!
I extend a cordial welcome to the
Italian-speaking pilgrims. In
particular, I greet the newly-
ordained priests of the Diocese of
Brescia, accompanied by their
families, as well as the community
of the Seminary of Naples,
invoking the Lord's continued
assistance, so that everyone may
answer their call faithfully. I greet
the pilgrimage of the Diocese of
Assisi - Nocera Umbra - Gualdo
Tadino, led by Archbishop Mons.
Domenico Sorrentino. An
affectionate thought goes to
representatives of Agricultural
Confederation of Bisceglie,
thanking them for their welcome
gift, destined to the charitable
works of the Pope. I greet, then,
the faithful of the parishes,
associations and various groups
that are so numerous at this
meeting. Lastly, I greet the young
people, the sick and newlyweds.
For all I wish that you may
experience the comforting
presence of the Lord and be, in
everyday life, instruments of his
merciful love.
APPEAL
Today we celebrate worldwide the
World Day Against Child Labor,
with particular reference to the
exploitation of children in
domestic work: a disgraceful
phenomenon that is constantly
increasing, particularly in poor
countries. There are millions of
children, mostly baby girls, who
are victims of this hidden form of
exploitation that often leads to
abuse, ill-treatment and
discrimination.
I $er" much hope that the
international communit" can
initiate e$en more eecti$e
measures in addressing this
real plague) All children should
(e a(le to pla"' stud"' pra"
and gro,' in their o,n
amilies' in a harmonic
conte/t' o lo$e and serenit")
It is their right and our dut") A
serene childhood allo,s
children to loo3 to,ards lie
and the uture ,ith
conidence) 1oe unto those
,ho suocate their Bo"ous
momentum o hopeA
Pope Francis !a"s
Cpcoming .nc"clical on
Faith Is =earl"
Complete
Meets ,ith ;rdinar" Council o
the %eneral !ecretariat o the
!"nod o Bishops
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 13, 2013
(Zenit.org) - This morning, Pope
Francis met with members of the
32
XIII Ordinary Council of the
General Secretariat of the Synod
of Bishops.
Although he had prepared
remarks, the Holy Father decided
to forego his original statement,
and engaged the members of the
Council on several themes of the
Synod which focused on the "New
Evangelization for the
transmission of the faith.
The Holy Father also revealed that
the upcoming Encyclical letter on
the Year of Faith is nearly
complete. Pope Francis stated that
the encyclical was the work of
"four hands. Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI had handed over his
draft of the encyclical which deals
with several themes.
Among the themes are the nature
of ecclesial collegiality and the
synodal structure in the service of
the Church's universal mission
and in cooperation with the
Petrine ministry, the crisis of the
family, care for the created order,
and the recovery of a whole and
wholesome understanding of
human being.
"It is an extremely powerful
document, Pope Francis said.
"The majority of the work was
done by him [Benedict XVI].
"I felt that the Year of Faith would
end without a good document that
can help us, the Pope said. "And
so I thought this: an exhortation
on the evangelization that
references the Synod. It can be
taken from the Synod but with a
much broader framework. I liked
the idea and I will go down this
path. I have written something
and in August, where I will be
more relaxed at home, I can
[continue writing] and go
forward.
The Holy Father also discussed
several themes after giving the
Bishops gathered an opportunity
to raise any questions or
suggestions. Among the matters
discussed were the human
ecology, anthropology. "We live in
a new anthropology, the Pope
said. "where secularism has
become secularization. This is a
serious problem. In the plane of
meeting with God, we are living in
a gnostic age.
2he 6ol" Father addressed the
crisis o the amil"' stating
that it needs to (e addressed
(" (oth the Church8s pastors
and teachers ,or3ing in
tandem)
Pope+s Address to the
13th ;rdinar" Council o
the !ecretariat %eneral
o the !"nod o Bishops
VATICAN CITY, June 13, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of the prepared text of the Pope's
address to the members of the
13th Ordinary Council of the
General Secretariat of the Synod
of Bishops, gathered in assembly
to reflect on the topic: "The New
Evangelization for the
Transmission of the Faith. Pope
Francis decided to forego his
33
prepared comments and
addressed the members
informally.
--- --- ---
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
I greet you very cordially, and I
thank in particular Archbishop
Nikola Eterovic, Secretary
General, for the words he
addressed to me. I extend,
through you, my greeting to the
particular Churches that are
entrusted to your pastoral care. I
am grateful for the help offered to
the Bishop of Rome, in his office
of President of the Synod of
Bishops, for the elaboration and
implementation of all that
emerged in the 13th Ordinary
General Assembly. It is a precious
service to the universal Church
that requires availability,
commitment and sacrifice, also to
face long trips. A sincere thank
you to each one of you!
I would like to stress the
importance of the Assembly: The
New Evangelization for the
Transmission of the Faith. There is
a close connection between these
two elements: the transmission of
the Christian faith is the object of
the New Evangelization and of the
whole evangelizing endeavor of
the Church, which exists in fact
for this. The expression "New
Evangelization, then, brings to
light the ever clearer awareness
that even in the countries of
ancient Christian tradition a
renewed proclamation of the
Gospel is necessary, to lead back
to an encounter with Christ that
really transforms life and is not
superficial, marked by routine.
And this has consequences in
pastoral action. As the Servant of
God Paul VI observed, "the
conditions of society oblige us to
look again at the methods, to seek
with every means of study how to
take to modern man the Christian
message, in which he can only
find the answer to his questions
and the strength for his endeavor
of human solidarity (Address to
the Sacred College of Cardinals,
June 22, 1973). In Evangelii
nuntiandi, a very rich text that
has lost none of its importance,
the same Pontiff recalled how the
commitment to proclaim the
Gospel "is without a doubt a
service rendered not only to the
Christian community, but also to
humanity (n. 1). I would like to
encourage the entire ecclesial
community to be evangelizing, not
to fear to "go out of itself to
proclaim, trusting above all in the
merciful presence of God who
guides us. The techniques are
certainly important, but not even
the most perfect can substitute
the discreet but effective action of
Him who is the principal agent of
evangelization: the Holy Spirit (cf.
Ibid., 75). We must allow
ourselves to be led by Him, even if
He leads us to new ways; we must
allow ourselves to be transformed
by Him so that our proclamation
will take place with the word
accompanied always by simplicity
of life, the spirit of prayer, of
charity to all, especially the little
ones and the poor, of humility and
of self-detachment, of holiness of
life (cf. Ibid., 76). Only thus will it
be truly fruitful!
A thought, also, on the Synod of
Bishops. It was certainly one of
34
the fruits of Vatican Council II.
Thanks be to God, in these almost
fifty years, we have experienced
the benefits of this institution that,
in a permanent way, is placed at
the service of the mission and of
the communion of the Church, as
expression of collegiality. I can
attest to it also on the basis of my
personal experience, having taken
part in several Synodal
Assemblies. Open to the grace of
the Holy Spirit, soul of the Church,
let us be confident that the Synod
of Bishops will experience further
developments to foster increasing
dialogue and collaboration
between the Bishops and between
them and the Bishop of Rome.
Dear fellow Bishops, your meeting
over these days in Rome has the
object of helping me in the choice
of the topic for the next Ordinary
General Assembly. I am grateful
for the proposals sent by the
institutions with which the General
Secretariat of the Synod is in
correspondence: the Synods of
the Catholic Eastern Churches sui
iuris, the Episcopal Conferences,
the Dicasteries of the Roman
Curia, and the Presidency of the
Union of Superiors General. I am
certain that with discernment,
accompanied by prayer, this work
will bear abundant fruit for the
whole Church that, faithful to the
Lord, desires to proclaim Jesus
Christ, with renewed courage, to
the men and women of our time.
He is "the Way, the Truth and the
Life (John 14:6) for each and for
all.
Entrusting your ecclesial service to
the maternal intercession of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the
New Evangelization, I impart from
my heart to you, to your
collaborators and to your
particular Churches the Apostolic
Blessing.
Pope 4elects on
6umilit" o !t) Paul
Cele(rates Frida" Morning
Mass ,ith Priests and !ta o
the Congregation o the Clerg"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 14, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis reflected
on the humility of the Apostle Paul
in his homily during the Mass
celebrated at Domus Sanctae
Marthae this morning. The Holy
Father concelebrated with Cardinal
Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the
Congregation of the Clergy along
with priests and staff of the
dicastery.
Drawing from the 2nd Letter of St.
Paul to the Corinthians, Pope
Francis stated that a true follower
of Christ recognizes himself as a
the bearer of a treasure despite
being an "earthenware" vessel.
The "extraordinary power of faith"
he explained, is the work of God
who poured out his grace upon
sinful men, those in "earthen
vessels."
"Nevertheless, it is from the
relationship between the grace
and power of Jesus Christ and
ourselves, poor sinners as we are,
that the dialogue of salvation
springs," Pope Francis said. The
Holy Father also stressed that this
dialogue must avoid any self-
35
justification, it must between God
and ourselves "as we are."
"Paul has spoken many times - it's
like a refrain, no? - of his sins.
'But I tell you this: I've been a
persecutor of the Church, I
pursued ...' it always comes back
to his memory of sin," the Pope
said. "He feels sinful. but even
then he does not say: 'I was [a
sinner], but now I am holy', no.
Even now, a thorn of Satan in my
flesh. He shows us his own
weakness, his own sin. He is a
sinner who accepts Jesus Christ,
who dialogues with Jesus Christ."
"The key", the Holy Father
continued, "is therefore humility.
Paul himself proves it. He publicly
acknowledges his track record of
service", all he had done as an
Apostle of Jesus. However, Pope
Francis also stated that Paul does
not hide or gloss over what he
described as "his handbook",
meaning his sins.
"This is the model of humility for
us priests for us priests, too. If we
only pride ourselves on our
[service record] and nothing
more, we end up [going] wrong.
We cannot proclaim Jesus Christ
the Savior because we do not feel
Him [present and at work] deep
down. We have to be humble, but
with real humility, [from head to
toe]: 'I am a sinner for this, for
this, for this', as Paul did: 'I
persecuted the Church, " - as he
did, [recognizing ourselves]
concrete sinners: not sinners with
that [kind of ] humility, which
seems more a put-on face, no? Oh
no, strong humility."
The Holy Father went on to say
that the humility of both a
Christian and priest is concrete,
that is, when one falls, it is crucial
to "understand the beauty of
salvation that Jesus brings us"
through the forgiveness of sins.
"Brothers, we have a treasure:
that of Jesus Christ the Savior!"
the Pope exclaimed. "The Cross of
Jesus Christ, this treasure of
which we pride ourselves - but we
have it in a clay vessel. Let us
vaunt also our handbook of our
sins. Thus is the Christian and
Catholic dialogue: concrete,
because the salvation of Jesus
Christ is concrete. Jesus Christ
has not saved us with an idea, an
intellectual program, no. He saved
with His flesh, with the
concreteness of flesh. He is
lowered, made man, made flesh
until the end. This is a gift that we
can only understand, only receive,
in earthen vessels."
Concluding his homily, Pope
Francis compared the humility of
St. Paul to that of the Samaritan
woman, who after meeting with
Jesus, told her countrymen of her
sin first and then about speaking
with Christ.
"I believe, Pope Francis said, that
this woman is in heaven, sure,"
because, as [the Italian author
Alessandro] Manzoni once said, 'I
have never found that the Lord
began a miracle without finishing
it well' and this miracle that He
began definitely ended well in
heaven."
"Let us ask her [the Samaritan
woman] to help us to be vessels
of clay in order to carry and
36
understand the glorious mystery
of Jesus Christ."
Francis+ Address to :a
Ci$iltD Cattolica
5<our main tas3 is not to (uild
,alls (ut (ridges5
VATICAN CITY, June 14, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the text of the
address Francis gave to writers of
the Jesuit journal "La Civilta
Cattolica" when he met with the
group today in the Vatican.
* * *
Dear Friends in the Lord,
I am happy to meet with you,
writers, your whole community,
the Sisters and the staff of the
administration of the House. Since
1850, the Jesuits of
the Civilt$ Cattolica have been
engaged in a work that has a
particular link with the Pope and
the Apostolic See. My
predecessors, meeting with you in
audience, acknowledged many
times how this link is an essential
feature of your review. Today I
would like to suggest three words
to you that might help you in your
endeavor.
The first is dialogue. You carry out
an important cultural service.
Initially the attitude
and Civilt$ Cattolica was
combative and often, also, harshly
combative, in tune with the
general atmosphere of the time.
Reviewing the 163 years of the
review, one gathers a rich variety
of positions, due be it to the
changing of the historical
circumstances, be it to the
personality of the individual
writers. Your fidelity to the Church
still requires that you be hard
against hypocrisies, fruit of a
closed, sick heart, hard against
this sickness. However, your main
task is not to build walls but
bridges; it is to establish a
dialogue with all men, also with
those who do not share the
Christian faith, but "have the
veneration of high human values,
and even "with those who oppose
the Church and persecute her in
various ways (%audium et s&es'
()*#
There are so many human
questions to discuss and share
and it is always possible to
approach the truth in dialogue,
which is a gift of God, and to
enrich ourselves mutually. To
dialogue means to be convinced
that the other has something good
to say, to make room for his point
of view, for his opinion, for his
proposals without falling,
obviously, into relativism. And to
dialogue it is necessary to lower
ones defenses and to open the
doors. Continue your dialogue
with the cultural, social and
political institutions, also to offer
your contribution to the formation
of citizens who have at heart the
good of all and work for the
common good. The +Civilta
cattolica, is the civilization of love,
of mercy and of faith.
The second word is discernment.
Your task is to gather and express
the expectations, the desires, the
joys and the dramas of our time,
and to offer the elements for a
37
reading of the reality in the light
of the Gospel. The great spiritual
questions are more alive today
than ever, but there is need of
someone to interpret them and to
understand them. With humble
and open intelligence, "seek and
find God in all things, as Saint
Ignatius wrote. God is at work in
the life of every man and in the
culture: the Spirit blows where it
will. Seek to discover what God
has operated and how His work
will proceed. A treasure of the
Jesuits is in fact spiritual
discernment, which seeks to
recognize the presence of the
Spirit of God in the human and
cultural reality, the seed of His
presence already planted in the
events, in the sensibilities, in the
desires, in the profound tensions
of hearts and of the social,
cultural and spiritual contexts. I
recall something that Rahner said:
the Jesuit is a specialist of
discernment in the field of God
and also in the field of the devil.
One must not be afraid to
continue in discernment to find
the truth. When I read these
observations of Rahner, they
really struck me.
And to seek God in all things, in
all fields of knowledge, of art, of
science, of political, social and
economic life, studies, sensibility
and experience are necessary.
Some of the subjects you address
might not have an explicit relation
with a Christian perspective, but
they are important to appreciate
the way that persons understand
themselves and the world that
surrounds them. Your informative
observation must be broad,
objective and timely. It is also
necessary to give particular
attention into the truth, goodness
and beauty of God, which are
always considered together, and
are precious allies in the
commitment to defend the dignity
of man, in the building of peaceful
coexistence and in protecting
creation carefully. From this
attention stems serene, sincere
and strong judgment about
events, illuminated by Christ.
Great figures such as Matteo Ricci
are a model of this. All this
requires keeping the heart and
mind open, avoiding the spiritual
sickness of self-reference. Even
the Church, when she becomes
self-referencing, gets sick, grows
old. May our sight, well fixed on
Christ, be prophetic and dynamic
towards the future: in this way,
you will always be young and
audacious in the reading of
events!
The third word is frontier. The
mission of a review of culture such
as a Civilta Cattolica enters the
contemporary cultural debate and
proposes, in a serious and at the
same time accessible way, the
vision that comes from the
Christian faith. The break between
Gospel and culture is undoubtedly
a tragedy (cf. Evan"elii
nuntiandi' 20). You are called to
give your contribution to heal this
break, which passes also through
the heart of each one of you and
of your readers. This ministry is
typical of the mission of the
Society of Jesus. With your
reflections and your deeper ,
support the cultural and social
processes, and all those going
through difficult transitions, taking
account also of the conflicts. Your
38
proper place is the frontiers. This
is the place of Jesuits. That which
Paul VI, taken up by Benedict XVI,
said of the Society of Jesus, is
true for you also in a particular
way today: "Wherever in the
Church, even in the most difficult
and acute fields, in the crossroads
of ideologies, in the social
trenches, there was and is the
confrontation between the burning
exigencies of man and the
perennial message of the Gospel,
the Jesuits have been and are
there. Please, be men of the
frontier, with that capacity that
comes from God (cf.
2 Corinthians 3:6). But do not fall
into the temptation of taming the
frontiers: you must go to the
frontiers and not bring the
frontiers home to varnish them a
bit and tame them. In todays
world, subject to rapid changes
and agitated by questions of great
relevance for the life of the faith,
a courageous commitment is
urgent to educate to a faith of
conviction and maturity, capable
of giving meaning to life and of
offering convincing answers to all
those seeking God. It is a question
of supporting the action of the
Church in all fields of her mission.
This year a Civilta Cattolica has
been renewed: it has assumed a
new graphic appearance, it can
also be read in a digital version
and it brings its readers together
also in the social networks. These
are also frontiers in which you are
called to operate. Continue on this
path!
Dear Fathers, I see young, less
young and elderly among you.
Yours is a unique review of its
kind, which is born from a
community of life and of studies;
as in a harmonious choir, each
one must have his voice and
harmonize it with that of others.
Strength, dear brothers! I am sure
I can count on you. While I
entrust you to the Madonna della
Strada' I impart to you, writers,
collaborators and Sisters, as well
as to all readers of the review, my
Blessing.
10
Francis Meets ,ith
Arch(ishop o
Canter(ur"
Both .ncourage =eed or
&ialogue and Cnit" Among
Churches
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 14, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the text of the
Holy Fathers address to His Grace
Justin Welby, Archbishop of
Canterbury and Primate of the
Anglican Communion, along with
his delegation.
Your Grace, Dear Friends,
On the happy occasion of our first
meeting, I make my own the
words of Pope Paul VI, when he
addressed Archbishop Michael
Ramsey during his historic visit in
1966: "Your steps have not
brought you to a foreign
39
dwelling ... we are pleased to
open the doors to you, and with
the doors, our heart, pleased and
honoured as we are ... to welcome
you `not as a guest or a stranger,
but as a fellow citizen of the
Saints and the Family of God (cf.
Eph 2:19-20).
I know that during Your Graces
installation in Canterbury
Cathedral you remembered in
prayer the new Bishop of Rome. I
am deeply grateful to you - and
since we began our respective
ministries within days of each
other, I think we will always have
a particular reason to support one
another in prayer.
The history of relations between
the Church of England and the
Catholic Church is long and
complex, and not without pain.
Recent decades, however, have
been marked by a journey of
rapprochement and fraternity, and
for this we give heartfelt thanks to
God. This journey has been
brought about both via theological
dialogue, through the work of the
Anglican-Roman Catholic
International Commission, and via
the growth of cordial relations at
every level through shared daily
lives in a spirit of profound mutual
respect and sincere cooperation.
In this regard, I am very pleased
to welcome alongside you
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of
Westminster. These firm bonds of
friendship have enabled us to
remain on course even when
difficulties have arisen in our
theological dialogue that were
greater than we could have
foreseen at the start of our
journey.
I am grateful, too, for the sincere
efforts the Church of England has
made to understand the reasons
that led my Predecessor, Pope
Benedict XVI, to provide a
canonical structure able to
respond to the wishes of those
groups of Anglicans who have
asked to be received collectively
into the Catholic Church: I am
sure this will enable the spiritual,
liturgical and pastoral traditions
that form the Anglican patrimony
to be better known and
appreciated in the Catholic world.
Todays meeting is an opportunity
to remind ourselves that the
search for unity among Christians
is prompted not by practical
considerations, but by the will of
the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who
made us his brothers and sisters,
children of the One Father. Hence
the prayer that we make today is
of fundamental importance.
This prayer gives a fresh impulse
to our daily efforts to grow
towards unity, which are
concretely expressed in our
cooperation in various areas of
daily life. Particularly important
among these is our witness to the
reference to God and the
promotion of Christian values in a
world that seems at times to call
into question some of the
foundations of society, such as
respect for the sacredness of
human life or the importance of
the institution of the family built
on marriage, a value that you
yourself have had occasion to
recall recently.
Then there is the effort to achieve
greater social justice, to build an
40
economic system that is at the
service of man and promotes the
common good. Among our tasks
as witnesses to the love of Christ
is that of giving a voice to the cry
of the poor, so that they are not
abandoned to the laws of an
economy that seems at times to
treat people as mere consumers.
I know that Your Grace is
especially sensitive to all these
questions, in which we share
many ideas, and I am also aware
of your commitment to foster
reconciliation and resolution of
conflicts between nations. In this
regard, together with Archbishop
Nichols, you have urged the
authorities to find a peaceful
solution to the Syrian conflict such
as would guarantee the security of
the entire population, including
the minorities, not least among
whom are the ancient local
Christian communities. As you
yourself have observed, we
Christians bring peace and grace
as a treasure to be offered to the
world, but these gifts can bear
fruit only when Christians live and
work together in harmony. This
makes it easier to contribute to
building relations of respect and
peaceful coexistence with those
who belong to other religious
traditions, and with non-believers.
The unity we so earnestly long for
is a gift that comes from above
and it is rooted in our communion
of love with the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. As Christ
himself promised, "where two or
three are gathered in my name,
there am I in the midst of them
(Mt 18:20). Let us travel the path
towards unity, fraternally united in
charity and with Jesus Christ as
our constant point of reference. In
our worship of Jesus Christ we will
find the foundation and raison
dtre of our journey. May the
merciful Father hear and grant the
prayers that we make to him
together. Let us place all our hope
in him who "is able to do far more
abundantly than all that we ask or
think (Eph 3:20).
Arch(ishop Justin
1el("+s Address to
Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY, June 14, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the text of the
address given by His Grace Justin
Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
and Primate of the Anglican
Communion, during his visit to
Pope Francis at the Vatican
Apostolic Palace today.
Your Holiness,
Dear Friends:
I am full of love and gratitude to
be here. In the last few days we
have been remembering the death
of Blessed Pope John XXIII in the
midst of the Second Vatican
Council. At the Requiem said at
Lambeth Palace fifty years ago
this weekend by Archbishop
Michael Ramsey, my much-loved
predecessor said of him: `Pope
John has shown us again the
power of being, by being a man
who touches human hearts with
charity. So there has come to
many a new longing for the unity
of all Christians, and a new
knowledge that however long the
41
road may be, charity already
makes all the difference to it.
Having for many years found
inspiration in the great corpus of
Catholic social teaching, and
worked on its implications with
Catholic groups; having spent
retreats in new orders of the
Church in France, and being
accompanied by the Prior of
another new order; I do indeed
feel that I am (in the words of
Pope Paul VI to Archbishop
Michael) coming to a place where
I can feel myself at home.Your
Holiness, we are called by the
Holy Spirit of God, through our
fraternal love, to continue the
work that has been the precious
gift to popes and archbishops of
Canterbury for these past fifty
years, and of which this famous
ring is the enduring token. I pray
that the nearness of our two
inaugurations may serve the
reconciliation of the world and the
Church.
As you have stressed, we must
promote the fruits of our dialogue;
and, with our fellow bishops, we
must give expression to our unity
in faith through prayer and
evangelisation. It is only as the
world sees Christians growing
visibly in unity that it will accept
through us the divine message of
peace and reconciliation.
However, the journey is testing
and we cannot be unaware that
differences exist about how we
bring the Christian faith to bear on
the challenges thrown up by
modern society. But our `goal is
great enough to justify the effort
of the journey (Benedict XVI, Spe
salvi 1), and we can trust in the
prayer of Christ, `ut omnes unum
sint (Jn 17.21). A firm foundation
of friendship will enable us to be
hopeful in speaking to one another
about those differences, to bear
one anothers burdens, and to be
open to sharing the discernment
of a way forward that is faithful to
the mind of Christ pressed upon
us as disciples.
That way forward must reflect the
self-giving love of Christ, our
bearing of his Cross, and our
dying to ourselves so as to live
with Christ, which will show itself
in hospitality and love for the
poor. We must love those who
seek to oppose us, and love above
all those tossed aside-even whole
nations-by the present crises
around the world. Also, even as
we speak, our brothers and sisters
in Christ suffer terribly from
violence, oppression and war,
from bad government and unjust
economic systems. If we are not
their advocates in the name of
Christ, who will be?
Your Holiness, dear brother, I
assure you of the love, respect
and prayer of the bishops, clergy
and people of the Anglican
Communion.
French !enate And
=ational Assem(l"
Mem(ers Meet ,ith
Pope Francis
Ponti !a"s 6ostilit" 2o,ards
4eligion From Pu(lic &e(ates
is Cnnecessar"
42
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis received
members of the French Parliament
on Saturday at the Vatican
Apostolic Palace. The meeting
comes at a sensitive time in
France where protests against the
French president's approval of a
same-sex "marriage" law have
increased.
The members of the French
Senate and the National Assembly
had requested an audience with
the Pope, who welcomed them
saying that their presence
manifested "the quality of the
relations between [France] and
the Holy See"
The Pope began his address by
underlining the "relations of trust"
the Church and the French nation
share, while stating the need for
an open dialogue without hostility.
"The principle of secularism that
governs the relations between the
French state and the different
religious confessions need not in
itself mean hostility to religion or
an exclusion of religions from the
public square and the debates that
animate it," Pope Francis said.
"We can rejoice in the fact that
the proposals of the Church are
among those that are valued in
French society, in particular the
Churchs vision of the human
person and his dignity in view of
the common good. The Church
thus desires to offer her own
specific contribution to the
profound questions that require a
more complete vision of the
person and his destiny and of
society and its destiny. This
contribution situates itself not only
in the anthropological and social
sphere but also in the political,
economic and cultural spheres."
Reminding them of their duties in
"a nation toward which the eyes of
the world often turn to", the Holy
Father urged the members of the
French Senate and National
Assembly to contribute towards
the improvement of the life of
French citizens.
"Your work," the Pope said, "is
certainly technical and juridical
and consists in proposing laws, in
amending them and also in
abrogating them. But it is
necessary too to infuse in them a
supplement, a spirit, a soul, I
would say, that reflects not only
the fashions and ideas of the
moment, but confers on them an
indispensable quality that elevates
and ennobles the human person."
Pope Francis concluded his
address by encouraging the
members to continue the mission
of seeking the well-being of the
human person and "promoting
fraternity" in France.
Pope+s Address to
Mem(ers o French
Parliament
VATICAN CITY, June 16, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address to several members of the
French parliament who visited the
Pope on Saturday morning.
43
Mr. President, dear
Parlamentarians,
Welcoming your request, I am
happy to receive you this
morning, members of the senate
and national assembly of the
French Republic. The different
political sensibilities that you
represent aside, your presence
manifests the quality of the
relations between your country
and the Holy See.
This meeting is for me the
occasion to underscore the
relations of trust that generally
exist in France between the
leaders of public life and the
leaders of the Catholic Church,
whether at the national level, the
regional or the local. The principle
of secularity that governs the
relations between the French state
and the different religious
confessions need not in itself
mean hostility to religion or an
exclusion of religions from the
public square and the debates that
animate it. We can rejoice in the
fact that the proposals of the
Church are among those that are
valued in French society, in
particular the Churchs vision of
the human person and his dignity
in view of the common good. The
Church thus desires to offer her
own specific contribution to the
profound questions that require a
more complete vision of the
person and his destiny and of
society and its destiny. This
contribution situates itself not only
in the anthropological and social
sphere but also in the political,
economic and cultural spheres.
Insofar as you are elected by a
nation toward which the eyes of
the world often turn, it is your
duty, I hold, it is your duty to
contribute in a constant and
effective way toward the
improvement of the life of your
fellow citizens, whom you know
especially through the many local
contacts that you cultivate that
make you sensitive to their needs.
Your work is certainly technical
and juridical and consists in
proposing laws, in amending them
and also in abrogating them. But
it is necessary too to infuse in
them a supplement, a spirit, a
soul, I would say, that reflects not
only the fashions and ideas of the
moment, but confers on them an
indispensable quality that elevates
and ennobles the human person.
I formulate, thus, for you my
warmest encouragement in
undertaking your mission, always
seeking the good of the person
and promoting fraternity in your
country. May God bless you.
Pope: Say Yes to the Gospel of
Life
Ponti Cele(rates
.$angelium 0itae &a" in
!t) Peters !?uare
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
celebrated Mass in St. Peters
Square to conclude "Evangelium
Vitae Day, a Year of Faith event
that celebrates "the gift of life in
44
all its forms. The Holy Father
focused his homily on three main
points: the Bible reveals the living
God to us; Jesus Christ gives life;
and the Holy Spirit who keeps us
in that new life.
Commenting on the first reading
from the Second Book of Samuel,
Pope Francis said that despite the
gravity of Davids sin of adultery
and murder, God has mercy on
David when he begs for
forgiveness.
"What is the image we have of
God? the Pope asked. "Perhaps
he appears to us as a severe
judge, as someone who curtails
our freedom and the way we live
our lives. But the Scriptures
everywhere tell us that God is the
Living One, the one who bestows
life and points the way to fullness
of life.
The Pope went on to say that from
the story of Creation in the Book
of Genesis, where God is the
source of life when creating Man
to the Book of Exodus, where
Gods Ten Commandments gave a
path towards a life that is free and
fulfilling, God has shown that he is
the "Living One.
2he %i$er o :ie
Reflecting on the Gospel of the
sinner who approached Christ and
washed His feet with her tears,
the Pope said that in forgiving her
sins, brought "life amid so many
deeds of death.
"Jesus accepts, loves, uplifts,
encourages, forgives, restores the
ability to walk, gives back life,
the Holy Father said. "Throughout
the Gospels, we see how Jesus by
his words and actions brings the
transforming life of God. This was
the experience of the woman who
anointed the feet of the Lord with
ointment: she felt understood,
loved, and she responded by a
gesture of love: she let herself be
touched by Gods mercy, she
obtained forgiveness and she
started a new life.
In a moment of spontaneity, Pope
Francis invited the crowd to shout
together "God, the living One, is
merciful.
Reflecting on his third and final
point, the Holy Father said that
the Holy Spirit sustains us in the
new life that Jesus brings to us
from God. However, many reject
the Gospel of Life and are led by
ideologies that are "dictated by
selfishness, self-interest, profit,
power and pleasure, and not by
love.
"It is the eternal dream of wanting
to build the city of man without
God, without Gods life and love -
a new Tower of Babel, the Pope
said.
"It is the idea that rejecting God,
the message of Christ, the Gospel
of Life, will somehow lead to
freedom, to complete human
fulfilment. As a result, the Living
God is replaced by fleeting human
idols which offer the intoxication
of a flash of freedom, but in the
end bring new forms of slavery
and death.
Concluding his homily, Pope
Francis called on the faithful to
carry the Gospel message that
enables us to look to God as the
45
God of Life. "Only faith in the
Living God saves us: in the God
who in Jesus Christ has given us
his own life by the gift of the Holy
Spirit and has made it possible to
live as true sons and daughters of
God through his mercy, the Pope
said.
Pope+s 6omil" at
.$engelium 0itae Mass
VATICAN CITY, June 16, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of the Pope's homily during the
Mass commemorating the Day of
"Evangelium Vitae" in St. Peter's
Square this morning.
--- --- ---
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This celebration has a very
beautiful name: the Gospel of Life.
In this Eucharist, in the -ear of
.aith, let us thank the Lord for the
gift of life in all its forms, and at
the same time let us proclaim the
Gospel of Life.
On the basis of the word of God
which we have heard, I would like
to offer you three simple points of
meditation for our faith: first, the
Bible reveals to us the Living God,
the God who is life and the source
of life; second, Jesus Christ
bestows life and the Holy Spirit
maintains us in life; and third,
following Gods way leads to life,
whereas following idols leads to
death.
1. The first reading, taken from
the Second Book of Samuel,
speaks to us of life and death.
King David wants to hide the act
of adultery which he committed
with the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a
soldier in his army. To do so, he
gives the order that Uriah be
placed on the front lines and so be
killed in battle. The Bible shows us
the human drama in all its reality:
good and evil, passion, sin and its
consequences. Whenever we want
to assert ourselves, when we
become wrapped up in our own
selfishness and put ourselves in
the place of God, we end up
spawning death. King Davids
adultery is one example of this.
Selfishness leads to lies, as we
attempt to deceive ourselves and
those around us. But God cannot
be deceived. We heard how the
prophet says to David: "Why have
you done evil in the Lords sight?
(cf. ) Sam 12:9). The King is
forced to face his deeds of death;
what he has done is truly a deed
of death, not life! He recognizes
what he has done and he begs
forgiveness: "I have sinned
against the Lord!" (v. 13). The
God of mercy, who desires life and
always forgives us, now forgives
David and restores him to life. The
prophet tells him: "The Lord has
put away your sin; you shall not
die".
What is the image we have of
God? Perhaps he appears to us as
a severe judge, as someone who
curtails our freedom and the way
we live our lives. But the
Scriptures everywhere tell us that
God is the Living One, the one
who bestows life and points the
way to fullness of life. I think of
the beginning of the Boo! of
%enesis: God fashions man out of
the dust of the earth; he breathes
46
in his nostrils the breath of life,
and man becomes a living being
(cf. 2:7). %od is the source of life;
thanks to his breath, man has life.
Gods breath sustains the entire
journey of our life on earth. I also
think of the calling of Moses,
where the Lord says that he is the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac
and the God of Jacob, the God of
the living. When he sends Moses
to Pharaoh to set his people free,
he reveals his name: "I am who I
am", the God who enters into our
history, sets us free from slavery
and death, and brings life to his
people because he is the Living
One. I also think of the gift of the
Ten Commandments: a path God
points out to us towards a life
which is truly free and fulfilling.
The commandments are not a
litany of prohibitions - you must
not do this, you must not do that,
you must not do the other; on the
contrary, they are a great "Yes!":
a yes to God, to Love, to life. Dear
friends, our lives are fulfilled in
God alone, because only he is the
Living One!
2. Todays Gospel brings us
another step forward. Jesus allows
a woman who was a sinner to
approach him during a meal in the
house of a Pharisee, scandalizing
those present. Not only does he
let the woman approach but he
even forgives her sins, saying:
"Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven, for she loved much; but
he who is forgiven little, loves
little" (! 7:47). Jesus is the
incarnation of the Living God, the
one who brings life amid so many
deeds of death, amid sin,
selfishness and self-absorption.
Jesus accepts, loves, uplifts,
encourages, forgives, restores the
ability to walk, gives back life.
Throughout the Gospels we see
how Jesus by his words and
actions brings the transforming
life of God. This was the
experience of the woman who
anointed the feet of the Lord with
ointment: she felt understood,
loved, and she responded by a
gesture of love: she let herself be
touched by Gods mercy, she
obtained forgiveness and she
started a new life. God, the Living
One, is merciful. Do you agree?
Lets say it together: God, the
Living One, is merciful! All
together now: God, the Living
One, is merciful. Once again: God,
the Living One is merciful!
This was also the experience of
the Apostle Paul, as we heard in
the second reading: "The life I
now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God who loved me
and gave himself for me"
(%al 2:20). What is this life? It is
Gods own life. And who brings us
this life? It is the Holy Spirit, the
gift of the risen Christ. The Spirit
leads us into the divine life as true
children of God, as sons and
daughters in the only-begotten
Son, Jesus Christ. Are we open to
the Holy Spirit? Do we let
ourselves be guided by him?
Christians are "spiritual". This
does not mean that we are people
who live "in the clouds", far
removed from real life, as if it
were some kind of mirage. No!
The Christian is someone who
thinks and acts in everyday life
according to Gods will, someone
who allows his or her life to be
guided and nourished by the Holy
Spirit, to be a full life, a life
47
worthy of true sons and
daughters. And this entails realism
and fruitfulness. Those who let
themselves be led by the Holy
Spirit are realists, they know how
to survey and assess reality. They
are also fruitful; their lives bring
new life to birth all around them.
3. God is the Living One, the
Merciful One; Jesus brings us the
life of God; the Holy Spirit gives
and keeps us in our new life as
true sons and daughters of God.
But all too often, as we know from
experience, people do not choose
life, they do not accept the
"Gospel of Life" but let themselves
be led by ideologies and ways of
thinking that block life, that do not
respect life, because they are
dictated by selfishness, self-
interest, profit, power and
pleasure, and not by love, by
concern for the good of others. It
is the eternal dream of wanting to
build the city of man without God,
without Gods life and love - a
new Tower of Babel. It is the idea
that rejecting God, the message of
Christ, the Gospel of Life, will
somehow lead to freedom, to
complete human fulfilment. As a
result, the Living God is replaced
by fleeting human idols which
offer the intoxication of a flash of
freedom, but in the end bring new
forms of slavery and death. The
wisdom of the Psalmist says: "The
precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes" (/s 19:8).
Let us always remember: the Lord
is the Living One, he is merciful.
The Lord is the Living One, he is
merciful.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us
look to God as the God of Life, let
us look to his law, to the Gospel
message, as the way to freedom
and life. The Living God sets us
free! Let us say "Yes" to love and
not selfishness. Let us say "Yes"
to life and not death. Let us say
"Yes" to freedom and not
enslavement to the many idols of
our time. In a word, let us say
"Yes" to the God who is love, life
and freedom, and who never
disappoints (cf. 0
Jn 4:8;Jn 11:2; Jn 8:32); let us
say "Yes" to the God who is the
Living One and the Merciful One.
Only faith in the Living God saves
us: in the God who in Jesus Christ
has given us his own life by the
gift of the Holy Spirit and has
made it possible to live as true
sons and daughters of God
through his mercy. This faith
brings us freedom and happiness.
Let us ask Mary, Mother of Life, to
help us receive and bear constant
witness to the "Gospel of Life".
Amen.
6arle" &a$idson Bi3ers
4ecei$e Blessing rom
Pope Francis
Motorc"cle Ma3er Cele(rates
110th Anni$ersar" in 4ome
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The roar of over
1,400 motorcycles was heard in
St. Peter's Square as bikers from
all over the world came to Rome
to receive a blessing from Pope
Francis. The bikers are celebrating
48
the 110th anniversary of the
famed motorcycle maker's
founding.
Throughout the week, some
35,000 Harley-Davidsons have
been riding all over Rome to
commemorate the event. During
the week, the motorcycle
company gave Pope Francis two
white Harley Davidson
motorcycles as a gift.
Prior to reciting the Angelus, Pope
Francis greeted the bikers present
in the Square.
"I greet the many participants in
the Harley-Davidson motorcycle
rally and the members of the
Motorcycle Club of the Italian
State Police," the Pope said.
Elizabeth Lev, a professor
Christian art and architecture at
Duquesne Universitys Italian
campus and University of St.
Thomas Catholic Studies
program, met with some of the
motorcycling enthusiasts in Rome.
"The ones I met and saw really
enjoyed seeing the city and the
interest the Romans and
passersby had in the parade of
bikes. They seemed to feel quite
at home here," she told ZENIT.
Lev noted that this is the first time
Harley Davidson enthusiasts have
met in Italy and was planned
under Pope Emeritus Benedict
XVI. The last time a similar event
took place was in 2005, when
Blessed John Paul II blessed
Ferrari enthusiasts and their cars,
Regarding the reason as to why it
was important for the Bikers to
receive the Holy Father's blessing,
Lev stated that the man
responsible for bringing Harley
Davidsons to Italy was a devout
Catholic. The man's heir "planned
this to bring the bikers ( who I
think have their own code) to see
the Vatican which has a universal
'code'," Lev said.
Pope Francis !ends
:etter to Prime Minister
&a$id Cameron
Ponti 4esponds to :etter
!ent (" British PM 4egarding
%E !ummit Priorities
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Sunday, the Holy
See made public a letter sent by
Pope Francis to the British Prime
Minister David Cameron prior to
the upcoming G8 summit that will
be held today and tomorrow in
Northern Ireland. The letter was
sent in response to a message
sent by Prime Minister Cameron to
the Holy Father in June 5th.
In his letter to Pope Francis, the
British Prime Minister said that he
would use his presidency of the
G8 summit to help developing
countries achieve sustainable
development. "Your Holiness has
spoken eloquently about the need
to rebalance the global economy,
to help the poor and
disadvantaged, and to find people
work," the Prime Minister said.
"My aim for our G8 Presidency,
especially at the G8 Summit at
Lough Erne on 17 and 18 June, is
to do this by restoring strong and
49
sustainable growth to the world
economy by practical action on
fairer taxes, freer trade, and
greater transparency."
In his response to Cameron's
letter, the Holy Father thanked
him for his letter and commented
on the theme of the G8 Summit:
"A G8 Meeting that Goes Back to
First Principles."
"If this topic is to attain its
broadest and deepest resonance,"
Pope Francis wrote, "it is
necessary to ensure that all
political and economic activity,
whether national or international,
makes reference to man. Indeed,
such activity must, on the one
hand, enable the maximum
expression of freedom and
creativity, both individual and
collective, while on the other hand
it must promote and guarantee
their responsible exercise in
solidarity, with particular attention
to the poorest."
The Holy Father commended the
priorities laid out by the British
Presidency for the summit, in
particular the call to action against
the scourge of hunger as well as
protecting women and children
who are victims of sexual violence
in conflict situations. However, the
Pope said the G8 "cannot fail" to
address the current situation in
Syria
"In this regard, I earnestly hope
that the Summit will help to
obtain an immediate and lasting
cease-fire and to bring all parties
in the conflict to the negotiating
table," the Pope said. "Peace
demands a far-sighted
renunciation of certain claims, in
order to build together a more
equitable and just peace.
Moreover, peace is an essential
pre-requisite for the protection of
women, children and other
innocent victims, and for making a
start towards conquering hunger,
especially among the victims of
war."
Pope Francis also called attention
to the current economic crisis
gripping most of the world, saying
that "measures designed to
ensure an adequate legal
framework for all economic
actions [...] must be guided by
the ethics of truth."
"Concern for the fundamental
material and spiritual welfare of
every human person is the
starting-point for every political
and economic solution and the
ultimate measure of its
effectiveness and its ethical
validity," the Pope stated.
Concluding his letter to Prime
Minister Cameron, Pope Francis
emphasized the need for the
upcoming summit to place what's
most important ahead in all
political choices, which he said
was "the primary importance of
putting humanity, every single
man and woman, at the center of
all political and economic activity,
both nationally and
internationally."
"I express my sincere hope for a
fruitful outcome to your work and
I invoke abundant blessings upon
the Lough Erne Summit and upon
all the participants, as well as
upon the activities of the British
G8 Presidency during the year
2013, and I take this opportunity
50
to reiterate my good wishes and
to express my sentiments of
esteem," the Holy Father wrote.
Pope Francis+ :etter to
British Prime Minister
&a$id Cameron
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the text of
Pope Francis' letter to David
Cameron, Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom, who will host the
upcoming G8 Summit in Northern
Ireland.
--- --- ---
1o 1he 2i"ht 3onourable David
Cameron' M/ /rime Minister
I am pleased to reply to your kind
letter of June 5, 2013, with which
you were good enough to inform
me of your Government's agenda
for the British G8 Presidency
during the year 2013 and of the
forthcoming Summit, due to take
place at Lough Erne on 17 and 18
June 2013, entitled A %4 meetin"
that "oes bac! to first &rinci&les#
If this topic is to attain its
broadest and deepest resonance,
it is necessary to ensure that all
political and economic activity,
whether national or international,
makes reference to man. Indeed,
such activity must, on the one
hand, enable the maximum
expression of freedom and
creativity, both individual and
collective, while on the other hand
it must promote and guarantee
their responsible exercise in
solidarity, with particular attention
to the poorest.
The priorities that the British
Presidency has set out for the
Lough Erne Summit are concerned
above all with the free
international market, taxation,
and transparency on the part of
governments and economic
actors. Yet the fundamental
reference to man is by no means
lacking, specifically in the proposal
for concerted action by the Group
to eliminate definitively the
scourge of hunger and to ensure
food security. Similarly, a further
sign of attention to the human
person is the inclusion as one of
the central themes on the agenda
of the protection of women and
children from sexual violence in
conflict situations, even though it
must be remembered that the
indispensable context for the
development of all the afore-
mentioned political actions is that
of international peace. Sadly,
concern over serious international
crises is a recurring theme in the
deliberations of the G8, and this
year it cannot fail to address the
situation in the Middle East,
especially in Syria.. In this regard,
I earnestly hope that the Summit
will help to obtain an immediate
and lasting cease-fire and to bring
all parties in the conflict to the
negotiating table. Peace demands
a far-sighted renunciation of
certain claims, in order to build
together a more equitable and
just peace. Moreover, peace is an
essential pre-requisite for the
protection of women, children and
other innocent victims, and for
51
making a start towards
conquering hunger, especially
among the victims of war.
The actions included on the
agenda of the British G8
Presidency, which point towards
law as the golden thread of
development - as well as the
consequent commitments to deal
with tax avoidance and to ensure
transparency and responsibility on
the part of governments - are
measures that indicate the deep
ethical roots of these problems,
since, as my predecessor Benedict
XVI made clear, the present global
crisis shows that ethics is not
something external to the
economy, but is an integral and
unavoidable element of economic
thought and action.
The long-term measures that are
designed to ensure an adequate
legal framework for all economic
actions, as well as the associated
urgent measures to resolve the
global economic crisis, must be
guided by the ethics of truth. This
includes, first and foremost,
respect for the truth of man, who
is not simply an additional
economic factor, or a disposable
good, but is equipped with a
nature and a dignity that cannot
be reduced to simple economic
calculus. Therefore concern for the
fundamental material and spiritual
welfare of every human person is
the starting-point for every
political and economic solution
and the ultimate measure of its
effectiveness and its ethical
validity.
Moreover, the goal of economics
and politics is to serve humanity,
beginning with the poorest and
most vulnerable wherever they
may be, even in their mothers'
wombs. Every economic and
political theory or action must set
about providing each inhabitant of
the planet with the minimum
wherewithal to live in dignity and
freedom, with the possibility of
supporting a family, educating
children, praising God and
developing one's own human
potential. This is the main thing;
in the absence of such a vision, all
economic activity is meaningless.
In this sense, the various grave
economic and political challenges
facing today's world require a
courageous change of attitude
that will restore to the end (the
human person) and to the means
(economics and politics) their
proper place. Money and other
political and economic means
must serve, not rule, bearing in
mind that, in a seemingly
paradoxical way, free and
disinterested solidarity is the key
to the smooth functioning of the
global economy.
I wished to share these thoughts
with you, Prime Minister,, with a
view to highlighting what is
implicit in all political choices, but
can sometimes be forgotten: the
primary importance of putting
humanity, every single man and
woman, at the centre of all
political and economic activity,
both nationally and
internationally, because man is
the truest and deepest resource
52
for politics and economics, as well
as their ultimate end.
Dear Prime Minister, trusting that
these thoughts have made a
helpful spiritual contribution to
your deliberations, I express my
sincere hope for a fruitful outcome
to your work and I invoke
abundant blessings upon the
Lough Erne Summit and upon all
the participants, as well as upon
the activities of the British G8
Presidency during the year 2013,
and I take this opportunity to
reiterate my good wishes and to
express my sentiments of esteem.
Prime Minister &a$id
Cameron+s June #th
:etter to Pope Francis
LONDON, June 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the text of
British Prime Minister David
Cameron's letter to Pope Francis
sent in early June regarding the
G8 Summit which will be held in
Northern Ireland on June 17th-
18th.
--- --- ---
June 5, 2013
-our 3oliness'
When I said farewell to Pope
Benedict at the end of his historic
State Visit to Britain in September
2010, .I made a number of
promises. I said that the United
Kingdom would keep its promises
on aid, in particular in dedicating
0.7% of
GNI to international development
aid, despite the tough economic
times. I said that we would
continue to help the poorest and
ensure the money we spend on
aid goes to those who need it
most. I also promised that we
would redouble our resolve to
work for the common good,
working closely with the Holy See.
In 2013, the United Kingdom
holds the Presidency of the G8
group of nations. I am determined
to ensure that our G8 agenda will
lead to real benefits for the global
economy and will help people in
developed and developing
countries alike. Your Holiness has
spoken eloquently about the need
to rebalance the global economy,
to help the poor and
disadvantaged, and to find people
work. My aim for our G8
Presidency, especially at the G8
Summit at Lough Erne on 17 and
18 June, is to do this by restoring
strong and sustainable growth to
the world economy by practical
action on fairer taxes, freer trade,
and greater transparency.
I will use the G8 to galvanise
collective international action to
effectively tackle tax evasion and
aggressive tax avoidance -
problems shared by developed
and developing countries alike.
We shall promote a new global
standard for automatic
information exchange between tax
authorities to shrink the space for
tax evasion. We shall provide
political support for the ongoing
OECD and G20 work to prevent
some individuals and corporates
artificially shifting their profits to
ultra-low tax jurisdictions,
distorting competition and seek to
enhance the flow of information to
53
tax authorities. We shall seek to
set out concrete steps we will take
to let law enforcement and tax
collectors find out who really owns
and controls every company. We
shall also explore what more can
be done by the G8 to support
lower-income developing countries
to collect the tax revenues owed
to them, thereby strengthening
their public services in areas like
health and education on which
people's well-being depends.
On trade, I know the Vatican has
taken a keen interest in trade
liberalisation, particularly the
potential that it offers to alleviate
poverty, and the need to ensure
the poorest countries are
integrated into the global
economy. This is very much in line
with the trade agenda for Lough
Eme. We shall ensure that the G8
shows leadership on free trade by
opening our markets, resisting
protectionism and supporting an
open, global rule-based trading
system to ensure that all countries
can benefit from increased trade.
Protectionism and trade
bureaucracy are amongst the
most significant brakes on the
global economy, affecting
developing and developed
economies alike and creating a
barrier to economic and social
progress. This is why I will put
political impetus on progressing
bilateral and plurilateral deals as
well as supporting the multilateral
trading system.
We will support efforts to conclude
a multilateral deal on Trade
Facilitation at the WTO Ministerial
Conference in December, which
could add $70 billion to the global
economy and would help boost
trade in Africa in particular. We
will also work with African
countries to help them realise
their goal of a Continental Free
Trade Area, including through our
support for regional integration.
This could see intra-African trade
double by 2022. If G8 countries
complete all of their current trade
deals and those in the pipeline, it
could boost the income of the
whole world by more than $1
trillion. Under our G8 Presidency, I
also want to see real progress on
tackling food and nutrition
insecurity through practical action
and greater political commitment
to fighting global malnutrition.
Many of the world's poorest
countries are shackled by a lack of
transparency, poor mles, corrupt
practices and weak capacity. Too
often, a veil of secrecy allows
corrupt corporations and officials
in countries to flout the law and
prevent development. Too often,
mineral wealth in developing
countries becomes a curse rather
than a blessing, as a lack of
transparency fosters crime and
corruption. Too often, instead of a
shared hope for the next
generation, such wealth brings
conflict, greed, and environmental
damage. Through the G8, I plan
to push for mandatory higher
global standards for the
extractives sector, to encourage
responsible and sustainable
investment in land, and setting
the standards for ensuring that
government data are released in
an open and useable format.
Finally, the High Level Panel
Report on the post-2015
54
development agenda, which we
transferred to the UN Secretary
General last week, highlighted the
importance of trade, tax and
transparency to better the lives of
the world's poorest. The Report
presents an ambitious roadmap to
eradicate extreme poverty from
the face of the earth by 2030. It
says that everyone - regardless of
gender, ethnicity, income,
disability, age - must have their
basic needs met, and their
economic and human rights
respected. It too makes a strong
call for economic growth that
promotes social inclusion and
preserves the planet's natural
resources for future generations.
It says that freedom from
violence, good governance and
justice are not only fundamental
to achieving poverty eradication,
but goods in themselves that all
citizens of the world have equal
right to enjoy. I hope that you will
be able to read the Report and
offer support for its core
messages.
You have called for disinterested
solidarity and for a return to
person-centred ethics in the world
of finance and economics. As
President of the G8, I aim to help
secure the growth and stability on
which the prosperity and welfare
of the whole world depends. To do
this, we must tackle the conditions
that cause poverty, stiffen the
sinews of responsible capitalism,
and strengthen governance and
transparency.
I believe that this path is one
which requires more than the G8
to find success, that responsible
governments, business and faiths
can and should travel together,
doing what we can to turn these
values into practical action for the
benefit of all.
Pope Francis Meets
1ith Pastoral
Con$ention o 4ome
Ma3es Call to Bring the %ospel
to 2hose 1ithout 6ope
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, June 18, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis received
participants of the pastoral
convention of the diocese of
Rome on Monday evening. As
Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father
meets annually with the leaders of
pastoral, catechetical and
outreach initiatives in the diocese.
Although, the meeting usually
takes place at the Basilica of St.
John Lateran, yesterdays event
took place at the Paul VI audience
hall in Vatican City.
Pope Francis preferred to speak
off the cuff to the participants.
According to Vatican Radio, the
Holy Father spoke on several focal
points with include "the
transformative, revolutionary
power of grace, especially
baptismal grace and the need to
renew faith formation in order to
tap that power. The points were
meant to trace an overview of the
pastoral focus of the diocese of
Rome through the past year.
The Pope also reflected on the
theme of spiritual discipline,
patience and zeal for the Gospel,
55
calling on the participants of the
pastoral convention to "carry the
Gospel into the suburbs and
outskirts of the city, into the
hearts of the hose who live
without hope.
"We must go out to reach the
flesh of the Lord who suffers,
wherever and in whatever
circumstances the suffering one
happens to be, the Pope said.
"Dear, dear brothers and sisters,
let us be not afraid! Let us go
forth to tell our brothers and our
sisters that we are under grace,
that Jesus gives us grace and that
it costs us nothing: only [we
must] receive it, and concluding
with one word of exhortation:
Avanti! "Forward!
./cerpts From Pope
Francis+ Address to
Pastoral Con$ention
VATICAN CITY, June 18, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of excerpts released by the Holy
See of the Popes address
yesterday to the pastoral
convention gathered in the Paul VI
Audience Hall in Vatican City.
--- --- ---
WE CANNOT REMAIN WITH ARMS
CROSSED BEFORE A CITY THAT
ASK HOPE OF US
A revolution, in order to transform
history, must profoundly change
human hearts. Revolutions that
have taken place throughout the
centuries have changed political
and economic systems, but none
of them have truly changed the
human heart. Only Jesus Christ
accomplished the true revolution,
the one that radically transforms
life, with his Resurrection that, as
Benedict XVI loves to recall, was
'the greatest mutation in the
history of humanity' and it gave
birth to a new world.
This is the experience that the
Apostle Paul lives. After having
met Jesus on the way to
Damascus, he radically changes
his perspective on life and
receives Baptism. God transforms
his heart. Before he was a violent
persecutor of Christians, now he
becomes an Apostle, a courageous
witness of Jesus Christ. With
Baptism, the paschal sacrament,
we to are made to participate in
that same change and, like Paul,
'we too might live in newness of
life'. We are led to believe that it
is primarily in changing structures
that we can build a new world.
Faith tells us that only a new
heart, one regenerated by God,
can create a new world: a heart
'of flesh' that loves, suffers, and
rejoices with others; a heart full of
tenderness for those who, bearing
the wounds of their lives, feel
themselves to be on the outskirts
of society. Love is the greatest
force for transforming reality
because it breaks down the walls
of selfishness and fills the chasms
that keep us apart from one
another.
Even in Rome there are people
who live without hope and who
are immersed in deep sadness
that they try to get out of,
believing to have found happiness
in alcohol, in drugs, in gambling,
56
in the power of money, in sex
without rules. But they find
themselves still more dejected
and sometimes vent their anger
towards life with violent acts that
are unworthy of the human
person. We who have discovered
the joy of having God for our
Father and his love for us, can we
stand idly by in front of our
brothers and sisters and not
proclaim the Gospel to them? We
who have found in Jesus Christ,
who died and rose again, the
meaning of life, can we be
indifferent towards this city that
asks us, perhaps even
unconsciously, for hope? We are
Christians; we are disciples of
Jesus not to be wrapped up in
ourselves but to open ourselves to
others in order to help them, in
order to bring them to Christ and
to protect every creature.
St. Paul is aware that Jesusas his
name signifiesis the Saviour of all
humanity, not just of persons of a
certain age or geographical area.
The Gospel is for all because God
loves everyone and wants to save
everyone. The proclamation of the
Gospel is destined primarily to the
poor, to those who often lack the
essentials for a decent life. The
good news is first announced to
them, that God loves them before
all others and comes to visit them
through the acts of charity that
the disciples of Christ carry out in
his name. Others think that Jesus'
message is destined to those who
don't have cultural training and
who therefore find in faith the
answer to the many 'whys' that
are present in their hearts.
Instead, the Apostle strongly
affirms that the Gospel is for
everyone, even experts. The
wisdom that comes from
Revelation is not opposed to
human wisdom, but rather purifies
and elevates it. The Church has
always been present in the places
where culture develops.
The Pope then improvised: The
Gospel is for all! Going out toward
the poor doesn't mean that we
must become paupers or some
sort of 'spiritual bums'! No, that's
not what it means! It means that
we must go towards the flesh of
the suffering Jesus but Jesus' flesh
also suffers in those who don't
know it, with their studies, their
intelligence, their culture. We
must go there! That's why I like to
use the expression 'go to the
outskirts', the existential
peripheries. Everyone, all of them,
[who suffer] from physical and
real poverty to intellectual
poverty, which is also real. All the
outskirts, all the intersections of
paths: go there. And there sow
the seed of the Gospel by word
and by witness.
This means that we must have
courage. I want to tell you
something. In the Gospel there's
that beautiful passage that tells us
of the shepherd who, on returning
to the sheepfold and realizing that
a sheep is missing, leaves the 99
and goes to look for it, to look for
the one. But, brothers and sisters,
we have one. It's the 99 who
we're missing! We have to go out,
we must go to them! In this
culturelet's face itwe only have
one. We are the minority. And do
we feel the fervour, the apostolic
zeal to go out and find the other
99? This is a big responsibility and
57
we must ask the Lord for the
grace of generosity and the
courage and the patience to go
out, to go out and proclaim the
Gospel.
Sustained by this certainty that
comes from Revelation, we have
the courage, the confidence, to go
out of ourselves, to go out of our
communities, to go where men
and women live, work, and suffer,
and to proclaim the Father's
mercy to them, which was made
known to humanity in Jesus of
Nazareth. Let us always
remember, however, that the
Adversary wants to keep us
separated from God and therefore
instils disappointment in our
hearts when we do not see our
apostolic commitment
immediately rewarded. Every day
the devil sows the seeds of
pessimism and bitterness in our
hearts. Let us open ourselves to
the breath of the Holy Spirit, who
never ceases to sow seeds of hope
and confidence. Don't forget that
God is the strongest and that if we
allow him into our lives nothing
and no one can oppose his action.
So let's not be overcome by the
discouragement that we encounter
in facing difficulties when we talk
of Jesus and the Gospel. Let's not
think that faith doesn't have a
future in our city!
St. Paul then adds: 'I am not
ashamed of the Gospel'. For him,
the Gospel is the proclamation of
Jesus' death on the cross. The
cross forcefully reminds us that
we are sinners, but above all that
we are love, that we are so dear
to God's heart that, to save us, He
didn't hesitate to sacrifice his Son
Jesus. The Christian's only boast
is knowing that they are loved by
God. Every person needs to feel
themself loved the way they are
because this is the only thing that
makes life beautiful and worthy of
being lived. In our time, when
[what is freely given] seems to
fade in our interpersonal
relationships, we Christians
proclaim a God who, to be our
friend, asks nothing but to be
accepted. Think of how many live
in desperation because they have
never met someone who has
shown them attention, comforted
them, made them feel precious
and important. We, the disciples
of Christ, can we refuse to go to
those places that no one wants to
go out of fear of compromising
ourselves or the judgement of
others, and thus deny our
brothers and sisters the
announcement of God's mercy?
Speaking off the cuff again, the
Pope added: Freely given! We
have received this gratuity, this
grace, freely. We must give it
freely. And this is what, in the
end, I want to tell you Don't be
afraid of love, of the love of God
our Father. Don't be afraid to
receive the grace of Jesus Christ.
Don't be afraid of our freedom
that is given by the grace of Jesus
Christ, or, as Paul said: 'You are
not under the law but under
grace'. Don't be afraid of grace.
Don't be afraid to go out of
yourselves to go and find the 99
who aren't home. Go out to
dialogue with them and tell them
what we think. Go show them our
love, which is God's love.
58
Pope Francis Calls For
Cnit" Among Christians
#0'000 Pilgrims %ather in !t)
Peters !?uare
or 1ednesda" %eneral
Audience
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Hot summer
temperatures in Rome didnt stop
50,000 pilgrims from gathering in
St. Peters Square for Pope
Francis weekly General Audience.
The Holy Father focused his
homily on the Church as the Body
of Christ and the importance of
unity among Christians.
Recounting the event of the
conversion of St. Paul, the Pope
said that the words of Christ, "I
am Jesus whom you are
persecuting, indicate the deep
union that exists between
Christians and Christ.
"When Jesus ascended into
heaven he did not leave us
orphans, but with the gift of the
Holy Spirit, our union with Him
has become even more intense,
the Pope said. "The Second
Vatican Council says that Jesus "
communicating His Spirit, Christ
made His brothers, called together
from all nations, mystically the
components of His own Body.
The image of the body in St.
Pauls Letter to the Corinthians
helps us to understand the depth
of what the Holy Father described
as the "Church-Christ bond. The
Church, the Pope said, "is not an
charitable, cultural or political
association, but a living body, that
walks and acts in history.
"And this body has a head, Jesus,
who guides, feeds and supports it.
This is a point I want to
emphasize: if the head is
separated from the rest of the
body, the whole person cannot
survive. So it is in the Church, we
must remain bound ever more
deeply to Jesus. But not only that:
just as the body needs the
lifeblood to keep it alive, so we
must allow Jesus to work in us,
that His Word guide us, that His
presence in the Eucharist nourish
us, animate us, that His love gives
strength to our love of neighbor.
And this always!
Though Many, We Are One
Reflecting on the second aspect of
the Church as the Body of Christ,
Pope Francis told the pilgrims that
although the Church consists of a
diverse variety of people, "we
form one body, as we were all
baptized by one Spirit into one
body.
The communion and unity that
exists between Christians, he
continued, show the richness of
the gifts distributed by the Holy
Spirit.
"Let us remember this well, the
Pope exhorted the faithful, "being
part of the Church means being
united to Christ and receiving
from Him the divine life that
makes us live as Christians; it
means remaining united to the
Pope and the Bishops who are
instruments of unity and
communion, and also means
overcoming personal interests and
59
divisions, in order to understand
each other better, to harmonize
the variety and richness of each
member; in a word, to love God
and the people who are next to us
more, in the family, in the parish,
in the associations.
Pope Francis also emphasized the
need for unity among all Christian
communities, saying that in order
for the Body to live, all its limbs
must be united. Unity, he
exclaimed, "is beyond all conflict.
The Holy Father also decried the
damage that is done by internal
struggles, selfishness and gossip.
"Never gossip about others,
never!, the Pope exclaimed. "How
much damage divisions among
Christians, being partisan, narrow
interests causes to the Church,!
Divisions among us, but also
divisions among the communities:
evangelical Christians, orthodox
Christians, Catholic Christians, but
why divided? We must try to bring
about unity.
Continuing his off the cuff
remarks,the Holy Father told the
crowds that he spent roughly 40
minutes praying with an
evangelical pastor before leaving
his residence today where both
prayed to seek unity among
Christians.
"We Catholics must pray with each
other and other Christians, the
Holy Father concluded. "Pray that
the Lord gift us unity! Unity
among ourselves! How will we
ever have unity among Christians
if we are not capable of having it
among us Catholics,...in the
family, how many families fight
and split up? Seek unity, unity
builds the Church and comes from
Jesus Christ. He sends us the Holy
Spirit to build unity!
;n the Church as the
Bod" o Christ
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of the Holy Fathers weekly
General Audience address to the
faithful gathered in St. Peters
Square.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today I will focus on another
expression, with which Vatican
Council II indicates the nature of
the Church: that of the body; the
Council says that the Church is
the Body of Christ (cf. Lumen
gentium, 7).
I would like to start from a text of
the Acts of the Apostles that we
know well: the conversion of Saul,
who will later take the name of
Paul, one of the greatest
evangelizers (cf. Acts 9:4-5). Saul
is a persecutor of Christians, but
while he is travelling along the
road that leads to the city of
Damascus, suddenly a light
surrounds him, he falls to the
ground and hears a voice telling
him "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?". He asks: "Who
art you, Lord?", and the voice
answers: "I am Jesus whom you
are persecuting" (vv. 3-5). The
experience of St. Paul tells us how
deep is the union between us
Christians and Christ himself.
60
When Jesus ascended into heaven
he did not leave us orphans, but
with the gift of the Holy Spirit the
union with him has become even
more intense. The Second Vatican
Council States that Jesus "By
communicating His Spirit, Christ
made His brothers, called together
from all nations, mystically the
components of His own Body
(Dogmatic Const.Lumen Gentium,
7).
The image of the body helps us
understand this deep connection
between the Church and Christ,
that St. Paul develops especially in
the First Letter to the Corinthians
(cf. ch. 12). Above all, the body
brings to mind a living reality. The
Church is not a care association,
or a cultural or political one, but is
a living body, which walks and
acts in history. And this body has
a head, Jesus, who guides,
nourishes and sustains it. This is a
point that I would like to
emphasize: if you separate the
head from the rest of the body,
the whole person cannot survive.
So it is in the Church: we need to
stay connected to Jesus in an
increasingly intense way. But not
only that: as in a body, it is
important for the lifeblood to pass
through it, so we must allow Jesus
to operate in us, must allow his
Word to guide us, his Eucharistic
presence to nourish us, animate
us, we must allow his love to give
strength to our loving our
neighbor. And this, always!
Always! Dear brothers and sisters,
let us remain united to Jesus, let
us trust him, let us orient our lives
according to his Gospel,
nourishing ourselves with daily
prayer, listening to the Word of
God and participation in the
Sacraments.
And here I come to a second
aspect of the Church as Body of
Christ. St. Paul says that as the
limbs of the human body, though
different and many, form one
body, so we are all baptized by
one Spirit into one body (cf. 1
Cor12:12-13). In the Church
therefore, there is a variety, a
diversity of tasks and functions;
there is not flat uniformity, but
the wealth of gifts that the Holy
Spirit distributes. However, there
is communion and unity: all are in
relation with each other and all
combine to form a single vital
body, deeply attached to Christ.
Let us remember well: being part
of the Church means being united
to Christ and receiving from Him
the divine life that makes us live
as Christians, it means remaining
united to the Pope and the
bishops who are instruments of
unity and communion, and it also
means learning to overcome
personal favoritisms and divisions,
to understand each other better,
to harmonise the variety and
wealth of each one; in a word, to
better love God and the people
near us, in the family, in the
parish, in the associations. In
order to live, body and limbs must
be united! Unity is superior to the
conflicts, always! Conflicts, if
theyre not resolved well, separate
us from one another, separate us
from God. Conflict can help us
grow, but it can also divide us.
Lets not take the path of division,
of fights among ourselves! All
united, all united with our
differences, but united, always:
this is Jesus path. Unity is
61
superior to conflicts. Unity is a
grace that we must ask from the
Lord, so that He may free us from
the temptations of division, of
struggles among us, of
selfishness, of gossip. How much
harm gossiping does, how much!
Never gossip about the others,
never! How much damage comes
to the Church from divisions
between Christians, from being
biased, from petty self-interests!
The divisions among us, but also
the divisions among the
communities: Evangelical
Christians, Orthodox Christians,
Catholic Christians, why are we
divided? We must seek to bring
unity. I will tell you something:
today, before leaving the house, I
spent forty minutes, more or less,
half an hour, with an Evangelical
pastor and we prayed together,
and sought unity. But we must
pray among ourselves as Catholics
and also with the other Christians,
pray that the Lord may give us
unity, unity among us. But how
can we achieve unity among
Christians if we Catholics are
unable to achieve it among
ourselves? To have it in our
family? How many families fight
and are divided! Seek unity, the
unity that makes the Church.
Unity comes from Jesus Christ. He
sends us the Holy Spirit to create
unity.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us
ask God: help us to be members
of the Body of the Church always
deeply united to Christ; help us
not to cause the Body of the
Church to suffer with our conflicts,
our divisions, our selfishness; help
us to be living limbs linked to each
other by a single force, that of
love, which the Holy Spirit pours
into our hearts (cf. Rom 5:5).
[Translation by Peter Waymel]
Speaker:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our
catechesis on the Creed, today we
consider the Church as the Body
of Christ. Through the gift of the
Holy Spirit, received in Baptism,
we are mystically united to the
Lord as members of one body, of
which he is the head. The image
of the mystical body makes us
realize the importance of
strengthening our union with
Christ through daily prayer, the
study of Gods word and
participation in the sacraments.
Saint Paul tells the Corinthians
that the Body of Christ, while one,
is made up of a variety of
members. Within the communion
of the Church, and in union with
the Pope and Bishops, each of us
has a part to play, a gift to share,
a service to offer, for building up
the Body of Christ in love. Let us
ask the Lord to help us reject
every form of divisiveness and
conflict in our families, parishes
and local Churches. At the same
time, let us ask for the grace to
open our hearts to others, to
promote unity and to live in
harmony as members of the one
Body of Christ, inspired by the gift
of love which the Holy Spirit pours
into our hearts.
Pope Francis (in Italian):
I offer an affectionate greeting to
all the English-speaking pilgrims
and visitors present at todays
Audience, including those from
62
England, Scotland, Slovakia,
Sweden, South Africa, Papua New
Guinea, India, Indonesia,
Pakistan, the West Indies and the
United States. May your stay in
the Eternal City confirm you in
love for our Lord and for his Body
which is the Church. God bless
you all!
Congregation o &i$ine
1orship+s &ecree ;n
Addition o !t) Joseph+s
=ame to the .ucharistic
Pra"er
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the translation
of the decree made by the
Congregation for Divine Worship
and the Discipline of the
Sacraments on the addition of the
name of St. Joseph to the
Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV
in the Roman Missal.
--- --- ---
DECREE
Exercising his paternal care over
Jesus, Saint Joseph of Nazareth,
set over the Lords family,
marvelously fulfilled the office he
received by grace. Adhering firmly
to the mystery of Gods design of
salvation in its very beginnings,
he stands as an exemplary model
of the kindness and humility that
the Christian faith raises to a
great destiny, and demonstrates
the ordinary and simple virtues
necessary for men to be good and
genuine followers of Christ.
Through these virtues, this Just
man, caring most lovingly for the
Mother of God and happily
dedicating himself to the
upbringing of Jesus Christ, was
placed as guardian over God the
Fathers most precious treasures.
Therefore he has been the subject
of assiduous devotion on the part
of the People of God throughout
the centuries, as the support of
that mystical body, which is the
Church.
The faithful in the Catholic Church
have shown continuous devotion
to Saint Joseph and have solemnly
and constantly honored his
memory as the most chaste
spouse of the Mother of God and
as the heavenly Patron of the
universal Church. For this reason
Blessed Pope John XXIII, in the
days of the Most Holy Second
Ecumenical Council of the Vatican,
decreed that Saint Josephs name
be added to the ancient Roman
Canon. In response to petitions
received from places throughout
the world, the Supreme Pontiff
Benedict XVI deemed them
worthy of implementation and
graciously approved them. The
Supreme Pontiff Francis likewise
has recently confirmed them. In
this the Pontiffs had before their
eyes the full communion of the
Saints who, once pilgrims in this
world, now lead us to Christ and
unite us with him.
Accordingly, mature consideration
having been given to all the
matters mentioned here above,
this Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments, by virtue of the
faculties granted by the Supreme
Pontiff Francis, is pleased to
decree that the name of Saint
Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary is henceforth to be
63
added to Eucharistic Prayers II,
III, and IV, as they appear in the
third typical edition of the Roman
Missal, after the name of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, as follows: in
Eucharistic Prayer II: "ut cum
beta Dei Genetrce Vrgine Mara,
beto Ioseph, eius Sponso, betis
Apstolis"; in Eucharistic Prayer
III: "cum beatssima Vrgine, Dei
Genetrce, Mara, cum beto
Ioseph, eius Sponso, cum betis
Apstolis"; and in Eucharistic
Prayer IV: "cum beta Vrgine, Dei
Genetrce, Mara, cum beto
Ioseph, eius Sponso, cum
Apstolis ".
As regards the Latin text, these
formulas are hereby declared
typical. The Congregation itself
will soon provide vernacular
translations in the more
widespread western languages; as
for other languages, translations
are to be prepared by the Bishops
Conferences, according to the
norm of law, to be confirmed by
the Holy See through this
Dicastery.
All things to the contrary
notwithstanding.
From the offices of the
Congregation for Divine Worship
and the Discipline of the
Sacraments, 1 May 2013, on the
Memorial of Saint Joseph the
Worker.
Antonio Card. Caizares Llovera
Prefect
+ Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary
Pope Francis9 52he Fe"
2o Pra"er Is to Feel
:o$ed (" the Father5
Ponti 4elects on the :o$e o
%od the Father &uring Morning
Mass
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 20, 2013
(Zenit.org) - In his homily in the
Chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae
this morning, Pope Francis called
on faithful to entrust themselves
to God as children to their Father.
The Holy Father contemplated on
the Gospel of the day, which
spoke of Christs teaching on
prayer, particularly of the "Our
Father.
When one prays, the Pope said,
"we don't pray my Father, but our
Father because we are not an only
child, none of us are. God the
Father he continued, is a God who
is very close to us and is not an
anonymous of cosmic God.
Regarding the prayer of the "Our
Father that Jesus taught to His
disciples, the Holy Father
explained that Christ also gives
advice on how to pray. The Gospel
of St. Matthew states: "In praying,
do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard
because of their many words. Do
not be like them. Your Father
knows what you need before you
ask him.
64
The Pope commented on Christs
words, saying that "prayer is not a
magical thing, there is no magic
with prayer."
"Someone once told me that when
he went to a "witch doctor" they
said a lot of words to heal him.
But that is pagan, Pope Francis
said. "Jesus teaches us that we
should not turn to Him with so
many words because He knows
everything. The first word is
`Father, this is the key of prayer.
Without saying, without feeling,
that word you cannot pray".
The Holy Father warned that in
choosing to pray according to a
polytheistic model, rather than to
the Father with our hearts, "we
cannot pray in a Christian
language.
"Father is a strong word but it
opens the door, the Pope
stressed. "At the time of sacrifice,
Isaac realized that something was
wrong because he was missing a
sheep, but he trusted his father
and confided his worries to his
fathers heart.
"The key of every prayer is to feel
loved by a father.
Not My Father, but Our Father
Pope Francis also emphasized the
prayers focus on communion
among all. The prayer states Our
Father and not My Father, he said,
"because I am not an only child,
none of us are, and if I cannot be
a brother, I can hardly become a
child of the Father, because He is
a Father to all.
Concluding his homily, the Holy
Father stated that Our Father is a
calling for the faithful to forgive
others as God forgives us our sins.
While acknowledging the difficulty
in forgiving one's enemies, Pope
Francis said that Christ, through
the Holy Spirit, gives us the
strength from the heart.
"Today, the Pope concluded, "we
ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to
say 'Father' and to be able to say
'our', and thus make peace with
all our enemies."
Pope Meets ,ith
Participants o C= Food
and Agriculture
;rgani7ation
Conerence
.mphasi7es =eed For .$er"one
to Beneit From the Fruits o
the .arth
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, June 20, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis met this
morning with participants
gathered in Rome for the 38th
Conference of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Holy Father thanked them for
work in responding to those most
in need in "receiving their daily
bread and finding a dignified place
at the table.
Referring to a conversation with
Prof. Jose Graziano da Silva,
director-general of the FAO, the
Holy Father stated that the
difficult circumstances many
people find themselves in is not
only due to the current economic
crisis, but also due to problems
65
associated with security,
continuing conflicts, climate
change, and the preservation of
biological diversity.
"All these situations, the Pope
said, "demand of FAO a renewed
commitment to tackling the many
problems of the agricultural sector
and of all those living and working
in rural areas.
The initiatives and possible
solutions are many, nor are they
limited to increasing production.
Pope Francis went on to say that
while current levels of production
are sufficient, millions continue to
perish from starvation, an act he
said was "truly scandalous. The
Holy Father called on the
international community to find a
way for everyone "to benefit from
the fruits of the earth.
The Fight for Human Dignity
The 76 year old Pontiff
emphasized the need for an
evaluation of the current living
situation that places the human
person and human dignity at the
forefront.
"This, I believe, is the significance
of our meeting today: to share the
idea that something more can and
must be done in order to provide
a new stimulus to international
activity on behalf of the poor,
inspired by something more than
mere goodwill or, worse, promises
which all too often have not been
kept, the Pope said.
In the face of war, famine,
marginalization and the violation
of basic liberties, he said, "the
human person and human dignity
risk turning into vague
abstractions. Human dignity
should be instead the "pillars for
creating shared rules and
structures capable of passing
beyond purely pragmatic or
technical approaches in order to
eliminate divisions and to bridge
existing differences.
Concluding his address, Pope
Francis told the FAO participants
that the Catholic Church will
continue to support them in their
work of addressing the needs of
the poor and suffering. "The
Catholic Church, with all her
structures and institutions, is at
your side in this effort, which is
aimed at building concrete
solidarity, and the Holy See
follows with interest and
encourages the initiatives and
activities undertaken by FAO,
Pope Francis said.
Pontiical
4epresentati$es and
Apostolic =uncios to
Meet ,ith Pope Francis
<ear o Faith .$ent to
Conclude ,ith Concert in
0atican Cit"
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, June 20, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis will be
meeting with the Pontifical
Representatives and Apostolic
Nuncios as part of the Year of
Faith tomorrow and Saturday.
According to the Holy See Press
Office, Pope Francis will meet with
the Holy Father tomorrow morning
66
at the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Later in the afternoon, the
pontifical representatives and the
apostolic nuncios will attend a
Celebration of Eucharist Adoration
and Vespers. The celebration will
be held in the Pontifical Basilica of
St. Paul Outside the Walls and
presided by its archpriest,
Cardinal James Michael Harvey.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,
president of the Pontifical Council
for Culture will deliver a mediation
to the representatives present.
The celebration will be followed by
an evening dinner with Pope
Francis.
On Saturday morning, the
representatives will concelebrate
Mass in St. Peters Basilica and
will be presided by Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican
Secretary of State. After prayers
and a working meeting with the
superiors of the Secretariat of
State, the pontifical
representatives will have lunch
with the Holy Father and will
attend a concert in the evening at
the Paul VI Audience Hall in
Vatican City.
&uring his ,ee3l" Angelus
address on Sunday, Pope Francis
reflected on what he described as
Christ's "most incisive
statements:Whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my sake
will save it. Thousands of pilgrims
gathered in St. Peters Square to
listen to the Holy Fathers words.
The Holy Father noted the lives of
martyrs as the perfect example of
Jesus words from the Gospel of
St. Luke, saying that losing ones
life Jesus sake could only happen
one of two ways: by either
confessing the faith or defending
the truth.
"The martyrs are the supreme
example of losing ones life for
Christ, the Pope said. "In two
thousand years there has been a
great multitude of men and
women who have sacrificed their
life to remain faithful to Christ and
his Gospel.
"And today, in many parts of the
world there are many, many -
more than in previous centuries -
many martyrs, who give their life
for Christ, who are put to death
for not rejecting Christ. This is our
Church. Today we have more
martyrs than in the previous
centuries!
Pope Francis noted however that
death is not the only means in
losing ones life for Christ, citing
the examples of parents who
sacrifice their wants for the good
of their families, as well as priests,
brothers and sisters who
generously carry out their service.
The Holy Father also cited the
example of young people who
"renounce their own interests to
care for children, the disabled,
and the elderly.
"They too are martyrs! Daily
martyrs, martyrs of daily life! the
Pope exclaimed.
"And then there are many
people, the Holy Father
continued, "Christians and non-
Christians, who "lose their life for
truth. And Christ said, "I am the
truth, so whoever serves the
truth serves Christ.One of these
67
people, who gave his life for the
truth, is John the Baptist. In
fact,tomorrow, June 24, is his
great feast, the solemnity of his
birth. John was chosen by God to
prepare the way for Jesus, and he
pointed him out to the people of
Israel as the Messiah, the Lamb of
God who takes away the sins of
the world.
The Pope went on to say that
following Johns example of going
against the current for the sake of
the truth, while appealing to the
faithful gathered to "not have fear
to go against the current.
"We must go against the current!
And you young people, you must
be the first: Go against the
current and be proud to go
against the current. Forward, be
courageous and go against the
current! Be proud to do it! the
Holy Father exclaimed.
Pope Francis concluded his
address before reciting the
Angelus, calling on those gathered
to put the example of St. John the
Baptists life into practice as well
of the Blessed Mother who "lost
her life for Jesus, going to the
cross, and she received it [back]
in fullness, with all the light and
beauty of the Resurrection.
6ere is the translation
o Pope Francis+ address
(eore and ater the
recitation o the
Angelus this !unda" in
!t) Peter+s !?uare)
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
This Sundays Gospel reports one
of Jesus most incisive
statements: "Whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my sake
will save it (Luke 9:24).
Here there is a synthesis of
Christs message and it is
expressed with a very effective
paradox, which informs us of his
way of speaking, it almost makes
us hear his voice...
But what does it mean "to lose
your life for Jesus sake? This can
happen in 2 ways: explicitly
confessing the faith or implicitly
defending the truth. The martyrs
are the supreme example of losing
ones life for Christ. In two
thousand years there has been a
great multitude of men and
women who have sacrificed their
life to remain faithful to Christ and
his Gospel. And today, in many
parts of the world there are many,
many - more than in previous
centuries - many martyrs, who
give their life for Christ, who are
put to death for not rejecting
Christ. This is our Church. Today
we have more martyrs than in the
previous centuries! But there is
also daily martyrdom, which does
not bring death but is also a
68
"losing ones life for Christ, duty
your duty with love, following the
logic of Jesus, the logic of the gift,
of sacrifice. Let us think of how
many fathers and mothers put
their faith in practice by
concretely offering their life for
the good of the family! Think
about these people! How many
priests, brothers, sisters carry out
their service for the kingdom of
God with generosity! How many
young people renounce their own
interests to care for children, the
disabled, the elderly... They too
are martyrs! Daily martyrs,
martyrs of daily life!
And then there are many people,
Christians and non-Christians,
who "lose their life for truth. And
Christ said, "I am the truth, so
whoever serves the truth serves
Christ.
One of these people, who gave his
life for the truth, is John the
Baptist. In fact,tomorrow, June
24, is his great feast, the
solemnity of his birth. John was
chosen by God to prepare the way
for Jesus, and he pointed him out
to the people of Israel as the
Messiah, the Lamb of God who
takes away the sins of the world
(cf. John 1:29). John consecrated
himself entirely to God and to the
one he sent, Jesus. But in the
end, what happened? He died for
the sake of truth, when he
denounced the adultery of King
Herod and Herodias. How many
people pay dearly for their
commitment to truth! How many
just men prefer to go against the
current so as not to reject the
voice of conscience, the voice of
truth! Just persons, who are not
afraid to go against the current!
And we, we must not have fear to
go against the current, when they
want to steel our hope, when they
propose these rotten values,
values that are like food that has
gone bad and when food has gone
bad, it makes us sick; these
values make us sick. We must go
against the current! And you
young people, you must be the
first: Go against the current and
be proud to go against the
current. Forward, be courageous
and go against the current! Be
proud to do it!
Dear friends, let us welcome these
words of Jesus. It is a rule of life
proposed to everyone. And St.
John the Baptist helps us to put
them into practice.
On this path we are, as always,
preceded by our Mother, Mary
Most Holy: she lost her life for
Jesus, going to the cross, and she
received it [back] in fullness, with
all the light and beauty of the
Resurrection. May Mary help us
always make the logic of the
Gospel our own.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus the Holy Father spoke
these words to those who were
present:]
Remember this well: do not be
afraid to go against the current!
Be courageous! And just as we do
not want to eat spoiled food, we
must not have these rotten values
that ruin life and take away hope.
Forward!
I greet with affection the families,
the parish groups, the
associations, the schools. I greet
69
the students of the diocesan high
school of Vipva in Slovenia; the
Polish community of Ascoli Piceno
(Italy); the UNITALSI (National
Italian Transport Union of Sick to
Lourdes and International
Shrines) of Ischia di Castro
(Italy); the young people of the
Oratory of Urgnano (Italy) - I see
their banner here: Great, you are
great! - the faithful of Pordenone
(Italy); the sisters and workers of
Miulli Hospital of Acquaviva delle
Fonti (Italy); a group of union
members from the Region of
Veneto (Italy).
I wish everyone a good Sunday!
Pray for me and have a good
lunch!
Pope Commemorates
#0th Anni$ersar" o
0enera(le Paul 0I+s
.lection
Meets ,ith Pilgrims rom
the &iocese o Brescia
Vatican City, June 24, 2013
(Zenit.org) Junno Arocho Esteves
| 176 hits
On Saturday, Pope Francis
greeted a group of pilgrims who
celebrated the 50th anniversary of
the election of Pope Paul VI to the
papacy. The group came from the
Diocese of Brescia where the late
Pope was from.
Pope Francis began his address
focusing on three aspects of the
Paul VIs papacy: his love for
Christ, for the Church and for
mankind. Recalling the late
pontiffs apostolic visit to the
Philippines, Pope Francis said that
his words a deep love for Christ
that compelled him to announce
the Gospel freely.
"Do we have the same love for
Christ? Is He the center of our
lives? Do we witness this in our
everyday actions?, the Pope
asked.
Regarding Venerable Paul VIs
love for the Church, Pope Francis
told the pilgrims that his
predecessor had "a clear visio
+n that the Church is a Mother
who carries Christ and leads to
Christ. The Holy Father
contemplated on the Apostolic
Exhortation "Evangelii Nuntiandi,
which posted several questions on
the Churchs role in proclaiming
the Gospel on the heels of the
Second Vatican Council.
"All of us, Pope Francis said, "we
are all responsible for the
answers; and we should ask
ourselves: Are we really a Church
united to Christ, prepared to go
out and announce Him to
everyone, even, and especially, in
what I call the `existential
suburbs, or do we close in on
ourselves, in our groups?
Regarding Venerable Paul VIs
love for mankind, Pope Francis
stated his passion for man was
the same as Gods which "compels
us to meet man, to respect him,
to recognize him, to serve him.
The Holy Father quoted his
predecessor's address at the
closing of the Second Vatican
Council, where Paul VI warned of
70
the effects of secular humanism
and spoke extensively on the
spirituality of the Council which
"honors mankind.
Concluding his address, Pope
Francis called on the participants
from the Diocese of Brescia to
follow the example of Paul VIs,
whose testimony "feeds us the
flame of love for Christ, love for
the Church, and gives us the
momentum to announce the
Gospel to the people of today,
with mercy, patience, courage,
and joy.
Pope Francis+ Address
to the !ts) Peter and
Paul Association
Vatican City, June 24, 2013
(Zenit.org) | 170 hits
Here is the translation of Pope
Francis' address to the Sts. Peter
and Paul Associationwhich offers
support to pilgrims at St. Peters
Basilica and assists at papal
liturgies.
* * *
Hello!
I want to say thank you, many
thanks! From the start you
accompanied me with your prayer,
with your affection and your
precious service in various
celebrations. For this I thank you
from my heart.
I know that "behind the scenes
there is a lot of organizational
work. And I know that, besides
your service of welcome in the
Basilica of St. Peter, for your
liturgical celebrations, your
apostolate also extends to cultural
and charitable activities. Charity -
concrete attention toward others,
toward the poor, weak and needy
- is above all a distinguishing
mark of the Christian. You also
have an intense program of
formation for candidates and
young apprentices who want to
participate in the life of your
association. Growing in the
knowledge and love of God is
essential for bringing his mercy to
all and living it, seeing his Face in
the face of those we meet. For all
of this, I would like to express my
appreciation and my gratitude. I
also congratulate the 22 new
members who made their
promises this morning: may
Christs love always be your
certainty, to be his generous and
convinced witnesses!
Pope Francis !pends
!unda" at Castel
%andolo
2han3s .mplo"ees o Papal
!ummer 4esidence
or 2heir !er$ice to
the 6ol" !ee
By Junno Arocho Esteves
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY, July
15, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Pope
Francis went yesterday to the
Papal residence of Castel Gandolfo
where he spoke employees at the
residence prior to speaking to
thousands of the citys residents
outside for his Sunday Angelus
address.
Also present to welcome the Holy
Father was Bishop Marcello
71
Semeraro of Albano, Dr. Saverio
Petrillo, director of the Pontifical
Residence and Milva Monachesi,
the mayor of Castel Gandolfo.
The Holy Father began by
thanking the dignitaries who
welcomed him and as well as
expressing his gratitude to those
who work at the Papal Residence.
"I have come here for the day to
meet with the citizens of Castel
Gandolfo, with the pilgrims and all
of the visitors, who rightly love
this place, they are enchanted by
its beauty, they find occasion for
rest here, the Pope said.
"But I have also come to express
to you, who work in the Pontifical
Residence, my gratitude for your
precious work. And with you I
greet and thank your families,
which in some way participate in
your service to the Holy See. May
the Lord assist you always, assist
your work and your family life;
may he fill you with his grace and
accompany you in his paternal
love.
Addressing the Bishop Semeraro,
Pope Francis conveyed is
"affectionate thoughts to the
parish community of Castel
Gandolfo as well as the religious
communities in the area. The Holy
Father also expressed his thanks
to Mayor Monachesi for her work,
as well as that of the municipal
administration, on behald of the
community.
"I ask you to convey my cordial
greeting and the assurance of a
remembrance in my prayers to
the entire population, whom I
encourage to be a sign of hope
and peace, always attentive to
persons and to families who are
most in difficulty, the Pope said.
"This is important! We must
always be a sign of hope and
peace in this moment. Open the
doors to hope, so that hope goes
forward, and spread peace,
always!
The Pope reminisced on the time
spent at the Papal summer
residence by Blessed John Paul II
and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI,
saying that they "to spend the
summer here.
"Many of you were able to meet
them and welcome them,
treasuring a dear memory, he
added. "May their witness always
be an encouragement to you in
fidelity to Christ and in the
continual effort to conduct a life
consistent with the demands of
the Gospel and the teachings of
the Church.
Concluding his address, the Holy
Father entrusted those present to
the protection of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, asking that through
her intercession, they "might be
able to carry out your duties in a
profitable and serene manner.
I entrust all o "ou to the
maternal protection o
;ur :ad"' and to the
intercession o !ts)
Peter and Paul) I pra"
also or "our amilies'
especiall" the sic3'
72
and or "our children'
,ho are gro,ing) I
sa, man" children
here' it is (eautiul' it
is (eautiulA Continue
to pra" or me) I gi$e
"ou all m" (lessing
,ith aection) 2han3
"ouA5!ergio' &id <ou
!nea3 InG5
Argentine 4a((i
4ecounts
Meeting 1ith
Francis
BUENOS AIRES, July 16, 2013
(Zenit.org) - He received me with
an affectionate: "Sergio, how good
it is that you are here! Did you
sneak in? And, in reality, once
again he was right.
This is the title of an article
published in the Argentine
newspaper "La Nacion, which was
sent to us by one of our readers of
La Plata. In the article, the rabbi
of Buenos Aires, Sergio Bergman,
talks about his meeting with Pope
Francis in Rome. We thank his
secretary Valeria, who got
permission from the newspaper
"La Nacion for us to translate and
publish it.
* * *
It was in Pope Francis first
audience with leaders of the
different religions. There I met
with our beloved Bergoglio. In the
imposing framework of the
Clementine Hall, his embrace
transcended the formality of the
greeting established by protocol to
see in his smile and close gesture
that he, who is invested as Pope,
is our Bergoglio of always. So,
with the gestures that are so
much his, he is warm, direct and
intimate. With the humor of one
who doesnt lose his smile or his
freshness even from those
heights, recovering in each one
the same openness, to end by
asking us to continue praying for
him. I presented myself only to
bless and to be grateful for this
moment. The gesture of the
embrace crowns the path of one
who is my reference, but also our
renewed commitment to the
challenge that convokes us.
"Now that I am before Francis, I
embrace again my Rabbi
Bergoglio, I said to him. He gave
me a smile and, with his very
particular humor, he received me
with an affectionate: "Sergio, how
good it is that you are here! Did
you sneak in? And, in reality,
once again he was right.
Without entering into details, I
was not included in the formal
delegation of representatives of
Jewish institutions to the Vatican
and, given the impassable
rigorousness of the Vaticans
protocol, even with the
collaboration of the leaders of the
Jewish community itself, both the
Argentine as well as the
international which were present,
it wasnt possible to include me for
the audience . until, as
foreseeable, it was my priest and
bishop friends - as is the case of
monsignor Sanchez Sorondo -
who let it be known so that it
would be Pope Francis himself
who instructed the Secretariat of
State to give me access and to
celebrate in that fleeting instant,
which was eternal, our meeting
73
again and our being able to see
one another.
After Our Reunion Embrace, We
Prayed
Our age-old Jewish tradition
prescribes the reciting of a
blessing when one is before a wise
man and great teacher of
humanity. So, with joy in my
heart and my soul exalted in
gratitude, I recited in Hebrew the
blessing to conclude together, the
two of us saying as one: Amen.
What a thrill! What energy! A
unique moment that will remain
forever in my heart and soul, a
fertile furrow of space-time that
will bear fruit in the good harvest
of the future.
Pope Francis left us a message full
of kindness and love, uniting the
Christian Churches, even the
Eastern Orthodox, which for a
millennium werent present in
these instances. Giving
unequivocal signs of unity for the
ecumenical task in Christianity, he
referred to the inter-religious
dimension, giving a special place
to the Judeo-Christian bond.
I am still overwhelmed, while
writing these liens. Francis
embrace renews a Pact for this
New Era, a blessing elevated in
Prayer of a New Time where we
continue guided by the generous
heart of our Pastor and Teacher,
POPE Francis, who is none other
than the same Father Jorge, the
much loved and appreciated
Bergoglio.
Sergio Bergman
Francis 4esponds to 3>
<ear>;ld+s :etter
!ends 6is Blessing to 6er
&a"care
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, July 16, 2013
(Zenit.org) - A three-year-old girl,
helped by her grandmother,
decided to write a letter to Pope
Francis. During her familys
pilgrimage to Rome, to observe
the 50th anniversary of Pope John
XXIIIs death, the Pontiff was
doing his usual rounds greeting
the faithful in Saint Peters
Square, kissing and blessing many
children, among whom was Alice
Maria Rocca, the sender of the
letter. While the Pope was kissing
her tenderly on the head, she
placed the letter in his hands
directly.
Some days later, a happy surprise
arrived for Alices family. In fact,
in their mailbox was an envelope
from the Secretariat of State of
Vatican City and inside was a
letter from Pope Francis, who
blessed the little girl and all her
dear ones.
"I never thought he would reply.
We didnt expect it, in fact, it was
a surprise, said the girls mother.
She added, "Among the hundreds
of thousands of letters that arrive
for the Pope from all over the
world every day, the Holy Father
replied specifically to us.
In her note to the Pope, Alice
introduced herself and asked for a
blessing for herself, her family,
and the daycare she attends.
74
Answering her requests, the letter
stated: "The Holy Father thanks
you for your kind thoughts and
invokes upon you the heavenly
intercession of Blessed John XXIII,
so that you can grow up happy
and serene in friendship with
Jesus and, while asking you to
pray for him, imparts from his
heart to you, to your parents and
to your grandmother the Apostolic
Blessing, gladly extending it to
your dear ones, with a particular
thought for your friends and
teachers at the daycare.
Pope !ends Message to
Catholics in
Ireland' !cotland'
.ngland and
1ales
Expresses Hope that Human Life
Receives Protection
That It Is Due
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, July 17, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope
Francis sent a message
today to the Catholics in
Ireland, Scotland,
England and Wales on
the occasion of the Day
for Life. The event will be
celebrated in Scotland,
England and Wales on
July 28th and in Ireland
on October 6th.
The Popes message which was
sent by Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, the Vatican
Secretary of State, was
published today in a
press release sent by the
Catholic Bishops
Conference of England in
Wales (CBCEW.
Referencing the teachings of Saint
Irenaeus which states
that "glory of God is seen
in a living human being,
Cardinal Bertone stated
that Pope Francis
encourages all Catholics
in the region to "let the
light of that glory shine
so brightly that everyone
may come to recognize
the inestimable value of
all human life.
"Even the weakest and most
vulnerable, the sick, the
old, the unborn and the
poor, are masterpieces of
Gods creation, made in
his own image, destined
to live for ever, and
deserving of the utmost
reverence and respect,
the message stated.
Cardinal Bertone also assured the
Holy Fathers prayers for
the Day for Life,
expressing his that they
"will help to ensure that
human life always
receives the protection
that is its due, so that
'everything that breathes
may praise the Lord.
Life is Worth It
According to the CBCEW, over
half-a-million leaflets on
the Day for Life have
been distributed to
parishes in preparation
for the event. The theme,
75
"Care for Life - Its Worth
It was taken from a
homily by then Cardinal
Jorge Mario Bergoglio in
2005 to mark the feast of
Saint Raymond
Nonnatus, "the protector
of Pregnant Women.
"All of us must care for life,
cherish life, with
tenderness, warmth...to
give life is to open (our)
heart, and to care for life
is to (give oneself) in
tenderness and warmth
for others, to have
concern in my heart for
others, the future Pope
said in 2005.
"Caring for life from the beginning
to the end. What a
simple thing, what a
beautiful thing... So, go
forth and dont be
discouraged. Care for
life. Its worth it.
The Catholic Bishops Conference
stated that "this years
Day for Life focuses on
care for unborn children
and their mothers; care
for people who are
elderly and care for those
who are suicidal and
their families.
Francis Ans,ers :etter
From Argentina+s
President
Admits 6is 1or3 Is +=ot at
All .as"+
VATICAN CITY, July 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
responded to a letter from
Argentine President Cristina
Fernndez de Kirchner, telling her
that his work is not easy, and
requesting her prayers.
Fernndez de Kirchner wrote the
Pope on June 15, telling him that
she had not use the model letter
that had been prepared since "it
seemed to be written as
established by protocol of the 13th
century."
She also encouraged the Holy
Father to continue to drink
"mate," a type of herbal tea
common in some South American
countries.
In the Holy Father's response, he
assured the president that he
indeed continues to drink mate, as
it is "more digestive than tea or
coffee."
He also told her he'd like to see
the model letter prepared for her,
just for a laugh.
"May the Lord reward your
thoughtfulness for having written
[your letter] yourself," he said.
"Of course I remain curious to see
that model of letter that seemed
of the 13th century, simply to
maintain the `sense of humor.
President Fernndez de Kirchner
herself made the Pope's letter
public through her Twitter
account: "I received a letter from
Rome -- well, in fact, from the
Vatican. And who could it be
from? From the Pope.
The Holy Father also asked
Fernndez de Kirchner to pray for
76
him because his "work is not at all
easy, and he asked to have his
"affection and closeness"
expressed "to all the Argentines,
for whom I pray every day, so
that they will seek the common
good united and in concord."
---
Here is a ZENIT translation of the
letter:
To the Most Excellent Madam
President of the Argentine Nation
Dr. Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner
BUENOS AIRES
Vatican, June 25, 2013
Cristina:
Thank you for your letter of last
June 15, on the occasion of the
Day of the Pontiff. May the Lord
reward your thoughtfulness for
having written it yourself. Of
course I remain curious to see
that model of letter that seemed
of the 13thcentury, simply to
maintain the "sense of humor.
Thank you, also, for the picture
<or frame> with the
commemorative postal stamps.
Just as I promised you, I keep
you, your children and your loved
ones who have passed away
present in my prayer.
I ask you, please, not to forget to
pray for me: the work is not at all
easy.
I continue to drink mate: it is
always more digestive than tea or
coffee.
I beg you to express my affection
and closeness to all the
Argentines, for whom I pray every
day, so that they will seek the
common good united and in
concord.
May Jesus bless you and the Holy
Virgin take care of you.
Cordially,
<signed> Francis
;n Contemplating the
1ord o %od
VATICAN CITY, July 21, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
words before and after the
recitation of the Angelus today to
the pilgrims gathered in St.
Peter's Square
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
The reading of the 10th chapter of
the evangelist Luke continues this
Sunday too. Todays passage is
the one about Martha and Mary.
Who are these 2 women? Martha
and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, are
relatives and faithful disciples of
the Lord, who lived in Bethany. St.
Luke described them in this way:
Mary, at Jesus feet, "listened to
his word, while Martha was busy
with a lot serving (cf. Luke 10:39-
40). Both offer welcome to the
Lord as he is traveling, but in
different ways. Mary sits at Jesus
feet, listening. But Martha lets
herself be absorbed by the things
that need to be prepared and in so
77
busy that she turns to Jesus
saying: "Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by
myself to do the serving? Tell her
to help me (7:40). And Jesus
responds rebuking her with
sweetness. "Martha, Martha, you
are anxious and worried about
many things. There is need of only
one thing. Mary has chosen the
better part and it will not be taken
from her (10:41).
What does Jesus wish to say?
What is this one thing that we
need? Above all it is important to
understand that it is not a matter
of contrasting 2 attitudes:
listening to the Lords word,
contemplation, and concrete
service to our neighbor. They are
not 2 opposed attitudes but, on
the contrary, they are 2 aspects
that are both essential for our
Christian life; aspects that must
never be separated but lived in
profound unity and harmony. So
why does Martha receive the
rebuke even if it is done with
sweetness? Because she took only
what she was doing to be
essential, she was too absorbed
and worried about things to "do.
For a Christian, the works of
service and charity are never
detached from the principle source
of our action: that is, listening to
the Word of the Lord, sitting - like
Mary - at Jesus feet in the
attitude of a disciple. And for this
reason Mary is rebuked.
In our Christian life too prayer and
action are always profoundly
united. Prayer that does not lead
to concrete action toward a
brother who is poor, sick, in need
of help, the brother in difficulty, is
a sterile and incomplete prayer.
But, in the same way, when in
ecclesial service we are only
concerned with doing, we give
greater weight to things,
functions, structures, and we
forget the centrality of Christ; we
do not set aside time for dialogue
with him in prayer, we are in risk
of serving ourselves and not God
present in our needy brother. St.
Benedict took up the way of life
that he summed up for his monks
in 2 words: "ora et labora, pray
and work. It is from
contemplation, from a strong
relationship of friendship with the
Lord that there is borne in us the
capacity to live and bear Gods
love, his mercy, his tenderness to
others. It is also our work with our
needy brother, our labor of charity
in works of mercy, that brings us
to the Lord because we see the
Lord in our needy brother and
sister.
Let us ask the Virgin Mary, the
Mother of listening and service -
who teaches us to meditate on the
Word of her Son in our heart - to
pray with fidelity, to be always
more concretely attentive to the
needs of our brothers.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father spoke
these words to those gathered in
St. Peters Square.]
I greet with affection all the
pilgrims present: families,
parishes, associations,
movements and groups. In
particular I greet the faithful from
Florence, Foggia and Villa Castelli,
and the altar boys from Conselve
with their families. I see a banner
down there that reads "Buon
Viaggio! (Have a good trip!).
Thank you! Thank you! I ask you
78
to accompany me spiritually with
prayer on the trip that I will start
tomorrow. As you know, I will
travel to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
for the 28th World Youth Day.
There will be many young people
down there from every part of the
world. And I think that you could
call this Youth Week, yes, indeed,
Youth Week! The young people
will be the protagonists of this
week. All of those who come to
Rio want to hear Jesus voice, to
listen to Jesus: "Lord, what should
I do with my life? What it the road
I should take? You too - I dont
know if there are young people
here in the piazza today! Are
there young people? Aha! You
young people too who are in the
piazza, ask the Lord the same
questions: "Lord, what should I do
with my life? What it the road I
should take? Let us entrust these
questions to the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, much
loved and venerated in Brazil:
those that the young people will
ask there and those that you will
ask today. And may Our Lady help
us in this new stage of pilgrimage.
I wish you all a good Sunday!
Have a good lunch. Goodbye!
[Translation by Joseph Trabbic]
;n Contemplating the
1ord o %od
VATICAN CITY, July 21, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
words before and after the
recitation of the Angelus today to
the pilgrims gathered in St.
Peter's Square
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
The reading of the 10th chapter of
the evangelist Luke continues this
Sunday too. Todays passage is
the one about Martha and Mary.
Who are these 2 women? Martha
and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, are
relatives and faithful disciples of
the Lord, who lived in Bethany. St.
Luke described them in this way:
Mary, at Jesus feet, "listened to
his word, while Martha was busy
with a lot serving (cf. Luke 10:39-
40). Both offer welcome to the
Lord as he is traveling, but in
different ways. Mary sits at Jesus
feet, listening. But Martha lets
herself be absorbed by the things
that need to be prepared and in so
busy that she turns to Jesus
saying: "Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by
myself to do the serving? Tell her
to help me (7:40). And Jesus
responds rebuking her with
sweetness. "Martha, Martha, you
are anxious and worried about
many things. There is need of only
one thing. Mary has chosen the
better part and it will not be taken
from her (10:41).
What does Jesus wish to say?
What is this one thing that we
need? Above all it is important to
understand that it is not a matter
of contrasting 2 attitudes:
listening to the Lords word,
contemplation, and concrete
service to our neighbor. They are
not 2 opposed attitudes but, on
the contrary, they are 2 aspects
that are both essential for our
Christian life; aspects that must
never be separated but lived in
profound unity and harmony. So
why does Martha receive the
79
rebuke even if it is done with
sweetness? Because she took only
what she was doing to be
essential, she was too absorbed
and worried about things to "do.
For a Christian, the works of
service and charity are never
detached from the principle source
of our action: that is, listening to
the Word of the Lord, sitting - like
Mary - at Jesus feet in the
attitude of a disciple. And for this
reason Mary is rebuked.
In our Christian life too prayer and
action are always profoundly
united. Prayer that does not lead
to concrete action toward a
brother who is poor, sick, in need
of help, the brother in difficulty, is
a sterile and incomplete prayer.
But, in the same way, when in
ecclesial service we are only
concerned with doing, we give
greater weight to things,
functions, structures, and we
forget the centrality of Christ; we
do not set aside time for dialogue
with him in prayer, we are in risk
of serving ourselves and not God
present in our needy brother. St.
Benedict took up the way of life
that he summed up for his monks
in 2 words: "ora et labora, pray
and work. It is from
contemplation, from a strong
relationship of friendship with the
Lord that there is borne in us the
capacity to live and bear Gods
love, his mercy, his tenderness to
others. It is also our work with our
needy brother, our labor of charity
in works of mercy, that brings us
to the Lord because we see the
Lord in our needy brother and
sister.
Let us ask the Virgin Mary, the
Mother of listening and service -
who teaches us to meditate on the
Word of her Son in our heart - to
pray with fidelity, to be always
more concretely attentive to the
needs of our brothers.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father spoke
these words to those gathered in
St. Peters Square.]
I greet with affection all the
pilgrims present: families,
parishes, associations,
movements and groups. In
particular I greet the faithful from
Florence, Foggia and Villa Castelli,
and the altar boys from Conselve
with their families. I see a banner
down there that reads "Buon
Viaggio! (Have a good trip!).
Thank you! Thank you! I ask you
to accompany me spiritually with
prayer on the trip that I will start
tomorrow. As you know, I will
travel to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
for the 28th World Youth Day.
There will be many young people
down there from every part of the
world. And I think that you could
call this Youth Week, yes, indeed,
Youth Week! The young people
will be the protagonists of this
week. All of those who come to
Rio want to hear Jesus voice, to
listen to Jesus: "Lord, what should
I do with my life? What it the road
I should take? You too - I dont
know if there are young people
here in the piazza today! Are
there young people? Aha! You
young people too who are in the
piazza, ask the Lord the same
questions: "Lord, what should I do
with my life? What it the road I
should take? Let us entrust these
questions to the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, much
loved and venerated in Brazil:
80
those that the young people will
ask there and those that you will
ask today. And may Our Lady help
us in this new stage of pilgrimage.
I wish you all a good Sunday!
Have a good lunch. Goodbye!
[Translation by Joseph Trabbic]
Francis Ans,ers :etter
From Argentina+s
President
Admits 6is 1or3 Is +=ot at All
.as"+
VATICAN CITY, July 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
responded to a letter from
Argentine President Cristina
Fernndez de Kirchner, telling her
that his work is not easy, and
requesting her prayers.
Fernndez de Kirchner wrote the
Pope on June 15, telling him that
she had not use the model letter
that had been prepared since "it
seemed to be written as
established by protocol of the 13th
century."
She also encouraged the Holy
Father to continue to drink
"mate," a type of herbal tea
common in some South American
countries.
In the Holy Father's response, he
assured the president that he
indeed continues to drink mate, as
it is "more digestive than tea or
coffee."
He also told her he'd like to see
the model letter prepared for her,
just for a laugh.
"May the Lord reward your
thoughtfulness for having written
[your letter] yourself," he said.
"Of course I remain curious to see
that model of letter that seemed
of the 13th century, simply to
maintain the `sense of humor.
President Fernndez de Kirchner
herself made the Pope's letter
public through her Twitter
account: "I received a letter from
Rome -- well, in fact, from the
Vatican. And who could it be
from? From the Pope.
The Holy Father also asked
Fernndez de Kirchner to pray for
him because his "work is not at all
easy, and he asked to have his
"affection and closeness"
expressed "to all the Argentines,
for whom I pray every day, so
that they will seek the common
good united and in concord."
---
Here is a ZENIT translation of the
letter:
To the Most Excellent Madam
President of the Argentine Nation
Dr. Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner
BUENOS AIRES
Vatican, June 25, 2013
Cristina:
Thank you for your letter of last
June 15, on the occasion of the
Day of the Pontiff. May the Lord
reward your thoughtfulness for
having written it yourself. Of
course I remain curious to see
that model of letter that seemed
of the 13thcentury, simply to
maintain the "sense of humor.
81
Thank you, also, for the picture
<or frame> with the
commemorative postal stamps.
Just as I promised you, I keep
you, your children and your loved
ones who have passed away
present in my prayer.
I ask you, please, not to forget to
pray for me: the work is not at all
easy.
I continue to drink mate: it is
always more digestive than tea or
coffee.
I beg you to express my affection
and closeness to all the
Argentines, for whom I pray every
day, so that they will seek the
common good united and in
concord.
May Jesus bless you and the Holy
Virgin take care of you.
Cordially,
<signed> Francis
Pope &eparts or 4io de
Janeiro or 1orld
<outh &a"
!ends %reetings to Italian
President Beore
Boarding Flight
By Junno Arocho Esteves
ROME, July 22, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
Pope Francis left Rome today,
embarking on the first Apostolic
Visit of his papacy to Brazil, site of
the 28th World Youth Day on Rio
de Janeiro.
Accompanying the Holy Father on
his flight was Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, Vatican Secretary of
State, Cardinal Marc Ouellet,
prefect of the Congregation for
Bishops and president of Pontifical
Commission for Latin America,
and Cardinal Joo Brz de Aviz,
prefect for the Pontifical
Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life and Societies of
Apostolic Life.
The Holy Father was greeted on
the tarmac of Romes Fiumicino
Airport by Italian Prime Minister
Enrico Letta. The Alitalia flight
bearing the Pope departed shortly
after 8:45am and will arrive at
"Galeao/Antonio Carlos Jobim
International Airport in Rio de
Janeiro at 4:00pm, local time.
Pope Francis posted a message on
his Twitter account, @pontifex,
expressing his joy at the
upcoming youth event. "I am
arriving in Brazil in a few hours
and my heart is already full of joy
because soon I will be with you to
celebrate the 28th WYD, the Pope
tweeted.
Prior to departing for Brazil, the
Holy Father sent a message to
Giorgio Napolitano, President of
the Italian Republic.
"At the moment in which I set
about to leave for Brazil, on the
occasion of the World Youth Day,
to meet with young people from
all over the world and to
encourage them to be witnesses
of hope and architects of peace, I
am pleased to address to you, Mr.
President, and to all Italians my
cordial greetings which I
accompany with the most fervent
wishes for serenity and confidence
82
in the future, the Popes message
stated.
Upon his arrival in Brazil, the Holy
Father will be greeted by
President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil
and ecclesiastical authorities. He
will then be taken to the
Presidential Palace in Guanabara
where a welcoming ceremony will
take place and after the Holy
Father will have a private meeting
with the President of Brazil and
the mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
Pope Francis Ma3es
Impromptu 0isit
to Marian !hrine
in 4ome
In$o3es Intercession o the
Blessed Mother on
1orld <outh &a"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
ROME, July 22, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
On Saturday, Pope Francis visited
the Basilica of St. Mary Major in
Rome to invoke the protection of
the Blessed Virgin Mary on World
Youth Day which begins today in
Rio de Janeiro. The Holy Father
arrived for the impromptu visit in
the afternoon and was welcomed
by the Archpriest of the Basilica,
Cardinal Santos Abril y Castell.
The Papal Basilica, the largest
Marian shrine in Rome, is a place
of special significance for the Holy
Father. The day after his election
to the Papacy, Pope Francis went
to pray at the Basilica to
consecrate his ministry to the
Blessed Mother.
Upon his arrival, the Holy Father
entered the chapel where the
canons of the Basilica as well as
the community of Dominican
priest of the shrine were gathered
in prayer. The chapel houses the
famed icon of Mary entitled "Salus
Populi Romani (Protectress of the
Roman People), which according
to legend was painted by St. Luke.
According to a communique sent
by the Holy See, Pope Francis
"remained for over 30 minutes in
silent prayer before the Marian
icon. The Holy Father also
"offered a bouquet of flowers to
the icon and a lit candle that bore
the logo of the World Youth Day in
Rio de Janeiro.
Many visitors, pilgrims and faithful
were present at the Basilica since
the unannounced visit was made
during the hours when the Basilica
is opened to the public. After
listening to a brief address by
Cardinal Santos Abril y Castell,
the Holy Father addressed a few
words to the faithful.
Pope Francis asked them "to
accompany him with prayers,
trust and penance during his trip
to Brazil and his meeting with the
young people from the entire
world.
Pope Francis9 Pra"er
and Action Must
Be Al,a"s Cnited
Ponti 4elects on the
Importance
Contemplation and
83
!er$ice to ;ur
=eigh(or
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, July 22, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
addressed crowds of pilgrims
gathered in St. Peters Square for
his Sunday Angelus address on
Sunday. The Holy Father reflected
on the Gospel of St. Luke which
recounted Jesus visit to the house
of Martha and Mary.
Recalling the account where Jesus
tells Martha that her sister chose
the "better part in listening to
Him rather than busy herself with
preparations in the house, the
Holy Father emphasized the two
attitudes shown in the Gospel.
"What does Jesus wish to say?
What is this one thing that we
need? the Holy Father asked.
"Above all it is important to
understand that it is not a matter
of contrasting 2 attitudes:
listening to the Lords word,
contemplation, and concrete
service to our neighbor.
Martha, he continued, receives
this correction from the Lord
because she saw that her work
was the only thing that was
essential. "For a Christian, the
works of service and charity are
never detached from the principle
source of our action: that is,
listening to the Word of the Lord,
sitting - like Mary - at Jesus feet
in the attitude of a disciple. And
for this reason Mary is rebuked.
the Pope said.
"In our Christian life too prayer
and action are always profoundly
united. Prayer that does not lead
to concrete action toward a
brother who is poor, sick, in need
of help, the brother in difficulty, is
a sterile and incomplete prayer.
But, in the same way, when in
ecclesial service we are only
concerned with doing, we give
greater weight to things,
functions, structures, and we
forget the centrality of Christ; we
do not set aside time for dialogue
with him in prayer, we are in risk
of serving ourselves and not God
present in our needy brother.
The Holy Father went on to say
that a perfect example of this
harmony is the Rule of life of St.
Benedict: "Ora et Labora (Pray
and work). From this, he
continued, a bond is formed with
God that gives all the strength to
not only live and bear Gods love
but to bring his love to those in
most need. Prior to reciting the
Angelus, Pope Francis invoked the
intercession of the Blessed
Mother, who regarded as the
"Mother of listening and service,
to teach all faithful to both pray
and "to always be more concretely
attentive to the needs of our
brothers.
After the recitation of the Angelus,
Pope Francis asked the faithful
gathered to pray for his trip to Rio
de Janeiro, while placing emphasis
on the importance of the youth in
the life of the Church.
"As you know, I will travel to Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil for the 28th
World Youth Day, the Pope said.
"There will be many young people
down there from every part of the
world. And I think that you could
call this Youth Week, yes, indeed,
84
Youth Week! The young people
will be the protagonists of this
week. All of those who come to
Rio want to hear Jesus voice, to
listen to Jesus: "Lord, what should
I do with my life? What it the road
I should take?
The Pope invited the youth to
entrust their questions to the
intercession of the Blessed
Mother, as well as for the week
long event.
2he 1onderul Cit"
A,aits 52he
1onderul Pope5
By .r# Alfonso Maria Bruno
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 22,
2013 (Zenit.org) - At dawn,
shortly before the rays of the sun
of the tropics caress the crest of
the calm and scintillating waters
of Guanabara Bay, Rio is
enveloped by a mist evocative of
poetry and inspirer of mysteries.
The curtain is raised with the
passing hours, in a crescendo of
colors and scents, sounds and
flavors that make up the
"wonderful city.
Rio is the sum of all that is
Brazilian, a purgatory of beauty
and chaos, where its inhabitants,
moving almost to the rhythm of
samba, construct chronicles and
metaphors.
A legend narrates that an Irish
sailor, whose religious faith was
about to die drowned in whisky,
disembarked at Rio on October
12, 1931.
Upon descending from the ship
and setting foot on Maua Square,
he looked up casually at the sky
and, all of a sudden, up there, in
the distance, Jesus Christ
appeared from nothing,
phosphorescent , standing and
with his arms open circling above
the city. At the sight of that
vision, the sailor almost fainted,
ran to the ship, entrusted himself
to the chaplain and swore that he
would never again drink. It was
for him a sign and invitation to
rediscover temperance, which so
many lose in the excesses of
carnival.
The poor sailor did not even
imagine that the vision was the
gigantic statue of the Redeemer
on the Corcovado hill, illuminated
by the experiment of Guglielmo
Marconi, who sent from his boat
anchored in the Gulf of Naples a
radio signal picked up at
Dorchester, bounced to
Jacarepagua and finally destined
to the receivers-interrupters of the
port that overlooks Copacabana.
Beginning July 22 a new signal will
leave from the Tyrrhenian Sea
when Pope Francis will take the
flight to illuminate from Rio a
whole generation, a generation of
hope in the Continent, of the hope
that is Latin America.
It will not be a radio frequency but
a presence, a voice, a testimony
of Father and Pastor, in a world
lacking paternity and creativity.
Both are elements that are
characterizing the pontificate of
85
the Pope who came from "the end
of the world, of the New World,
with a new "way of doing things,
in which the embrace of cultures
facilitates relation without
prejudices.
What will be Pope Francis
impressions on arriving at Rio?
On entering a bay in the month of
January, which seemed like the
mouth of a river (Rio de Janeiro),
Amerigo Vespuccii was fascinated
by a natural masterpiece made of
hills and mountains , lakes and
beaches, under an endless sky.
Pope Francis will be inspired by
this infinite beauty to recall young
people to Beauty without end
"ever old and ever new before it
is too late to love it.
Rio is a permanent promise of sun
on eighty kilometers of beaches,
good humor and liberty, stemming
from the long tradition of friendly
hospitality and asylum to anyone
who asks for it: warriors,
missionaries, refugees, politicians,
religious renegades, victims of
racial persecutions, immigrants
from all parts of the world and
even fugitives from justice. In the
country where liberation has
developed into a theological
system, the Pope will invite to
true liberty, that which is built on
the truth of our being and doing
as children of God.
Rio has been from time to time,
the Eden dreamt by utopians, the
failed Antarctic France, a port of
pirates and corsairs, an emporium
of gold and slaves, the capital of a
European empire, a court of
operetta, the "Wonderful City,
the land of carnival and a "Mecca
of corruption.
The aspiration to the "lost
paradise of progenitors and of
generations of parents , can begin
again from Rio, from this trip in
which the Successor of Peter
wishes to confirm his brothers in
the faith and illuminate so many
young people with spent eyes and
incapable of scrutinizing the
distant horizon.
Francis+ Message on
Anni$ersar" o
11II Bom(ing o
4ome
5Peace is a git o %od' ,hich'
also toda"' must ind
hearts ,illing to
recei$e it5
VATICAN CITY, July 22, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of the message Francis sent July
19, to mark the 70th anniversary
of the 1943 bombing of Rome on
that date.
* * *
Message to the Cardinal Vicar on
the 70th anniversary of the
bombing of Rome - San Lorenzo
(1943)
To the Lord Cardinal Agostino
Vallini, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Rome
I am spiritually united to you, to
the community of Capuchin Friars
and to all those gathered in the
Basilica of Saint Lawrence
Outside-the-Walls to remember
86
the violent bombardment of July
19, 1943, which inflicted very
grave damages to the sacred
building and to the whole district,
as well as to other areas of the
city, sowing death and
destruction. Seventy years later,
the commemoration of that
particularly tragic event is an
occasion of prayer for all those
who died and of renewed
reflection on the tremendous
scourge of war, as well as
expression of gratitude to him
who was a solicitous and
provident father.
I am referring to the Venerable
Pius XII, who, in those terrible
hours, was close to his fellow
citizens so harshly stricken. Pope
Pacelli did not hesitate to run
immediately and without escort,
through the still smoking ruins of
the district of San Lorenzo, to
succor and console the dismayed
population. He showed himself
also on that occasion a solicitous
Pastor who is in the midst of his
flock, especially in the hour of
trial, ready to share the sufferings
of his people. With you, I would
like to remember all those that, in
such a tragic moment,
collaborated by offering moral and
material help, in alleviating the
wounds of the body and the soul
and in giving assistance to the
homeless. Among others, I wish to
mention Monsignor Giovanni
Battista Montini, future Paul VI,
then Substitute of the Secretariat
of State, who accompanied Pius
XII on his visit to the district just
devastated by the bombs.
Pope Pacellis gesture is the sign
of the incessant work of the Holy
See and of the Church in her
various articulations, parishes,
religious institutes, boarding
schools, to give relief to the
population. So many Bishops,
priests, men and women religious
of Rome and in the whole of Italy
were like the Good Samaritan of
the Gospel parable, bending over
a brother in pain, to help him and
give him consolation and hope. It
was a contest of charity that
extended to every human being in
danger and in need of hospitality
and support. May the memory of
the bombardment of that tragic
day echo in each one again the
words of Pope Pius XII: "Nothing
is lost with peace, everything can
be lost with war. (Radio Message,
August 24, 1939). Peace is a gift
of God, which, also today, must
find hearts willing to receive it and
to work to be builders of
reconciliation and peace. I entrust
all the inhabitants of the district of
San Lorenzo, especially the
elderly, the sick, people who are
alone and in difficulty, to the
maternal intercession of Mary
Salus Populi Romani. May she, the
Virgin of tenderness and
consolation, reinforce faith, hope
and charity to radiate in the world
the love and mercy of God. With
such sentiments I assure you of
my prayer and I impart from my
heart the Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, July 19, 2013
Francis
[Translation by ZENIT]
87
Pope+s Address to
Journalists
A(oard the Papal
Flight to Bra7il
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 23,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Yesterday
morning, in the course of his
plane trip to Brazil, on the
occasion of the WYD of Rio de
Janeiro, the Holy Father Francis
met with the journalists aboard
the Papal Flight.
The following is a translation of
the transcript of the Popes
conversation with journalists on
board the plane, introduced by the
Director of the Press Office, Father
Federico Lombardi:
Text of the meeting
Father Lombardi: Holy Father
Francis, welcome amid this flying
community of journalists, and
communications agency
employees. We are very moved to
be accompanying you on your first
intercontinental, international trip
after having already followed you
to Lampedusa with great emotion!
Among other things, it is the first
trip in your continent, at the `end
of the world. It is a trip with
young people. Hence, there is
great interest. As you can see we
have taken up all the available
seats for journalists on this flight.
We are more than 70 persons,
and this group is made up with
criteria of great variety, that is,
there are representatives of the
televisions stations - be it
reporters, be it cameramen -
there are representatives of the
written press, of the press
agencies, of radio, operators of
the Internet. Hence, practically all
the media is represented in a
qualified way. And there are also
representatives of culture and
different languages. We have, on
this flight, a good group of
Italians, then, of course, there are
Brazilians who have come also
from Brazil to fly together with
you: there are ten Brazilians who
came precisely for this. Then there
are ten from the United States of
America, nine from France, six
from Spain; then there are
English, Mexicans, Germans; also
representatives from Japan,
Argentina - of course --, Poland,
Portugal and Russia. Hence it is a
very varied community. Many of
those present often follow the
Popes trips abroad, therefore it
isnt their first experience, in fact,
some have traveled a lot, they
know these trips much better than
you. For others, instead, its the
first time because, for instance,
the Brazilians follow this trip
specifically. So we thought of
welcoming you in this group, also
with the voice of one of us, or
better one of us, who was chosen
- I believe without particular
problems of concurrence -
because she is certainly the
person who has made more trips
abroad with the Holy Father: and
competes with doctor Gasbarri
also for the number of trips made.
Then, she is a person - among
other things - who is a woman;
hence it is right that we let her
speak. I now give the floor
immediately to Valentina Alazraki,
who has been the correspondent
of Televisa for many years, and
yet is always youthful, as you can
see and who, among other things,
88
we are happy to have with us
because, a few weeks ago, she
fractured a foot and we were
afraid she would not be able to
come. Instead, it was repaired in
time, the plaster cast was
removed two-three days ago and
she is now on the flight.
Therefore, it is she who interprets
for you the sentiments of our
flying community.
Valentina Alazraki: [in Spanish]
Pope Francis, good morning! The
only merit I have to have the
privilege of welcoming you is the
very high number of flight hours. I
took part in John Paul IIs first
flight to Mexico, my country. Then
I was the mascot, now I am the
dean: 34 and a half years later! It
is because of this that I have the
privilege of welcoming you. We
know from your friends and
collaborators in Argentina that
journalists are not exactly "saints
of your devotion. Perhaps you
thought that Father Lombardi had
taken you to the lions enclosure.
But the truth is that we are not so
ferocious and have great pleasure
in being able to be your traveling
companions. It would please us if
you saw us this way, as traveling
companions in this and in so many
others to come. Obviously we are
journalists and if today, tomorrow
and in subsequent days you wish
to answer questions we wont say
no, because we are journalists.
Having seen that you entrusted
this trip to Mary, going to Saint
Mary Major, you will go to
Aparecida, I thought of giving you
a small present, a very small
pilgrim Virgin, to accompany you
on this pilgrimage and on many
others yet to come. By chance, it
is the Virgin of Guadalupe, but not
because she is Queen of Mexico,
but because she is the Patroness
of America, so that no Virgin will
resent her, not that of Argentina,
or Aparecida or any other. I give
her to you with so much affection
on behalf of all of us and with the
hope that she will protect you on
this trip and in so many others yet
to come.
Father Lombardi: And now we
give the floor to the Holy Father,
of course, so that he can give us
at least some words of
introduction to this trip.
Pope Francis: Good morning.
Good morning to you all. I have
heard some strange things said:
"You are not saints of my
devotion, "Im here among lions
. but not so ferocious, ah? Thank
you. Truly I dont give interviews,
but why I dont know, I cant, its
so. For me its somewhat of an
effort to do so, but Im grateful for
this company. This first trip is in
fact to meet young people, but to
meet them not isolated from their
life. I would like to meet them, in
fact, in the social fabric, in
society. Because when we isolate
young people, we do an injustice:
we take away their belonging.
Young people have a belonging, a
belonging to a family, to a
homeland, to a culture, to a faith.
They have a belonging and we
must not isolate them! But, above
all, we must not isolate them from
the whole of society! They are -
truly - the future of a people: this
is true! But not only them: they
are the future because they have
the strength, they are young, they
will go forward. But also the other
89
extreme of life, the elderly, are
the future of a people. A people
has a future if it goes forwards
with the two points: with the
young, with strength, because
they lead it forward; and with the
elderly because they are those
who give the wisdom of life. And I
often think that we do an injustice
to the elderly, we leave them
aside as if they had nothing to
give us; they have wisdom, the
wisdom of life, the wisdom of
history, the wisdom of the
homeland, the wisdom of the
family. And we are in need of this!
That is why I say that I am going
to meet young people, but in their
social fabric, mainly with the
elderly. Its true that the global
crisis doesnt do good things for
young people. I read last week the
percentage of young people
without work. Think about the fact
that we run the risk of having a
generation that has not had work,
and from work comes a persons
dignity of earning his bread. At
present, young people are in
crisis. We are somewhat used to
this culture of discarding: its done
too often with the elderly! But
now also with these many young
people without work, to them also
comes the culture of discarding.
We must cut this habit of
discarding! No. we must have a>
culture of inclusion, a culture of
encounter, make an effort to bring
everyone into the society. I thank
you so much, beloved, "saints of
non-devotion and "not so
ferocious lions! But thank you so
much, thank you so much. And I
would like to greet each one of
you. Thank you.
Father Lombardi: Many thanks,
Holiness, for this very expressive
introduction. And now all will
come to greet you: they will come
by here , so that they can come
and each one of them can meet
you, introduce himself; each one
must say from what headline,
from what television, newspaper
he comes, So the Pope meets and
greets him .
Pope Francis: We have ten hours
.
The journalists came one by one
to meet the Holy Father.
Father Lombardi: Have you all
really finished? Yes? Very good.
We really thank Pope Francis from
our heart because it was, I
believe, for all of us an
unforgettable moment and I
believe that its a great
introduction to this trip. I think
that you have earned somewhat
the heart of these "lions, so that
during the trip they will be your
collaborators, namely, understand
your message and spread it with
great efficacy. Thank you,
Holiness.
Pope Francis: I truly thank you
and ask you to help me
and to collaborate in this
trip for the good, for the
good, the good of
society: the good of
young people, and the
good of the elderly; all
and two together, dont
forget! And I remain
somewhat as the prophet
Daniel: somewhat sad,
because I saw the lions
werent so ferocious!
Thank you so much.
90
Thank you so much. I
embrace you all! Thank
you.
Pope+s Address at
1elcoming
Ceremon" in 4io
de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 23,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address during the Welcoming
Ceremony upon his arrival at Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil. The ceremony
was held in the Gardens of the
Guarnabara Presidential Palace.
* * *
Madam /resident'
Distin"uished Authorities'
Brethren and .riends5
In his loving providence, God
willed that the first international
trip of my pontificate should take
me back to my beloved Latin
America, specifically to Brazil, a
country proud of its links to the
Apostolic See and of its deep
sentiments of faith and friendship
that have always kept it united in
a special way to the Successor of
Peter. I am grateful for this divine
benevolence.
I have learned that, to gain access
to the Brazilian people, it is
necessary to pass through its
great heart; so let me knock
gently at this door. I ask
permission to come in and spend
this week with you. I have neither
silver nor gold, but I bring with
me the most precious thing given
to me: Jesus Christ! I have come
in his name, to feed the flame of
fraternal love that burns in every
heart; and I wish my greeting to
reach one and all: 1he &eace of
Christ be with you5
I cordially greet the President and
the distinguished members of her
government. I thank her for her
warm welcome and for the words
by which she expressed the joy of
all Brazilians at my presence in
their country. I also greet the
state governor who is hosting us
in the government palace, and the
mayor of Rio de Janeiro, as well
as the members of the Diplomatic
Corps accredited to the
government of Brazil, the other
authorities present and all those
who worked hard to make my visit
here a reality.
I would like to greet affectionately
my brother bishops, to whom falls
the serious task of guiding Gods
flock in this vast country, as well
as their beloved local churches.
With this visit, I wish to pursue
the pastoral mission proper to the
Bishop of Rome of confirming my
brothers in their faith in Christ, of
encouraging them to give an
account of the reasons for the
hope which comes from him, and
of inspiring them to offer everyone
the inexhaustible riches of his
love.
As you know, the principal reason
for my visit to Brazil goes beyond
its borders. I have actually come
for World Youth Day. I am here to
meet young people coming from
all over the world, drawn to the
91
open arms of Christ the
Redeemer. They want to find a
refuge in his embrace, close to his
heart, to listen again to his clear
and powerful appeal: "Go and
make disciples of all nations.
These young people are from
every continent, they speak many
languages, they bring with them
different cultures, and yet they
also find in Christ the answer to
their highest aspirations, held in
common, and they can satisfy the
hunger for a pure truth and an
authentic love which binds them
together in spite of differences.
Christ offers them space, knowing
that there is no force more
powerful than the one released
from the hearts of young people
when they have been conquered
by the experience of friendship
with him. Christ has confidence in
young people and entrusts them
with the very future of his
mission, "Go and make disciples.
Go beyond the confines of what is
humanly possible and create a
world of brothers and sisters! And
young people have confidence in
Christ: they are not afraid to risk
for him the only life they have,
because they know they will not
be disappointed.
As I begin my visit to Brazil, I am
well aware that, in addressing
young people, I am also speaking
to their families, their local and
national church communities, the
societies they come from, and the
men and women upon whom this
new generation largely depends.
Here it is common for parents to
say, "Our children are the apple of
our eyes. What a beautiful
expression of Brazilian wisdom
this is, applying to young people
an image drawn from our eyes,
which are the window through
which light enters into us,
granting us the miracle of sight!
What would become of us if we
didnt look after our eyes? How
could we move forward? I hope
that, during this week, each one
of us will ask ourselves this
thought-provoking question.
Listen! Young people are the
window through which the future
enters the world. They are the
window, and so they present us
with great challenges. Our
generation will show that it can
rise to the promise found in each
young person when we know how
to give them space. This means
that we have to create the
material and spiritual conditions
for their full development; to give
them a solid basis on which to
build their lives; to guarantee
their safety and their education to
be everything they can be; to
pass on to them lasting values
that make life worth living; to give
them a transcendent horizon for
their thirst for authentic happiness
and their creativity for the good;
to give them the legacy of a world
worthy of human life; and to
awaken in them their greatest
potential as builders of their own
destiny, sharing responsibility for
the future of everyone. If we can
do all this, we anticipate today the
future that enters the world
through the window of the young.
As I conclude, I ask everyone to
show consideration towards each
other and, if possible, the
sympathy needed to establish
92
friendly dialogue. The arms of the
Pope now spread to embrace all of
Brazil in its human, cultural and
religious complexity and richness.
From the Amazon Basin to the
pampas, from the dry regions to
the Pantanal, from the villages to
the great cities, no one is
excluded from the Popes
affection. In two days time, God
willing, I will remember all of you
before Our Lady of Aparecida,
invoking her maternal protection
on your homes and families. But
for now I give all of you my
blessing. Thank you for your
welcome!
A !hepherd 1ho !mells
o 6is !heep
Pope Francis+ First Apostolic
0isit Brings a =e,
2a3e on 1orld <outh
&a"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
ROME, July 23, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
As the Alitalia flight carrying Pope
Francis landed in Rio de Janeiro, a
palpable excitement filled the air
as hundreds of thousands filled
the streets of Brazil and millions
following on TV and Internet,
awaited the arrival of the first
Latin American Pope in South
America.
Journalists present on the plane
stated that the Holy Father, in
true humble fashion, asked
permission to enter Brazil before
descending from the plane.
Welcoming Pope Francis was
President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil,
civil authorities and prelates from
the country. A childrens choir
welcomed the Pope with songs,
bringing a smile to the Pontiffs
face has he paused to listen.
Many were surprised as the Holy
Father stepped inside a small Fiat
Idea, not the usual automobile
choice for a papal visit. Already
this was an indication that this
papal visit was going to be very
different from any others.
The styles of both Blessed John
Paul II and Benedict XVI were just
as humble and friendly as Francis,
the only difference being is that
they followed the normal protocols
set in place for their protection:
bullet proof cars, routes along
cordoned areas, etc.
Many use Pope Francis humble
style as a subtle dig at his
predecessors for what they
consider extravagant luxuries
afforded to a Bishop of Rome who
speaks on the need to help the
poor from a golden throne.
They couldnt be more wrong. The
successor to Peter doesnt "own
those luxuries, no more than a
person hired for a greater position
in their company doesnt "own
their new office with the beautiful
view outside their window.
Pope Francis simply chooses to
continue his way of doing things
as hes always had when he was
Archbishop of Buenos Aires. And
this simple act is drawing the
attention of millions as evidenced
yesterday when the papal
motorcade came to a standstill as
the Popes car was surrounded by
faithful wishing to greet him.
93
Even more surprising, the Pope
didnt hide; on the contrary, he
kept his window open, greeting
people as if nothing. The Popes
security detail, however, broke a
sweat.
It may seem irresponsible for
some, or even careless that a man
of the Popes stature be allowed to
be swarmed like that but it truly is
a testament to the bravery of
Francis. It takes only one
disgruntled or mentally unstable
person to mix in with the crowd
and endanger his life, yet he
doesnt shy away. He opens his
window and extends his hand. He
wants to be a part of their lives,
he wants to comfort them; a
shepherd 'who smells like his
sheep.'
This is the beauty of the World
Youth Day. Looking back at the
past 30 years, we see the scope of
Gods love through the Apostolic
Visits. Blessed John Paul II
brought the peace of God to the
Soul, Benedict XVI challenged
youth to love God with all their
Minds, and now Francis brings the
message of Gods love to peoples
Hearts.
!po3esman9 Pope+s 0isit
an ./traordinar"
./perience o
.nthusiasm
Fr) :om(ardi Bries Journalists
on Pope+s Arri$al
By 1hacio Si6ueira
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 23,
2013 (Zenit.org) - During a press
conference held last night at the
World Youth Day Media Center, Fr.
Federico Lombardi, director of the
Holy See Press Office, said the
Pope was very happy for the way
Rio and Brazil expressed their joy.
Father Lombardi spoke regarding
the Popes trip, from the airport to
Guanabara Palace where throngs
of people surrounded the papal
motorcade. "The impression was
very good. It was an extraordinary
experience of enthusiasm of both
youth and the people," he said.
The secretary of the Pope - Fr.
Lombardi said - "told me that the
Pope was always smiling and very
happy," and even confided that
the secretary was afraid at times.
Especially when the motorcade
took a wrong turn "and there was
a moment of difficulty." The
concern "is that enthusiasm could
be so great that it would be
difficult to control," but there was
no fear nor concern, said
Lombardi.
The last minute decision of
transporting the Pope by
helicopter was a decision made by
Brazilian authorities due to
demonstrations being held outside
of Guanabara Palace.
However, he assured that the
Pope's trip "was wonderful and
very calm." During his flight to
Rio, the Holy Father met with
journalists on the flight in a very
personal and friendly meeting,
94
which dealt mainly with two
points.
"The pope explained his
perspective on the WYD" which is
to see the youth not as something
separate, but young people should
always be seen in a broader
context of society." And in this
context the Pope speaks of the
young and the elderly. "Young
people have the strength and the
elderly have wisdom. We must
separate the various parts of
society, but we need both. Young
people have to be viewed in the
totality of society, the Pope told
journalists.
The second point during his
address to journalists, said the
Vatican spokesman, was against
the "disposable culture and in
favor of a culture of inclusion and
gathering, particularly regarding
the lack of jobs for young people
and the need for its full
development.
The Holy Father asked for help
from the journalists in spreading
his message, saying that without
journalists his mission would be
partial, the Papal spokesman
confirmed.
Father Lombardi said that "the trip
was very calm but quite active.
The Pope has a lot of energy. He
hardly ever rests. Its incredible."
Touching upon the points made by
Pope Francis address to the
President at Guanabara Palace,
Father Federico Lombardi stated
the fact that the Pope relayed his
concern for Brazil and for young
people. It was a speech directed
to young Brazilians and Latin
Americans.
Father Lombardi also spoke on the
private meeting that took place in
Guanabara Palace and said that
"the President was very impressed
by the Pope's speech in
Lampedusa," where Pope Francis
spoke strongly on the plight of
refugees. Other points spoken
between the Holy Father and
President Rouseff were: the
cultural aspect of the upcoming
WYD event, the inclusion of youth
in labor, and the Presidents desire
that the Apostolic visit will
encourage the Catholic faith in
Brazil.
Responding to a journalists
question regarding the Holy
Fathers upcoming visit to
Aparecida, Fr. Lombardi said that
the Pope has a great devotion to
Mary and it was exactly his first
wish when he confirmed his trip to
Rio de Janeiro. "He expressly told
the program organizers to add a
visit to Aparecida on the agenda.
He replaced one of the two days
of rest which were included in
Benedict XVIs initial program and
added this visit to Aparecida, the
director of the Holy See Press
Office said.
Pope+s 6omil" at
=ational !hrine o
;ur :ad" o
Conception in
Aparecida
APARECIDA, BRAZIL, July 24,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
95
translation of the homily given by
Pope Francis during the Mass
celebrated this morning at the
Basilica of the National Shrine of
Our Lady of Conception in
Aparecida.
* * *
My Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
What joy I feel as I come to the
house of the Mother of every
Brazilian, the Shrine of our Lady
of Aparecida! The day after my
election as Bishop of Rome, I
visited the Basilica of Saint Mary
Major in Rome, in order to entrust
my ministry as the Successor of
Peter to Our Lady. Today I have
come here to ask Mary our Mother
for the success of World Youth
Day and to place at her feet the
life of the people of Latin America.
There is something that I would
like to say first of all. Six years
ago the Fifth General Conference
of the Bishops of Latin America
and the Caribbean was held in this
Shrine. Something beautiful took
place here, which I witnessed at
first hand. I saw how the Bishops
- who were discussing the theme
of encountering Christ,
discipleship and mission - felt
encouraged, supported and in
some way inspired by the
thousands of pilgrims who came
here day after day to entrust their
lives to Our Lady. That Conference
was a great moment of Church. It
can truly be said that the
Aparecida Document was born of
this interplay between the labours
of the Bishops and the simple faith
of the pilgrims, under Marys
maternal protection. When the
Church looks for Jesus, she always
knocks at his Mothers door and
asks: "Show us Jesus". It is from
Mary that the Church learns true
discipleship. That is why the
Church always goes out on
mission in the footsteps of Mary.
Today, looking forward to the
World Youth Day which has
brought me to Brazil, I too come
to knock on the door of the house
of Mary - who loved and raised
Jesus - that she may help all of
us, pastors of Gods people,
parents and educators, to pass on
to our young people the values
that can help them build a nation
and a world which are more just,
united and fraternal. For this
reason I would like to speak of
three simple attitudes:
hopefulness, openness to being
surprised by God, and living in
joy.
1. Hopefulness. The second
reading of the Mass presents a
dramatic scene: a woman - an
image of Mary and the Church - is
being pursued by a Dragon - the
devil - who wants to devour her
child. But the scene is not one of
death but of life, because God
intervenes and saves the child (cf.
Rev 12:13a, 15-16a). How many
difficulties are present in the life
of every individual, among our
people, in our communities; yet as
great as these may seem, God
never allows us to be
overwhelmed by them. In the face
of those moments of
discouragement we experience in
life, in our efforts to evangelize or
to embody our faith as parents
within the family, I would like to
say forcefully: Always know in
your heart that God is by your
side; he never abandons you! Let
us never lose hope! Let us never
allow it to die in our hearts! The
"dragon", evil, is present in our
history, but it does not have the
upper hand. The one with the
upper hand is God, and God is our
hope! It is true that nowadays, to
some extent, everyone, including
96
our young people, feels attracted
by the many idols which take the
place of God and appear to offer
hope: money, success, power,
pleasure. Often a growing sense
of loneliness and emptiness in the
hearts of many people leads them
to seek satisfaction in these
ephemeral idols. Dear brothers
and sisters, let us be lights of
hope! Let us maintain a positive
outlook on reality. Let us
encourage the generosity which is
typical of the young and help
them to work actively in building a
better world. Young people are a
powerful engine for the Church
and for society. They do not need
material things alone; also and
above all, they need to have held
up to them those non-material
values which are the spiritual
heart of a people, the memory of
a people. In this Shrine, which is
part of the memory of Brazil, we
can almost read those values:
spirituality, generosity, solidarity,
perseverance, fraternity, joy; they
are values whose deepest root is
in the Christian faith.
2. The second attitude: openness
to being surprised by God. Anyone
who is a man or a woman of hope
- the great hope which faith gives
us - knows that even in the midst
of difficulties God acts and he
surprises us. The history of this
Shrine is a good example: three
fishermen, after a day of catching
no fish, found something
unexpected in the waters of the
Parnaba River: an image of Our
Lady of the Immaculate
Conception. Whoever would have
thought that the site of a fruitless
fishing expedition would become
the place where all Brazilians can
feel that they are children of one
Mother? God always surprises us,
like the new wine in the Gospel we
have just heard. God always saves
the best for us. But he asks us to
let ourselves be surprised by his
love, to accept his surprises. Let
us trust God! Cut off from him,
the wine of joy, the wine of hope,
runs out. If we draw near to him,
if we stay with him, what seems
to be cold water, difficulty, sin, is
changed into the new wine of
friendship with him.
3. The third attitude: living in joy.
Dear friends, if we walk in hope,
allowing ourselves to be surprised
by the new wine which Jesus
offers us, we have joy in our
hearts and we cannot fail to be
witnesses of this joy. Christians
are joyful, they are never gloomy.
God is at our side. We have a
Mother who always intercedes for
the life of her children, for us, as
Queen Esther did in the first
reading (cf Est 5:3). Jesus has
shown us that the face of God is
that of a loving Father. Sin and
death have been defeated.
Christians cannot be pessimists!
They do not look like someone in
constant mourning. If we are truly
in love with Christ and if we sense
how much he loves us, our heart
will "light up" with a joy that
spreads to everyone around us. As
Benedict XVI said: "the disciple
knows that without Christ, there is
no light, no hope, no love, no
future" (Inaugural Address, Fifth
General Conference of the Bishops
of Latin America and the
Caribbean, Aparecida, 13 May
2007, 3).
Dear friends, we have come to
knock at the door of
Marys house. She has
opened it for us, she has
let us in and she shows
us her Son. Now she
asks us to "do whatever
he tells you" (Jn 2:5).
Yes, dear Mother, we are
committed to doing
whatever Jesus tells us!
And we will do it with
hope, trusting in Gods
97
surprises and full of joy.
Amen. Hope, Surprises
and Joy: Pope's Reflections
in Aparecida
Francis 0isits Bra7il+s
=ational !hrine
to .ntrust 1<&
to ;ur :ad"
By Kathleen Naab
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 24,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Francis
exclaimed his own joy and called
Christians to be "never gloomy,"
as he visited the Shrine of Our
Lady of Aparecida today to entrust
this week's World Youth Day to
Mary.
The Pope began his homily at a
Mass he celebrated in the shrine
recalling the experience of the
2007 Fifth General Conference of
the bishops of Latin America and
the Caribbean. Benedict XVI
opened that conference and then-
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio played a
leading role.
Speaking of the conference, he
noted how the bishops, "who were
discussing the theme of
encountering Christ, discipleship
and mission -- felt encouraged,
supported and in some way
inspired by the thousands of
pilgrims who came here day after
day to entrust their lives to Our
Lady. [...] It can truly be said that
the Aparecida Document was born
of this interplay between the
labours of the Bishops and the
simple faith of the pilgrims, under
Marys maternal protection."
Mary teaches the Church true
discipleship, the Pontiff said,
explaining that for this reason, "I
too come to knock on the door of
the house of Mary -- who loved
and raised Jesus -- that she may
help all of us, pastors of Gods
people, parents and educators, to
pass on to our young people the
values that can help them build a
nation and a world which are more
just, united and fraternal."
He then went on to speak about
what he called "three simple
attitudes": hopefulness, openness
to being surprised by God, and
living in joy.
Know in your heart
Regarding hope, he commented:
"How many difficulties are present
in the life of every individual,
among our people, in our
communities; yet as great as
these may seem, God never
allows us to be overwhelmed by
them. In the face of those
moments of discouragement we
experience in life, in our efforts to
evangelize or to embody our faith
as parents within the family, I
would like to say forcefully:
Always know in your heart that
God is by your side; he never
abandons you! Let us never lose
hope!"
God always has the "upper hand,"
Francis said. "And God is our
hope."
"Dear brothers and sisters, let us
be lights of hope! Let us maintain
a positive outlook on reality. Let
us encourage the generosity which
is typical of the young and help
them to work actively in building a
better world," he encouraged.
The best
He also called listeners to be open
to "being surprised by God."
98
"Anyone who is a man or a
woman of hope - the great hope
which faith gives us - knows that
even in the midst of difficulties
God acts and he surprises us,"
Francis said.
"God always saves the best for
us," he assured. "But he asks us
to let ourselves be surprised by
his love, to accept his surprises.
Let us trust God! Cut off from him,
the wine of joy, the wine of hope,
runs out. If we draw near to him,
if we stay with him, what seems
to be cold water, difficulty, sin, is
changed into the new wine of
friendship with him."
Finally, the Pope urged "living in
joy."
"Christians are joyful, they are
never gloomy. God is at our side,"
he affirmed.
"Christians cannot be pessimists!"
the Holy Father continued. "They
do not look like someone in
constant mourning. If we are truly
in love with Christ and if we sense
how much he loves us, our heart
will 'light up' with a joy that
spreads to everyone around us. As
Benedict XVI said: 'the disciple
knows that without Christ, there is
no light, no hope, no love, no
future.'"
At the end of the Mass, Francis
commented that he
would be back to
celebrate the 300th
anniversary of the
discovery of the image of
Our Lady of Aparecida,
which will be marked in
2017.
2Eth 1orld <outh &a"
;iciall" Begins
;$er 6al a Million <outh
Participate at
;pening Mass in
Copaca(ana
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 24,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Over 500,000
youth gathered at Copacabana
Beach for the Opening Mass of the
28th World Youth Day. The Mass
was presided by Archbishop Orani
Joao Tempesta, Archbishop of St.
Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro. The
mass began with the arrival of the
Cross along with the image of the
Virgin of World Youth Day, which
was carried by young people from
the five continents.
The Mass began with prayers for
the youth who are employed as
well as for the souls of the youth
who died in a nightclub fire in
Brazil and for several children who
died in the Candelaria Massacre of
1993. Prayers were also offered
for the young female pilgrim from
France who died in a tragic bus
accident in French Guiana. The
young woman was with a group
from France on their way to Rio de
Janeiro when a truck collided with
the bus.
Although the Holy Father
customarily is not present at the
opening ceremony of World Youth
Day, Fr. Federico Lombardi,
director of the Holy See Press
Office confirmed that Pope Francis
followed the event on TV and "was
impressed by the level of
participation in the event.
The Holy Father will depart today
for a Mass at the Basilica of the
National Shrine of Our Lady of
Aparecida. Fr. Lombardi told
99
journalists that due to inclement
weather, the Holy Father will
travel to shrine by airplane rather
than by helicopter. The bad
weather conditions also prevented
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Vatican Secretary of State, from
commemorating a World Youth
Day medal at the feet of the
statue of Christ the Redeemer.
The director of the Holy See Press
Office also confirmed that the
Pope will meet with young
pilgrims from his native Argentina
at the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.
While the Holy Father celebrates
Mass at Aparecida, Bishops from
all five continents will begin a
series of catechesis in the next 3
days focusing on various themes
such as "thirst for hope, thirst for
God, "being a disciple of Christ,
and on "being a missionary: now
go!
The catechesis will be spread out
in 300 locations from Copacabana
beach to the favelas of Rio. "The
majority of the sessions will be
held in Portuguese (133), but
there will also be 50 in Spanish,
25 in English, 15 in Italian and
French, 8 in German and 5 in
Polish. In total, the catechesis will
be held in 20 different languages,
including Arabic, Croatian, Danish,
Slovenian, Greek, Czech and
Russian, a communique from the
Holy See Press Office stated.
Pope to Meet 1ith
Argentinian
<outh
Meeting to 2a3e Place in
Cathedral o 4io de
Janeiro
By Staff
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 24,
2013 (Zenit.org) - The Holy Father
will meet with Argentine youth
who have traveled to Rio de
Janeiro for the 2013 World Youth
Day, said Vatican spokesman,
Father Federico Lombardi. The
meeting will take place in the
Cathedral of of Rio de Janeiro. The
meeting was added to the
program for Thursday. The Pope
will go there to greet them, Fr.
Lombardi confirmed. The meeting
is planned for 12:30 pm.
AICA news agency reported that
Father Dario Quintana, OAR,
coordinator of the Youth Pastoral
of the Argentine Episcopal
Conference, said he had the
opportunity to see the Pope when
he entered the lower floor of Rios
cathedral on Monday, July 22, to
change cars and greet the
thousands of faithful who lined the
streets. "He greeted us, he saw
me, and made a gesture of
recognition, as he usually does.
And he did a gesture as to say `we
will see one another soon. The
incident happened at 5:05 pm,
moment in which the cathedral of
Saint Sebastian was already
crowded with faithful, who began
to arrive an hour before.
In an interview on Vatican Radio,
Father Lombardi explained Pope
Francis activities yesterday on the
opening day of WYD, where an
Inaugural Mass was held at
Copacabana Beach. "Naturally,
this is also a very important event
for the Pope, even if he wasnt
present, Fr. Lombardi said.
"Traditionally, the Pope isnt
present at this event but he
knows that it is in fact the point of
departure of these Days and,
therefore, the pulse of these Days
is felt. We have already had more
than half a million young people
this afternoon (referring to
100
yesterday afternoon) with cold,
rain. This means that things are
going very well. The enthusiasm
could be felt. What was witnessed
was a great desire, a great
expectation on the part of young
people and, hence, of the Pope,
who followed the event on
television. He knows that when he
arrives; who knows what will
happen.
Francis9 .$er"one
!hould Ma3e
Personal
Contri(ution to
.nd InBustice
!a"s Bra7il+s Poor 6a$e
0alua(le :esson or
the 1orld
By Kathleen Naab
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 25,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Francis
responded to the wildly cheering
crowds with a huge smile as he
walked through one of Brazil's
slums today.
During his visit to the Varginha
favela, he said that this
downtrodden community had to
stand for every district in Brazil,
since it was impossible to fulfill his
wish to "knock on every door [in
Brazil], to say good morning, to
ask for a glass of cold water, to
take a cafezinho, to speak as one
would to family friends, to listen
to each person pouring out his or
her heart -- parents, children,
grandparents ... But Brazil is so
vast! It is impossible to knock on
every door! So I chose to come
here, to visit your community,
which today stands for every
district in Brazil."
The Holy Father lauded the
Brazilians for making him feel so
welcome since his Monday arrival
for World Youth Day.
He said that "when we are
generous in welcoming people and
sharing something with them --
some food, a place in our homes,
our time -- not only do we no
longer remain poor: we are
enriched. I am well aware that
when someone needing food
knocks at your door, you always
find a way of sharing food; as the
proverb says, one can always add
more water to the beans! And you
do so with love, demonstrating
that true riches consist not in
material things, but in the heart!"
The Pontiff declared that the
whole world can learn a lesson
from Brazil, and particularly her
poor: "a valuable lesson in
solidarity, a word that is too often
forgotten or silenced, because it is
uncomfortable."
He urged the rich and powerful to
work for justice and all people of
good will to "never tire of working
for a more just world, marked by
greater solidarity!"
"Everybody, according to his or
her particular opportunities and
responsibilities, should be able to
make a personal contribution to
putting an end to so many social
injustices," Francis stated.
Papal solidarity
The Bishop of Rome also assured
the poor that the Church is their
defender. He said the Church
supports "every initiative that can
signify genuine development for
every person and for the whole
person," and stressed that there is
101
a need to satisfy both material
and spiritual hunger.
He pointed to four "pillars" for
development: "There is neither
real promotion of the common
good nor real human development
when there is ignorance of the
fundamental pillars that govern a
nation, its non-material goods:
life, which is a gift of God, a value
always to be protected and
promoted; the family, the
foundation of coexistence and a
remedy against social
fragmentation; integral education,
which cannot be reduced to the
mere transmission of information
for purposes of generating profit;
health, which must seek the
integral well-being of the person,
including the spiritual dimension,
essential for human balance and
healthy coexistence; security, in
the conviction that violence can be
overcome only by changing
human hearts."
Finally, Francis encouraged the
youth, and everyone, to persevere
in the fight for justice.
"Never yield to discouragement,
do not lose trust, do not allow
your hope to be extinguished," he
said. "Situations can change,
people can change. Be the first to
seek to bring good, do not grow
accustomed to evil, but defeat it.
The Church is with you, bringing
you the precious good of faith,
bringing Jesus Christ, who came
that they may have life and have
it abundantly."
--- --- ---
On ZENIT's Web page:
Pope Francis9 +2he
:i(erali7ation o
&rugs &oes =ot
4educe
&ependenc"+
Ponti 0isits 4eha(ilitation
Center in 4io de
Janeiro
By .r# Alfonso Maria Bruno
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 25,
2013 (Zenit.org) - From the
Marian Shrine of Aparecida, Pope
Francis continued his activities on
Wednesday going to another
"shrine -- that of human suffering
caused by sickness, and
dependence on drugs and alcohol.
The Saint Francis of Assisi of the
Providence of God Hospital, which
the Pope visited in the afternoon,
houses people with serious drug
and alcohol dependence and, with
its 500 available beds, offers
surgical assistance to the indigent.
Its origin goes back to the desire
of a young Brazilian, Nelio Joel
Angelo Belotti, who wished to
imitate Saint Francis.
The conversion of the Poverello of
Assisi occurred at a crucial
moment after kissing a leper, as
Pope Francis stressed in his
address at the hospital, thus also
quoting his recent encyclical
Lumen Fidei, where he makes
explicit reference to this event, in
which the marginalized and
suffering brother became
mediator of light for the young
man of Assisi in search of precise
references for his vocation and
mission in the Church.
Nelio Joel became a priest in
1984, after having founded with a
few volunteers -- who could take
utmost care of seven bedridden
indigents --, a work that some
102
twenty years later, showed the
evidence of the intervention of the
Crucified in the flesh of the men
who carry the cross of suffering
and sickness.
And Brazil and the world, weighed
down as they are by indifference
and egoism, are in need of such
good Samaritans.
Effective was the example of a
youth of the "Land of Vera Cruz,
who became a bearer of hope with
meager human and financial
means.
This hospital opened a new
pavilion, blessed by Pope Francis,
thanks to the contribution of the 8
per thousand of the Italian
Episcopal Conference. Its
particularity is the treatment and
care of young people who depend
on chemical substances and
synthetic drugs.
The Pope wished to express his
affection to all the patients and
persons working in the hospital
with the image of a great
embrace.
"We are all in need of looking at
the other with the loving eyes of
Christ, learn to embrace those
who are in need, to express our
closeness, affection and love,
said Francis.
"But to embrace isnt sufficient.
We must give a hand to those in
difficulty, to those who have fallen
into the darkness of dependence,
perhaps not knowing how, and we
must say to them: You can get
up, you can rise again, its
laborious, but possible if you want
to, he continued.
From the sentiment of affection
and compassion, therefore, the
Pope invited to action that is
solidaristic and of a good father
and teacher, so that care does not
become welfare, he said to every
victim of toxic dependence. "Be
protagonists of the rising; this is
the indispensable condition! You
will find the outstretched hand of
one who wants to help you, but no
one can rise for you.
Pope Francis then praised the
work of those who assist in the
medical profession and in the
psychological support of victims of
dependence and, touching on a
political proposal as controversial
as it is timely in different countries
of the world, he continued: "Its
not with the liberalization of the
use of drugs, as is being discussed
in several parts of Latin America,
that the diffusion and influence of
chemical dependence will be able
to be reduced. It is necessary to
address the problems that are at
the base of their use, promoting
greater justice, educating young
people in values that build
common life, supporting those
who are in difficulty and giving
hope in the future.
With his usual gentleness, Pope
Francis had a thought, a word and
a proposal for each and all, but he
also condemned firmly the
"merchants of death, the drug
traffickers.
To all, he repeated: "do not let
hope be stolen from you! And he
added by way of conclusion: Let
us not steal hope, rather let us all
become bearers of hope!
Pope Francis+ Address in
the =eigh(orhood
o 0arginha in the
Manguinhos
Fa$ela
103
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 25,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Pope's address
during his visit to
the Neighborhood of Varginha in
the Manguinhos Favela.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is wonderful to be here with
you! From the start, my wish in
planning this visit to Brazil was to
be able to visit every district
throughout the nation. I would
have liked to knock on every door,
to say good morning, to ask for a
glass of cold water, to take a
cafezinho, to speak as one would
to family friends, to listen to each
person pouring out his or her
heart parents, children,
grandparents ... But Brazil is so
vast! It is impossible to knock on
every door! So I chose to come
here, to visit your community,
which today stands for every
district in Brazil. How wonderful it
is to be welcomed with such love,
generosity, and joy! One need
only look at the way you have
decorated the streets of the
community; this is a further mark
of affection, it comes from your
heart, from the heart of all
Brazilians in festive mood. Many
thanks to each of you for this kind
welcome! And I thank Archbishop
Orani Tempesta as well as Rangler
and Joana for their kind words.
1. From the moment I first set
foot on Brazilian soil, right up to
this meeting here with you, I have
been made to feel welcome. And it
is important to be able to make
people welcome; this is something
even more beautiful than any kind
of ornament or decoration. I say
this because when we are
generous in welcoming people and
sharing something with them
some food, a place in our homes,
our time not only do we no longer
remain poor: we are enriched. I
am well aware that when someone
needing food knocks at your door,
you always find a way of sharing
food; as the proverb says, one
can always add more water to the
beans! And you do so with love,
demonstrating that true riches
consist not in material things, but
in the heart!
And the Brazilian people,
particularly the humblest among
you, can offer the world a valuable
lesson in solidarity, a word that is
too often forgotten or silenced,
because it is uncomfortable. I
would like to make an appeal to
those in possession of greater
resources, to public authorities
and to all people of good will who
are working for social justice:
never tire of working for a more
just world, marked by greater
solidarity! No one can remain
insensitive to the inequalities that
persist in the world! Everybody,
according to his or her particular
opportunities and responsibilities,
should be able to make a personal
contribution to putting an end to
so many social injustices. The
culture of selfishness and
individualism that often prevails in
our society is not what builds up
and leads to a more habitable
world: it is the culture of solidarity
that does so, seeing others not as
rivals or statistics, but brothers
and sisters.
I would like to encourage the
efforts that Brazilian society is
making to integrate all its
members, including those who
suffer most and are in greatest
need, through the fight against
hunger and deprivation. No
amount of peace-building will be
able to last, nor will harmony and
happiness be attained in a society
that ignores, pushes to the
margins or excludes a part of
itself. A society of that kind simply
104
impoverishes itself, it loses
something essential. Let us always
remember this: only when we are
able to share do we become truly
rich; everything that is shared is
multiplied! The measure of the
greatness of a society is found in
the way it treats those most in
need, those who have nothing
apart from their poverty!
2. I would also like to tell you
that the Church, the advocate of
justice and defender of the poor in
the face of intolerable social and
economic inequalities which cry to
heaven (Aparecida Document,
395), wishes to offer her support
for every initiative that can signify
genuine development for every
person and for the whole person.
Dear friends, it is certainly
necessary to give bread to the
hungry this is an act of justice.
But there is also a deeper hunger,
the hunger for a happiness that
only God can satisfy. There is
neither real promotion of the
common good nor real human
development when there is
ignorance of the fundamental
pillars that govern a nation, its
non-material goods: life, which is
a gift of God, a value always to be
protected and promoted; the
family, the foundation of
coexistence and a remedy against
social fragmentation; integral
education, which cannot be
reduced to the mere transmission
of information for purposes of
generating profit; health, which
must seek the integral well-being
of the person, including the
spiritual dimension, essential for
human balance and healthy
coexistence; security, in the
conviction that violence can be
overcome only by changing
human hearts.
3. I would like to add one final
point. Here, as in the whole of
Brazil, there are many young
people. Dear young friends, you
have a particular sensitivity
towards injustice, but you are
often disappointed by facts that
speak of corruption on the part of
people who put their own interests
before the common good. To you
and to all, I repeat: never yield to
discouragement, do not lose trust,
do not allow your hope to be
extinguished. Situations can
change, people can change. Be
the first to seek to bring good, do
not grow accustomed to evil, but
defeat it. The Church is with you,
bringing you the precious good of
faith, bringing Jesus Christ, who
came that they may have life and
have it abundantly (Jn 10:10).
Today, to all of you, especially to
the residents of this Community of
Varginha, I say: you are not
alone, the Church is with you, the
Pope is with you. I carry each of
you in my heart and I make my
own the intentions that you carry
deep within you: thanksgiving for
joys, pleas for help in times of
difficulty, a desire for consolation
in times of grief and suffering. I
entrust all this to the intercession
of Our Lady of Aparecida, Mother
of all the poor of Brazil, and with
great affection I impart my
blessing.
Pope Francis+ Address
at !ao Francisco
&e Assis =a
Pro$idencia
6ospital
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 25,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the address given by
Pope Francis during his visit to the
So Francisco De Assis Na
Providncia Hospital, which assists
105
drug addicts and alcoholics and
offers free medical care to the
poor.
* * *
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Dear Archbishop Tempesta,
brother Bishops,
Distinguished Authorities,
Members of the Venerable Third
Order of Saint Francis of Penance,
Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care
Workers,
Dear Young People and Family
Members,
God has willed that my journey,
after the Shrine of Our Lady of
Aparecida, should take me to a
particular shrine of human
suffering the Saint Francis of
Assisi Hospital. The conversion of
your patron saint is well known:
the young Francis abandoned the
riches and comfort of the world in
order to become a poor man
among the poor. He understood
that true joy and riches do not
come from the idols of this world
material things and the possession
of them but are to be found only
in following Christ and serving
others. Less well known, perhaps,
is the moment when this
understanding took concrete form
in his own life. It was when
Francis embraced a leper. This
brother, suffering and an outcast,
was the mediator of light ... for
Saint Francis of Assisi (Lumen
Fidei, 57), because in every
suffering brother and sister that
we embrace, we embrace the
suffering Body of Christ. Today, in
this place where people struggle
with drug addiction, I wish to
embrace each and every one of
you, who are the flesh of Christ,
and to ask God to renew your
journey, and also mine, with
purpose and steadfast hope.
To embrace we all have to learn to
embrace the one in need, as Saint
Francis did. There are so many
situations in Brazil, and
throughout the world, that require
attention, care and love, like the
fight against chemical
dependency. Often, instead, it is
selfishness that prevails in our
society. How many dealers of
death there are that follow the
logic of power and money at any
cost! The scourge of drug-
trafficking, that favours violence
and sows the seeds of suffering
and death, requires of society as a
whole an act of courage. A
reduction in the spread and
influence of drug addiction will not
be achieved by a liberalization of
drug use, as is currently being
proposed in various parts of Latin
America. Rather, it is necessary to
confront the problems underlying
the use of these drugs, by
promoting greater justice,
educating young people in the
values that build up life in society,
accompanying those in difficulty
and giving them hope for the
future. We all need to look upon
one another with the loving eyes
of Christ, and to learn to embrace
those in need, in order to show
our closeness, affection and love.
To embrace someone is not
enough, however. We must hold
the hand of the one in need, of
the one who has fallen into the
darkness of dependency perhaps
without even knowing how, and
we must say to him or her: You
can get up, you can stand up. It is
difficult, but it is possible if you
want to. Dear friends, I wish to
say to each of you, but especially
to all those others who have not
had the courage to embark on our
journey: You have to want to
stand up; this is the indispensible
condition! You will find an
outstretched hand ready to help
you, but no one is able to stand
106
up in your place. But you are
never alone! The Church and so
many people are close to you.
Look ahead with confidence. Yours
is a long and difficult journey, but
look ahead, there is a sure future,
set against a different horizon
with regard to the illusory
enticements of the idols of this
world, yet granting new
momentum and strength to our
daily lives (Lumen Fidei, 57). To
all of you, I repeat: Do not let
yourselves be robbed of hope!
And not only that, but I say to us
all: let us not rob others of hope,
let us become bearers of hope!
In the Gospel, we read the
parable of the Good Samaritan,
that speaks of a man assaulted by
robbers and left half dead at the
side of the road. People pass by
him and look at him. But they do
not stop, they just continue on
their journey, indifferent to him: it
is none of their business! Only a
Samaritan, a stranger, sees him,
stops, lifts him up, takes him by
the hand, and cares for him (cf.
Lk 10:29-35). Dear friends, I
believe that here, in this hospital,
the parable of the Good Samaritan
is made tangible. Here there is no
indifference, but concern. There is
no apathy, but love. The Saint
Francis Association and the
Network for the Treatment of
Drug Addiction show how to reach
out to those in difficulty because
in them we see the face of Christ,
because in these persons, the
flesh of Christ suffers. Thanks are
due to all the medical
professionals and their associates
who work here. Your service is
precious; undertake it always with
love. It is a service given to Christ
present in our brothers and
sisters. As Jesus says to us: As
you did it to one of the least of
these my brethren, you did it to
me (Mt 25:40).
And I wish to repeat to all of you
who struggle against drug
addiction, and to those family
members who share in your
difficulties: the Church is not
distant from your troubles, but
accompanies you with affection.
The Lord is near you and he takes
you by the hand. Look to him in
your most difficult moments and
he will give you consolation and
hope. And trust in the maternal
love of his Mother Mary. This
morning, in the Shrine of
Aparecida, I entrusted each of you
to her heart. Where there is a
cross to carry, she, our Mother, is
always there with us. I leave you
in her hands, while with great
affection I bless all of you.
Pope+s 2elegram to
0ictims o 2rain
Accident in !pain
ROME, July 25, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
Here is the translation of the
telegram sent by Pope Francis to
Archbishop Julian Barrio Barrio of
Santiago de Compostela regarding
the tragic train accident that killed
78 people.
* * *
Telegram to MONS. JULIN
BARRIO BARRIO
Archbishop of Santiago de
Compostela, Spain
Having been informed of the very
serious railway accident that
occurred near Santiago de
Compostela, that caused many
victims and many wounded, I
have been deeply distressed and
have raised a fervent pray to the
Lord for all those who have died
and those who are victims of this
tragic event.
107
Filled with deep pain, I ask your
Excellency to please let those who
have suffered know of my
closeness to the their families, my
fraternal affection and my
personal solidarity, assuring them
of suffrages for the deceased and
a complete and total recovery for
all those who have been so
terribly distressed.
On this day when the Church
entrusts herself to the intercession
of James the Apostle, heavenly
patron of Spain and Witness of the
Risen Christ, together with my
epxressions of encouragement for
all the children of this noble land,
I cordially impart a special
Apostolic blessing that comes
from faith and is a bearer of
consolation that offers true love.
Francis. PP.
Pope Francis 4elects on
the Importance o
%randparents
%reets Faithul %athered or
Angelus in 4io de
Janeiro
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - The Holy Father
reflected on the role of
grandparents on the Feast of
Saints Joachim and Anne, the
parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and grandparents to Jesus. Pope
Francis addressed thousands of
faithful gathered in front of the
residence of the Archbishop of Rio
de Janeiro prior to the recitation
of the Angelus.
Explaining the significant role
Saints Joachim and Anne played in
the life of the Blessed Mother, the
Pope told those present that the
parents of Mary were part of "a
long chain of people who had
transmitted their love for God,
expressed in the warmth and love
of family life.
Pope Francis took the opportunity
to impart a special greeting for
Grandparents Day which is
celebrated today in Brazil. "How
important grandparents are for
family life, for passing on the
human and religious heritage
which is so essential for each and
every society! the Pope
exclaimed.
"How important it is to have
intergenerational exchanges and
dialogue, especially within the
context of the family. Citing the
Aparecida Document, the Holy
Father reiterated the themes he
expressed during yesterdays
meeting with Argentinian youth,
highlighting the important role
that both the youth and the
elderly have in society.
"This relationship and this
dialogue between generations is a
treasure to be preserved and
strengthened! In this World Youth
Day, young people wish to
acknowledge and honour their
grandparents. They salute them
with great affection and they
thank them for the ongoing
witness of their wisdom. They
Pope then invited the faithful
present to greet all grandparents,
which they responded with
thunderous applause.
The Pope concluded his address
reciting the Angelus and imparting
his Apostolic Blessing on the
faithful.
108
Pope Meets ,ith
Argentinian
<outh
In$ites Both <oung and ;ld to
=ot Be ./cluded rom
!ociet"
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Thousands of
Argentinian youth in Rio for World
Youth Day met with the Holy
Father yesterday afternoon. Pope
Francis had personally requested
that his schedule be rearranged to
have a moment to meet with
them. The meeting was held in
the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.
The Holy Father began his address
by expressing his hope that the
World Youth Day would bring
about a "mess in their dioceses, a
term he used to describe a call to
action in announcing the Gospel.
"I want people to go out! he
explained. "I want the Church to
go out to the street! I want us to
defend ourselves against
everything that is worldliness, that
is installation, that is
comfortableness, that is
clericalism, that is being shut-in in
ourselves. The parishes, the
schools, the institutions, exist to
go out! If they dont go out, they
become NGOs, and the Church
cant be an NGO.
The 76 year old Pontiff went on to
speak of the rising exclusion of
both young people and the
elderly, or as he described as "the
two poles of life. The elderly are
often uncared for and unheard in
todays society, while the youth
are excluded from having a stable
employment.
"The percentage that exists of
young people without work,
unemployed, is very high, the
Pope said. "And it is a generation
that doesnt have the experience
of the dignity earned by work. In
other words, this civilization has
led us to exclude the two
extremes that are our future!
Calling on young people to show
their worth and fight for values,
the Pope also appealed to the
elderly to transmit to us "the
wisdom of the Nations.
"I ask this from my heart of the
elderly: do not shirk your duty to
be the cultural reserve of our
people, which transmits justice,
which transmits history, which
transmits values, which transmits
the memory of the Nation. Pope
Francis also invited the youth to
not shun the elderly, but to listen
and learn from them.
The Scandal of the Cross
Pope Francis appealed to those
present to take Jesus Christ
seriously in front of the "scandal
of the Cross.
"That God came to make Himself
one of us is a scandal! And that
He died on the Cross is a scandal,
the scandal of the Cross. The
Cross continues to be a scandal,
but the Cross is the only sure
way, Jesus is the only sure way,
Jesus Incarnation! the Pope said.
The Holy Father continued his
address, calling on the youth to
not live a watered-down faith, but
to have it in its purest form: the
faith that the Son of God was
made man and that He loved us
and died for our sins.
The Holy concluded his address by
reiterating his call to not allow the
109
exclusion of both young and old in
the fabric of society.
Regarding the Popes meeting with
the youth, Vatican spokesman Fr.
Federico Lombardi stated that the
Holy Fathers message is a "classic
example of the Popes missionary
zeal in announcing the Good
News.
Pope Francis9 5Put in
Faith' 6ope' And
:o$eA5
Ponti In$ites <outh 2o +Put
Christ+ In 2heir :i$es
&uring 1elcoming
Ceremon"
By .r# Alfonso Maria Bruno
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Blessed Joseph
Anchieta, of the Society of Jesus,
wrote on the sand of the Brazilian
beach and memorized a splendid
poem on Our Lady.
After 460 years another Jesuit
dressed in white, Pope Francis,
wrote on the carioca beach
another splendid poem, altogether
Marian and Franciscan: give Christ
to the world through young
people.
Arriving by helicopter at the
Copacabana fortress, the Pope
was driven in an open-top jeep a
few kilometers along the sea.
In some 30 minutes, advancing at
a mans pace, between stopping
and going to embrace and kiss
children who were presented to
him in a jubilant crowd, he also
received the gift of a white skull
cap, not made in the "regular
way, which he put on without
hesitation offering his own to the
young donor.
Having taken his place on the
stage, from which he came down
to greet some prelate friends
present there, he embraced
Monsignor Marini, his master of
ceremonies, who introduced him
to Deacon Marcio to give a nice
framework to the moment, that
cleric being his Brazilian double,
be it for his striking physical
similarity, be it for his passion for
the sacred liturgy.
While the ovation "esta es la
juventud del Papa [this is the
Youth of the Pope] was being
heard, he was greeted by five
youths representing five
continents.
A visibly moved Brazilian girl
offered him the gift of a seedling,
a sign of a bond with the Brazilian
earth.
"I have so much hope in you!
Above all, I hope you will renew
your fidelity to Jesus Christ and to
His redeeming Cross, said Pope
Francis to young people, quoting
John Paul IIs same phrase at the
1997 WYD of Buenos Aires.
Always remembering his
predecessors, he then asked for a
greeting to Benedict XVI, who
chose Rio as the place for the
present WYD.
The thunder of applause for the
Pope Emeritus was preceded by a
minute of silence for young Sophie
Moriniere and those wounded in
the tragic bus accident of the
French pilgrims of the WYD while
they were in Guyana. In the
morning, Pope Francis had also
sent a message of sympathy for
110
the victims of the train disaster in
Santiago de Compostela.
"My Pastors heart embraces you
all with universal affection. May
Christ the Redeemer, from the top
of the mountain of Corcovado,
receive us in this most beautiful
city of Rio!, were the Popes
vibrant words.
In the somewhat surreal
atmosphere of the techno-
illumination there was then a leap
to the past, when merchants,
mercenaries and missionaries,
disembarked on the same coast of
Vera Cruz for evidently different
objectives.
With appropriate costumes, young
people evoked that period pulling
in a cart a beautiful image of Our
Lady of Aparecida followed by the
Cross and by all the disinherited of
the earth crucified by poverty,
sickness and exclusion.
During the meditation of the
Liturgy of the Word that concluded
the event, Pope Francis added a
recipe for young people: "Put in
faith, put in hope, put in love!
The Pontiff explained himself thus:
"Bota fe (put on faith). When we
prepare a plate of food and we see
that it needs salt, well, we "put
on salt; when it needs oil, then
you "put on oil. "To put on, that
is, to place on top of, to pour
over. And so it is in our life, dear
young friends: if we want it to
have real meaning and fulfilment,
as you want and as you deserve, I
say to each one of you, "Put on
faith, and your life will take on a
new flavour, it will have a
compass to show you the way;
"put on hope and every one of
your days will be enlightened and
your horizon will no longer be
dark, but luminous; "put on love,
and your life will be like a house
built on rock, your journey will be
joyful, because you will find many
friends to journey with you.
Faith, hope and love, however,
have a foundation and a model:
Christ Jesus.
"Dear young people: "Put on
Christ in your lives.
From the emotional to the real,
Pope Francis indicated the
sacrament of Confession to be
reconciled with Christ, with others,
and with oneself.
He invited to feed on the "Flesh of
the Eucharist, sacrament of
Christs presence, of his sacrifice
of love.
Finally he proposed meeting ones
neighbor in these days in which
young people are living a unique
experience of cultural exchange
with their contemporaries from
different countries, and spiritual
growth through voluntary work
and the catecheses received.
"Its lovely to be here, said Pope
Francis, interpreting the thoughts
of the young people, but he also
recalled them to their
responsibilities and to a mature
plan of life when he said:
"Looking at this sea, the beach
and all of you, there comes to
mind the moment in which Jesus
called the first disciples to follow
him, on the shore of the lake of
Tiberias. Today Jesus asks us
again: Do you want to be my
disciple? Do you want to be my
friend? Do you want to be a
witness of my Gospel?
Each one felt asked; each one will
give his answer to Christ with his
life.
111
Receiving the image of Our Lady
of Aparecida, Pope Francis invited
them to "be disciples and
missionaries as She is (.)
because Christ is counting on us!
;n the Feast o !ts)
Joachim and
Anne
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Address given
by the Holy Father at the
residence of the Archbishop of Rio
de Janeiro to pray the Angelus
prayer for the Feast of Sts. Anne
and Joachim, the parents of the
Mother of God and the
grandparents of Jesus. It is also
Grandparents Day in Brazil and
around the world.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Dear Friends,
I give thanks to Divine Providence
for bringing me here to the city of
So Sebastio do Rio de Janeiro. I
offer heartfelt thanks to
Archbishop Orani Tempesta and to
each of you for your warm
welcome, which demonstrates
your affection for the Successor of
Peter. I would be happy if my visit
to this city were to renew, in each
one of you, your love for Christ
and his Church and your joy in
being one with him, belonging to
the Church and being committed
to offering a living witness to the
faith.
The An"elus prayer is a beautiful
popular expression of the faith. It
is a simple prayer, recited at three
specific times during the day. It
thus punctuates the rhythm of our
daily activities: in the morning, at
midday, and at sunset. But it is an
important prayer. I encourage
each of you to recite it, along with
the Hail Mary. It reminds us of a
luminous event which transformed
history: the Incarnation, the
moment when the Son of God
became man in Jesus of Nazareth.
Today the Church celebrates the
parents of the Virgin Mary, the
grandparents of Jesus, Saints
Joachim and Anne. In their home,
Mary came into the world,
accompanied by the extraordinary
mystery of the Immaculate
Conception. Mary grew up in the
home of Joachim and Anne; she
was surrounded by their love and
faith: in their home she learned to
listen to the Lord and to follow his
will. Saints Joachim and Anne
were part of a long chain of
people who had transmitted their
love for God, expressed in the
warmth and love of family life,
down to Mary, who received the
Son of God in her womb and who
gave him to the world, to us. How
precious is the family as the
privileged place for transmitting
the faith! Speaking about family
life, I would like to say one thing:
today, as Brazil and the Church
around the world celebrate this
feast of Saints Joachim and Anne,
Grandparents Day is also being
celebrated. How important
grandparents are for family life,
for passing on the human and
religious heritage which is so
essential for each and every
society! How important it is to
have intergenerational exchanges
and dialogue, especially within the
context of the family. The
Aparecida Document says,
"Children and the elderly build the
future of peoples: children
because they lead history forward,
the elderly because they transmit
112
the experience and wisdom of
their lives" (No. 447). This
relationship and this dialogue
between generations is a treasure
to be preserved and strengthened!
In this World Youth Day, young
people wish to acknowledge and
honour their grandparents. They
salute them with great affection
and they thank them for the
ongoing witness of their wisdom.
And now, in this Square, in all the
surrounding streets, and in those
homes that are experiencing this
moment of prayer with us, we feel
like one big family, and we turn to
Mary, that she may protect our
families and make them places of
faith and love in which the
presence of Jesus her Son is felt.
Pope+s 6omil" &uring
1orld <outh &a"
Pra"er !er$ice in
Copaca(ana
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
homily during a prayer service
held during the Welcoming
Ceremony of the 28th World Youth
Day in Copacabana Beach.
* * *
Dear Friends,
"It is good for us to be here!,
Peter cries out after seeing the
Lord Jesus transfigured in glory.
Do we want to repeat these words
with him? I think the answer is
yes, because here today, it is
good for all of us to be gathered
together around Jesus! It is he
who welcomes us and who is
present in our midst here in Rio.
In the Gospel we have heard God
the Father say: "This is my Son,
my chosen one; listen to him! (Lk
9:35). If it is Jesus who welcomes
us, we too ought to welcome him
and listen to his words; it is
precisely through the welcome we
give to Jesus Christ, the Word
made flesh, that the Holy Spirit
transforms us, lights up our way
to the future, and enables us
joyfully to advance along that way
with wings of hope (cf. Lumen
Fidei, 7).
But what can we do? "Bota f -
put on faith. The World Youth
Day Cross has proclaimed these
words throughout its pilgrimage in
Brazil. "Put on faith: what does
this mean? When we prepare a
plate of food and we see that it
needs salt, well, we "put on salt;
when it needs oil, then you "put
on oil. "To put on, that is, to
place on top of, to pour over. And
so it is in our life, dear young
friends: if we want it to have real
meaning and fulfilment, as you
want and as you deserve, I say to
each one of you, "Put on faith,
and your life will take on a new
flavour, it will have a compass to
show you the way; "put on hope
and every one of your days will be
enlightened and your horizon will
no longer be dark, but luminous;
"put on love, and your life will be
like a house built on rock, your
journey will be joyful, because you
will find many friends to journey
with you. Put on faith, put on
hope, put on love!
But who can give us all this? In
the Gospel we have just heard the
answer: Christ. "This is my Son,
my chosen one. Listen to him!
Jesus is the one who brings God
to us and us to God. With him, our
life is transformed and renewed,
and we can see reality with new
eyes, from Jesus standpoint, with
his own eyes (cf. Lumen Fidei,
18). For this reason, I want to
insist with you today: "Put on
Christ! in your life, and you will
find a friend in whom you can
113
always trust; "put on Christ and
you will see the wings of hope
spreading and letting you journey
with joy towards the future; "put
on Christ and your life will be full
of his love; it will be a fruitful life.
Today, I would like each of us to
ask sincerely: in whom do we
place our trust? In ourselves, in
material things, or in Jesus? We
are all tempted to put ourselves at
the centre, to think that we alone
build our lives or that our life can
only be happy if built on
possessions, money, or power.
But it is not so. Certainly,
possessions, money and power
can give a momentary thrill, the
illusion of being happy, but they
end up possessing us and making
us always want to have more,
never satisfied. "Put on Christ in
your life, place your trust in him
and you will never be
disappointed! You see how faith
accomplishes a revolution in us,
one which we can call Copernican,
because it removes us from the
centre and restores it to God;
faith immerses us in his love and
gives us security, strength, and
hope. To all appearances, nothing
has changed; yet, in the depths of
our being, everything is different.
Peace, consolation, gentleness,
courage, serenity and joy, which
are all fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf.
Gal 5:22), find a home in our
heart, and our very being is
transformed; our way of thinking
and acting is made new, it
becomes Jesus own, Gods own,
way of thinking and acting. During
the Year of Faith, this World Youth
Day is truly a gift offered to us to
draw us closer to the Lord, to be
his disciples and his missionaries,
to let him renew our lives.
Dear young people: "Put on
Christ in your lives. In these
days, Christ awaits you in his
word; listen carefully to him and
your heart will be warmed by his
presence; "Put on Christ: he
awaits you in the sacrament of
Penance, to heal by his mercy the
wounds caused by sin. Do not be
afraid to ask Gods forgiveness!
He never tires of forgiving us, like
a father who loves us. God is pure
mercy! "Put on Christ: he is
waiting for you in his flesh in the
Eucharist, the sacrament of his
presence and his sacrifice of love,
and in the humanity of the many
young people who will enrich you
with their friendship, encourage
you by their witness to the faith,
and teach you the language of
charity, goodness and service.
You too, dear young people, can
be joyful witnesses of his love,
courageous witnesses of his
Gospel, carrying to this world a
ray of his light.
"It is good for us to be here,
putting on Christ in our lives,
putting on the faith, hope and love
which he gives us. Dear friends, in
this celebration we have
welcomed the image of Our Lady
of Aparecida. With Mary, may we
be disciples and missionaries. Like
her, may we say "Yes to God. Let
us ask that her maternal heart
intercede for us, so that our
hearts may be open to loving
Jesus and making others love him.
He is waiting for us, and he is
counting on us. Amen.
Pope Francis+
1elcoming
Address in
Copaca(ana
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
address given by Pope Francis
during the welcoming ceremony of
114
the 28th World Youth Day which
was held in Copacabana Beach.
* * *
Dear Young Friends,
Good evening! In you I see the
beauty of Christs young face and
I am filled with joy. I recall the
first World Youth Day on an
international level. It was
celebrated in 1987 in Argentina, in
my home city of Buenos Aires. I
still cherish the words of Blessed
John Paul II to the young people
on that occasion: "I have great
hope in you! I hope above all that
you will renew your fidelity to
Jesus Christ and to his redeeming
Cross (Address to Young People,
Buenos Aires, 11 April
1987).Before I continue, I would
like to call to mind the tragic
accident in French Guiana in which
young Sophie Morinire was killed
and other young people were
wounded. I invite all of you to
observe a minutes silence and to
pray for Sophie, for the wounded,
and for their families.
This year, World Youth Day comes
to Latin America for the second
time. And you, young people,
have responded in great number
to the invitation extended by Pope
Benedict XVI to celebrate this
occasion. We express to him our
heartfelt thanks. I am looking at
the large crowd before me - there
are so many of you! And you have
come from every continent! In
many cases you have come from
afar, not only geographically, but
also existentially, culturally,
socially and humanly. But today
you are all here, or better yet, we
are all here together as one, in
order to share the faith and the
joy of an encounter with Christ, of
being his disciples. This week Rio
has become the centre of the
Church, its heart both youthful
and vibrant, because you have
responded generously and
courageously to the invitation that
Christ has made to you to be with
him and to become his
friends. The train of this World
Youth Day has come from afar
and has travelled across all of
Brazil following the stages of the
project entitled "Bota f - put on
faith! Today the train has arrived
at Rio de Janeiro. From
Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer
embraces us and blesses us.
Looking out to this sea, the beach
and all of you gathered here, I am
reminded of the moment when
Jesus called the first disciples to
follow him by the shores of Lake
Tiberias. Today Christ asks each
of us again: Do you want to be my
disciple? Do you want to be my
friend? Do you want to be a
witness to my Gospel? In the spirit
of The Year of Faith, these
questions invite us to renew our
commitment as Christians. Your
families and local communities
have passed on to you the great
gift of faith, Christ has grown in
you. I have come today to confirm
you in this faith, faith in the living
Christ who dwells within you, but I
have also come to be confirmed
by the enthusiasm of your faith!
I greet you with great affection.
To all of you assembled here from
the five continents and, through
you, to all young people of the
world, and in particular to those
who have not been able to come
to Rio de Janeiro but who are
following us by means of radio,
television and internet, I say:
Welcome to this immense feast of
faith! In several parts of the
world, at this very moment, many
young people have come together
to share this event: let us all
experience the joy of being united
with each other in friendship and
faith. And be sure of this: my
pastoral heart embraces all of you
with universal affection. From the
115
summit of the mountain of
Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer
welcomes you to this beautiful city
of Rio!I wish to extend greetings
to the President of the Pontifical
Council for the Laity, the dear and
tireless Cardinal StanisIaw RyIko,
and to all who work with him. I
thank Archbishop Orani Joo
Tempesta, of So Sebastio do
Rio de Janeiro, for the warm
welcome given to me and for the
considerable work of preparation
for this World Youth Day, together
with the many Dioceses of this
vast country of Brazil. I would also
like to express my gratitude to all
the national, state and local
authorities and to those who have
worked to make possible this
unique moment of celebration of
unity, faith and fraternity. Thank
you to my brother Bishops, to the
priests, seminarians, consecrated
persons and the lay faithful that
have accompanied the young from
various parts of the world on their
pilgrimage to Jesus. To each and
every one of you I offer my
affectionate embrace in the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, dear friends,
welcome to the XXVIII World
Youth Day in this marvellous city
of Rio de Janeiro!
Pope+s Address to
Argentinian
<outh
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 26,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address to the youth from
Argentina gathered in Rio for
World Youth Day.
* * *
Thank you, thank you for being
here today. Thank you to those
who are inside, and many thanks
to those who are outside, to the
30,000 Im told are outside. I
greet you from here! You are
under the rain. Thank you for the
gesture of coming, for having
come to the Youth Day.
I asked Doctor Gasbarri, who is
the one in charge of things, who
organizes the trip, if there was a
small place to meet with you, and
by midday he had everything
arranged. So I want to thank
Doctor Gasbarri publicly, for what
he has succeeded in doing today.
I would like to say something.
What do I expect as a
consequence of the Youth Day? I
expect a mess. There will be one.
There will be a mess here in Rio?
There will be! But I want a mess
in the dioceses! I want people to
go out! I want the Church to go
out to the street! I want us to
defend ourselves against
everything that is worldliness, that
is installation, that is
comfortableness, that is
clericalism, that is being shut-in in
ourselves. The parishes, the
schools, the institutions, exist to
go out! If they dont go out, they
become NGOs, and the Church
cant be an NGO.
May the Bishops and priests
forgive me, if one of them
afterwards has a row with you,
but it is my advice. Thank you for
what you can do. Look, I think
that at this moment, this global
civilization has gone too far, has
gone too far! Because the worship
of the god-money is such, that we
are witnessing a philosophy and
praxis of exclusion of the two
poles of life which are the
promises of the nations. And of
course, because one could think
that there might be a sort of
hidden euthanasia, namely, that
the elderly are not looked after.
116
But there is also a cultural
euthanasia: they are not allowed
to speak; they are not allowed to
act! And <then there is> the
exclusion of young people: the
percentage that exists of young
people without work, unemployed,
is very high! And it is a generation
that doesnt have the experience
of the dignity earned by work. <In
other words>, this civilization has
led us to exclude the two
extremes that are our future!
So, young people must go out,
they must show their worth.
Young people must go out to fight
for values, to fight for values! And
oldsters must open their mouth;
the elderly must open their mouth
and teach us, transmitting to us
the wisdom of the nations. In the
Argentine Nation, I ask this from
my heart of the elderly: do not
shirk your duty to be the cultural
reserve of our people, which
transmits justice, which transmits
history, which transmits values,
which transmits the memory of
the Nation. And you, please, dont
have it in for the elderly! Let them
speak, listen to them, and go
forward! But know, know that at
this moment you, the young and
the old, are condemned to the
same destiny: exclusion! Dont let
yourselves be excluded! Is that
clear? Thats why I think you have
to work.
And faith in Jesus Christ isnt a
joke, its something very serious,
its a scandal. That God came to
make Himself one of us is a
scandal! And that He died on the
Cross is a scandal, the scandal of
the Cross. The Cross continues to
be a scandal, but the Cross is the
only sure way, Jesus is the only
sure way, Jesus Incarnation!
Please, dont liquefy faith in Jesus
Christ! There is orange milk
shake, apple milk shake, banana
milkshake, but please, dont take
liquefied faith! The faith is whole,
its not to be liquefied. It is faith in
Jesus. It is faith in the Son of God
made man, who loved me and
died for me.
So, have a row! Look after the
extremes of the Nation which are
the elderly and young people!
Dont let yourselves be excluded
and dont let the elderly be
excluded; secondly, dont liquefy
faith in Jesus Christ.
The Beatitudes! What do we have
to do, Father? Look, read the
Beatitudes which will do you good,
and if you want to know what
practical thing you must do, read
Matthew 25, which is the protocol
with which we will be judged. With
those two things you have the
program of action: the Beatitudes
and Matthew 25. You dont need
to read anything else. I ask this of
you from the depth of my heart!
Well, I already thank you for this
closeness, Im sorry that you are
caged, but Ill tell you one thing.
At times I feel how awful it is to
be caged! I tell you this from my
heart. O well, I understand you! I
would have liked to be closer to
you, but I understand that for
reasons of order, its not possible.
Thank you for coming, thank you
for praying for me, I ask this from
my heart, I need it! I need your
prayers, I need much prayer!
Thank you for that!
Well, I will give you my blessing
and afterwards we will bless the
image of the Virgin and the Cross
of Saint Francis, which will go on
mission throughout the Republic.
But dont forget. Have a row! Take
care of the two extremes of life,
the two extremes of the history of
Nations, which are the elderly and
117
the young! And dont liquefy the
faith!
And now we are going to pray to
bless the image of the Virgin and
then give you my blessing.
We stand for the blessing, but
before I want to thank Monsignor
Arancedo for what he said, that
out of pure rudeness, I didnt
thank him for, so thank you for
your words.
--- --- ---
In the Name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is
with thee,
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Lord, you left your Mother in our
midst so that she would
accompany us.
May she take care of us, protect
us on our way, in our heart, in our
faith.
May she make us disciples, as she
was, and missionaries, as she also
was.
May she teach us to go out to the
street, may she teach us to come
out of ourselves.
We bless this Image, Lord, which
is going to go around the country.
May she, with her gentleness, with
her peace, point out the way to
us.
--- --- ---
Lord, you are a scandal, the
scandal of the Cross,
a Cross that is humility,
meekness, a Cross that speaks to
us of Gods closeness.
We also bless this image of the
Cross which will go around the
country.
Thank you very much and we will
see one another in these days!
May God bless you and pray for
me. Dont forget!
Francis+ Address to
Bishops
5More than a ormal address' I
,ould li3e to share
some relections ,ith
"ou5
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is a
Vatican translation of Pope
Francis' address today to the
bishops of Brazil.
* * *
Dear Brothers,
How good it is to be here with
you, the Bishops of Brazil!
Thank you for coming, and please
allow me to speak with you as one
among friends. Thats why I prefer
to speak to you in Spanish, so as
to express better what I carry in
my heart. I ask you to forgive me.
We are meeting somewhat apart,
in this place prepared by our
brother, Archbishop Orani
118
Tempesta, so that we can be
alone and speak to one another
from the heart, as pastors to
whom God has entrusted his flock.
On the streets of Rio, young
people from all over the world and
countless others await us, needing
to be reached by the merciful gaze
of Christ the Good Shepherd,
whom we are called to make
present. So let us enjoy this
moment of repose, exchange of
ideas and authentic fraternity.
Beginning with the President of
the Episcopal Conference and the
Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, I
want to embrace each and every
one of you, and in a particular
way the Emeritus Bishops. More
than a formal address, I would
like to share some reflections with
you.
The first came to mind when I
visited the shrine of Aparecida.
There, at the foot of the statue of
the Immaculate Conception, I
prayed for you, your Churches,
your priests, men and women
religious, seminarians, laity and
their families and, in a particular
way, the young people and the
elderly: these last are the hope of
a nation; the young, because they
bring strength, idealism and hope
for the future; the elderly because
they represent the memory, the
wisdom of the people.1
1. Aparecida: a key for
interpreting the Churchs mission
In Aparecida God gave Brazil his
own Mother. But in Aparecida God
also offered a lesson about
himself, about his way of being
and acting. A lesson about the
humility which is one of Gods
essential features, part of Gods
DNA. Aparecida offers us a
perennial teaching about God and
about the Church; a teaching
which neither the Church in Brazil
nor the nation itself must forget.
At the beginning of the Aparecida
event, there were poor fishermen
looking for food. So much hunger
and so few resources. People
always need bread. People always
start with their needs, even today.
They have a dilapidated, ill-fitted
boat; their nets are old and
perhaps torn, insufficient.
First comes the effort, perhaps the
weariness, of the catch, yet the
results are negligible: a failure,
time wasted. For all their work,
the nets are empty.
Then, when God wills it, he
mysteriously enters the scene.
The waters are deep and yet they
always conceal the possibility of a
revelation of God. He appeared
out of the blue, perhaps when he
was no longer expected. The
patience of those who await him is
always tested. And God arrived in
a novel fashion, since he can
always reinvent himself: as a
fragile clay statue, darkened by
the waters of the river and aged
by the passage of time. God
always enters clothed in poverty,
littleness.
Then there is the statue itself of
the Immaculate Conception. First,
the body appeared, then the head,
then the head was joined to the
body: unity. What had been
broken is restored and becomes
one. Colonial Brazil had been
divided by the shameful wall of
slavery. Our Lady of Aparecida
appears with a black face, first
separated, and then united in the
hands of the fishermen.
Here there is an enduring
message which God wants to
teach us. His own beauty,
reflected in his Mother conceived
without original sin, emerges from
the darkness of the river. In
Aparecida, from the beginning,
Gods message was one of
restoring what was broken,
119
reuniting what had been divided.
Walls, chasms, differences which
still exist today are destined to
disappear. The Church cannot
neglect this lesson: she is called
to be a means of reconciliation.
The fishermen do not dismiss the
mystery encountered in the river,
even if it is a mystery which
seems incomplete. They do not
throw away the pieces of the
mystery. They await its
completion. And this does not take
long to come. There is a wisdom
here that we need to learn. There
are pieces of the mystery, like the
stones of a mosaic, which we
encounter, which we see. We are
impatient, anxious to see the
whole picture, but God lets us see
things slowly, quietly. The Church
also has to learn how to wait.
Then the fishermen bring the
mystery home. Ordinary people
always have room to take in the
mystery. Perhaps we have
reduced our way of speaking
about mystery to rational
explanations; but for ordinary
people the mystery enters through
the heart. In the homes of the
poor, God always finds a place.
The fishermen "bundle up the
mystery, they clothe the Virgin
drawn from the waters as if she
were cold and needed to be
warmed. God asks for shelter in
the warmest part of ourselves:
our heart. God himself releases
the heat we need, but first he
enters like a shrewd beggar. The
fishermen wrap the mystery of the
Virgin with the lowly mantle of
their faith. They call their
neighbours to see its rediscovered
beauty; they all gather around
and relate their troubles in its
presence and they entrust their
causes to it. In this way they
enable Gods plan to be
accomplished: first comes one
grace, then another; one grace
leads to another; one grace
prepares for another. God
gradually unfolds the mysterious
humility of his power.
There is much we can learn from
the approach of the fishermen.
About a Church which makes
room for Gods mystery; a Church
which harbours that mystery in
such a way that it can entice
people, attract them. Only the
beauty of God can attract. Gods
way is through enticement, allure.
God lets himself be brought home.
He awakens in us a desire to keep
him and his life in our homes, in
our hearts. He reawakens in us a
desire to call our neighbours in
order to make known his beauty.
Mission is born precisely from this
divine allure, by this amazement
born of encounter. We speak
about mission, about a missionary
Church. I think of those fishermen
calling their neighbours to see the
mystery of the Virgin. Without the
simplicity of their approach, our
mission is doomed to failure.
The Church needs constantly to
relearn the lesson of Aparecida;
she must not lose sight of it. The
Churchs nets are weak, perhaps
patched; the Churchs barque is
not as powerful as the great
transatlantic liners which cross the
ocean. And yet God wants to be
seen precisely through our
resources, scanty resources,
because he is always the one who
acts.
Dear brothers, the results of our
pastoral work do not depend on a
wealth of resources, but on the
creativity of love. To be sure,
perseverance, effort, hard work,
planning and organization all have
their place, but first and foremost
we need to realize that the
Churchs power does not reside in
herself; it is hidden in the deep
waters of God, into which she is
called to cast her nets.
120
Another lesson which the Church
must constantly recall is that she
cannot leave simplicity behind;
otherwise she forgets how to
speak the language of Mystery.
Not only does she herself remain
outside the door of the mystery,
but she proves incapable of
approaching those who look to the
Church for something which they
themselves cannot provide,
namely, God himself. At times we
lose people because they dont
understand what we are saying,
because we have forgotten the
language of simplicity and import
an intellectualism foreign to our
people. Without the grammar of
simplicity, the Church loses the
very conditions which make it
possible "to fish for God in the
deep waters of his Mystery.
A final thought: Aparecida took
place at a crossroads. The road
which linked Rio, the capital, with
Sa~o Paulo, the resourceful
province then being born, and
Minas Gerais, the mines coveted
by the courts of Europe, was a
major intersection in colonial
Brazil. God appears at the
crossroads. The Church in Brazil
cannot forget this calling which
was present from the moment of
her birth: to be a beating heart, to
gather and to spread.
2. Appreciation for the path taken
by the Church in Brazil The
Bishops of Rome have always had
a special place in their heart for
Brazil and its Church. A
marvellous journey has been
accomplished. From twelve
dioceses during the First Vatican
Council, it now numbers 275
circumscriptions. This was not the
expansion of an organization or a
business enterprise, but rather the
dynamism of the Gospel story of
the "five loaves and two fish
which, through the bounty of the
Father and through tireless labour,
bore abundant fruit.
Today I would like to acknowledge
your unsparing work as pastors in
your local Churches. I think of
Bishops in the forests, travelling
up and down rivers, in semiarid
places, in the Pantanal, in the
pampas, in the urban jungles of
your sprawling cities. Always love
your flock with complete devotion!
I also think of all those names and
faces which have indelibly marked
the journey of the Church in
Brazil, making palpable the Lords
immense bounty towards this
Church.2
The Bishops of Rome were never
distant; they followed, encouraged
and supported this journey. In
recent decades, Blessed John
XXIII urged the Brazilian Bishops
to draw up their first pastoral plan
and, from that beginning a
genuine pastoral tradition arose in
Brazil, one which prevented the
Church from drifting and provided
it with a sure compass. The
Servant of God Paul VI
encouraged the reception of the
Second Vatican Council not only in
fidelity but also in creativity (cf.
the CELAM General Assembly in
Medellin), and decisively
influenced the self-identity of the
Church in Brazil through the
Synod on evangelization and that
basic point of reference which is
the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii
Nuntiandi. Blessed John Paul II
visited Brazil three times, going
up and down the country, from
north to south, emphasizing the
Churchs pastoral mission,
communion and participation,
preparation for the Great Jubilee
and the new evangelization.
Benedict XVI chose Aparecida as
the site of the Fifth CELAM
General Assembly and this left a
profound mark on the Church of
the whole continent. The Church
121
in Brazil welcomed and creatively
applied the Second Vatican
Council, and the course it has
taken, though needing to
overcome some teething
problems, has led to a Church
gradually more mature, open,
generous and missionary.
Today, times have changed. As
the Aparecida document nicely put
it: ours is not an age of change,
but a change of age. So today we
urgently need to keep putting the
question: what is it that God is
asking of us? I would now like
to sketch a few ideas by way of a
response.
3. The icon of Emmaus as a key
for interpreting the present and
the future Before all else, we must
not yield to the fear once
expressed by Blessed John Henry
Newman: "... the Christian world
is gradually becoming barren and
effete, as land which has been
worked out and is become
sand.3
We must not yield to
disillusionment, discouragement
and complaint. We have laboured
greatly and, at times, we see what
appear to be failures. We feel like
those who must tally up a losing
season as we consider those who
have left us or no longer consider
us credible or relevant. Let us
read once again, in this light, the
story of Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-
15). The two disciples have left
Jerusalem. They are leaving
behind the "nakedness of God.
They are scandalized by the
failure of the Messiah in whom
they had hoped and who now
appeared utterly vanquished,
humiliated, even after the third
day (vv. 17-21). Here we have to
face the difficult mystery of those
people who leave the Church,
who, under the illusion of
alternative ideas, now think that
the Church - their Jerusalem -
can no longer offer them anything
meaningful and important. So
they set off on the road alone,
with their disappointment.
Perhaps the Church appeared too
weak, perhaps too distant from
their needs, perhaps too poor to
respond to their concerns,
perhaps too cold, perhaps too
caught up with itself, perhaps a
prisoner of its own rigid formulas,
perhaps the world seems to have
made the Church a relic of the
past, unfit for new questions;
perhaps the Church could speak to
people in their infancy but not to
those come of age.4 It is a fact
that nowadays there are many
people like the two disciples of
Emmaus; not only those looking
for answers in the new religious
groups that are sprouting up, but
also those who already seem
godless, both in theory and in
practice.
Faced with this situation, what are
we to do?
We need a Church unafraid of
going forth into their night. We
need a Church capable of meeting
them on their way. We need a
Church capable of entering into
their conversation. We need a
Church able to dialogue with those
disciples who, having left
Jerusalem behind, are wandering
aimlessly, alone, with their own
disappointment, disillusioned by a
Christianity now considered
barren, fruitless soil, incapable of
generating meaning.
A relentless process of
globalization, an often
uncontrolled process of
urbanization, have promised great
things. Many people have been
captivated by the potential of
globalization, which of course does
contain positive elements. But
many also completely overlook its
darker side: the loss of a sense of
122
lifes meaning, personal
dissolution, a loss of the
experience of belonging to any
"nest whatsoever, subtle but
relentless violence, the inner
fragmentation and breakup of
families, loneliness and
abandonment, divisions, and the
inability to love, to forgive, to
understand, the inner poison
which makes life a hell, the need
for affection because of feelings of
inadequacy and unhappiness, the
failed attempt to find an answer in
drugs, alcohol, and sex, which
only become further prisons.
Many, too, have sought shortcuts,
for the standards set by Mother
Church seem to be asking too
much. Many people think: "the
Churchs idea of man is too lofty
for me, the ideal of life which she
proposes is beyond my abilities,
the goal she sets is unattainable,
beyond my reach. Nonetheless -
they continue - I cannot live
without having at least something,
even a poor imitation, of what is
too lofty for me, what I cannot
afford. With disappointed hearts,
they then go off in search of
someone who will lead them even
further astray.
The great sense of abandonment
and solitude, of not even
belonging to oneself, which often
results from this situation, is too
painful to hide. Some kind of
release is necessary. There is
always the option of complaining:
however did we get to this point?
But even complaint acts like a
boomerang; it comes back and
ends up increasing ones
unhappiness. Few people are still
capable of hearing the voice of
pain; the best we can do is to
anaesthetize it.
Today, we need a Church capable
of walking at peoples side, of
doing more than simply listening
to them; a Church which
accompanies them on their
journey; a Church able to make
sense of the "night contained in
the flight of so many of our
brothers and sisters from
Jerusalem; a Church which
realizes that the reasons why
people leave also contain reasons
why they can eventually return.
But we need to know how to
interpret, with courage, the larger
picture.
I would like all of us to ask
ourselves today: are we still a
Church capable of warming
hearts? A Church capable of
leading people back to Jerusalem?
Of bringing them home?
Jerusalem is where our roots are:
Scripture, catechesis, sacraments,
community, friendship with the
Lord, Mary and the apostles... Are
we still able to speak of these
roots in a way that will revive a
sense of wonder at their beauty?
Many people have left because
they were promised something
more lofty, more powerful, and
faster.
But what is more lofty than the
love revealed in Jerusalem?
Nothing is more lofty than the
abasement of the Cross, since
there we truly approach the height
of love! Are we still capable of
demonstrating this truth to those
who think that the apex of life is
to be found elsewhere? beauty?
Do we know anything more
powerful than the strength hidden
within the weakness of love,
goodness, truth and people today
are attracted by things that are
faster and faster: rapid Internet
connections, speedy cars and
planes, instant relationships. But
at the same time we see a
desperate need for calmness, I
would even say slowness. Is the
Church still able to move slowly:
to take the time to listen, to have
123
the patience to mend and
reassemble? Or is the Church
herself caught up in the frantic
pursuit of efficiency? Dear
brothers, let us recover the calm
to be able to walk at the same
pace as our pilgrims, keeping
alongside them, remaining close
to them, enabling them to speak
of the disappointments present in
their hearts and to let us address
them. They want to forget
Jerusalem, where they have their
sources, but eventually they will
experience thirst. We need a
Church capable of accompanying
them on the road back to
Jerusalem! A Church capable of
helping them to rediscover the
glorious and joyful things that are
spoken of Jerusalem, and to
understand that she is my Mother,
our Mother, and that we are not
orphans! We were born in her.
Where is our Jerusalem, where
were we born? In Baptism, in the
first encounter of love, in our
calling, in vocation.5
We need a Church capable of
restoring citizenship to her many
children who are journeying, as it
were, in an exodus.
4. Challenges facing the Church in
Brazil In the light of what I have
said above, I would like to
emphasize several challenges
facing the beloved Church in
Brazil.
Formation as a priority: Bishops,
priests, religious, laity
Dear brothers, unless we train
ministers capable of warming
peoples hearts, of walking with
them in the night, of dialoguing
with their hopes and
disappointments, of mending their
brokenness, what hope can we
have for our present and future
journey? It isnt true that Gods
presence has been dimmed in
them. Let us learn to look at
things more deeply. What is
missing is someone to warm their
heart, as was the case with the
disciples of Emmaus (cf. Lk
24:32).
That is why it is important to
devise and ensure a suitable
formation, one which will provide
persons able to step into the night
without being overcome by the
darkness and losing their
bearings; able to listen to peoples
dreams without being seduced
and to share their
disappointments without losing
hope and becoming bitter; able to
sympathize with the brokenness
of others without losing their own
strength and identity.
What is needed is a solid human,
cultural, effective, spiritual and
doctrinal formation.6 Dear
brother Bishops, courage is
needed to undertake a profound
review of the structures in place
for the formation and preparation
of the clergy and the laity of the
Church in Brazil. It is not enough
that formation be considered a
vague priority, either in
documents or at meetings. What
is needed is the practical wisdom
to set up lasting educational
structures on the local, regional
and national levels and to take
them to heart as Bishops, without
sparing energy, concern and
personal interest. The present
situation calls for quality
formation at every level. Bishops
may not delegate this task. You
cannot delegate this task, but
must embrace it as something
fundamental for the journey of
your Churches.
Collegiality and solidarity in the
Episcopal Conference
The Church in Brazil needs more
than a national leader; it needs a
124
network of regional "testimonies
which speak the same language
and in every place ensure not
unanimity, but true unity in the
richness of diversity.
Communion is a fabric to be
woven with patience and
perseverance, one which gradually
"draws together the stitches to
make a more extensive and thick
cover. A threadbare cover will not
provide warmth.
It is important to remember
Aparecida, the method of
gathering diversity together. Not
so much a diversity of ideas in
order to produce a document, but
a variety of experiences of God, in
order to set a vital process in
motion.
The disciples of Emmaus returned
to Jerusalem, recounting their
experience of meeting the risen
Christ. There they came to know
other manifestations of the Lord
and the experiences of their
brothers and sisters. The
Episcopal Conference is precisely a
vital space for enabling such an
exchange of testimonies about
encounters with the Risen One, in
the north, in the south, in the
west... There is need, then, for a
greater appreciation of local and
regional elements. Central
bureaucracy is not sufficient;
there is also a need for increased
collegiality and solidarity. This will
be a source of true enrichment for
all.7
Permanent state of mission and
pastoral conversion
Aparecida spoke about a
permanent state of mission8 and
of the need for pastoral
conversion.9 These are two
important results of that Assembly
for the entire Church in the area,
and the progress made in Brazil
on these two points has been
significant.
Concerning mission, we need to
remember that its urgency derives
from its inner motivation; in other
words, it is about handing on a
legacy. As for method, it is
essential to realize that a legacy is
about witness, it is like the baton
in a relay race: you dont throw it
up in the air for whoever is able to
catch it, so that anyone who
doesnt catch it has to manage
without. In order to transmit a
legacy, one needs to hand it over
personally, to touch the one to
whom one wants to give, to relay,
this inheritance.
Concerning pastoral conversion, I
would like to recall that "pastoral
care is nothing other than the
exercise of the Churchs
motherhood. She gives birth,
suckles, gives growth, corrects,
nourishes and leads by the
hand ... So we need a Church
capable of rediscovering the
maternal womb of mercy. Without
mercy we have little chance
nowadays of becoming part of a
world of "wounded persons in
need of understanding,
forgiveness, love.
In mission, also on a continental
level,10 it is very important to
reaffirm the family, which remains
the essential cell of society and
the Church; young people, who
are the face of the Churchs
future; women, who play a
fundamental role in passing on the
faith. Let us not reduce the
involvement of women in the
Church, but instead promote their
active role in the ecclesial
community. By losing women, the
Church risks becoming sterile.
The task of the Church in society
In the context of society, there is
only one thing which the Church
125
quite clearly demands: the
freedom to proclaim the Gospel in
its entirety, even when it runs
counter to the world, even when it
goes against the tide. In so doing,
she defends treasures of which
she is merely the custodian, and
values which she does not create
but rather receives, to which she
must remain faithful.
The Church claims the right to
serve man in his wholeness, and
to speak of what God has revealed
about human beings and their
fulfilment. The Church wants to
make present that spiritual
patrimony without which society
falls apart and cities are
overwhelmed by their own walls,
pits, barriers. The Church has the
right and the duty to keep alive
the flame of human freedom and
unity.
Education, health, social harmony
are pressing concerns in Brazil.
The Church has a word to say on
these issues, because any
adequate response to these
challenges calls for more than
merely technical solutions; there
has to be an underlying view of
man, his freedom, his value, his
openness to the transcendent.
Dear brother Bishops, do not be
afraid to offer this contribution of
the Church, which benefits society
as a whole.
The Amazon Basin as a litmus test
for Church and society in Brazil
There is one final point on which I
would like to dwell, which I
consider relevant for the present
and future journey not only of the
Brazilian Church but of the whole
society, namely, the Amazon
Basin. The Churchs presence in
the Amazon Basin is not that of
someone with bags packed and
ready to leave after having
exploited everything possible. The
Church has been present in the
Amazon Basin from the beginning,
in her missionaries and religious
congregations, and she is still
present and critical to the areas
future. I think of the welcome
which the Church in the Amazon
Basin is offering even today to
Haitian immigrants following the
terrible earthquake which shook
their country.
I would like to invite everyone to
reflect on what Aparecida said
about the Amazon Basin,11 its
forceful appeal for respect and
protection of the entire creation
which God has entrusted to man,
not so that it be indiscriminately
exploited, but rather made into a
garden. In considering the
pastoral challenge represented by
the Amazon Basin, I have to
express my thanks for all that the
Church in Brazil is doing: the
Episcopal Commission for the
Amazon Basin established in 1997
has already proved its
effectiveness and many dioceses
have responded readily and
generously to the appeal for
solidarity by sending lay and
priestly missionaries. I think
Archbishop Jaime Chemelo, a
pioneer in this effort, and Cardinal
Hummes, the current President of
the Commission. But I would add
that the Churchs work needs to
be further encouraged and
launched afresh. There is a need
for quality formators, especially
professors of theology, for
consolidating the results achieved
in the area of training a native
clergy and providing priests suited
to local conditions and committed
to consolidating, as it were, the
Churchs "Amazonian face.
Dear brother Bishops, I have
attempted to offer you in a
fraternal spirit some reflections
and approaches for a Church like
that of Brazil, which is a great
mosaic made up of different
126
pieces, images, forms, problems
and challenges, but which for this
very reason is an enormous
treasure. The Church is never
uniformity, but diversities
harmonized in unity, and this is
true for every ecclesial reality.
May the Virgin of Aparecida be the
star which illumines your task and
your journey of bringing Christ, as
she did, to all the men and women
of your immense country. Just
as he did for the two lost and
disillusioned disciples of Emmaus,
he will warm your hearts and give
you new and certain hope.
_________________
1 The Aparecida Document
stresses how children, young
people and the elderly build the
future of peoples (cf. No. 447).
2 I recall for example, to cite
only a few: Lorscheider, Mendes
de Almeida, Sales, Vital, Camara,
Macedo... as well as the first
Bishop in Brazil, Pero Fernandes
Sardinha (1551/1556), killed by
hostile local tribes.
3 Letter of 26 January 1833 to
his mother, The Letters and
Diaries of John Henry Newman,
vol. III (Oxford, 1979), p. 204.
4 The Aparecida Document
provides a synthetic presentation
of the deeper reasons behind this
phenomenon (cf. No. 225).
5 Cf. also the four points
mentioned by Aparecida (No.
226).
6 The Aparecida Document
gives great attention to the
formation both of the clergy and
the laity (cf. Nos, 316- 325; 212).
7 Also for this aspect the
Aparecida Document offers
important lines of approach (cf.
Nos 181-183; 189). HOLY SEE
PRESS OFFICE 10/6
8 Cf. No. 216. 9 Cf. Nos.
365-372. 10 The conclusions of
the Aparecida Conference insist on
the countenance of a Church
which is by her very nature
evangelizing, which exists for
evangelization, with boldness and
freedom, at all levels (cf. Nos.
547-554). 11 Cf. especially Nos.
83-87 and from the standpoint of
a unitary pastoral plan, No. 475.
Pope9 &ialogue Is
Al,a"s an ;ption
Crges :eaders to Foster
+Culture o
.ncounter and
4elationship+
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Francis
concluded his meeting with
Brazil's leaders today, briefly
putting into action one of the main
messages of his speech: dialogue.
After blessing a group of little
girls, he blessed and spoke with
representatives of one of Brazil's
indigenous groups, briefly donning
one of their traditional
headdresses.
The Holy Father urged the
Brazilian leaders to "face the
future ... with the calm gaze of
one who knows how to see the
truth."
He then highlighted three aspects
of that "gaze": "first, the
distinctiveness of your cultural
tradition; second, joint
responsibility for building the
future; and third, constructive
dialogue in facing the present
moment."
127
Regarding Brazil's cultural
tradition, Francis noted that its
"vision of man and of life" has
been "greatly nourished by the
Gospel."
"To promote an integral
humanism and the culture of
encounter and relationship: this is
the Christian way of promoting
the common good, the joy of
living. Here, faith and reason
unite, the religious dimension and
the various aspects of human
culture art, science, labour,
literature... Christianity combines
transcendence and incarnation; it
brings ever new vitality to thought
and life, in contrast to the
dissatisfaction and disillusionment
which creep into hearts and
spread in the streets," the Pontiff
reflected.
He then called on people to take
responsibility for society, saying
this requires a "humanistic vision"
"This is the road that we are
called to travel: to see that basic
needs are met and that human
dignity, brotherhood and solidarity
are guaranteed on every level,"
the Pope said.
Echoing a message he gave from
the streets of one of Brazil's
slums, he said that people must
maintain hope, even in the midst
of failed attempts at promoting
justice.
"To act responsibly is to see one's
own actions in the light of other
people's rights and God's
judgement," he said. "To preserve
this ethical sense appears today
as an unprecedented historic
challenge. Beyond scientific and
technical competence, the present
situation also demands a sense of
moral obligation expressed in a
social and deeply fraternal
exercise of responsibility."
Finally, the Bishop of Rome called
the Brazilian leaders to dialogue.
"Between selfish indifference and
violent protest there is always
another possible option: that of
dialogue," he said.
Francis affirmed that the "great
religious traditions" make a a
basic contribution to this effort, as
"a leaven of society and a life-
giving force for democracy."
He said peaceful coexistence
between religions is favored by a
state which, "without
appropriating any one
confessional stance, respects and
esteems the presence of the
religious factor in society, while
fostering its concrete
expressions."
"When leaders in various fields
ask me for advice, my response is
always the same: dialogue,
dialogue, dialogue," Francis said.
"It is the only way for individuals,
families and societies to grow, the
only way for the life of peoples to
progress, along with the culture of
encounter, a culture in which all
have something good to give and
all can receive something good in
return. Others always have
something to give me, if we know
how to approach them in a spirit
of openness and without
prejudice. Only in this way can
understanding grow between
cultures and religions, mutual
esteem without needless
preconceptions, respectful of the
rights of everyone. Today, either
we stand together with the culture
of encounter, or we all fall; taking
the right road makes the journey
fruitful and secure."
128
Pope+s Address to
Bra7ilian :eaders
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Hereis the text
of Pope Francis' Address to
Brazilian Leaders this morning in
the Municipal Theater of Rio de
Janeiro. The symphony orchestra
and chorus have begun the
ceremony with beautiful musical
selections culminating in the
singing of the Rio World Youth
Day Hymn as Pope Francis
appeared on stage.
* * *
Your Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
I thank God for the opportunity to
meet such a distinguished
representation of the political,
diplomatic, cultural and religious,
academic and business leaders of
this immense country of Brazil.
I would like to speak to you in
your own beautiful Portuguese
language, but in order to express
more clearly what I carry in my
heart, I prefer to speak in
Spanish. Please forgive me!
I greet all of you most heartily
and I express to you my
gratitude. I thank Archbishop
Orani and Mr Walmyr Junior for
their kind words of welcome and
introduction. In you I see both
memory and hope: the memory of
your countrys history and identity,
and the hope that, in constant
openness to the light radiating
from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it
will continue to develop in full
respect for the ethical principles
grounded in the transcendent
dignity of the person.
In every nation, those in positions
of responsibility are called to face
the future, as the Brazilian thinker
Alceu Amoroso Lima once said,
with the calm gaze of one who
knows how to see the truth.[ Il
nostro tempo, in: La vita
soprannaturale e il mondo
moderno (Rio de Janeiro, 1956),
p. 106.] I would like to consider
three aspects of this calm, serene
and wise gaze: first, the
distinctiveness of your cultural
tradition; second, joint
responsibility for building the
future; and third, constructive
dialogue in facing the present
moment.
1. It is important, first, to esteem
the dynamic and distinctive
character of Brazilian culture, with
its extraordinary ability to
integrate a variety of elements.
The common feeling of a people,
the foundations of its thought and
creativity, the basic principles of
its life, the criteria with which it
assesses priorities and ways of
acting, all rest on an integral
vision of the human person.
This vision of man and of life so
typical of the Brazilian people has
been greatly nourished by the
Gospel through the Catholic
Church: above all, by faith in
Jesus Christ, in the love of God
and brotherhood with our
neighbour. But the richness of this
nourishment must be fully
appreciated! It can render fruitful
a cultural process that is true to
Brazilian identity and capable of
building a better future for all.
This was the message of our
beloved Pope Benedict XVI in his
inaugural address at the Fifth
General Conference of the Latin
American Episcopate, in
Aparecida.
To promote an integral humanism
and the culture of encounter and
relationship: this is the Christian
way of promoting the common
good, the joy of living. Here, faith
and reason unite, the religious
129
dimension and the various aspects
of human culture art, science,
labour, literature... Christianity
combines transcendence and
incarnation; it brings ever new
vitality to thought and life, in
contrast to the dissatisfaction and
disillusionment which creep into
hearts and spread in the streets.
2. A second element which I
would like to mention is
responsibility for society. This calls
for a certain kind of cultural, and
hence political, paradigm. We are
the ones responsible for training
new generations knowledgeable in
economic and political affairs, and
solidly grounded in ethical values.
The future demands of us a
humanistic vision of the economy
and a politics capable of ensuring
greater and more effective
participation on the part of all,
eliminating forms of elitism and
eradicating poverty. This is the
road that we are called to travel:
to see that basic needs are met
and that human dignity,
brotherhood and solidarity are
guaranteed on every level. In the
days of prophet Amos, Gods stern
warning was already being heard:
They sell the righteous for silver
and the needy for a pair of
sandals they ... trample down the
head of the poor into the dust of
the earth and push the afflicted
out of the way (Am 2:6-7). The
outcry, the call for justice,
continues to be heard even today.
Anyone exercising a role of
leadership needs to have very
practical goals and to seek specific
means to attain them. At the
same time, there is always the
risk of disappointment,
resentment and indifference, if our
plans and goals do not
materialize. The dynamic virtue of
hope inspires us to keep pressing
on, to employ all our energies and
abilities on behalf of those for
whom we work, accepting results,
making it possible to strike out on
new paths, being generous even
without apparent results, yet
keeping hope alive.
Leadership also means making the
most just decision after having
considered all the options from
the standpoint of personal
responsibility and concern for the
common good. This is the way to
go to the heart of the evils of a
society and to overcome them,
also with the boldness of
courageous and free actions. In
exercising our responsibility, with
all its limitations, it is important to
embrace all of reality, observing,
pondering, evaluating, in order to
make decisions in the present but
with an eye to the future,
reflecting on the consequences of
our decisions. To act responsibly
is to see ones own actions in the
light of other peoples rights and
Gods judgement. To preserve this
ethical sense appears today as an
unprecedented historic challenge.
Beyond scientific and technical
competence, the present situation
also demands a sense of moral
obligation expressed in a social
and deeply fraternal exercise of
responsibility.
3. To fill out the gaze which I
have proposed, in addition to an
integral humanism which respects
cultural distinctiveness and
fraternal responsibility, I now
conclude by pointing to something
which I consider essential for
facing the present moment:
constructive dialogue. Between
selfish indifference and violent
protest there is always another
possible option: that of dialogue.
Dialogue between generations,
dialogue with the people, the
capacity to give and receive, while
remaining open to the truth. A
country grows when constructive
dialogue occurs between its many
130
rich cultural components: popular
culture, university culture, youth
culture, artistic and technological
culture, economic culture, family
culture and media culture. It is
impossible to imagine a future for
society without a significant
contribution of moral energies
within a democratic order which
will always be tempted to remain
caught up in the interplay of
vested interests. A basic
contribution in this regard is made
by the great religious traditions,
which play a fruitful role as a
leaven of society and a life-giving
force for democracy. Peaceful
coexistence between different
religions is favoured by the laicity
of the state, which, without
appropriating any one
confessional stance, respects and
esteems the presence of the
religious factor in society, while
fostering its concrete expressions.
When leaders in various fields ask
me for advice, my response is
always the same: dialogue,
dialogue, dialogue. It is the only
way for individuals, families and
societies to grow, the only way for
the life of peoples to progress,
along with the culture of
encounter, a culture in which all
have something good to give and
all can receive something good in
return. Others always have
something to give me, if we know
how to approach them in a spirit
of openness and without
prejudice. Only in this way can
understanding grow between
cultures and religions, mutual
esteem without needless
preconceptions, respectful of the
rights of everyone. Today, either
we stand together with the culture
of encounter, or we all fall; taking
the right road makes the journey
fruitful and secure.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
I thank you for your attention.
Please accept these words as an
expression of my concern as
Pastor of the Church and my love
for the Brazilian people. Fraternal
relations between people, and
cooperation in building a more
just society these are not some
vague utopia, but the fruit of a
concerted effort on the part of all,
in service of the common good. I
encourage you in your
commitment to the common good,
a commitment which demands of
everyone wisdom, prudence and
generosity. I entrust you to our
Heavenly Father, asking him,
through the intercession of Our
Lady of Aparecida, to pour out his
gifts on each of you, on your
families and on your communities
and workplaces. To all I cordially
impart my blessing.
Pope Francis Plants a
%lorious Cross in
the 6eart o
<outh
By .r# Alfonso Maria Bruno
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Miserando
At6ue Eli"endo. True to his
episcopal motto, but above all
faithful to the salvific value of
"sixth feria", or Friday as it is
known in Brazil, Pope Francis
dedicated the morning to the
ministry of confession of three
boys and three girls: three
Brazilians, a Venezuelan and an
Italian.
The "diakonia of hope" of the
bishop of Rome, who confirms his
brethren in the faith, and presides
in charity, was embodied in the
existential wounds of five young
detainees, representatives of an
age that could not be left excluded
from the feast in view of the
banquet in the Kingdom.
131
It is for this reason that in these
days a hymn is raised strongly
through the streets of Rio: "Juntos
ao Cristo com Pope Francisco
(Together with Christ with Pope
Francis).
The great small hero of the
morning, still, was a nine year old
boy.
While the papal entourage made
its way through the picturesque
Quinta de Boa Vista park, a nine
year old boy wearing a Seleao
soccer jersey, jumped the hurdles
and made his way through to the
white jeep, where he was received
affectionately by Pope Francis,
and whispered in the Pontiffs ear:
"I have a very important message
for you...I want to become a
priest.
At this point the Pope, visibly
moved, clutched him to his chest
and told the boy. "Your dream
begins to fulfill today. I will pray
for you, but you must pray for
me.
With trembling legs and his hands
over his face, full of emotion and
excitement, the young boy
returned to his father, happy and
even more proud of his son for
this unique moment.
At the hour of the Angelus, after
the recitation of the Marian
prayer, Pope Francis once again
addressed his thoughts to the
elderly during the liturgical
remembrance of the feast of Sts.
Joachim and Anne, grandparents
of Jesus, parents of the Virgin
Mary.
The time then came for the
luncheon with twelve youth, a
symbolic figure of the 12 apostles
and evocative of the Last Supper
which was the first Eucharist.
In the afternoon, beyond all
expectations, a steady stream of
young people, more than one
million followed the Via Crucis
(The Way of the Cross).
Pope Francis once again made his
way towards the boardwalk,
blessing and kissing children.
Shortly before arriving to the
stage, the Holy Father took little
Sara in his hands, a girl only a few
months old with a serious illness.
The young mother was visibly
moved, not only or not so much
for the fact that the Pope blessed
her little girl, but surely, in virtue
of her faith, that she received a
miracle through the blessing of
the Pope. The mother showed a
rosary that Francis gave to her
little girl, a green colored one, the
color of hope. This woman is a
witness to the living faith of Brazil
and is the representative of so
many women who suffer the same
for their children, like Mary at the
foot of the Cross.
On Atlantica Avenue in
Copacabana, roughly one
kilometer from the main stage, on
Friday evening, the Cross given by
John Paul II to the youth was
advanced its way forward, a cross
given to them so that it may
travel to the ends of the earth
bring its redemptive charge.
St. Leonardo of Porto Maurizio,
who was the great promoter of
the devotion of the Via Crucis,
stated when practiced constantly,
it would sanctify an entire parish.
In a breathtaking choreographed
scene, this this uplifting
expression of popular piety was
manifested to a planetary parish
of youth who have materialized
here in Rio de Janeiro.
132
The fourteen stations, according
to the idea of artistic director
Ravael Cabral, have been
designed to communicate to the
youth. Each concerned a theme
related to existential questions
that the youth are asking: "a
young missionary, "a young
convert, "a young person in a
recovery community. "a young
spokesperson for all mothers, "a
seminarian, "a religious who
fights against abortion, renewing
her yes to life, "a couple in love,
"a young spokesperson for
suffering women, "a disabled
student on a wheelchair, "a
young user of social networks, "a
detainee and a young person
involved in a prison pastoral, " a
young person with a terminal
illness, a young deaf-mute
person.
The text prepared by Fathers
Zezinho and Joaozinho, well-
known priests who catechize
through religious songs, did not
simply want to evoke the
problems, but to encourage the
youth to engage in actions of
Christian solidarity.
It is for this reason that after the
final station, a few meters from
the WYD cross, Pope Francis in a
loud, firm voice asked each youth:
"Which one are you? [...] Are you
like Pilate, who washes his hands
so as to not against the tide or are
you like Cyrene and Mary, who
help Jesus to carry his cross?
Gaining the attention and the
prayers of the youth in the "Land
of Santa Cruz, Pope Francis has
also planted on the beach of the
conquistadors a sign of love, that
an instrument of death has
become an instrument of life in
Jesus who shares with us a
personal "Via Crucis. great or
small as it is.
Pope 6as 5.motional
Meeting5 1ith
<oung Prison
Inmates
In$ites them to :oo3
2o,ards the Future
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On Friday, Pope
Francis met with 8 young
prisoners from different
correctional institutions in Rio de
Janeiro. The meeting was held at
the residence of the Archbishop of
Rio prior to the recitation of the
Angelus. Due to the age of the
young prison inmates, the
encounter was not photographed
or televised. The Holy Father had
added the visit to his schedule
which lasted roughly 30 minutes.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi,
director of the Holy See Press
Office briefed journalists on the
atmosphere of the meeting. The
young inmates, 6 males and 3
females, were accompanied by
Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio
de Janeiro, a judge, a priest and a
lay person in charge of the prison
pastoral. Also present at the
meeting was Archbishop Emeritus
of Rio de Janeiro, Cardinal Eusbio
Oscar Scheid.
"The judge said a few words
thanking the work of the Church
in the prisons, Fr. Lombardi said.
"For the youth there present, the
judge told them that he would
have good news for them next
week. However, he did not say
what exactly it was.
Fr. Lombardi stated that
atmosphere was serene. The
133
youngest girl present was very
expressive when she spoke to the
Pope and she was very moved by
the Popes visit. She also sang a
song she composed especially for
the Pope and read a letter she
wrote on behalf of her fellow
inmates.
All the young prisoners were given
an opportunity to speak. The
director of the Holy See Press
Office also stated that the youth
sat around the Pope and asked
the Pope to bless several objects
and for his autograph.
"The moment was very beautiful
and impressive. They gave the
Holy Father a large rosary with a
cross attached to it, Fr. Lombardi
recounted. One the cross were
inscribed the words Candelaria
Nunca Mais (Candelaria Never
Again). This was in reference to
the 1993 massacre that occurred
in front of the Candelaria Church
in Rio de Janeiro. Several
policemen opened fire at about 70
homeless children sleeping in front
of the church, killing 8 of them.
Fr. Lombardi said that every large
bead had inscribed the names of
the 8 victims of Candelaria. "The
Holy Father prayed in front of this
rosary, Fr. Lombardi said. "He
said many times `No more
violence, only love. Candelaria,
never again. Later he had the
yough pray an Our Father and
then said a prayer for all young
victims of violence who are
suffering.
While the Holy Father did not give
an address, throughout the
meeting he continuously
encouraged the youth, inviting to
look towards the future and to
pray for him.
"For me, it was a very emotional
meeting, as well as for the Pope,
Fr. Lombardi concluded. The
Vatican spokesman also revealed
that the plight of young prison
inmates is an issue very dear to
the Popes heart. To this day, he
said, "the Pope calls a group of
prisoners in Argentina every two
weeks.
Pope+s Address &uring
!tations o the
Cross
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 27,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address during the Celebration of
the Way of the Cross yesterday at
Copacabana Beach.
* * *
Dear -oun" .riends'
We have come here today to
accompany Jesus on his journey
of sorrow and love, the Way of the
Cross, which is one of the most
intense moments of World Youth
Day. At the end of the Holy Year
of Redemption, Blessed John Paul
II chose to entrust the Cross to
you, young people, asking you "to
carry it throughout the world as a
symbol of Christs love for
humanity, and announce to
everyone that only in the death
and resurrection of Christ can we
find salvation and redemption
(Address to -oun" /eo&le, 22 April
1984). Since then, the World
Youth Day Cross has travelled to
every continent and through a
variety of human situations. It is,
as it were, almost "steeped in the
life experiences of the countless
young people who have seen it
and carried it. Dear brothers and
sisters, no one can approach and
touch the Cross of Jesus without
leaving something of himself or
134
herself there, and without bringing
something of the Cross of Jesus
into his or her own life. I have
three questions that I hope will
echo in your hearts this evening
as you walk beside Jesus: What
have you left on the Cross, dear
young people of Brazil, during
these two years that it has been
crisscrossing your great country?
What has the Cross of Jesus left
for you, in each one of you?
Finally, what does this Cross
teach us?
1. According to an ancient Roman
tradition, while fleeing the city
during the persecutions of Nero,
Saint Peter saw Jesus who was
travelling in the opposite
direction, that is, toward the city,
and asked him in amazement:
"Lord, where are you going?
Jesus response was: "I am going
to Rome to be crucified again. At
that moment, Peter understood
that he had to follow the Lord with
courage, to the very end. But he
also realized that he would never
be alone on the journey; Jesus,
who had loved him even unto
death, would always be with him.
Jesus, with his Cross, walks with
us and takes upon himself our
fears, our problems, and our
sufferings, even those which are
deepest and most painful. With
the Cross, Jesus unites himself to
the silence of the victims of
violence, those who can no longer
cry out, especially the innocent
and the defenceless; with the
Cross, he is united to families in
trouble, andthose who mourn the
tragicloss of their children, as in
the case of the 242 young victims
of the fire in the City of Santa
Maria at the beginning of this
year. We pray for them. On the
Cross, Jesus is united with every
person who suffers from hunger in
a world which, on the other hand,
permits itself the luxury of
throwing awaytons of food
everyday; on the Cross, Jesus is
united to the many mothers and
fathers who suffer as they see
their children become victims of
drug-induced euphoria; on the
Cross, Jesus is unitedwith those
who are persecuted for their
religion, for their beliefs or simply
for the colour of their skin; on the
Cross, Jesus is united with so
many young people who have lost
faith in political institutions,
because they see in them only
selfishness and corruption; he
unites himself with those young
people who have lost faith in the
Church, or even in God because of
the counter-witness of Christians
and ministers of the Gospel. How
our inconsistencies make Jesus
suffer!The Cross of Christ bears
the suffering and the sin of
mankind, including our own.
Jesus accepts all this with open
arms, bearing on his shoulders
our crosses and saying to us:
"Have courage! You do not carry
your cross alone! I carry it with
you. I have overcome death and I
have come to give you hope, to
give you life (cf. Jn 3:16).
2. Nowwe can answer the second
question: What has the Cross
given to those who have gazed
upon it and to those who
havetouched it? What has the
Crossleft in each one of us? You
see, itgives us a treasure that no
one else can give: the certainty of
the faithfullove which God has for
us. A love so great that it enters
into our sin and forgives it, enters
into our suffering and gives us the
strength to bear it. It is a love
which enters into death to
conquer it and to save us. The
Cross of Christ contains all the
love of God; there we findhis
immeasurable mercy. This is a
love in which we can place all our
trust, in which we can believe.
Dear young people, let us entrust
ourselves to Jesus, let us give
135
ourselves over to him (cf. umen
.idei, 16), because he never
disappoints anyone!Only in Christ
crucified and risen can we find
salvation and redemption. With
him, evil, suffering, and death do
not have the last word, because
he gives us hope and life: he has
transformed the Cross from
beingan instrument of hate, defeat
and death to beinga sign of love,
victory' triumph and life.
The first name given to Brazil was
"The Land of the Holy Cross. The
Cross of Christ was planted five
centuries ago not only on the
shores of this country, but also in
the history, the hearts and the
lives of the people of Brazil and
elsewhere. The suffering Christ is
keenly felt here, as one of us who
shares our journey even to the
end. There is no cross, big or
small, in our life' which the Lord
does not share with us.
3. But the Cross of Christ invites
us also to allow ourselves to be
smitten by his love, teaching us
always to look upon others with
mercy and tenderness, especially
those who suffer, who are in need
of help, who need a word or a
concrete action; the Cross invites
us to step outside ourselves to
meet them and to extend a hand
to them. How many times have
we seen them in the Way of the
Cross,how many times have they
accompaniedJesus on the way to
Calvary: Pilate, Simon of Cyrene,
Mary, the women. Today I ask
you: which of them do you want
to be? Do you want tobe like
Pilate, who did not have the
courage to go against the tide to
save Jesus life, and instead
washed his hands?Tell me: are
you one of those who wash their
hands, who feign ignorance and
look the other way? Or are you
like Simon of Cyrene, who helped
Jesus to carry that heavy
wood,orlike Mary and the other
women, who were not afraid to
accompany Jesus all the way to
the end, with love and
tenderness.G And you, who do you
want to be? Like Pilate? Like
Simon? Like Mary? Jesus is
looking at you now and is asking
you: do you want to help me carry
the Cross? Brothers and sisters,
with all the strength of your
youth, how will you respond to
him?
Dear friends, let us bring to
Christs Cross our joys, our
sufferings and our failures. There
we will find a Heart that is open to
us and understands us, forgives
us, loves us and calls us to bear
this love in our lives, to love each
person, each brother and sister,
with the same love.
1orld <outh &a" 201H
to Be 6eld in
Fra3o,' Poland
Pope Francis Announces
!ite o =e/t <outh
Meeting at Closing
Mass in 4io
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Before the
recitation of the Angelus at the
Closing Mass of the 28th World
Youth Day, Pope Francis
announced that the next WYD will
be in 2016 in Krakow, Poland.
Blessed John Paul II served as
Archbishop of Krakow for 15 years
before his elevation to the papacy
in 1978.
"Through Our Ladys maternal
intercession, let us ask for the
light of the Holy Spirit upon the
journey that will lead us to this
next stage in our joyful
136
celebration of faith and the love of
Christ, Pope Francis said.
The year of the 29th World Youth
Day falls on the same year that
the Church celebrates the 1050th
anniversary of the Baptism of
Poland, which commemorates the
beginning of Christianity in the
nation.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz,
Archbishop of Krakow, released a
statement expressing his joy upon
hearing of the news of the
selection of his Archdiocese to
host the next WYD.
"Together with the whole Church
in Poland, I rejoice that the Holy
Father has accepted the invitation
addressed to him by the highest
authorities of the Republic of
Poland and by the Polish
Episcopate, the Archbishop said.
"In this, he has responded to the
desires of so many young people
who have long wished to celebrate
their faith in the country and the
city of Karol WojtyIa, who set off
for the Eternal City from Krakw
in October 1978, and who, as
John Paul II, Bishop of Rome,
instituted World Youth Days.
Blessed John Paul II began the
World Youth Days in 1986 in
Rome at the diocesan level. The
first international World Youth Day
was held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, the diocese where Pope
Francis once served as
Archbishop, in 1987. Prior to
leaving to Rio, Pope Francis
approved the sainthood cause for
Blessed John Paul II, paving the
way for his canonization sometime
this year.
Concluding his statement,
Cardinal Dziwisz expressed his
gratitude to the Holy Father and
stated that both Krakow and
Poland have their hearts opened
wide to receive the pilgrims.
"We express our gratitude to the
Holy Father for his decision to visit
the country of the Blessed (soon
to be Saint) John Paul II, and look
forward to keeping vigil with the
"morning watchmen at the
festivities in Krakw.
Pope Francis9 2he
Church is
Counting on <ou
Final Mass or 1orld <outh
&a" 6eld at
Copaca(ana Beach
By Junno Arocho Esteves
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - At the Closing
Mass of the 28th World Youth
Day, held at Copacabana Beach in
Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis
invited the youth present to "Go,
do not be afraid and serve. Over 3
million pilgrims from all over the
world were present at the Mass.
Also in attendance were the heads
of State of 4 South American
countries: Brazil, Argentina,
Bolivia and Suriname, as well as
the Vice-presidents of Uruguay
and Panama.
The Holy Father encouraged the
youth to take the experience
gathered in these days of the
WYD, but to spread it everywhere.
Constricting this experience to
just the small group of the parish,
movement or community, he said,
would be comparable to
"withholding oxygen from a flame
that was burning strongly.
"Faith is a flame that grows
stronger the more it is shared and
137
passed on, so that everyone may
know, love and confess Jesus
Christ, the Lord of life and
history, the Pope said.
"Careful, though! Jesus did not
say: "if you would like to, if you
have the time, but: "Go and
make disciples of all nations.
Sharing the experience of faith,
bearing witness to the faith,
proclaiming the Gospel: this is a
command that the Lord entrusts
to the whole Church, and that
includes you; but it is a command
that is born not from a desire for
domination or power but from the
force of love, from the fact that
Jesus first came into our midst
and gave us, not a part of himself,
but the whole of himself, he gave
his life in order to save us and to
show us the love and mercy of
God.
Expressing his hope for the
evangelization of the Church in
Latin America, the Holy Father
told the pilgrims that the
proclamation of the Gospel is
entrusted to them so that "it may
resound with fresh power.
"The Church needs you, your
enthusiasm, your creativity and
the joy that is so characteristic of
you.
Do Not Be Afraid
Pope Francis told the youth that
despite fear they might have of
announcing the Good News
because of youth or inexperience,
God still calls them and does not
abandon them just as with the
prophet Jeremiah. "When we go to
proclaim Christ, it is he himself
who goes before us and guides
us, the Holy Father said. "When
he sent his disciples on mission,
he promised: "I am with you
always. And this is also true for
us! Jesus does not leave us alone,
he never leaves you alone! He
always accompanies you.
The Holy Father also encouraged
priests to accompany their young
people and to share "this
experience of faith with them as
well as calling on them to "never
let them feel alone. Pope Francis
also took the opportunity to thank
the Youth Ministry groups,
Movements, and new
Communities who offer young
people an experience of being in
the Church. "They are so
creative, he said, "so audacious.
Carry on and do not be afraid!
Regarding service, the Holy Father
said that the act of serving others
is a way of allowing our own lives
to be identified with Jesus life.
The 76 year old Pontiff drew from
the example of Saint Paul who
made himself "a slave to all.
"Evangelizing means bearing
personal witness to the love of
God, it is overcoming our
selfishness, it is serving by
bending down to wash the feet of
our brethren, as Jesus did, the
Pope said.
Concluding his homily, Pope
Francis appealed to all youth to
announce the Gospel which he
said is bringing Gods power "to
pluck up and break down evil and
violence.
"The Church is counting on you!
he exclaimed. "The Pope is
counting on you!
Pope+s 6omil" at
Closing Mass o
1orld <outh &a"
at Copaca(ana
Beach
138
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the homily given by
Pope Francis at the Closing Mass
of the 28th World Youth Day at
Copacabana Beach in Rio de
Janeiro.
* * *
Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Young Friends,
"Go and make disciples of all
nations. With these words, Jesus
is speaking to each one of us,
saying: "It was wonderful to take
part in World Youth Day, to live
the faith together with young
people from the four corners of
the earth, but now you must go,
now you must pass on this
experience to others. Jesus is
calling you to be a disciple with a
mission! Today, in the light of the
word of God that we have heard,
what is the Lord saying to us?
Three simple ideas: Go, do not be
afraid, and serve.
1. Go. During these days here in
Rio, you have been able to enjoy
the wonderful experience of
meeting Jesus, meeting him
together with others, and you
have sensed the joy of faith. But
the experience of this encounter
must not remain locked up in your
life or in the small group of your
parish, your movement, or your
community. That would be like
withholding oxygen from a flame
that was burning strongly. Faith is
a flame that grows stronger the
more it is shared and passed on,
so that everyone may know, love
and confess Jesus Christ, the Lord
of life and history (cf. Rom 10:9).
Careful, though! Jesus did not
say: "if you would like to, if you
have the time, but: "Go and
make disciples of all nations.
Sharing the experience of faith,
bearing witness to the faith,
proclaiming the Gospel: this is a
command that the Lord entrusts
to the whole Church, and that
includes you; but it is a command
that is born not from a desire for
domination or power but from the
force of love, from the fact that
Jesus first came into our midst
and gave us, not a part of himself,
but the whole of himself, he gave
his life in order to save us and to
show us the love and mercy of
God. Jesus does not treat us as
slaves, but as free men, as
friends, as brothers and sisters;
and he not only sends us, he
accompanies us, he is always
beside us in our mission of love.
Where does Jesus send us? There
are no borders, no limits: he
sends us to everyone. The Gospel
is for everyone, not just for some.
It is not only for those who seem
closer to us, more receptive, more
welcoming. It is for everyone. Do
not be afraid to go and to bring
Christ into every area of life, to
the fringes of society, even to
those who seem farthest away,
most indifferent. The Lord seeks
all, he wants everyone to feel the
warmth of his mercy and his love.
In particular, I would like Christs
command: "Go to resonate in you
young people from the Church in
Latin America, engaged in the
continental mission promoted by
the Bishops. Brazil, Latin America,
the whole world needs Christ!
Saint Paul says: "Woe to me if I
do not preach the Gospel! (1 Cor
9:16). This continent has received
the proclamation of the Gospel
which has marked its history and
borne much fruit. Now this
proclamation is entrusted also to
you, that it may resound with
fresh power. The Church needs
you, your enthusiasm, your
creativity and the joy that is so
characteristic of you. A great
139
Apostle of Brazil, Blessed Jos de
Anchieta, set off on the mission
when he was only nineteen years
old. Do you know what the best
tool is for evangelizing the young?
Another young person. This is the
path to follow!
2. Do not be afraid. Some people
might think: "I have no particular
preparation, how can I go and
proclaim the Gospel? My dear
friend, your fear is not so very
different from that of Jeremiah, a
young man like you, when he was
called by God to be a prophet. We
have just heard his words: "Ah,
Lord God! Behold, I do not know
how to speak, for I am only a
youth. God says the same thing
to you as he said to Jeremiah: "Be
not afraid ... for I am with you to
deliver you (Jer 1:7,8). He is with
us!
"Do not be afraid! When we go to
proclaim Christ, it is he himself
who goes before us and guides us.
When he sent his disciples on
mission, he promised: "I am with
you always (Mt 28:20). And this
is also true for us! Jesus does not
leave us alone, he never leaves
you alone! He always accompanies
you.
And then, Jesus did not say: "One
of you go, but "All of you go: we
are sent together. Dear young
friends, be aware of the
companionship of the whole
Church and also the communion
of the saints on this mission.
When we face challenges
together, then we are strong, we
discover resources we did not
know we had. Jesus did not call
the Apostles to live in isolation, he
called them to form a group, a
community. I would like to
address you, dear priests
concelebrating with me at this
Eucharist: you have come to
accompany your young people,
and this is wonderful, to share this
experience of faith with them! But
it is a stage on the journey. Please
continue to accompany them with
generosity and joy, help them to
become actively engaged in the
Church; never let them feel alone!
And at this point I would like to
express my heartfelt thanks to
theYouth Ministery groups, to the
Movements and the new
Communities that accompany the
young people in their experience
of being Church. They are so
creative, so audacious. Carry on
and do not be afraid!
3. The final word: serve. The
opening words of the psalm that
we proclaimed are: "Sing to the
Lord a new song (Psalm 95:1).
What is this new song? It does not
consist of words, it is not a
melody, it is the song of your life,
it is allowing our life to be
identified with that of Jesus, it is
sharing his sentiments, his
thoughts, his actions. And the life
of Jesus is a life for others. It is a
life of service.
In our Second Reading today,
Saint Paul says: "I have made
myself a slave to all, that I might
win the more (1 Cor 9:19). In
order to proclaim Jesus, Paul
made himself "a slave to all.
Evangelizing means bearing
personal witness to the love of
God, it is overcoming our
selfishness, it is serving by
bending down to wash the feet of
our brethren, as Jesus did.
Three words: Go, do not be afraid,
and serve. Follow these three
words: Go, do not be afraid, and
serve. If you follow these three
ideas, you will experience that the
one who evangelizes is
evangelized, the one who
transmits the joy of faith receives
joy. Dear young friends, as you
return to your homes, do not be
140
afraid to be generous with Christ,
to bear witness to his Gospel. In
the first Reading, when God sends
the prophet Jeremiah, he gives
him the power to "pluck up and to
break down, to destroy and to
overthrow, to build and to plant
(1:10). It is the same for you.
Bringing the Gospel is bringing
Gods power to pluck up and break
down evil and violence, to destroy
and overthrow the barriers of
selfishness, intolerance and
hatred, so as to build a new world.
Jesus Christ is counting on you!
The Church is counting on you!
The Pope is counting on you! May
Mary, Mother of Jesus and our
Mother, always accompany you
with her tenderness: "Go and
make disciples of all nations.
Amen.
Pope+s Address at
Pra"er 0igil in
Copaca(ana
Beach
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address at last night's Prayer Vigil
at Copacabana Beach.
* * *
Dear Young Friends,
We have just recalled the story of
Saint Francis of Assisi. In front of
the crucifix he heard the voice of
Jesus saying to him: "Francis, go,
rebuild my house. The young
Francis responded readily and
generously to the Lords call to
rebuild his house. But which
house? Slowly but surely, Francis
came to realize that it was not a
question of repairing a stone
building, but about doing his part
for the life of the Church. It was a
matter of being at the service of
the Church, loving her and
working to make the countenance
of Christ shine ever more brightly
in her.
Today too, as always, the Lord
needs you, young people, for his
Church. Today too, he is calling
each of you to follow him in his
Church and to be missionaries.
How? In what way? Well, I think
we can learn something from what
happened in these days: as we
had to cancel due to bad weather,
the realization of this vigil on the
campus Fidei, in Guaratiba. Lord
willing might we say that the real
area of faith, the true campus
fidei, is not a geographical place -
but we, ourselves? Yes! Each of
us, each one of you. And
missionary discipleship means to
recognize that we are Gods
campus fidei, His "field of faith!
Therefore, from the image of the
field of faith, starting with the
name of the place, Campus Fidei,
the field of faith, I have thought of
three images that can help us
understand better what it means
to be a disciple and a missionary.
First, a field is a place for sowing
seeds; second, a field is a training
ground; and third, a field is a
construction site.
1. A field is a place for sowing
seeds. We all know the parable
where Jesus speaks of a sower
who went out to sow seeds in the
field; some seed fell on the path,
some on rocky ground, some
among thorns, and could not
grow; other seed fell on good soil
and brought forth much fruit (cf.
Mt 13:1-9). Jesus himself explains
the meaning of the parable: the
seed is the word of God sown in
our hearts (cf. Mt 13:18-23). This,
dear young people, means that
the real Campus Fidei, the field of
faith, is your own heart, it is your
life. It is your life that Jesus wants
141
to enter with his word, with his
presence. Please, let Christ and
his word enter your life, blossom
and grow.
Jesus tells us that the seed which
fell on the path or on the rocky
ground or among the thorns bore
no fruit. What kind of ground are
we? What kind of terrain do we
want to be? Maybe sometimes we
are like the path: we hear the
Lords word but it changes nothing
in our lives because we let
ourselves be numbed by all the
superficial voices competing for
our attention; or we are like the
rocky ground: we receive Jesus
with enthusiasm, but we falter
and, faced with difficulties, we
dont have the courage to swim
against the tide; or we are like the
thorny ground: negativity,
negative feelings choke the Lords
word in us (cf. Mt 13:18-22). But
today I am sure that the seed is
falling on good soil, that you want
to be good soil, not part-time
Christians, not "starchy and
superficial, but real. I am sure
that you dont want to be duped
by a false freedom, always at the
beck and call of momentary
fashions and fads. I know that you
are aiming high, at long-lasting
decisions which will make your
lives meaningful. Jesus is capable
of letting you do this: he is "the
way, and the truth, and the life
(Jn 14:6). Lets trust in him. Lets
make him our guide!
2. A field is a training ground.
Jesus asks us to follow him for
life, he asks us to be his disciples,
to "play on his team. I think that
most of you love sports! Here in
Brazil, as in other countries,
football is a national passion.
Now, what do players do when
they are asked to join a team?
They have to train, and to train a
lot! The same is true of our lives
as the Lords disciples. Saint Paul
tells us: "athletes deny
themselves all sorts of things;
they do this to win a crown of
leaves that withers, but we a
crown that is imperishable (1 Cor
9:25). Jesus offers us something
bigger than the World Cup! He
offers us the possibility of a
fulfilled and fruitful life; he also
offers us a future with him, an
endless future, eternal life. But he
asks us to train, "to get in shape,
so that we can face every
situation in life undaunted,
bearing witness to our faith. How
do we get in shape? By talking
with him: by prayer, which is our
daily conversation with God, who
always listens to us. By the
sacraments, which make his life
grow within us and conform us to
Christ. By loving one another,
learning to listen, to understand,
to forgive, to be accepting and to
help others, everybody, with no
one excluded or ostracized. Dear
young people, be true "athletes of
Christ!
3. A field is a construction site.
When our heart is good soil which
receives the word of God, when
"we build up a sweat in trying to
live as Christians, we experience
something tremendous: we are
never alone, we are part of a
family of brothers and sisters, all
journeying on the same path: we
are part of the Church; indeed, we
are building up the Church and we
are making history. Saint Peter
tells us that we are living stones,
which form a spiritual edifice (cf. 1
Pet 2:5). Looking at this platform,
we see that it is in the shape of a
church, built up with stones and
bricks. In the Church of Jesus, we
ourselves are the living stones.
Jesus is asking us to build up his
Church, but not as a little chapel
which holds only a small group of
persons. He asks us to make his
living Church so large that it can
hold all of humanity, that it can be
142
a home for everyone! To me, to
you, to each of us he says: "Go
and make disciples of all nations.
Tonight, let us answer him: Yes, I
too want to be a living stone;
together we want to build up the
Church of Jesus! Let us all say
together: I want to go forth and
build up the Church of Christ!
In your young hearts, you have a
desire to build a better world. I
have been closely following the
news reports of the many young
people who throughout the world
have taken to the streets in order
to express their desire for a more
just and fraternal society - (and
here in Brazil), they have gone
out into the streets to express a
desire for a more just and
fraternal civilization. These are
young people who want to be
agents of change. I encourage
them, in an orderly, peaceful and
responsible manner, motivated by
the values of the Gospel, to
continue overcoming apathy and
offering a Christian response to
social and political concerns
present in their countries. But the
question remains: Where do we
start? What are the criteria for
building a more just society?
Mother Teresa of Calcutta was
once asked what needed to
change in the Church. Her answer
was: you and I!
Dear friends, never forget that
you are the field of faith! You are
Christs athletes! You are called to
build a more beautiful Church and
a better world. Let us lift our gaze
to Our Lady. Mary helps us to
follow Jesus, she gives us the
example by her own "yes to God:
"I am the servant of the Lord; let
it be done to me as you say (Lk
1:38). All together, let us join
Mary in saying to God: let it be
done to me as you say. Amen!
4elections From
Francis or the
Church in Bra7il
6ighlights From 6is Meeting
1ith Bishops
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On Saturday in
Rio, Pope Francis met with the
bishops of Brazil, telling them that
more than a formal address, he
wanted to share with them some
reflections.
Below are some of the highlights
of those reflections:
-- In the context of a
consideration of the discovery of
Our Lady of Aparecida, the Pope
said this: "The fishermen do not
dismiss the mystery encountered
in the river, even if it is a mystery
which seems incomplete. They do
not throw away the pieces of the
mystery. They await its
completion. And this does not take
long to come. There is a wisdom
here that we need to learn. There
are pieces of the mystery, like the
stones of a mosaic, which we
encounter, which we see. We are
impatient, anxious to see the
whole picture, but God lets us see
things slowly, quietly. The Church
also has to learn how to wait."
-- Reflecting on lessons from the
disciples of Emmaus, he offered
this: "Here we have to face the
difficult mystery of those people
who leave the Church, who, under
the illusion of alternative ideas,
now think that the Church - their
Jerusalem - can no longer offer
them anything meaningful and
important. So they set off on the
road alone, with their
disappointment. Perhaps the
Church appeared too weak,
perhaps too distant from their
needs, perhaps too poor to
143
respond to their concerns,
perhaps too cold, perhaps too
caught up with itself, perhaps a
prisoner of its own rigid formulas,
perhaps the world seems to have
made the Church a relic of the
past, unfit for new questions;
perhaps the Church could speak to
people in their infancy but not to
those come of age.4 It is a fact
that nowadays there are many
people like the two disciples of
Emmaus; not only those looking
for answers in the new religious
groups that are sprouting up, but
also those who already seem
godless, both in theory and in
practice.
Faced with this situation, what are
we to do?
We need a Church unafraid of
going forth into their night. We
need a Church capable of meeting
them on their way. We need a
Church capable of entering into
their conversation. We need a
Church able to dialogue with those
disciples who, having left
Jerusalem behind, are wandering
aimlessly, alone, with their own
disappointment, disillusioned by a
Christianity now considered
barren, fruitless soil, incapable of
generating meaning."
-- "I would like all of us to ask
ourselves today: are we still a
Church capable of warming
hearts? A Church capable of
leading people back to Jerusalem?
Of bringing them home?
Jerusalem is where our roots are:
Scripture, catechesis, sacraments,
community, friendship with the
Lord, Mary and the apostles... Are
we still able to speak of these
roots in a way that will revive a
sense of wonder at their beauty?
Many people have left because
they were promised something
more lofty, more powerful, and
faster.
But what is more lofty than the
love revealed in Jerusalem?
Nothing is more lofty than the
abasement of the Cross, since
there we truly approach the height
of love! Are we still capable of
demonstrating this truth to those
who think that the apex of life is
to be found elsewhere?"
-- Regarding challenges facing the
Church in Brazil, he made these
comments: "Formation as a
priority: Bishops, priests,
religious, laity
Dear brothers, unless we train
ministers capable of warming
peoples hearts, of walking with
them in the night, of dialoguing
with their hopes and
disappointments, of mending their
brokenness, what hope can we
have for our present and future
journey? It isnt true that Gods
presence has been dimmed in
them. Let us learn to look at
things more deeply. What is
missing is someone to warm their
heart, as was the case with the
disciples of Emmaus"
-- "What is needed is a solid
human, cultural, effective,
spiritual and doctrinal
formation.6 Dear brother
Bishops, courage is needed to
undertake a profound review of
the structures in place for the
formation and preparation of the
clergy and the laity of the Church
in Brazil. It is not enough that
formation be considered a vague
priority, either in documents or at
meetings. What is needed is the
practical wisdom to set up lasting
educational structures on the
local, regional and national levels
and to take them to heart as
Bishops, without sparing energy,
concern and personal interest. The
present situation calls for quality
formation at every level. Bishops
may not delegate this task. You
cannot delegate this task, but
144
must embrace it as something
fundamental for the journey of
your Churches."
-- "Concerning mission, we need
to remember that its urgency
derives from its inner motivation;
in other words, it is about handing
on a legacy. As for method, it is
essential to realize that a legacy is
about witness, it is like the baton
in a relay race: you dont throw it
up in the air for whoever is able to
catch it, so that anyone who
doesnt catch it has to manage
without. In order to transmit a
legacy, one needs to hand it over
personally, to touch the one to
whom one wants to give, to relay,
this inheritance."
-- "Concerning pastoral
conversion, I would like to recall
that 'pastoral care' is nothing
other than the exercise of the
Churchs motherhood. She gives
birth, suckles, gives growth,
corrects, nourishes and leads by
the hand ... So we need a Church
capable of rediscovering the
maternal womb of mercy. Without
mercy we have little chance
nowadays of becoming part of a
world of 'wounded' persons in
need of understanding,
forgiveness, love."
-- Regarding the Church in
society, Francis said: "In the
context of society, there is only
one thing which the Church quite
clearly demands: the freedom to
proclaim the Gospel in its entirety,
even when it runs counter to the
world, even when it goes against
the tide. In so doing, she defends
treasures of which she is merely
the custodian, and values which
she does not create but rather
receives, to which she must
remain faithful."
;n Mar"9 ;ur Model and
Mother
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 28,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address prior to the recitation of
the Angelus at the conclusion of
the Closing Mass of the 28th
World Youth Day at Copacabana
Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the end of this Mass, in which
we have raised up to God our
song of praise and thanksgiving
for every grace received during
this World Youth Day, I would like
once more to thank Archbishop
Orani Tempesta and Cardinal
RyIko for their kind words. I thank
you too, dear young friends, for all
the joy you have given me in
these days. I carry each one of
you in my heart! Now let us turn
our gaze to our heavenly Mother,
the Virgin Mary.
During these days, Jesus has
insistently and repeatedly invited
you to be his missionary disciples;
you have listened to the voice of
the Good Shepherd, calling you by
name, and you have recognized
the voice calling you (cf. Jn10:4).
Could it be that in this voice,
resounding in your heart, you
have felt the tenderness of Gods
love? Have you experienced the
beauty of following Christ together
with others, in the Church? Have
you understood more deeply that
the Gospel is the answer to the
desire for an even fuller life? (cf.
Jn10:10).
The Immaculate Virgin intercedes
for us in heaven as a good mother
who watches over her children.
May Mary teach us by her life
145
what it means to be a missionary
disciple. Every time we pray the
Angelus, we recall the event that
changed the history of mankind
for ever. When the Angel Gabriel
proclaimed to Mary that she would
become the Mother of Jesus the
Saviour, even without
understanding the full significance
of thatcall, she trusted God and
replied: "Behold, I am the
handmaid of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word
(Lk1:38). But what did she do
immediately afterwards? On
receiving the grace of being the
Mother of the Incarnate Word, she
did not keep that gift to herself;
she set off, she left her home and
went in haste to help her
kinswoman Elizabeth, who was in
need of assistance (cf. Lk1:38-
39); she carried out an act of
love, of charity,of practical
service, bringing Jesus who was in
her womb. And she did all this in
haste!
There, my dear friends, we have
our model. She who received the
most precious gift from God, as
her immediate response sets off
to be of service and to bring
Jesus. Let us ask Our Lady to help
us too to give Christs joy to our
families, our companions, our
friends, to everyone. Never be
afraid to be generous with Christ.
It is worth it! Go out and set off
with courage and generosity, so
that every man and every woman
may meet the Lord.
Dear young friends, we have an
appointment for the next World
Youth Day in 2016 in Krakw,
Poland. Through Our Ladys
maternal intercession, let us ask
for the light of the Holy Spirit
upon the journey that will lead us
to this next stage in our joyful
celebration offaith and the love of
Christ.
Now let us pray together ...
Pope Francis Meets
1ith 0olunteers
Beore &eparting
4io
In$ites 2hem 2o 56a$e the
Courage 2o Be
6app"5
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Before leaving
Brazil, Pope Francis meet with an
estimated 15,000 volunteers at
the Congress Center Pavilion in
Rio de Janeiro. The group was
only a sliver of the 60,000
volunteers who worked in the past
two years preparing for World
Youth Day. The Holy Father
expressed his gratitude for their
work.
The Pope also thanked them for
"the countless little ways by which
you have made this World Youth
Day an unforgettable experience
of faith. With your smiles, your
acts of kindness and your
willingness to serve, you have
shown that 'it is more blessed to
give than to receive'.
Comparing them to St. John the
Baptist, "who prepared the way
for Jesus, the Pope told the
volunteers that as missionary
disciples, preparing the way for
others to meet the Lord is "the
most beautiful service we give.
"May you always be generous with
God and with others: one loses
nothing thereby, but gains great
enrichment in life, he said.
"God, the Pope continued, "has a
plan for each of you: to discover
that plan and to respond to your
vocation is to move toward
personal fulfilment. Some are
146
called to holiness through family
life in the sacrament of Marriage.
The Holy Father commented that
in today's cultural of the
ephemeral, many say that
marriage is out of fashion. "Many
preach the importance of
'enjoying' the moment, he said;
"they say that it is not worth
making a life-long commitment,
making a definitive decision, for
ever, because we do not know
what tomorrow will bring. He
urged the young volunteers "to be
revolutionaries, to swim against
the tide; yes, I am asking you to
rebel against this culture that sees
everything as temporary and that
ultimately believes that you are
incapable of responsibility, that
you are incapable of true love.
Have the courage to be happy.
The Pope went on to say that the
Lord calls some to the priesthood
or to the religious life, and shared
with the young volunteers his
experience at the age of 17 of first
hearing God's call. "Do not be
afraid of what God asks of you! It
is worth saying 'yes' to God. In
Him we find joy!
Finally, he addressed those who
"may not yet know what you will
do with your lives, and
encouraged them to "ask the
Lord, and He will show you the
way. Do not forget what you have
experienced here! You can always
count on my prayers, and I know I
can count on yours.
Pope Francis9 +2he Best
Instrument to
.$angeli7e <oung
People is ;ther
<oung People+
Cnorgetta(le Papal 0isit
1raps Cp in 4io
By .r# Alfonso Maria Bruno
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On Sunday
evening Pope Francis ended his
apostolic journey to Brazil and the
World Youth Day. Nostalgia gives
way to hope for a better future
with the seed sown on good soil:
the life of young people.
A "seventy-six year-old youth
was able to gather 3,500,000
young people on a beach . He did
so not only with his words, but
especially with the signs of his
humanity and spirituality.
Pope Francis was accompanied by
an unusual cold and rain for the
city of Rio, but as the diocesan
Bishop of Rio de Janeiro aptly said
in his farewell address, this
atmospheric event is called
"creative rain, because it makes
buds bloom and helps the earth to
be more fertile.
The return of the sun, of light and
of heat this weekend marked,
perhaps, that crescendo of interior
responses that young people
found in prayer, in catechesis, in
approach to the sacraments.
This is the fruit of the World Youth
Day; this is the meaning of the
highly positive outcome, which the
Holy See spokesman, Father
Federico Lombardi, revealed in his
last press conference to
journalists in the retinue.
In an interview granted to Gerson
Camarotti for TV Globos
Fantastico, the first interview of
his pontificate, Pope Francis
answered the question about the
reason for the decrease of
147
Catholics in Brazil to the
advantage of the Evangelicals.
He said that the Church is like a
mother and cannot communicate
only through written documents.
What is necessary is proximity: to
embrace, kiss, touch, hug a son or
a daughter.
It is what Pope Francis did from
the moment he arrived. It is
because of this that on Sunday
morning a youth exhibited a
poster on which he had written:
"Pope Francis, Im an Evangelical,
but I love you and I want to listen
to you just the same.
Young people have utopia and this
is a good. Utopia is to breathe and
look ahead. This is the meaning of
going against the current to which
the Pope referred many times.
Go, do not be afraid, and serve is
the action, the quality and the
objective of one who is called by
Christ to make disciples beyond all
borders of human and geographic
security.
The WYD is a beautiful event, but
its not enough if, on returning
home, they are not evangelizers,
living Christians able to transmit
their faith to others.
"The Gospel is for everyone, not
for some. Its not only for those
who seem closer, more receptive,
more welcoming. Its for
everyone, said Pope Francis.
"The best instrument to
evangelize young people is other
young people, that is why he
quoted during the homily his
glorious brother Joseph Anchieta,
the Jesuit Blessed who was sent
on mission to Brazil, a Spaniard
who was only 19 years old!
When one is with the Lord, one
cannot be afraid. In following the
Lord, there cannot be
reservations.
To serve is the condition proper to
one who follows Christ, who came
in the midst of men not to be
served but to serve.
If a youth is loved, heard and
guided, he spreads youthfulness.
Pope Francis was grateful for this
to his /a&aboys.
At the end of the apostolic journey
in Brazil, that man dressed in
white will be missed on the streets
of Rio de Janeiro; he will be
remembered with saudade
(nostalgia), as Archbiship Orani
Tempesta said.
Pope Francis who does not hide
his premature nostalgia for Rio, so
great was his warm reception, will
be in turn gratified by the
response of young people who, as
the very first fruits of the WYD,
will make of Campus Fidei at
Guaratiba a new quarter for the
poor, built with the voluntary
resources of young people
themselves, in favor of other
young people, spouses or family
members who are without land,
without a home.
The meeting for the next WYD
returns to Europe, in the Polish
city of Krakow.
Perhaps there also, thanks to
Argentine pilgrims, he will be able
to drink mate [Paraguayan tea]
at once, with the bombilla and
gourd.
In addition to its medicinal
properties, mate, the national
drink, is a ritual of hospitality,
sharing, and fraternity. It is what
Pope Francis received; it is what
148
Pope Francis gave in the
wonderful city thanks to a youth
that is able to astonish.
Pope Meets 1ith
Coordinating
Committee o
C.:AM
.mphasi7es on the
6allmar3s o the
Aparecida
&ocument
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On Sunday
afternoon, Pope Francis met with
the forty-five bishops who form
the Coordinating Committee of the
Latin American Episcopal
Conference (CELAM). He focused
on the legacy of the meeting of
the Fifth General Conference of
the Bishops of Latin America and
the Caribbean, held in Aparecida
in May 2007.
He began his address by
mentioning four hallmarks or
pillars of the Aparecida
conference. First, the participation
of the Particular Churches as a
process of preparation culminating
in a document of synthesis, which
while serving as a point of
reference throughout the Fifth
General Conference, was not
taken as a starting point; the
prayerful setting and the
accompaniment in the form of the
songs and prayers of the faithful;
that Aparecida did not end with a
document but instead continued in
the Continental Mission; and
finally, that it was the first
conference of the bishops of Latin
America and the Caribbean to be
held in a Marian shrine.
The Pope spoke of the two
dimensions of the Continental
Mission: the programmatic,
consisting in a series of
missionary activities, and the
paradigmatic, setting in a
missionary key all the day-to-day
activities of the Particular
Churches. The Pope explained that
"this entails a whole process of
reforming ecclesial structures. The
'change of structures' (from
obsolete ones to new ones) . will
result from the very dynamics of
mission. What makes obsolete
structures pass away, what leads
to a change of heart in Christians,
is precisely missionary spirit.
Francis mentioned two of the
current challenges of missionary
discipleship: "the Churchs inner
renewal and dialogue with the
world around us.
The Holy Father went on to outline
some "temptations against
missionary discipleship, such as
the transformation of the Gospel
message into an ideology: "the
attempt to interpret the Gospel
apart from the Gospel itself and
apart from the Church;
functionalism, which "reduces the
reality of the Church to the
structure of an NGO and "applies
a sort of 'theology of prosperity' to
the organization of pastoral
work; and finally, clericalism, "a
temptation very present in Latin
America which "explains, in great
part, the lack of maturity and
Christian freedom in a good part
of the Latin American laity.
The Pope then suggested some
ecclesiastical guidelines: first, "the
missionary discipleship which
Aparecida proposed to the
Churches of Latin America and the
Caribbean is the journey which
God desires for the present 'today'
. It is given in the 'today', but
also 'in tension'. There is no such
thing as static missionary
149
discipleship, linked neither to the
past nor the future.
Second: "The Church is an
institution, but when she makes
herself a 'centre', she becomes
merely functional, and slowly but
surely turns into a kind of NGO. .
From an 'institution' she becomes
a 'enterprise'. She stops being a
bride and ends up being an
administrator; from being a
servant, she becomes an
'inspector'. Aparecida wanted a
Church which is bride, mother and
servant, a facilitator of faith and
not an inspector of faith.
Third: "In Aparecida, two pastoral
categories stand out, Francis
said. "They arise from the
uniqueness of the Gospel, and we
can employ them as guidelines for
assessing how we are living
missionary discipleship in the
Church: nearness and encounter.
Neither of these two categories is
new; rather, they are the way God
has revealed himself to us in
history, he continued, recalling
that the pastoral plans which do
not take account of these
dimensions "can at best provide a
dimension of proselytism, but they
can never inspire people to feel
part of or belong to the Church,
and added that "one touchstone
for measuring whether a pastoral
plan embodies nearness and a
capacity for encounter is the
homily.
2he ourth and inal aspect9
the Pope commented
that *Bishops must
lead' ,hich is not the
same thing as (eing
authoritarian-' and
oered some
guidelines9 *Bishops
must (e pastors' close
to people' athers and
(rothers' and gentle'
patient and merciul)
Men ,ho lo$e po$ert"'
(oth interior po$ert"'
as reedom (eore the
:ord' and e/terior
po$ert"' as simplicit"
and austerit" o lie)
Men ,ho do not thin3
and (eha$e li3e
+princes+) Men ,ho are
not am(itious' ,ho
are married to one
church ,ithout ha$ing
their e"es on another)
Men capa(le o
,atching o$er the
loc3 entrusted to
them and protecting
e$er"thing that 3eeps
it together9 guarding
their people out o
concern or the
dangers ,hich could
threaten them' (ut
a(o$e all instilling
hope9 so that light ,ill
shine in people8s
hearts) Men capa(le o
supporting ,ith lo$e
and patience %od8s
dealings ,ith his
people) 2he Bishop has
to (e among his
people in three ,a"s9
in ront o them'
pointing the ,a"I
among them' 3eeping
them together and
pre$enting them rom
(eing scatteredI and
(ehind them' ensuring
that no one is let
(ehind' (ut also' and
primaril"' so that the
loc3 itsel can sni
out ne, paths-) In
conclusion' Francis
added *,e are lagging
some,hat as ar as
Pastoral Con$ersion is
concerned) 1e need to
help one another a (it
more in ta3ing the
steps that the :ord
as3s o us in the
150
+toda"+ o :atin
America and the
Cari((ean) And this is
a good place to start-)
J.=I2 4eaders 4eBoice
at !election o Fra3o,
For =e/t 1<&
Pope Francis Ma3es
Announcement
at Conclusion o
Mass in 4io
By .r# Marius7 .ru!ac7' Jowita
Kostr7ews!a
ROME, July 29, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
Krakow,Poland, will be the capital
of the 2016 World Youth Day
(WYD), Pope Francis announced
before reciting the Angelus at the
closing Mass of the 2013 WYD in
Rio de Janeiro. After the WYD in
Czestochowa in 1991, Poland ,
Karol Wojtylas country, will host
young people from all over the
world for the second time , in a
meeting with the Pope. Todays
decision was received with
particular enthusiasm by Polish
young people gathered on the
beach of Copacabana.
"Krakow and Poland rejoice to
become once again a city and
State of young people. We are
happy that the Holy Father Francis
announced that the World Youth
Day will be held at Krakow, in
Poland, Cardinal Stanislaw
Dziwisz, Metropolitan of Krakow
and former secretary of John Paul
II said to KAI (Catholic news
Agency in Poland) in his first
comment.
ZENIT also asked some Polish
readers for their comments.
"I think its a good idea that the
2016 World Youth Day will take
place in Poland, that is, in Krakow.
In particular we must know that in
Poland there is also the present
crisis of faith of many people, the
greater part being young people.
They are experiencing some
spiritual crises. Young people are
also stimulated by alcohol and
drugs, Kacper Kostrzewski, a
high school pupil, told ZENIT.
"Thus it is hoped that with Pope
Francis, with common prayer, we
will be able to heal many souls. I
believe also that this WYD at
Krakow is a precious gift from
John Paul II, added Kacper.
For Dominika Majdzik the WYD at
Krakow "will have a positive effect
on the adherence of young people
to the Church. "I think that
people can improve and reflect
further on the faith, she said.
For Father Piotr Rutkowski, the
priest who works at the Marian
Shrine at Wasosz in the
Archdiocese of Czestochowa,
"Pope Francis decision has
awakened enthusiasm of faith and
hope in many hearts. "The WYD
at Krakow is a great gift for the
Church in Poland, but also a
commitment that will open the
doors of our homes, parishes and
dioceses to young people of the
world. It will be a great thing for
us, because with the WYD we can
unite as the community of faithful
to Christ and to Peter, stressed
Father Rutkowski.
"Its necessary to recall that in
2016, the 1050th anniversary of
the Baptism of Poland will be
observed , which will enable us to
return to the roots and the
sources of our faith, added
Father Rutkowski.
The Polish priest stressed that
"the WYD at Krakow will make
possible the participation of young
people of Eastern Europe, as the
151
WYD at Czestochowa already did
in 1991.

Pope Francis Address at
Fare,ell
Ceremon"
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address during the Farewell
Ceremony before leaving Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
* * *
Madam President,
Distinguished National, State and
Local Authorities,
Dear Archbishop of So Sebastio
do Rio de Janeiro,
Dear Cardinals and Brother
Bishops,
Dear Friends,
I am about to leave your country
to return to Rome. I depart with
many happy memories which I
know will nourish my prayers.
Already I am beginning to miss
Brazil, this great people showing
so much affection and friendship. I
shall miss the natural and warm
smiles I have seen in so many
faces, and the enthusiasm shown
by the volunteers. I shall miss the
hope filling the eyes of the young
people in the Hospital of Saint
Francis. I shall miss the faith and
joy shown by the residents of
Varginha in the midst oftheir
hardship. I know that Christ is
truly present in the lives of
countless young people and in the
lives of many whom I have met
during this unforgettable week.
Thank you for the warm welcome
and the friendship that have been
offered to me. This too I shall
miss.
In particular, I would like to thank
Madam President for expressing
the sentiments of the entire
population of Brazil towards the
Successor of Peter. I warmly
extend gratitude to my brother
Bishops and to their many
collaborators for making this week
a splendid celebration of the
richness and joy of our faith in
Jesus Christ. I thank all those who
took part in the eucharistic
celebrations and other events, and
I thank those who organized them
and those who worked to
broadcast them through the
media. Finally, I wish to thank all
those who in one way or another
rose to the challenge of hosting
and organizing the large numbers
of young people. And not least my
gratitude goes tothe many people
who prayed, often in silence and
simplicity, for this World Youth
Day to bean authentic experience
of growth in faith. May God
reward all of you, as only he can!
As I express my thanks and bid
farewell, my thoughts turnto those
who are at the heart of these
celebrations: the young people!
May God bless you for the
beautiful witness of your lives and
for your intense and joyful
participation over these last few
days. Many of you came here as
disciples; I have no doubt that all
of you will leave as missionaries.
Through your joyful witness and
service, help to build a civilization
of love. Show, by your life, that it
is worth giving your time and
talents in order to attain high
ideals, itis worth recognizing the
dignity of each human person,
and it is worth taking risks for
Christ and his Gospel. It is he that
we have come to seek because he
first sought us. It is he who has
inflamed our hearts with the
desire to take the Good News to
the large cities and to the small
communities, to the countryside
152
and to all thecorners of this vast
planet. I will always place my
hopes in the young people of
Brazil and in the young around the
world:through them, Christ is
preparing a new springtime all
over the earth. I have seen its
first fruits and I know that others
will joyfully reap the full harvest.
Finally, my thoughts turn to Our
Lady of Aparecida, to whom I also
bid farewell. In that beloved
Shrine I knelt to pray for the
entire human family and in
particular for all Brazilians. I
implored Mary to strengthen you
in the Christian faith, which forms
part of the noble soul of Brazil, as
indeedof many other countries;
thisfaith is your culture's treasure
and serves as encouragement and
support in the task ofbuilding a
renewed humanity in harmony
and solidarity. As he departs, the
Pope says to all of you
affectionately: "see you soon". He
asks you not to forget to pray for
him. The Pope needs the prayers
of all of you. I offer you an
affectionate embrace. May God
bless you!
Pope+s Address to 1orld
<outh &a"
0olunteers
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is Pope
Francis' address to the volunteers
of the 28th World Youth Day in
Rio de Janeiro.
* * *
Dear Volunteers, Good evening!
I could not return to Rome without
first thanking all of you in a
personal and affectionate way for
the work and dedication with
which you have accompanied,
helped, and served the thousands
of young pilgrims, and for the
countless little ways by which you
have made this World Youth Day
an unforgettable experience of
faith. With your smiles, your acts
of kindness and your willingness
to serve, you have shown that "it
is more blessed to give than to
receive" (Acts20:35).
The service you have given during
these days brings to mind the
mission of Saint John the Baptist,
who prepared the way for Jesus.
Every one of you, each in his or
her own way, was a means
enabling thousands of young
people to "prepare the way" to
meet Jesus. And this is the most
beautiful service we can give as
missionary disciples. To prepare
the way so that all people may
know, meet and love the Lord. To
you who in these days responded
with such readiness and
generosity to the call to be
volunteers for World Youth Day, I
say: May you always be generous
with God and with others: one
loses nothing thereby, but gains
great enrichment in life.
God calls you to make definitive
choices, and he has a plan for
each of you: to discover that plan
and to respond to your vocation is
to move toward personal
fulfilment. God callseach of us to
be holy, to live his life, but he has
a particular path for each one of
us. Some are called to holiness
through family life in the
sacrament of Marriage. Today,
there are those who say that
marriage is out of fashion; in a
culture of relativism and the
ephemeral, many preach the
importance of "enjoying" the
moment. They say that it is not
worth making a life-long
commitment, making a definitive
decision, "for ever", because we
153
do not know whattomorrow will
bring. I ask you, instead, to be
revolutionaries, to swim against
the tide; yes, I am asking you to
rebel against this culture that
seeseverything as temporary and
that ultimately believes that you
are incapable of responsibility,
that you are incapable of true
love. I have confidence in you and
I pray for you. Have the courage
"to swim against the tide". Have
the courage to be happy.
The Lord calls some to be priests,
to give themselves to him more
fully, so as to love all people with
the heart of the Good Shepherd.
Some he calls to the service of
others in the religious life:
devoting themselves in
monasteries to praying for the
good of the world, and in various
areas of the apostolate, giving of
themselves for the sake of all,
especially those most in need. I
will never forget that day, 21
September - I was 17 years old -
when, after stopping in the Church
of San Jos de Floresto go to
confession, I first heard God
calling me. Do not be afraid of
what God asks of you! It is worth
saying "yes" to God. In him we
find joy!
Dear young people, some of you
may not yet know what youwill do
with your lives. Ask the Lord, and
he will show you the way. The
young Samuel kept hearing the
voice of the Lord who was calling
him, but he did not understand or
know what to say, yet with the
help of the priest Eli, inthe end he
answered: Speak, Lord, for I am
listening (cf. 1 Sam3:1-10). You
too can ask the Lord: What do you
wantme to do? What path am I to
follow?
Dear friends, I thank you once
more for all you have done during
these days. Do not forget what
you have experienced here! You
can always count on my prayers,
and I know I can count on yours.
Pope 6olds E0 Minute
Press Conerence
on 4eturn Flight
rom 4io
Ans,ers @uestions 4anging
From Curial 4eorm
to 6is 4e?uest or
Pra"ers
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, July 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On his return flight
to Rome, Pope Francis gave
journalists an opportunity of a
lifetime: an 80 minute no-holds-
bar press conference where he
answered all their questions.
Vatican Insider posted on their
website the complete text of the
question and answer session with
the Holy Father.
When asked by journalists
regarding the current reforms of
the Institute for Religious Works
(IOR), Pope Francis stated that he
entrusts the work of both the IOR
and the commission he created to
study their inner workings. "I
dont know how [the study] will
end, the Pope said. "But
certainly, whatever becomes of
the IOR, transparency and
honesty is needed.
Pope Francis did not shy away
from particularly sensitive
subjects, including rumored
reports of resistance within the
Roman Curia and the recent arrest
of a prelate, Msgr. Nunzio
Scarano. The Holy Father stated
that within the Curia there are
many "saints: bishops, priests
154
and pay people, people that work.
"There are many that go visit the
poor in secret or in their free time
go to any Church and exercise
their ministry, he said.
"Then there is someone that is not
that much a saint and these cases
create the rumors because, as you
know, a tree that falls makes
more noise than a forest that
grows. I am saddened when these
things occur. The Holy Father
stated the case of Msgr. Nunzio
Scarano, who is currently under
arrest as an example of this.
Msgr. Scarano was a senior
accountant for the Administration
of the Patrimony of the Apostolic
See who was arrested for an
alleged attempt in embezzling
money.
Journalists also asked questions
that peaked the worlds curiosity.
Many were taken aback when the
Pope boarded his plane going and
returning from Brazil carrying his
own bag. When asked what was in
his bag, the Pope answered: My
razor, a breviary, my calendar and
a book to read; I brought a book
on Saint Therese, who I am very
devoted to. The Holy Father
expressed his shock that many
newspapers had focused on him
carrying his own bag. "Its normal
to carry ones back, we must be
normal, we must get used to
being normal, he said.
"However, there was no key to the
nuclear bomb in my bag, the
Pope said jokingly.
When asked why he always asks
everyone he meets to "pray for
him, Pope Francis said that it was
something that he always asked.
"When I was a priest, I didnt ask
as much, not that much. I began
to ask for it more after I became a
bishop. I feel that I have many
limitations and many problems, I
am also a sinner. This request
comes from within me. I also ask
the Blessed Mother to pray for
me. Its a habit that comes from
the heart, I feel that I have to
ask.
Movements Are a `Grace of the
Holy Spirit
The Holy Father spoke frankly on
the importance of the new
movements within the Church.
When asked about the
Charismatic Renewal, the Holy
Father admitted that while at first
he was skeptical, he later saw the
grace of the Holy Spirit in them
and in all the movements of the
Church.
"Towards the late 70s and early
80s, I was not keen on them (the
Charismatic Renewal). One time I
said that they confused a liturgical
celebration with a Samba dance
school! But then I got to know
them better, I converted, I saw
how they worked and every year
in Buenos Aires I celebrated Mass
with them. I believe the
movements are necessary, they
are a grace of the Spirit. The
Church is free, the Holy Spirit
does what it wills.
The Wisdom of Benedict XVI
Pope Francis also spoke on his
relationship with his predecessor,
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who
he affectionately compared to as a
"father and likened Benedict
XVIs stay in the Vatican as having
a wise grandfather at home.
"The last time there were two or
three Popes together they did not
talk to each other, instead they
fought to see who was the true
Pope. I wish so much well to
Benedict XVI, he is a man of God,
155
a humble man, a man who prays,
the Holy Father said.
"I was so happy when he was
elected Pope, and later we saw his
gesture of resigning...for me he is
a great [man]. Now he lives in the
Vatican and there are those who
ask: "but doesnt he encumber
you? Does he go against you? No,
for me its like having a wise
grandfather at home. When there
is a grandfather living with a
family, he is venerated and
listened to. Benedict XVI does not
interfere. For me its like having a
grandfather at home, he is my
father. If I have a difficulty I can
talk to him, like I did when there
was that big problem with
Vatileaks. "When he received the
Cardinals on February 28th, he
said: `The new Pope is among you
to whom I promise from now on
my obedience. He is a great
man.
`Lobbies are Not Good
Towards the end of the press
conference, Vatican insider
reported that the Holy Father was
asked regarding a rumored "gay
lobby within the Vatican. "There
is so much written about the `gay
lobby. I have to find someone in
the Vatican who has `gay written
on their ID card, the Pope said.
"Lobbies, all lobbies, are not
good.
"If a person is gay, the Pope
continued, "and he is searching
for the Lord with good will, who
am I to judge him? The Catechism
of the Catholic Church teaches
that gay people should not be
discriminated against but
received. The problem is not
about having these tendencies,
the problem is to lobby it and this
goes the same for business
lobbies, political lobbies, and
masonic lobbies.
Pope+s Address to
C.:AM
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 29,
2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address to the Leadership of the
Episcopal Conference of Latin
America during their General
Coordination Meeting yesterday.
* * *
1. Introduction
I thank the Lord for this
opportunity to speak with you, my
brother bishops, the leadership of
CELAM for the four-year period
from 2011 to 2015. For 57 years
CELAM has served the 22
Episcopal Conferences of Latin
America and the Caribbean,
working in a spirit of solidarity and
subsidiarity to promote,
encourage and improve collegiality
among the bishops and
communion between the regions
Churches and their pastors.
Like yourselves, I too witnessed
the powerful working of the Spirit
in the Fifth General Conference of
the Latin American and Caribbean
Episcopate in Aparecida, in May
2007, which continues to inspire
the efforts of CELAM for the
desired renewal of the Particular
Churches. In many of them, this
renewal is clearly taking place. I
would like to focus this
conversation on the legacy of that
fraternal encounter, which all of
us have chosen to call a
Continental Mission.
2. Particular characteristics of
Aparecida
156
There are four hallmarks of the
Fifth Conference. They are like
four pillars for the implementation
of Aparecida, and they are what
make it distinctive.
1) Starting without a document
Medelln, Puebla and Santo
Domingo began their work with a
process of preparation which
culminated in a sort of
Instrumentum Laboris which then
served as a basis for discussion,
reflection and the approval of the
final document. Aparecida, on the
other hand, encouraged the
participation of the Particular
Churches as a process of
preparation culminating in a
document of synthesis. This
document, while serving as a
point of reference throughout the
Fifth General Conference, was not
taken as a starting point. The
initial work consisted in pooling
the concerns expressed by the
bishops as they considered the
new period of history we are living
and the need to recover the life of
discipleship and mission with
which Christ founded the Church.
2) A setting of prayer with the
people of God
It is important to remember the
prayerful setting created by the
daily sharing of the Eucharist and
other liturgical moments, in which
we were always accompanied by
the People of God. On the other
hand, since the deliberations took
place in the undercroft of the
Shrine, the music which
accompanied them were the songs
and the prayers of the faithful.
3) A document which continues in
commitment, with the Continental
Mission
This context of prayer and the life
of faith gave rise to a desire for a
new Pentecost for the Church and
the commitment to undertake a
Continental Mission. Aparecida did
not end with a document; it
continues in the Continental
Mission.
4) The presence of Our Lady,
Mother of America
It was the first conference of the
bishops of Latin America and the
Caribbean to be held in a Marian
shrine.
3. Dimensions of the Continental
Mission
The Continental Mission is planned
along two lines: the programmatic
and the paradigmatic. The
programmatic mission, as its
name indicates, consists in a
series of missionary activities. The
paradigmatic mission, on the
other hand, involves setting in a
missionary key all the day-to-day
activities of the Particular
Churches. Clearly this entails a
whole process of reforming
ecclesial structures. The "change
of structures (from obsolete ones
to new ones) will not be the result
of reviewing an organizational flow
chart, which would lead to a static
reorganization; rather it will result
from the very dynamics of
mission. What makes obsolete
structures pass away, what leads
to a change of heart in Christians,
is precisely missionary spirit.
Hence the importance of the
paradigmatic mission.
The Continental Mission, both
programmatic and paradigmatic,
calls for creating a sense of a
Church which is organized to
serve all the baptized, and men
and women of goodwill. Christs
followers are not individuals
caught up in a privatized
spirituality, but persons in
community, devoting themselves
157
to others. The Continental Mission
thus implies membership in the
Church.
An approach like this, which
begins with missionary
discipleship and involves
understanding Christian identity
as membership in the Church,
demands that we clearly articulate
the real challenges facing
missionary discipleship. Here I will
mention only two: the Churchs
inner renewal and dialogue with
the world around us.
The Churchs inner renewal
Aparecida considered Pastoral
Conversion to be a necessity. This
conversion involves believing in
the Good News, believing in Jesus
Christ as the bearer of Gods
Kingdom as it breaks into the
world and in his victorious
presence over evil, believing in
the help and guidance of the Holy
Spirit, believing in the Church, the
Body of Christ and the prolonging
of the dynamism of the
incarnation.
Consequently, we, as pastors,
need to ask questions about the
actual state of the Churches which
we lead. These questions can
serve as a guide in examining
where the dioceses stand in taking
up the spirit of Aparecida; they
are questions which we need to
keep asking as an examination of
conscience.
1. Do we see to it that our work,
and that of our priests, is more
pastoral than administrative? Who
primarily benefits from our efforts,
the Church as an organization or
the People of God as a whole?
2. Do we fight the temptation
simply to react to complex
problems as they arise? Are we
creating a proactive mindset? Do
we promote opportunities and
possibilities to manifest God's
mercy? Are we conscious of our
responsibility for refocusing
pastoral approaches and the
functioning of Church structures
for the benefit of the faithful and
society?
3. In practice, do we make the lay
faithful sharers in the Mission? Do
we offer them the word of God
and the sacraments with a clear
awareness and conviction that the
Holy Spirit makes himself manifest
in them?
4. Is pastoral discernment a
habitual criterion, through the use
of Diocesan Councils? Do such
Councils and Parish Councils,
whether pastoral or financial,
provide real opportunities for lay
people to participate in pastoral
consultation, organization and
planning? The good functioning of
these Councils is critical. I believe
that on this score, we are far
behind.
5. As pastors, bishops and priests,
are we conscious and convinced of
the mission of the lay faithful and
do we give them the freedom to
continue discerning, in a way
befitting their growth as disciples,
the mission which the Lord has
entrusted to them? Do we support
them and accompany them,
overcoming the temptation to
manipulate them or infantilize
them? Are we constantly open to
letting ourselves be challenged in
our efforts to advance the good of
the Church and her mission in the
world?
6. Do pastoral agents and the
faithful in general feel part of the
Church, do they identify with her
and bring her closer to the
baptized who are distant and
alienated?
158
As can be appreciated, what is at
stake here are attitudes. Pastoral
Conversion is chiefly concerned
with attitudes and reforming our
lives. A change of attitudes is
necessarily something ongoing: "it
is a process, and it can only be
kept on track with the help of
guidance and discernment. It is
important always to keep in mind
that the compass preventing us
from going astray is that of
Catholic identity, understood as
membership in the Church.
Dialogue with the world around us
We do well to recall the words of
the Second Vatican Council: "The
joys and hopes, the grief and
anguish of the people of our time,
especially of those who are poor
or afflicted, are the joys and
hopes, the grief and anguish of
the followers of Christ as well
(Gaudium et Spes, 1). Here we
find the basis for our dialogue with
the contemporary world.
Responding to the existential
issues of people today, especially
the young, listening to the
language they speak, can lead to
a fruitful change, which must take
place with the help of the Gospel,
the magisterium, and the Churchs
social doctrine. The scenarios and
the areopagi involved are quite
varied. For example, a single city
can contain various collective
imaginations which create
"different cities. If we remain
within the parameters of our
"traditional culture, which was
essentially rural, we will end up
nullifying the power of the Holy
Spirit. God is everywhere: we
have to know how to find him in
order to be able to proclaim him in
the language of each and every
culture; every reality, every
language, has its own rhythm.
4. Some temptations against
missionary discipleship
The decision for missionary
discipleship will encounter
temptation. It is important to
know where the evil spirit is afoot
in order to aid our discernment. It
is not a matter of chasing after
demons, but simply one of clear-
sightedness and evangelical
astuteness. I will mention only a
few attitudes which are evidence
of a Church which is "tempted. It
has to do with recognizing certain
contemporary proposals which can
parody the process of missionary
discipleship and hold back, even
bring to a halt, the process of
Pastoral Conversion.
1. Making the Gospel message an
ideology. This is a temptation
which has been present in the
Church from the beginning: the
attempt to interpret the Gospel
apart from the Gospel itself and
apart from the Church. An
example: Aparecida, at one
particular moment, felt this
temptation. It employed, and
rightly so, the method of "see,
judge and act (cf. No. 19). The
temptation, though, was to opt for
a way of "seeing which was
completely "antiseptic, detached
and unengaged, which is
impossible. The way we "see is
always affected by the way we
direct our gaze. There is no such
thing as an "antiseptic
hermeneutics. The question was,
rather: How are we going to look
at reality in order to see it?
Aparecida replied: With the eyes
of discipleship. This is the way
Nos. 20-32 are to be understood.
There are other ways of making
the message an ideology, and at
present proposals of this sort are
appearing in Latin America and
the Caribbean. I mention only a
few:
159
a) Sociological reductionism. This
is the most readily available
means of making the message an
ideology. At certain times it has
proved extremely influential. It
involves an interpretative claim
based on a hermeneutics drawn
from the social sciences. It
extends to the most varied fields,
from market liberalism to Marxist
categorization.
b) Psychologizing. Here we have
to do with an elitist hermeneutics
which ultimately reduces the
"encounter with Jesus Christ and
its development to a process of
growing self- awareness. It is
ordinarily to be found in
spirituality courses, spiritual
retreats, etc. It ends up being an
immanent, self-centred approach.
It has nothing to do with
transcendence and consequently,
with missionary spirit.
c) The Gnostic solution. Closely
linked to the previous temptation,
it is ordinarily found in elite
groups offering a higher
spirituality, generally
disembodied, which ends up in a
preoccupation with certain
pastoral "quaestiones disputatae.
It was the first deviation in the
early community and it reappears
throughout the Churchs history in
ever new and revised versions.
Generally its adherents are known
as "enlightened Catholics (since
they are in fact rooted in the
culture of the Enlightenment).
d) The Pelagian solution. This
basically appears as a form of
restorationism. In dealing with the
Churchs problems, a purely
disciplinary solution is sought,
through the restoration of
outdated manners and forms
which, even on the cultural level,
are no longer meaningful. In Latin
America it is usually to be found in
small groups, in some new
religious congregations, in
tendencies to doctrinal or
disciplinary "safety. Basically it is
static, although it is capable of
inversion, in a process of
regression. It seeks to "recover
the lost past.
2. Functionalism. Its effect on the
Church is paralyzing. More than
being interested in the road itself,
it is concerned with fixing holes in
the road. A functionalist approach
has no room for mystery; it aims
at efficiency. It reduces the reality
of the Church to the structure of
an NGO. What counts are
quantifiable results and statistics.
The Church ends up being run like
any other business organization.
It applies a sort of "theology of
prosperity to the organization of
pastoral work.
3. Clericalism is also a temptation
very present in Latin America.
Curiously, in the majority of
cases, it has to do with a sinful
complicity: the priest clericalizes
the lay person and the lay person
kindly asks to be clericalized,
because deep down it is easier.
The phenomenon of clericalism
explains, in great part, the lack of
maturity and Christian freedom in
a good part of the Latin American
laity. Either they simply do not
grow (the majority), or else they
take refuge in forms of ideology
like those we have just seen, or in
partial and limited ways of
belonging. Yet in our countries
there does exist a form of freedom
of the laity which finds expression
in communal experiences:
Catholic as community. Here one
sees a greater autonomy, which
on the whole is a healthy thing,
basically expressed through
popular piety. The chapter of the
Aparecida document on popular
piety describes this dimension in
detail. The spread of bible study
groups, of ecclesial basic
160
communities and of Pastoral
Councils is in fact helping to
overcome clericalism and to
increase lay responsibility.
We could continue by describing
other temptations against
missionary discipleship, but I
consider these to be the most
important and influential at
present for Latin America and the
Caribbean.
5. Some ecclesiological guidelines
1. The missionary discipleship
which Aparecida proposed to the
Churches of Latin America and the
Caribbean is the journey which
God desires for the present
"today. Every utopian (future-
oriented) or restorationist (past-
oriented) impulse is spiritually
unhealthy. God is real and he
shows himself in the "today. With
regard to the past, his presence is
given to us as "memory of his
saving work, both in his people
and in each of us as individuals;
with regard to the future, he gives
himself to us as "promise and
hope. In the past God was present
and left his mark: memory helps
us to encounter him; in the future
is promise alone. he is not in the
thousand and one "futuribles.
The "today is closest to eternity;
even more: the "today is a flash
of eternity. In the "today, eternal
life is in play.
Missionary discipleship is a
vocation: a call and an invitation.
It is given in the "today, but also
"in tension. There is no such
thing as static missionary
discipleship. A missionary disciple
cannot be his own master, his
immanence is in tension towards
the transcendence of discipleship
and towards the transcendence of
mission. It does not allow for self-
absorption: either it points to
Jesus Christ or it points to the
people to whom he must be
proclaimed. The missionary
disciple is a self-transcending
subject, a subject projected
towards encounter: an encounter
with the Master (who anoints us
as his disciples) and an encounter
with men and women who await
the message.
That is why I like saying that the
position of missionary disciples is
not in the centre but at the
periphery: they live poised
towards the peripheries. including
the peripheries of eternity, in the
encounter with Jesus Christ. In
the preaching of the Gospel, to
speak of "existential peripheries
decentralizes things; as a rule, we
are afraid to leave the centre. The
missionary disciple is someone
"off centre: the centre is Jesus
Christ, who calls us and sends us
forth. The disciple is sent to the
existential peripheries.
2. The Church is an institution,
but when she makes herself a
"centre, she becomes merely
functional, and slowly but surely
turns into a kind of NGO. The
Church then claims to have a light
of her own, and she stops being
that "mysterium lunae of which
the Church Fathers spoke. She
becomes increasingly self-
referential and loses her need to
be missionary. From an
"institution she becomes a
"enterprise. She stops being a
bride and ends up being an
administrator; from being a
servant, she becomes an
"inspector. Aparecida wanted a
Church which is bride, mother and
servant, a facilitator of faith and
not an inspector of faith.
3. In Aparecida, two pastoral
categories stand out; they arise
from the uniqueness of the
Gospel, and we can employ them
as guidelines for assessing how
161
we are living missionary
discipleship in the Church:
nearness and encounter. Neither
of these two categories is new;
rather, they are the way God has
revealed himself to us in history.
He is the "God who is near to his
people, a nearness which
culminates in the incarnation. He
is the God who goes forth to meet
his people. In Latin America and
the Caribbean there are pastoral
plans which are "distant,
disciplinary pastoral plans which
give priority to principles, forms of
conduct, organizational
procedures. and clearly lack
nearness, tenderness, a warm
touch. They do not take into
account the "revolution of
tenderness brought by the
incarnation of the Word. There are
pastoral plans designed with such
a dose of distance that they are
incapable of sparking an
encounter: an encounter with
Jesus Christ, an encounter with
our brothers and sisters. Such
pastoral plans can at best provide
a dimension of proselytism, but
they can never inspire people to
feel part of or belong to the
Church. Nearness creates
communion and belonging; it
makes room for encounter.
Nearness takes the form of
dialogue and creates a culture of
encounter. One touchstone for
measuring whether a pastoral plan
embodies nearness and a capacity
for encounter is the homily. What
are our homilies like? Do we
imitate the example of our Lord,
who spoke "as one with
authority, or are they simply
moralizing, detached, abstract?
4. Those who direct pastoral work,
the Continental Mission (both
programmatic and paradigmatic)
are the bishops. Bishops must
lead, which is not the same thing
as being authoritarian. As well as
pointing to the great figures of the
Latin American episcopate, which
we all know, I would like to add a
few things about the profile of the
bishop, which I already presented
to the Nuncios at our meeting in
Rome. Bishops must be pastors,
close to people, fathers and
brothers, and gentle, patient and
merciful. Men who love poverty,
both interior poverty, as freedom
before the Lord, and exterior
poverty, as simplicity and
austerity of life. Men who do not
think and behave like "princes.
Men who are not ambitious, who
are married to one church without
having their eyes on another. Men
capable of watching over the flock
entrusted to them and protecting
everything that keeps it together:
guarding their people out of
concern for the dangers which
could threaten them, but above all
instilling hope: so that light will
shine in peoples hearts. Men
capable of supporting with love
and patience Gods dealings with
his people. The Bishop has to be
among his people in three ways:
in front of them, pointing the way;
among them, keeping them
together and preventing them
from being scattered; and behind
them, ensuring that no one is left
behind, but also, and primarily, so
that the flock itself can sniff out
new paths.
I do not wish to go into further
detail about the person of the
Bishop, but simply to add,
including myself in this statement,
that we are lagging somewhat as
far as Pastoral Conversion is
concerned. We need to help one
another a bit more in taking the
steps that the Lord asks of us in
the "today of Latin America and
the Caribbean. And this is a good
place to start.
I thank you for your patience in
listening to me. Pardon me if my
remarks have been somewhat
162
disjointed and please, I beg that
we take seriously our calling as
servants of the holy and faithful
people of God, for this is where
authority is exercised and
demonstrated: in the ability to
serve. Many thanks.
Pope ./presses
Proound !adness
;$er 0ictims o
Italian Bus
Accident
3E &ead 4eturning rom
Pilgrimage
&edicated to Padre
Pio o Pietrelcina
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, July 30, 2013
(Zenit.org) - In a message sent by
Vatican Secretary of State
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Pope
Francis sent condolences to the
victims of a tragic bus accident on
a highway between Naples and
Canosa.
The incident occurred on Sunday
when the driver lost control and
hit several cars before running
through a guardrail, plunging the
bus 20 meters down a slope.
Media reports say that 38 people
have died, among them were
children, while 11 are currently in
serious condition. The passengers
were returning to Naples from a
pilgrimage dedicated to Padre Pio
of Pietrelcina.
Cardinal Bertones message,
which was sent to Cardinal
Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of
Naples, conveyed the Holy
Fathers profound sadness over
the accident. The Pope, he stated,
"raises fervent prayers for the
souls of the deceased and conveys
his deepest condolences to their
families.
"He invokes the Lord for the rapid
recovery of the injured, and
imparts the comfort of an
apostolic blessing as a sign of
consolation for those who mourn
the loss of their loved ones.
Culture %oing Against A
2hro,>A,a"
Pope Francis Inter$ie, on
4adio Catedral
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 30,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On the
afternoon of Saturday, July 27,
Pope Francis visited the studios of
"Radio Catedral, the radio
broadcasting station of the
Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, and
gave a brief interview. Here is a
translation of the words the Holy
Father addressed to the listeners.
***
Good day, good evening to all
listeners. I thank you for your
attention and I thank here the
members of the Radio for their
kindness in giving me the
microphone. I thank them and Im
looking at the Radio and I see that
today the means of
communication are very
important. I would say that today
a Radio, a Catholic Radio is the
closest pulpit we have. It is from
where we can proclaim, through
radio, human values, religious
values and above all proclaim
Jesus Christ, the Lord; to give the
Lord the grace of making room for
him among our things. So I greet
and thank you for all the effort of
this Archdiocese to have and
163
maintain a Radio with such a large
network. I ask all the listeners to
join us in prayer and to work, as
the priest said a short while ago,
for a more humanist culture,
richer in values and lets not
exclude anyone. May we all work
for that word which isnt pleasing
today: solidarity. It is a word that
one attempts to put aside always
because it is bothersome and yet
it is a word that reflects human
and Christian values which today
are required to go against - as the
priest repeated a short while ago
- the throw-away culture,
according to which everything can
be discarded. A culture that
always leaves the people out: that
leaves children out, that leaves
young people out, that leaves the
elderly out, that leaves out all
those who arent necessary, who
dont produce -- this cannot be!
On the contrary, solidarity
includes everyone. You must
continue to work for this culture of
solidarity and for the Gospel.
A 6uestion on the im&ortance of
the family
Not only will I say that the family
is important for the evangelization
of the new world, but that the
family is important, that it is
necessary for the survival of
humanity. If there is no family,
the cultural survival of humanity is
at risk. Like it or not, the family is
at the base.
[Copyright 2013 - Libreria Editrice
Vaticana]
%oing Against A 2hro,>
A,a" Culture
Pope Francis Inter$ie, on
4adio Catedral
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, July 30,
2013 (Zenit.org) - On the
afternoon of Saturday, July 27,
Pope Francis visited the studios of
"Radio Catedral, the radio
broadcasting station of the
Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, and
gave a brief interview. Here is a
translation of the words the Holy
Father addressed to the listeners.
***
Good day, good evening to all
listeners. I thank you for your
attention and I thank here the
members of the Radio for their
kindness in giving me the
microphone. I thank them and Im
looking at the Radio and I see that
today the means of
communication are very
important. I would say that today
a Radio, a Catholic Radio is the
closest pulpit we have. It is from
where we can proclaim, through
radio, human values, religious
values and above all proclaim
Jesus Christ, the Lord; to give the
Lord the grace of making room for
him among our things. So I greet
and thank you for all the effort of
this Archdiocese to have and
maintain a Radio with such a large
network. I ask all the listeners to
join us in prayer and to work, as
the priest said a short while ago,
for a more humanist culture,
richer in values and lets not
exclude anyone. May we all work
for that word which isnt pleasing
today: solidarity. It is a word that
one attempts to put aside always
because it is bothersome and yet
it is a word that reflects human
and Christian values which today
are required to go against - as the
priest repeated a short while ago
- the throw-away culture,
according to which everything can
be discarded. A culture that
164
always leaves the people out: that
leaves children out, that leaves
young people out, that leaves the
elderly out, that leaves out all
those who arent necessary, who
dont produce -- this cannot be!
On the contrary, solidarity
includes everyone. You must
continue to work for this culture of
solidarity and for the Gospel.
A 6uestion on the im&ortance of
the family
Not only will I say that the family
is important for the evangelization
of the new world, but that the
family is important, that it is
necessary for the survival of
humanity. If there is no family,
the cultural survival of humanity is
at risk. Like it or not, the family is
at the base.
[Copyright 2013 - Libreria Editrice
Vaticana]
Pope Francis Chooses
2heme or 1orld
&a" o Peace
Annual Cele(ration ,ill Focus
on Fraternit" as a
Path,a" to Peace
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, July 31, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The Holy See Press
Office today announced the theme
for the 47th World Day of Peace
which was chosen by Pope
Francis. The theme, "Fraternity,
the foundation and pathway to
peace will be the focus of the
celebration, which will be on
January 1st, 2014.
The event was an initiative of
Pope Paul VI and usually includes
a message from the Holy Father
that calls attention to the value of
peace in the world.
In a communique released by the
Holy See, Pope Francis chose
Fraternity as its theme, which has
been a key point he has spoken
on since the beginning of his
papacy. The Holy Father has many
times "stressed the need to
combat the `throwaway culture
and instead has promoted a
"`culture of encounter, in order to
build a more just and peaceful
world.
"Fraternity is a dowry that every
man and every woman brings with
himself or herself as a human
being, as a child of the one
Father, the communique states.
"In the face of the many tragedies
that afflict the family of nations -
poverty, hunger,
underdevelopment, conflicts,
migrations, pollution, inequalities,
injustice, organized crime,
fundamentalisms - fraternity is the
foundation and the pathway to
peace.
The press release goes on to say
that the self-centered culture that
exists in todays modern world has
caused many to lose the sense of
"responsibility and fraternal
relationship with their fellow
man.
"Not uncommonly, the poor and
needy are regarded as a "burden",
a hindrance to development. At
most, they are considered as
recipients of aid or compassionate
assistance, the communique
states, echoing the words of Pope
Francis. "They are not seen as
brothers and sisters, called to
share the gifts of creation, the
goods of progress and culture, to
be partakers at the same table of
the fullness of life, to be
protagonists of integral and
inclusive development.
165
Pope Francis has driven these
points home, particularly during
his Apostolic visit to the Italian
island of Lampedusa, where many
African migrants travel to in order
to enter the country. There, the
Holy Father spoke of a globalized
indifference when it comes to the
suffering of others. The theme of
the World Day of Peace continues
to bring attention to this type of
indifference that exists in the
world.
"In a world that is constantly
growing more interdependent, the
good of fraternity is one that we
cannot do without, the
communique stated. "It serves to
defeat the spread of the
globalization of indifference to
which Pope Francis has frequently
referred. The globalization of
indifference must give way to a
globalization of fraternity.
The communique concludes by
conveying the need for Fraternity
to permeate all aspects of society,
including economy, finance, civil
society, politics, research,
development, public and cultural
institutions.
Pope Francis+ 6omil" on
the Feast o !aint
Ignatius
VATICAN CITY, July 31, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the homily given by
Pope Francis this morning during
Mass at the Gesu Church on the
Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola,
founder of the Jesuits.
* * *
In this Eucharist in which we
celebrate our Father Ignatius of
Loyola, in the light of the readings
that we have heard, I would like
to pose three simple thoughts
guided by three expressions:
placing Christ and the Church at
the Center; allowing oneself to be
conquered by Him to serve; to
feel ashamed of our limits and
sins, in order to be humble in
front of Him and our brothers.
1. The coat of arms of us Jesuits is
a monogram, the acronym of
Iesus Hominum Salvator (IHS).
Everyone of you can tell me: we
know that very well! But this coat
of arms continuously reminds us
of a reality that we should never
forget: the centrality of Christ for
everyone of us and for the whole
Society, which St. Ignatius wished
that it be called of Jesus to
indicate the point of reference. Of
the rest, even in the beginning of
the Spiritual Exercises, he places
in first place our Lord Jesus Christ,
our Creator and Savior (cfr. EE,6).
And this places us Jesuits and the
entire Society to be decentered, to
have in front Christ always
greater, the Deus semper maior,
the intimior intimo meo, which
continuously takes us out of
ourselves, it takes us to a certain
kenosis, to escape from our own
love, wants and interests (EE,
189). We cannot take for granted
the question made to us, to all of
us: is Christ the center of my life?
Do I truly place Christ at the
center of my life? Because there is
always the temptation to think of
us as being in the center. And
when a Jesuit places himself at
the center and not Christ, he is
mistaken. In the first Reading,
Moses repeats with insistence to
the people love the Lord, to walk
in his ways because He is your life
(cfr. Dt. 30, 16.20). Christ is our
life! The centrality of Christ
corresponds as well to the
centrality of the Church: they are
two flames that cannot be
separated; I cannot follow if not in
166
the Church and with the Church.
It is also in this case that we
Jesuits and the entire Society are
not in the center, we are, so to
speak, displaced, we are at the
service of Christ and of the
Church, the Spouse of Christ our
Lord, which is our Holy Mother
Hierarchical Church (cfr EE, 353).
To be men rooted and founded in
the Church, that is how Jesus
wants us. There cannot be parallel
or isolated paths. Yes, paths of
searching, creative paths, yes,
this is important: going to the
outskirts, the vast outskirts. For
this creativity is needed, but
always in community, in the
Church, with this affiliation that
gives all of us the courage to
continue forward. Serve Christ
and love this Church concretely,
and serve with generosity and
with a spirit of obedience.
2. What is the path to live this
dual centrality? Let us look at the
experience of St. Paul which is
also the experience of St.
Ignatius. The Apostle, in the
Second Reading that we have
listened to, he writes: I strive
towards the perfection of Christ
for which also I was laid hold on
by Christ Jesus. (Phil.3,12). For
Paul this occurred on the road to
Damascus, for Ignatius, in his
house in Loyola, but the
fundamental point is the same: to
let oneself be conquered by
Christ. I search for Christ, I serve
Jesus because He searched for me
first, because I have been
conquered by Him: and this is the
heart of our experience. But He is
first, always. In spanish there is a
very graphic word that explains
this well: El nos primerea. He is
always first. When we arrive, he
arrives first and waits for us. And
it is here that I wish to recall the
meditation on the Kingdom in the
Second Week. Christ our Lord,
Eternal King, calls each and every
one of us saying he who wishes to
come with me must work with me,
because following me in suffering,
will follow me also in glory
(EE,95): To be conquered by
Christ to offer to this King all
ourselves and all our labor (cfr.
EE, 96); to tell the Lord that you
wish to do everything for his
greater service and praise, to
imitate Him in bearing even
insults, rejection, poverty (cfr EE,
98). I think of our brother in Syria
at this time. To let oneself be
conquered by Christ means to
always reach out to those in front
of me, towards the other half of
Christ (cfr. Phil. 3,14) e to ask
yourself with truth and sincerity:
What have I done for Christ? What
do I do for Christ (cfr. Phil. 3,14)
What should I do for Christ? (cfr.
EE, 53)
3. And I come to the final point.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us. For
whosoever would save his life
shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake, the same
shall save it....He who is ashamed
of me.... (Lk. 9,23). And so on.
The shame of the Jesuit. The
invitation that Jesus makes is to
not be ashamed of Him, but to
follow him with total devotion,
trusting and relying in Him. But
looking at Jesus, as St. Ignatius
teaches us in the First Week,
above all looking at Christ
crucified, we feel that very human
and very noble feeling that is the
shame of not being at that height;
we look at the wisdom of Christ
and our own ignorance, at his
omnipotence and our own
weakness, to his justice and our
own iniquity, to his goodness and
our wickedness (cfr. EE, 59). Ask
for the grace of shame, shame
that comes from the continuous
discussion of mercy with Him;
shame that makes us blush in
front of Jesus Christ; shame that
places us in tune with the heart of
167
Christ who has made himself sin
for me; shame that places in
harmony our hearts in tears and
accompanies us in the daily
sequence of my Lord. And this
takes us, individually and as a
Society, towards humility, to live
this great virtue. Humility that
makes us aware every day that it
is not us that constructs the
Kingdom of God, but it is always
the grace of the Lord that acts in
us; humility that urges us to place
all of ourselves not at the service
of ourselves or our ideas, but to
the service of Christ and to the
Church, like earthen vessels,
fragile, inadequate, insufficient,
but in which there is an immense
treasure that we carry and make
known (2 Cor. 4,7)
It is always pleasing for me to
think on the sunset of the Jesuit,
when a Jesuit finishes his life,
when the sun sets. There are two
icons of this sunset of the Jesuit
that comes to mind: one classic,
that of Saint Francis Xavier,
looking towards China. Art has
always depicted many times this
sunset, this ending of Xaver. Even
in literature, in that beautiful piece
by Pemn. In the end, with
nothing, but in front of the Lord;
this does well to me, to think of
this. The other sunset, the other
icon that comes to mind as an
example, is that of Father Arrupo
in the last discussion in the
refugee camp, when he tells us -
this is how he himself would say it
- this I say as if it were my swan
song: pray. Prayer, the union with
Jesus. And, after saying that, he
boarded his plane, and arrived to
Rome with a stroke, which began
that long and exemplary sunset.
Two sunsets, two icons that will
do us well to look at, and return to
these two. And ask for the grace
that our sunset will be like theres.
Dear brothers, let us turn to Our
Lady. She who carried Christ in
her womb and accompanied the
first steps of the Church, may she
help us to place Christ and his
Church always at the center of our
life and our ministry; She who
was the first and the most perfect
disciple of her Son, may help us to
let ourselves be conquered by
Christ to follow and serve Him in
every situation. She who
responded to the announcement
of the Angel with the most
profound humility: Behold the
servant of the Lord, be it done to
me according to your word. (Lk.
1,38), may she makes us taste
the shame of our inadequateness
in front of the treasure that has
been entrusted to us, to live
humbly in front of God. May the
paternal intercession of Saint
Ignatius and of all the Holy Jesuits
accompany us on this path, may
the continue to teach us to do all
with humility, ad maiorem Dei
"loriam.
Francis+ Press
Conerence on
4eturn Flight
From Bra7il KPart
1L
5I am happ") It has (een a
good tripI it has done
me good spirituall"5
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, August
01, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is a
ZENIT translation of the
transcription provided by the
Vatican of Francis' press
conference on the flight home
from Brazil.
* * *
Father Lombardi:
168
Now, dear friends, we have the
joy of having with us on this
return trip, the Holy Father
Francis. He has been kind enough
to give us a good long time to
evaluate the trip with us and
answer your questions in total
liberty. I give him the floor for a
brief introduction and then we will
begin with the list of those who
registered to talk and we will take
them from different national and
linguistic groups. Now the floor is
yours, You Holiness, to begin.
Pope Francis:
Good evening and thank you so
much. I am happy. It has been a
good trip; it has done me good
spiritually. Im quite tired, but
with a joyful heart, and I am well,
well: it did me good spiritually. It
does one good to meet people,
because the Lord works in each
one of us; He works in the heart,
and the richness of the Lord is
such that we can always receive
many good things from others.
And this does me good. This, as a
first evaluation. Then I would say
that the kindness, the heart of the
Brazilian people is great, is true:
its great. They are such kind
people, a people that loves
celebration, that even in suffering
always finds a way to seek the
good anywhere. And this is good:
they are a happy people, a people
who have suffered so much! The
joy of Brazilians is contagious, its
contagious! And these people
have a great heart. Then I would
say of the organizers, from our
part as well as that of the
Brazilians - but I felt I was in
front of a computer, an incarnated
computer . But truly, everything
was absolutely punctual, no? But
good. Then we had problems with
security theories: security here
and there; there wasnt an
incident in the whole of Rio de
Janeiro in these days, and
everything was spontaneous. With
less security, I was able to be with
the people, to embrace and greet
them, without armored cars. Its
the security of trusting people. Its
true that there is always the
danger that there is a madman .
alas, yes, that there is a madman
who does something; but there is
also the Lord! But, to make an
armored space between the
Bishop and the people is madness,
and I prefer this madness: [to be]
outside and run the risk of the
other madness. I prefer this
madness: outside. Closeness does
good to all.
Then, the organization of the Day,
not something specific, but
everything: the artistic part, the
religious part, the catechetical
part, the liturgical part . it was
very beautiful! They have a
capacity to express themselves in
art. Yesterday, for instance, they
did very beautiful things, very
beautiful! Then, Aparecida. For me
Aparecida is an intense religious
experience. I recall the Fifth
Conference. I was there to pray. I
wanted to go alone, somewhat
hidden, but there was an
impressive crowd! It wasnt
possible [to be hidden], I knew
that before arriving. And we
prayed, we did. I dont know .
one thing . but also from your
part. Your work was, Im told - I
didnt read the newspapers during
these days, I didnt have the time,
I did not watch the TV, nothing --,
but Im told that it was good,
good, good work! Thank you,
thank you for the collaboration,
and thank you for having done
this. Then the number, the
number of young people. Today -
I cant believe it - but today the
Governor spoke of three million. I
cant believe it. But from the altar
-- thats true! - I dont know if
you, some of you were at the
altar: from the altar, at the end,
169
the whole beach was full, up to
the curve, more than four
kilometers. But so many young
people. And they say, Monsignor
Tempesta told me, that they were
from 178 countries: 178! The
Vice-President also gave me this
number: thats certain. Its
important! Intense!
Father Lombardi:
Thank you. Now we give the floor
first to Juan de Lara, who is from
Efe, a Spaniard, and its the last
trip he makes with us; so, we are
happy to give him this possibility.
Juan de Lara:
Good evening, Holiness. On behalf
of all our companions we want to
thank you for these days you have
given us in Rio de Janeiro, the
work you have done, and the
effort it implies and also in the
name of all Spanish journalists,
we want to thank you for the
prayers and the praying for the
victims of the train accident of
Santiago de Compostela. Thank
you very much. And the first
question, -- it doesnt have much
to do with the trip, but we take
advantage of the occasion that
gives us this possibility and I
wanted to ask you: Holiness, in
these four months of pontificate,
we see that you have created
several commissions to reform the
Vatican Curia. I would like to ask
you: What type of reform do you
have in mind? Do you contemplate
the possibility of doing away with
the IOR, the so-called Vatican
Bank? Thank you.
[Repeated in Italian]
Pope Francis:
The steps I have taken in these
four and a half months, come
from two sources: the content of
what had to be done, it all comes
from the source of the General
Congregations that we Cardinals
had. They were things that we
Cardinals asked for to the one
whod be the new Pope. I
remember that I asked for many
things, thinking of someone else.
That is, we asked, this has to be
done . for instance, the
Commission of eight Cardinals, we
know that its important to have
an outside consultation, not the
consultations that take place, but
from the outside. And this is in
line - here I make a sort of
abstraction, thinking, however, to
explain it - in the line increasingly
of the maturation of the relation
between the Synodality and the
Primacy. That is, these eight
Cardinals favor Synodality, they
help the different episcopates of
the world to express themselves
in the government itself of the
Church. Many proposals were
made, which have not yet been
put into practice, such as the
reform of the Synods Secretariat,
the methodology; such as the
Post-Synodal Commission which
has a permanent character of
consultation; such as the
Cardinals Consistories with topics
that arent so formal - such as,
for instance, canonization --, but
also subjects, etc. Well, the
source of the contents comes from
there. The second source is the
opportunity. Ill tell you, it wasnt
hard for me, at the end of the first
month of pontificate, to create the
Commission of the eight
Cardinals, which is one thing .
The financial part I thought Id
address next year, because its
not the most important thing to
address. However, the agenda
was changed due to the
circumstances that you know,
which are of the public domain;
problems appeared which had to
be addressed. The first, the
problem of the IOR, namely, how
170
to direct it, how to delineate it,
how to reform it, how to heal what
has to be healed, and there is the
first Commission of Reference,
thats its name. You know the
<chirograph>, what is requested,
those who make it up, and
everything. Then we had the
meeting of the Commission of the
fifteen Cardinals who are
concerned with the economic
aspects of the Holy See. They are
from all parts of the world. And
there, while preparing that
meeting, the need was seen to
establish a same Reference
Commission for the whole
economy of the Holy See. That is,
the economic problem was
addressed outside the agenda, but
these things happen when in the
office of government, no? One
goes here but a goal is kicked
from over there and one must
intercept it, isnt that right? Then,
life is like this and that is what is
lovely about life also. I repeat the
question you asked me about the
IOR, sorry, Im speaking in
Spanish. Sorry . the answer came
to me in Spanish.
[Repeated in Italian]
With reference to that question
you asked me about the IOR, I
dont know how the IOR will end;
some say that, perhaps, its best if
its a bank, others that it be an aid
fund, others say to close it. Alas!
These voices are heard. I dont
know. I trust the work of the
people of the IOR, who are
working on this, also of the
Commission. The President of the
IOR remains, the same one who
was there before; instead the
Director and the Vice-Director
have resigned. But this, I cannot
tell you how this story will end,
and this is good also because one
finds, one seeks; we are human,
in this; we must find the best.
But, this yes; but the
characteristics of the IOR -
whether a bank, an aid fund,
whatever it is - must be
transparent and honest. This must
be so. Thank you.
Father Lombardi:
Many thanks, Your Holiness. So
we now pass to a person of the
representatives of the Italian
group, and we have one whom
you know well: Andrea Tornielli,
who comes to ask you a question
on behalf of the Italian group.
Andrea Tornielli:
Holy Father, I have a question
that is, perhaps, somewhat
indiscreet: the photograph has
gone around the world of you,
when we left, going up the steps
of the plane carrying a black bag,
and there were articles throughout
the world that commented on this
novelty: yes, of the Pope going up
... it never happened, we said,
that the Pope went up with his
baggage in hand. So, there were
even theories about what the
black bag contained. Now, my
questions are: one, why did you
carry the black bag and why was
it not carried by a collaborator,
and two, can you tell us what was
inside? Thank you.
Pope Francis:
It didnt have the key of the
atomic bomb! Alas! I carried it
because Ive always done so:
when I travel, I carry it. What is
inside? There is my razor, there is
the Breviary, there is the agenda,
there is a book to read - I took
one on Saint Teresina to whom I
am devoted. I have always carried
the bag when I travel: its normal.
But we must be normal . I dont
know .. what you are saying is a
bit strange to me, that that photo
has gone around the world. But
171
we must get used to being
normal, the normality of life. I
dont know, Andrea, if Ive
answered you .
Father Lombardi:
So now we give the floor to a
representative of the Portuguese
language, Aura Miguel, who is
from Radio Renascenca.
Aura Miguel:
Holiness, I want to ask you why
you ask so insistently that we pray
for you? Its not normal, usual, to
hear a Pope ask so much to pray
for him.
Pope Francis:
Ive always asked for this. When I
was a priest I asked for it, but not
so frequently. I began to ask for it
with a certain frequency in my
work as Bishop, because I feel
that if the Lord doesnt help in this
work of helping the People of God
to go forward, one cant . I truly
feel I have so many limitations, so
many problems, also being a
sinner - you know it! - and I must
ask for this. But it comes from
within! I also ask Our Lady to pray
for me to the Lord. Its a habit,
but its a habit that comes from
the heart and also from the need I
have for my work. I feel I must
ask . I dont know, its like this .
Father Lombardi:
Now we pass to the group of the
English language, and we give the
floor to our colleague Pullella of
Reuters, who is here before you.
Philip Pullella:
Holiness, thank you, on behalf of
the English group, for your
availability. The colleague from
Lara has already asked the
question we wanted to ask, so Ill
proceed somewhat on those lines,
however: in the search to make
these changes, I remember that
you said to the group of Latin
America that there are so many
saints that work in the Vatican,
but also persons who are
somewhat less saintly, no? Have
you met with resistance in your
desire to change things in the
Vatican? Have you found
resistance? The second question
is: you live in a very austere
world, you have stayed in Saint
Marthas, etc. Do you want your
collaborators, also the Cardinals,
to follow this example and
perhaps live in community, or is it
something for you only?
Pope Francis:
The changes . the changes come
also from two sources: what we
Cardinals requested, and what
comes from my personality. You
were speaking of the fact that I
have stayed at Saint Marthas: but
I couldnt live alone in the Palace,
and its not luxurious. The papal
apartment isnt so luxurious! Its
ample, big, but not luxurious, but
I cant live alone and with a small
tiny group! I need people, to meet
people, to talk with people . And
because of this the boys of the
Jesuit school asked me: "Why do
you do it? Out of austerity?
Poverty? No, no. Simply for
psychiatric reasons, because I
cant cope psychologically.
Everyone must carry his life
forward, his way of living, of
being. The Cardinals who work in
the Curia do not live richly and
magnificently: they live in an
apartment, they are austere, they
are austere. Those that I know,
the apartments that APSA gives
the Cardinals. Then it seems to
me there is something else I
would like to say. Each one must
live as the Lord asks him to live.
172
But austerity - a general austerity
- I think is necessary for all of us
who work in the service of the
Church. There are so many
shades of austerity . each one
must find his way. In regard to
the saints, this is true, there are
saints: Cardinals, priests, bishops,
Sisters, laymen: people who pray,
people who work so much, and
also who go to the poor, in a
hidden way. I know of some who
are concerned with feeding the
poor and then, in their free time,
go to do their ministry in one or
another church . They are
priests. There are saints in the
Curia. And there are also some
who arent so saintly, and these
are those who make more noise.
You know that a tree that falls
makes more noise than a forest
that grows. And this grieves me
when there are these things. But
there are some who give scandal,
some. We have this Monsignor in
jail, I think hes still in jail, he is
not in jail because he resembled
Blessed Imelda in fact, he isnt a
Blessed. These are scandals that
cause grief. Something - I have
never said this , but I recall - I
think the Curia has fallen
somewhat from the level that it
had some time ago, of those old
Curia men . the profile of the old
Curia man, faithful, who did his
work. We are in need of such
persons. I believe . they exist,
but they are not so many as there
were some time ago. The profile
of the old Curia man: I would say
this. We need more of these. Do I
find resistance? Alas! If there is
resistance, I havent seen it yet.
Its true that I havent done so
many things, but I can say yes, I
have found help, and I have also
found loyal people. For instance,
Im pleased when a person says to
me: "Im not in agreement, and I
have found this. "But I dont see
this, I dont agree: I say it, you do
it. This is a true collaborator. And
Ive found this in the Curia. And
this is good. But when there are
those who say: "Ah, how good,
how good, how good, but then
say the opposite on the other side
. Now I cant remember. Perhaps
there are some, but I cant
remember. Resistance: in four
months one cant find so much ..
Father Lombardi:
Well then, we now go to a
Brazilian, it seems right to me.
Then there is Patricia Zorzan,
perhaps Izoard is coming so then
we also have a Frenchman.
Patricia Zorzan:
Speaking on behalf of Brazilians.
The society has changed, young
people have changed, and we see
many young people in Brazil. You
have spoken to us about abortion,
matrimony between persons of
the same sex. In Brazil a law has
been approved which extends the
right of abortion and has allowed
matrimony between persons of
the same sex. Why didnt you
speak about this?
[Repeated in Italian]
Pope Francis:
The Church has already expressed
herself perfectly on this. It wasnt
necessary to go back to this, nor
did I speak about fraud or lies or
other things, on which the Church
has a clear doctrine.
[Repeated in Italian]
Patricia Zorzan:
But its an issue that interests
young people .
[Repeated in Italian]
Pope Francis:
173
Yes, but it wasnt necessary to
talk about that, but about positive
things that open the way to
youngsters, isnt that so?
Moreover, young people know
perfectly well what the position of
the Church is.
[Repeated in Italian]
Patricia Zorzan:
What is the position of Your
Holiness, can you tell us?
[Repeated in Italian]
Pope Francis:
That of the Church. Im a child of
the Church.
[Repeated in Italian]
Father Lombardi:
Now we return to the Spanish
group: Dario Menor Torres . ah,
sorry, Izoard, whom we already
called, so we have one of the
French group . and then, Dario
Menor.
Antoine-Marie Izoard:
Good day, Your Holiness. On
behalf of colleagues of the French
language on the flight - we are
nine on this flight. For a Pope who
is not keen on interviews, we are
truly grateful to you. Since March
13, you have introduced yourself
as the Bishop of Rome, with very
great and strong insistence. So,
we would like to understand what
the profound meaning is of this
insistence, if perhaps more than
collegiality there is talk perhaps of
ecumenism, for the case of being
primus inter pares in the Church?
Thank you.
Pope Francis:
Yes, on this we must not go
beyond what is said. The Pope is
bishop, Bishop of Rome, because
the Bishop of Rome is the
Successor of Peter, Vicar of Christ.
There are other titles, but the first
title is "Bishop of Rome, and
everything stems from there. To
speak, to think what this means to
be primus inter pares, no, this
isnt a consequence of that. Its
simply the Popes first title: Bishop
of Rome. But there are also others
. I think you said something
about ecumenism: I believe this
favors ecumenism somewhat. But,
this alone .
us, to live humbly in front of God.
May the paternal intercession of
Saint Ignatius and of all the Holy
Jesuits accompany us on this
path, may the continue to teach
us to do all with humility, ad
maiorem Dei "loriam.
Francis+ Press
Conerence on
4eturn Flight
From Bra7il KPart
2L
5I "ou do ,hat the :ord
,ants' "ou are
happ") 2his is m"
sentiment' ,hat I
eel5
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, August
02, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is a
ZENIT translation of the second
part of the transcription provided
by the Vatican of Francis' press
conference on the flight home
from Brazil.
The first part was published
Thursday.
174
* * *
Father :om(ardi9
Now Dario Menor of a 2a7on of
Spain:
&ario Menor 2orres9
A question about your feelings.
You commented a week ago on
the child who asked you how you
felt, if someone could imagine
how he could be Pope and if he
could wish for it. You said one had
to be mad to do it. After your first
multitudinous experience, such as
these days in Rio have been, can
you tell us how you feel about
being Pope, if its very hard, if
youre happy being so and, in
addition, if in some way it has
enhanced your faith or on the
contrary, if you have had doubts.
Thank you.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
To do the work of a bishop is a
good thing, its good. The problem
is when one seeks that work: this
isnt so good, this isnt from the
Lord. But when the Lord calls a
priest to become bishop, this is
good. Theres always the danger
of thinking oneself superior to
others, not as others, somewhat
as a &rince# These are dangers
and sins. But the work of a bishop
is good: its to help brothers to go
forward. The bishop in front of the
faithful, to show the way; the
bishop in the midst of the faithful,
to aid communion; the bishop
behind the faithful, because the
faithful so many times have the
scent of the way. The bishop must
be like this. The question was if I
like it? I like being bishop, I like it.
I was so happy at Buenos Aires,
so happy! I have been happy, its
true. The Lord has helped me in
that. But I was happy as a priest,
and Ive been happy as a bishop.
In this regard I say: I like it!
@uestion o>screen9
And being Pope?
Pope Francis9
Also! Also! When the Lord puts
you there, if you do what the Lord
wants, you are happy. This is my
sentiment, what I feel.
Father :om(ardi9
Now another of the Italian group:
Salvatore Mazza of +Avvenire,
!al$atore Ma77a9
I cant even get up. Im sorry, I
cant even stand up because of
the many children I have at my
feet. We saw in these days, we
saw you full of energy even late in
the evening. We are seeing it now
with the plane that shakes, that
you are standing calmly, without
an ounce of hesitation. We wish to
ask you: there is much talk of
forthcoming trips. Theres talk of
Asia, Jerusalem, Argentina. Do
you already have a more or less
definite calendar for the coming
year, or is it all yet to be seen?
Pope Francis9
Nothing is defined, defined. But I
can say something to which
thought is being given. Its
defined - sorry - September 22 to
Cagliari. Then, on October 4 to
Assisi. In mind, within Italy, I
would like to meet my own one
day: go by plane in the morning
and return with the others
because they, poor things, call me
and we have a good relationship.
But only one day. Outside of Italy:
Patriarch Bartholomew wants to
have a meeting to commemorate
175
the 50 years of Athenagoras and
Paul VI at Jerusalem. The Israeli
government has also extended a
special invitation to go to
Jerusalem. I believe the
government of the Palestinian
Authority has done the same.
Thought is being given to this: its
not certain whether one will or will
not go . Then, in Latin America, I
dont think there is the possibility
to return because the Pope is
Latin American, the first trip was
in Latin America . goodbye! We
must wait a bit! I think we can go
to Asia, but this is all in the air. I
received an invitation to go to Sri
Lanka and also to the Philippines.
But we must go to Asia. Because
Pope Benedict did not have the
time to go to Asia, and its
important. He went to Australia
and then to Europe, America, but
Asia . To go to Argentina: at
present I think we can wait a bit,
because all these trips have a
certain priority. I would like to go
to Constantinople, on September
30, to visit Bartholomew I, but its
not possible, its not possible
because of my agenda. If we
meet, well do so at Jerusalem.
@uestions o>screen9
Fatima?
Pope Francis9
Fatima, there is also an invitation
to Fatima, its true, its true.
Theres an invitation to go to
Fatima.
@uestions o>screen9
September 30 or November 30?
Pope Francis9
November, November: Saint
Andrew.
Father :om(ardi9
Well then, now we go back to the
United States and we call on Hada
Messia of CNN to ask you a
question:
6ada Messia9
Hello . you are holding up better
than me . No, no, no: ok, ok. My
question is: when you met with
Argentine young people,
somewhat jokingly, perhaps
somewhat seriously you said to
them that you, also, sometimes
feel caged: we would like to know
what you were referring to,
exactly.
Pope Francis9
You know how many times I wish
to go on the streets of Rome,
because at Buenos Aires I used to
go on the street, I liked it so
much! In this connection, I feel a
bit caged. But I mustnt say this
because those of the Vatican
Gendarmerie are so good; they
are good, good, good and Im
grateful to them. Now they let me
do a few more things. I believe .
their duty is to guard the security.
Caged, in that sense. I would like
to go on the street, but I
understasnd its not posible: I
understand it. I said it in that
sense. Because my habit was - as
we say in Buenos Aires - I was a
street priest .
Father :om(ardi9
Now we call on a Brazilian again:
its Marcio Campos, and I also ask
Guenois to come close for the
next turn, for the French.
Pope Francis9
I was asking the time, because
they must serve supper, but are
you hungry?
;>screen9
176
No, no .
Marcio Campos9
Your blessing, Holy Father. I want
to say to you when you feel
longing for Brazil, for the joyful
Brazilian people, embrace the flag
that they gave you. I want to say
also that I want to thank my
colleagues of the newspapers
.olha de Sao /aulo' Estado' %lobo
and ;e<a for representing them
with a question. Holy Father, its
very difficult to accompany a
Pope. We are all tired. You are
fine and we are tired. In Brazil,
the Catholic Church has lost
faithful over the years. Is the
Charismatic Renewal Movement a
possibility to avoid the faithful
joining the Pentecostal churches?
Thank you very much for your
presence, and thank you very
much for our being on your flight.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
What you say is very true about
the loss of faithful: its true, its
true. There are statistics. We
spoke with the Brazilian bishops
about the problem, in a meeting
we had yesterday. You asked
about the Charismatic Renewal
Movement. Ill tell you something.
In the years, at the end of the
70s, beginning of the 80s, I
couldnt stand them. Once,
speaking of them, I said this
phrase: "They confuse a liturgical
celebration with a samba school!
I said this. But I repented. Then, I
got to know them better. Its also
true that the Movement, with
good advisers, has gone on a
good path. And now I think this
Movement has done so much good
to the Church in general. At
Buenos Aires, I met with them
often and once a year had a Mass
with all of them in the Cathedral.
Ive always favored them, after I
was converted, when I saw the
good they do. Because at this
moment of the Church - and here
I lengthen the answer a bit - I
think the Movements are
necessary. The Movements are a
grace of the Holy Spirit. "But how
can one stop a Movement that is
so free? The Church is also free!
The Holy Spirit does what He
wishes. Then He does the work of
harmonizing, but I think the
Movements are a grace, those
Movements that have the spirit of
the Church. Because of this, I
think that the Charismatic
Renewal Movement not only
serves to avoid some going to join
Pentecostal confessions. But no! It
serves the Church! It renews us.
And each one seeks his Movement
according to his charism, where
the Spirit takes him.
@uestion ;>screen
Pope Francis9
Im tired. Im tired.
Father :om(ardi9
Well then, Guenois of e .i"aro for
the French group.
Jean>Marie %uenois9
Holy Father, a question with my
colleague of a Croix' also: You
said that the Church without
women loses fecundity. What
concrete measures will you take?
For instance, a feminine
diaconate or a woman head of a
dicastery? Its a very small
technical question: You said you
were tired. Do you have a special
preparation for the return? Thank
you, Holiness.
Pope Francis9
177
We begin with the last. This plane
doesnt have special preparations.
Im in front, in a good armchair,
common, but ordinary, such as
everyone has. I had a letter
written and a telephone call made
to say that I didnt want special
preparations on the plane: is it
clear? Second, women. A Church
without women is like the
Apostolic College without Mary.
The role of women in the Church
is not only maternity, the mother
of the family, but its stronger: it
is, in fact, the icon of the Virgin,
of Our Lady, the one who helps
the Church grow! But think that
Our Lady is more important than
the Apostles! She is more
important! The Church is
feminine: she is Church, she is
spouse, she is Mother. But women
in the Church, not only must . I
dont know how its said in Italian
. a womans role in the Church
must not end only as mother, as
worker, limited. No! Its
something else! But the Popes .
Paul VI wrote a very beautiful
thing on women, but I think we
must go further in making the role
and charism of women more
explicit. A Church without women
cant be understood, but active
women in the Church, with their
profile, which they carry forward.
Im thinking of an example that
has nothing to do with the Church,
but its an historical example: in
Latin America, in Paraguay. For
me, the Paraguayan woman is the
most glorious of Latin America.
Are you /ara"uayan? After the
war, there were eight women for
every man and these women
made a rather difficult choice: the
choice of having children to save
the homeland, the culture, the
faith and the language. In the
Church, it must be made more
explicit. I think we have not yet
made a profound theology of
woman in the Church. She can
only do this or that, now she is an
altar server, then she does the
Reading, she is president of
Caritas# But there is more! A
profound theology must be made
of woman. This is what I think.
Father :om(ardi9
Now for the Spanish group, we
have Pablo Ordaz of El /ais#
Pa(lo ;rda79
We wanted to know your relation
of work, not so much as friend, of
collaboration with Benedict XVI.
Theres never been a circumstance
like this before, and if you have
frequent contacts, and if he is
helping you with this burden.
Thank you very much.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
I believe the last time there were
two Popes, or three Popes, they
didnt speak to one another; they
were fighting to see who was the
true one. There were three in the
Western Schism. There is
something that .
82e&eated in 9talian:
There is something that qualifies
my relation with Benedict: I love
him so much. Ive always loved
him. For me he is a man of God, a
humble man, a man who prays. I
was so happy when he was
elected Pope. Also when he gave
his resignation, it was for me an
example of greatness! A great
man. Only a great man does this!
A man of God is a man of prayer.
He now lives in the Vatican, and
some say to me: but how can this
be? Two Popes in the Vatican!
But, doesnt he encumber you?
Doesnt he make a revolution
against you? All these things that
are said, no? Ive found a phrase
178
to say this: "Its like having a
grandfather at home, but a wise
grandfather. When a grandfather
is at home with a family, he is
venerated, loved, listened to. He
is a man of prudence! He doesnt
meddle. Ive said to him so many
times: "Holiness, you receive,
make your life, come with us. He
came for the inauguration and
blessing of the statue of Saint
Michael. There, that phrase says
everything. For me he is like
having a grandfather at home: my
father. If I had a difficulty or
something I didnt understand, I
would telephone him: "But, tell
me, can I do that? And when I
went to talk about that big
problem of ;atilea!s' he told me
everything with a simplicity . at
the service. Its something I dont
know if you know, I think so, but
Im not sure: when he spoke to
us, in his farewell address on
February 28, he said to us: "The
next Pope is among you: I
promise obedience to him. But
hes a great man, he is a great!
Father :om(ardi9
Well now we give the floor again
to a Brazilian, Anna Ferreira; and
now Gian Guido Vecchi is also
coming for Italian.
Anna Ferreira9
Holy Father, good evening. Thank
you. I would like to say "thank
you so many times: thank you
for having brought so much joy to
Brazil, and thank you also for
answering our questions. We,
journalists, are so fond of asking
questions. I would like to know,
why, yesterday, you spoke to the
Brazilian Bishops about womens
participation in our Church. Id like
to understand better: how should
this participation be for us,
women in the Church? If you .
what do you think of the
ordination of women? What should
our position in the Church be?
Pope Francis9
I would like to explain a bit what I
said on the participation of women
in the Church: it cant be limited
to being altar servers or
presidents of Caritas' catechists .
No! It must be more, but
profoundly more! Even mystically
more, with what Ive said of the
theology of woman. And, with
reference to the ordination of
women, the Church has spoken
and she said : "No. John Paul II
said it, but with a definitive
formulation. That is closed, that
door is closed, but Id like to say
something about this. Ive said it,
but I repeat it. Our Lady, Mary,
was more important than the
Apostles, than bishops, deacons
and priests. In the Church, woman
is more important than bishops
and priests; how' its what we
must seek to make more explicit,
because theological explicitness
about this is lacking. Thank you.
Father :om(ardi9
Gian Guido Vecchi, of Corriere
della Sera= I ask Mrs. Pigozzi and
Nicole then, to come after.
%ian %uido 0ecchi9
Holy Father, during this trip you
have spoken many times about
mercy. In regard to access to the
sacraments of divorced persons
who have remarried, is there a
possibility that something will
change in the discipline of the
Church? That these sacraments be
an occasion to bring these people
closer, rather than a barrier that
separates them from the other
faithful?
Pope Francis9
179
This is a subject that is always
asked about. Mercy is greater
than the case you pose. I believe
this is the time of mercy. This
change of era, also so many
problems of the Church - such as
the witness thats not good of
some priests, also problems of
corruption in the Church, also the
problem of clericalism, to give an
example -- have left so many
wounds, so many wounds. And
the Church is Mother: she must go
to heal the wounds with mercy.
But if the Lord does not tire of
forgiving, we have no other choice
than this: first of all, to cure the
wounds. The Church is Mother and
must go on this path of mercy.
And find mercy for all. But I think,
when the Prodigal Son returned
home, his father didnt say: "But
you, listen sit down: what did you
do with the money? No! He had a
feast! Then, perhaps, when the
son wished to speak, he spoke.
The Church must do likewise.
When there is someone . not just
wait for them: go to find them!
This is mercy. And I believe that
this is a !airos: this time is a
!airos of mercy. But John Paul II
had this first intuition, when he
began with Faustina Kowalska, the
Divine Mercy . he had something,
he had intuited that it was a
necessity of this time. With
reference to the problem of
Communion, its not a problem,
but when they are in a second
union, they cant. I think that its
necessary to look at this in the
totality of matrimonial ministry.
And because of this its a problem.
But also -a parenthesis - the
Orthodox have a different
practice. They follow the theology
of the economy' as we call it, and
give a second possibility, they
allow it. But I think this problem -
I close the parenthesis - must be
studied in the framework of
matrimonial ministry. And because
of this, two things: first, one of
the subjects to be consulted with
these eight of the Council of
Cardinals, with whom we will
meet, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of
October, is how to go forward in
matrimonial ministry, and this
problem will arise there. And, a
second thing: Fifteen days ago,
the secretary of the Synod of
Bishops was with me, for the topic
of the next Synod. It was an
anthropological topic, but
speaking and speaking again,
going and returning, we saw this
anthropological topic: how faith
helps the planning of the person,
but in the family, and to go,
therefore, to matrimonial ministry.
We are on the way for a
somewhat profound matrimonial
ministry. And this is everyones
problem, because there are so
many, no? For instance, Ill
mention only one: Cardinal
Quarracino, my predecessor, said
that for him half of all marriages
are null. Why did he say this?
Because they get married without
maturity, they marry without
remembering that its for the
whole of life, or they marry
because socially they must marry.
And the matrimonial ministry also
comes into this. And also the
judicial problem of the nullity of
marriages, this must be reviewed,
because the Ecclesiastical
Tribunals are not enough for this.
The problem of the matrimonial
ministry is complex. Thank you.
Father :om(ardi9
Thank you. Now, then, we have
Mrs. Pigozzi who is of /aris Match'
and again of the French group.
Caroline Pigo77i9
Good evening, Holy Father. I
would like to know if you, since
youve been Pope, still feel
yourself a Jesuit.
180
Pope Francis9
Its a theological question,
because Jesuits take the vow of
obedience to the Pope. But if the
Pope is a Jesuit, perhaps he
should take a vow of obedience to
the General of the Jesuits . I
dont know how this is resolved .
I feel myself a Jesuit in my
spirituality, in the spirituality of
the Exercises, spirituality, the one
I have in my heart. But I feel so
much like this that in three days
Ill go to celebrate with Jesuits the
feast of Saint Ignatius: I will say
the morning Mass. I havent
changed my spirituality, no.
Francis, Franciscan: no. I feel
myself a Jesuit and I think like a
Jesuit. Not hypocritically, but I
think as a Jesuit. Thank you.
Father :om(ardi9
If you can still bear it, there are
still some questions. Now, Nicole
Winfield, who is from Associated
/ress' and there are . but he
wasnt . but, I had a list and I
really believed that you were
organized . So, ok, Elisabetta,
join the list also, sorry.
=icole 1inield9
Holiness, thank you again for
having come "among the lions.
Holiness, at the fourth month of
your pontificate, I would like to
ask you to make a small
evaluation. Can you tell us what
was the best thing of being Pope,
an anecdote, and what was the
worst thing, and what was the
thing that surprised you most in
this period?
Pope Francis9
But I dont know how to answer
this, really. Big thing, big things
didnt happen. Beautiful things,
yes, for instance, the meeting
with Italian Bishops was so good,
so good. As Bishop of the capital
of Italy, I felt I was at home with
them. And that was lovely, but I
dont know if it was the best. Also
a painful thing, which affected my
heart a lot, the visit to
Lampedusa. But thats something
to weep about, that did me good.
But when these boats arrive they
leave some thousands there
before the coast and they must
arrive alone with the boat. And
this makes me grieve because I
think that these persons are
victims of a global socio-economic
system. But the worst thing - Im
sorry - that happened to me was
sciatic -truly! - I had that the
first month because to do the
interviews I sat in an armchair,
and this gave me some grief. Its
a very painful sciatic, very painful!
I dont wish it on anyone! But
these things: to talk with people;
the meeting with seminarians and
women religious was very lovely,
was very lovely. Also the meeting
with the students of the Jesuit
colleges was very lovely, good
things.
@uestion9
What is the thing that surprised
you most?
Pope Francis9
The people, the people, the good
people Ive met. Ive met so many
good people in the Vatican. I
thought what I should say, but
that is true. I do justice, saying
this: so many good people. So
many good people, so many good
people, but good, good, good!
Father :om(ardi9
Elisabetta, but you know her and
also Sergio Rubini, perhaps is
coming close, so we have the
Argentines.
181
.lisa(etta Pi?ue9
Pope Francis, first of all on behalf
of the 50,000 Argentines that I
met there and who said to me:
you are going to travel with the
Pope? Please, tell him he was
fantastic, stupendous, ask him
when he is going to travel, but
you already said you arent going
to travel . So Im going to ask
you a more difficult question. Did
you get scared when you saw the
"Vatileaks report?
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
No, Im going to tell you a story
about the "Vatileaks report.
When I went to see Pope
Benedict, after praying in the
chapel, we went to his study and I
saw a big box and a thick
envelope. Benedict.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Benedict said to me: "All the
statements, the things that the
witnesses said are in this big box,
all are there. But the summary
and the final judgment are in this
envelope. And here one says ta-
ta-ta . He had everything in his
head! But what intelligence!
Everything memorized everything!
But no, (words in Spanish) I didnt
get sacred, no. No, no. But its a
big problem, alas. But I didnt get
scared.
!ergio 4u(in9
Holiness, two little things. This is
the first one: You have insisted a
lot on halting the loss of faithful.
In Brazil, its been very strong. Do
you hope that this trip will
contribute to having many people
return to the Church, to feel closer
to her? And the second, the more
personal: you like Argentina a lot,
and you have Buenos Aires very
much in your heart. Argentines
are wondering if you miss that
Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires
you went around in a bus, on the
streets. Thank you very much.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
I think a papal trip always does
one good. I believe this will do
good to Brazil, but not only the
presence of the Pope, but what
was done in this World Youth Day,
they mobilized and they will do so
much good, perhaps they will help
the Church a lot. But these faithful
who have gone away, so many
arent happy because they feel
they belong to the Church. I
believe this will be positive, not
only because of the trip, but
above all because of the Days, the
Day was a wonderful event. And
of Buenos Aires, yes, at times I
miss it. And that Ive felt. But it is
a serene missing, a serene
missing, it is a serene missing.
But I think that you, Sergio, know
better than all the others, you can
answer this question, with the
book youve written!
Father :om(ardi9
Now we have the Russian and
then Valentina, who was the dean,
who wanted to close.
Ale/e" Bu3alo$9
Good evening Holy Father. Holy
Father, returning to ecumenism:
today the Orthodox are
celebrating 1,025 years of
Christianity. There are great
celebrations in many capitals.
Would you like to comment on this
event, I would be happy if you
did. Thank you.
Pope Francis9
182
In the Orthodox Churches they
have kept that pristine liturgy, so
beautiful. We have lost a bit the
sense of adoration. They keep,
they praise God, they adore God,
they sing, time doesnt count. God
is the center, and this is a
richness that I would like to say
on this occasion in which you ask
me this question. Once, speaking
of the Western Church, of Western
Europe, especially the Church that
has grown most, they said this
phrase to me: +ux ex oriente' ex
occidente luxus#, Consumerism,
wellbeing, have done us so much
harm. Instead you keep this
beauty of God at the center, the
reference. When one reads
Dostoyevsky - I believe that for
us all he must be an author to
read and reread, because he has
wisdom - one perceives what the
Russian spirit is, the Eastern
spirit. Its something that will do
us so much good. We are in need
of this renewal, of this fresh air of
the East, of this light of the East.
John Paul II wrote it in his Letter.
But so many times the luxus of
the West makes us lose the
horizon. I dont know, it came to
me to say this. Thank you.
Father :om(ardi9
And now we close with Valentina
that, as she began in the trip of
departure, now closes on the
return trip.
0alentina Ala7ra3i9
Holiness, thank you for keeping
the promise to answer our
questions on the way back .
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
I delayed your supper .
82e&eated in 9talian:
0alentina Ala7ra3i9
It doesnt matter, it doesnt
matter . well, the serious
question on behalf of all the
Mexicans: When are you going to
Guadalupe? But that one is of the
Mexicans. Mine is: you are going
to canonize two great Popes, John
XXIII and John Paul II. I would
like to know, in your opinion, what
is the model of holiness that
issues from one and the other and
the impact theyve had on the
Church and on you.
82e&eated in 9talian:
Pope Francis9
John XXIII is somewhat the figure
of the "country priest, the priest
who loves each one of the faithful,
who knows how to care for the
faithful and he did this as bishop
as well as nuncio. But how many
testimonies of false Baptism he
did in Turkey in favor of the Jews!
He was a courageous man, a good
country priest, with such a great
sense of humor, so great, and
great holiness. When he was
nuncio, some didnt like him so
much in the Vatican, and when he
arrived to bring things or ask for
things, in certain offices they
made him wait. He never, never
lamented it: he prayed the
Rosary, read the Breviary. Also he
was one who was concerned for
the poor. When Cardinal Casaroli
returned from a mission - I
believe in Hungary or in what was
Czechoslovakia at that time, I
dont remember which of the two
- he went to him to explain how
the mission was, in that period of
diplomacy of "small countries.
And they had the audience - 20
days later John XXIII was dead -
and while Casaroli was going, he
stopped him: "Ah Eminence - no,
he wasnt Eminence - Excellency,
a question: do you continue to go
183
to those youths? Because
Casaroli went to the prison of
minors of Casal del Marmo and
played with them. And Casaroli
said: Yes, yes! "Dont ever
abandon them. This to a
diplomat, who arrived from a tour
of diplomacy, a very demanding
trip, John XXIII said: "Dont ever
abandon the boys. But he was a
great man, a great man! Then
there is the question of the
Council: he was a man who was
docile to the voice of God,
because what came to him from
the Holy Spirit came to him and
he was docile. Pius XII thought of
doing it, but the circumstances
werent ripe to do it. I think that
he [John XXIII] didnt think of the
circumstances: he felt that and he
did it. A man who let himself be
guided by the Lord.
Of John Paul II I wish to say he
was "the great missionary of the
Church: he was a missionary, a
missionary, a man who took the
Gospel everywhere, you know it
better than me. But how many
trips did he make? But he went!
He felt the fire of taking forward
the Word of the Lord. He is a Paul,
he is a Saint Paul, he is such a
man; for me this is great. And to
do the ceremony of canonization
of the two together I believe is a
message for the Church: these
two are brave, they are brave,
they are two brave men. But there
is underway the cause of Paul VI
and also of Pope Luciani: these
two are on the way. But, again
something that I believe I said,
but I dont know if here or
elsewhere: the date of
canonization. We thought
December 8 of this year, but
theres a big problem; those who
come from Poland, the poor,
because those who have means
can come by plane, but those who
come, the poor, come by bus and
in December the roads already
have ice and I think the date must
be thought out again. I spoke with
Cardinal Dziwisz and he suggested
two possibilities: either Christ the
King of this year or the Sunday of
Mercy of next year. I think Christ
the King is too short a time for
this year, because the Consistory
will be on September 30 and at
the end of October there is little
time, but I dont know, I must
speak with Cardinal Amato about
this. But I dont think it will be
December 8.
@uestion9
But will they be canonized
together?
Pope Francis9
Together all two together, yes.
Father :om(ardi9
Thank you, Holiness. Who is there
still? Ilze? Then we will have given
everyone a chance, even more
than were registered first .
Il7e !camparini9
I would like to ask permission to
ask a somewhat delicate question:
another image has also gone
around the world, which is that of
Monsignor Ricca and news about
your privacy. I would like to know,
Holiness, what do you intend to do
about this question. How to
address this question and how
Your Holiness intends to address
the whole question of the gay
lobby?
Pope Francis9
In regard to Monsignor Ricca, Ive
done what Canon Law orders to
do, which is the investi"atio
&revia. And from this investi"atio
there is nothing of which they
accuse him, we havent found
184
anything of that. This is the
answer. But I would like to add
something else on this: I see that
so many times in the Church,
outside of this case and also in
this case, they go to look for the
"sins of youth, for instance, and
this is published. Not the crimes,
alas. Crimes are something else:
the abuse of minors is a crime.
No, the sins. But if a person, lay
or priest or Sister, has committed
a sin and then has converted, the
Lord forgives, and when the Lord
forgives, the Lord forgets and this
is important for our life. When we
go to confession and truly say: "I
have sinned in this, the Lord
forgets and we dont have the
right not to forget, because we
run the risk that the Lord wont
forget our [sins]. Thats a danger.
This is important: a theology of
sin. I think so many times of Saint
Peter: he committed one of the
worst sins, which is to deny
Christ, and with this sin he was
made Pope. We must give it much
thought. But, returning to your
more concrete question: in this
case, Ive done the investi"atio
&revia and we found nothing. This
is the first question. Then you
spoke of the gay lobby. Goodness
knows! So much is written of the
gay lobby. I still have not met one
who will give me the identity card
with "gay . They say that they
exist. I think that when one meets
a person like this, one must
distinguish the fact of being a gay
person from the fact of doing a
lobby, because not all lobbies are
good. Thats bad. If a person is
gay and seeks the Lord and has
good will, who am I to judge him?
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church explains this in such a
beautiful way, it says, Wait a bit,
as is said and says: "these
persons must not be marginalized
because of this; they must be
integrated in society. The
problem isnt having this
tendency, no. We must be
brothers, because this is one, but
there are others, others. The
problem is the lobbying of this
tendency: lobby of the avaricious,
lobby of politicians, lobby of
Masons, so many lobbies. This, for
me, is the more serious problem.
And I thank you.
Father :om(ardi9
Thank you. It seems to me we
cant do much more. We have
even abused the Pope who told us
he was a bit tired and we now
hope he will rest a bit.
Pope Francis9
Thank you and good night, good
trip and good rest.
Francis+ Message to
Muslims or .nd
o 4amadan
Promoting Mutual 4espect
2hrough .ducation
VATICAN CITY, August 02, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the Pope's
message to Muslims for the end of
Ramadan. The Vatican released
the text today.
* * *
To Muslims throughout the World
It gives me great pleasure to
greet you as you celebrate `Id al-
Fitr, so concluding the month of
185
Ramadan, dedicated mainly to
fasting, prayer and thanksgiving.
It is a tradition by now that, on
this occasion, the Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dialogue
sends you a message of good
wishes, together with a proposed
theme for common reflection. This
year, the first of my Pontificate, I
have decided to sign this
traditional message myself and to
send it to you, dear friends, as an
expression of esteem and
friendship for all Muslims,
especially those who are religious
leaders.
As you all know, when the
Cardinals elected me as Bishop of
Rome and Universal Pastor of the
Catholic Church, I chose the name
of "Francis, a very famous saint
who loved God and every human
being deeply, to the point of being
called "universal brother. He
loved, helped and served the
needy, the sick and the poor; he
also cared greatly for creation.
I am aware that family and social
dimensions enjoy a particular
prominence for Muslims during
this period, and it is worth noting
that there are certain parallels in
each of these areas with Christian
faith and practice.
This year, the theme on which I
would like to reflect with you and
with all who will read this
message is one that concerns both
Muslims and Christians: Promoting
Mutual Respect through
Education.
This years theme is intended to
underline the importance of
education in the way we
understand each other, built upon
the foundation of mutual respect.
"Respect means an attitude of
kindness towards people for whom
we have consideration and
esteem. "Mutual means that this
is not a one-way process, but
something shared by both sides.
What we are called to respect in
each person is first of all his life,
his physical integrity, his dignity
and the rights deriving from that
dignity, his reputation, his
property, his ethnic and cultural
identity, his ideas and his political
choices. We are therefore called to
think, speak and write respectfully
Pope 4elects on 1orld
<outh &a" &uring
Angelus Address
Calls Bra7ilians a %reat People
,ith 5A Big 6eart5
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 05, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Sunday, Pope
Francis recalled the joy of last
weeks World Youth Day Mass in
Rio de Janeiro during yesterdays
Angelus address. Thousands
gathered in St. Peters Square to
listen to the Holy Fathers address
which was delivered from the
window of the Apostolic Palace.
186
The Holy Father told the pilgrims
present that the World Youth Day
in general is not a singular
moment that end, but a
continuous journey which began
on the first WYD in 1985.
"Let us always remember: the
youth do not follow the Pope, they
follow Jesus Christ, carrying his
cross. And the Pope leads them
and accompanies them on this
journey of faith and hope, the
Pope said.
"So, I thank all the young people
who participated, some of whom
also made sacrifices to do so. And
I thank the Lord too for the
meetings I had with the Pastors
and people of that great country
that is Brazil, as well as with the
authorities and volunteers. May
the Lord repay all those who
worked for this great feast of
faith.
The Holy Father also thanked the
people of Brazil, regarding them
as a great people with "a big
heart. Regarding the youth who
attended, Pope Francis expressed
his hope that they would take the
experience of the event to their
daily lives.
"Young people are especially
sensitive to the lack of meaning
and values that surrounds them.
And unfortunately they pay the
consequences, the Pope said.
"But meeting with the living Jesus
in his great family that is the
Church fills the heart with joy
because it fills us with true life,
with a profound good, that does
not pass or go bad: we saw it in
the faces of the kids in Rio.
Reflecting on the Sunday Gospel,
the Pope stated that the Word
reminds us all of "the absurdity of
basing our happiness on having,
which he said was relevant in
todays society that "deceives
young people with consumerism.
True wealth, he emphasized, is
the loved of God that is shared
with one another. "Whoever has
experience of this love does not
fear death and receives peace of
heart, the Pope said before
entrusting this intention to the
Blessed Mother.
;n 2rue 1ealth
VATICAN CITY, August 05, 2013
(Zenit.org) -
Here is the translation of the
address given by Pope Francis
before and after the recitation of
the Angelus from the window of
the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican
on Sunday.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters! Hello!
Last Sunday I found myself in Rio
de Janeiro. Holy Mass and World
Youth Day concluded. I think we
should all together thank the Lord
for the great gift that this event
was, for Brazil, for Latin America
and for the world. It was a new
stage in the pilgrimage of young
people across the continents with
cross of Christ. We must not
forget that the World Youth Days
are not "fireworks, moments of
enthusiasm that are an end in
themselves; they are the stages
of a long journey, begun in 1985,
by the initiative of John Paul II. He
gave the cross to the young
people and told them: go and I
will come with you! And this is
how it was; and this pilgrimage of
young people continued with Pope
Benedict, and, thanks be to God, I
too was able to live this marvelous
stage in Brazil. Let us always
187
remember: the youth do not
follow the Pope, they follow Jesus
Christ, carrying his cross. And the
Pope leads them and accompanies
them on this journey of faith and
hope. So, I thank all the young
people who participated, some of
whom also made sacrifices to do
so. And I thank the Lord too for
the meetings I had with the
Pastors and people of that great
country that is Brazil, as well as
with the authorities and
volunteers. May the Lord repay all
those who worked for this great
feast of faith. I would also like to
stress my gratitude, many thanks
to the Brazilians. These people of
Brazil are great, a people with a
big heart! I will not forget their
warm welcome, their greetings,
their looks, such joy. They are
also a generous people; I ask the
Lord to bless them abundantly!
I would like to ask you to pray
with me that the young people
who participated World Youth Day
be able to translate this
experience into their daily
journey, into their everyday
behavior; and also be able to
translate it into the important
decisions of life, responding to the
personal call of the Lord. Today
the provocative words of Qoheleth
resound in todays liturgy: "Vanity
of vanities ... all is vanity (1:2).
Young people are especially
sensitive to the lack of meaning
and values that surrounds them.
And unfortunately they pay the
consequences. But meeting with
the living Jesus in his great family
that is the Church fills the heart
with joy because it fills us with
true life, with a profound good,
that does not pass or go bad: we
saw it in the faces of the kids in
Rio. But this experience must
confront the vanity of daily life,
the poison of the void that
insinuates itself into our societies
based on profit and having, that
deceives young people with
consumerism. This Sundays
Gospel reminds us precisely of the
absurdity of basing our happiness
on having. The rich man says to
himself: My soul, you possess
many things ... relax, eat, drink
and enjoy! But God says to him:
You fool, this very night your soul
will be demanded of you. And the
things you accumulated, whose
will it be? (cf. Luke 12:19-20).
Dear brothers and sisters, truth
wealth is love of God shared with
our brothers, that love that comes
from God and brings us to share it
with each other and help each
other. Whoever has experience of
this love does not fear death and
receives peace of heart. Let us
entrust this intention - of
receiving Gods love and sharing it
with our brothers - to the
intercession of the Virgin Mary.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father made the
following remarks in Italian to
those present:]
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet all of you and thank you
for your presence despite the
heat.
I am happy to greet in particular
some youth groups: the Carmelite
Youth of Croatia; the young
people of Sandon and Foss in the
Diocese of Verona; those from
Mozzanica in the Diocese of
Cremona; those from Moncalieri,
who walked here; those from
Bergamo, who came by bicycle.
Thank you all! There are a lot of
young people in the piazza today:
this seems like Rio de Janeiro!
I would like to assure parish
priests and all the priests of the
world a special remembrance
because today is the feast of their
patron: St. Jean Marie Vianney.
188
Dear brothers, we are united in
prayer and in personal charity.
Tomorrow, Romans, we remember
our Mother, the "Salus Populi
Romani: let us ask her to protect
us; and now we all together greet
her with an Ave Maria. Everyone
together: "Ave Maria.... A
greeting to our Mother - everyone
together a greeting to our mother
(he applauds together with the
people).
I would also like to recall the
liturgical feast of the
Transfiguration, which will be
the day after tomorrow, with a
profound sentiment of gratitude
for the Venerable Pope Paul VI,
who departed from this world on
the evening of August 6, 35 years
ago.
Dear friends, I wish you a
good Sunday and a good month of
August. And have a good lunch!
Goodbye!
Pope Francis on
6omose/ualit"9 a
:oo3 Be"ond the
6eadlines
4e$isiting the !ame>!e/
+Marriage+ &e(ate
By Ann Schneible
ROME, August 05, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The day after Pope
Francis returned to Rome from
World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro,
an event which saw millions of
young people gather on
Copacabana beach for Mass and
prayer, the top story from secular
news outlets across the globe
featured a picture of Pope Francis
beside the headline: "Who am I to
judge gay people?"
The headline was derived from a
statement made by the Holy
Father during a press briefing held
on the papal plane en route to
Rome following the WYD
celebrations. In addition to
speaking about those with same-
sex attraction, Pope Francis also
answered questions about the
Vatican Bank, women priests, and
his reflections on his visit to
Brazil.
Media outlets have especially
honed in on the following words:
"If a person is gay and seeks the
Lord and has good will, who am I
to judge that person?... these
persons must never be
marginalized and they must be
integrated into society."
Some advocates of gay rights and
same-sex "marriage" have hailed
these words - or rather, this
selected quote - seeing it as a
sign that Pope Francis is leading
the way for the Catholic Church to
change its teaching on the
homosexual lifestyle. They also
cite it as an improvement over the
teachings of Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI, who was deemed
more "judgmental" in matters
pertaining to homosexuality.
For reasons that are open to
interpretation, the secular media
has been selectively "positive" in
its representations of Pope
Francis, in the same way it was
often selectively negative about
Pope Benedict, his other
predecessors, and about Catholic
teaching in general. This is
evidenced by the relative media
silence toward Pope Francis'
statement regarding women
priests, made at the same press
conference, in which he firmly
states that the Church's position
189
on the issue was unchangeable.
Meanwhile, when Pope Francis
calls for those with same-sex
attraction to be "integrated into
society" rather than judged and
marginalized, he is seen as a
herald of change to Catholic
doctrine, when in fact he is merely
pointing out what his
predecessors, and the Church,
have been saying all along.
"The number of men and women
who have deep-seated
homosexual tendencies is not
negligible," reads the passage of
the catechism of the Catholic
Church referenced by Pope Francis
during the press briefing. "They do
not choose their homosexual
condition; for most of them it is a
trial. They must be accepted with
respect, compassion, and
sensitivity. Every sign of unjust
discrimination in their regard
should be avoided. These persons
are called to fulfill God's will in
their lives and, if they are
Christians, to unite to the sacrifice
of the Lord's Cross the difficulties
they may encounter from their
condition."
Regardless of the secular media's
somewhat awkward interpretation
of Pope Francis' call to "not judge
gay people," they have
inadvertently opened the way for
believers and non-believers alike
to take a closer look at what the
Church teaches on the matter.
Whether this will cause a change
of heart for those actively
promoting the homosexual
lifestyle remains to be seen. But
for those committed to the
defense of traditional marriage, at
a time when same-sex "marriage"
is becoming legal in one country
after the other, a revisiting of
tactics may be in order, for which
the Holy Father's words serve as a
guide. Are we listening to the gay
community? Do we answer their
questions? Are we seeking
dialogue, or are we merely
pontificating? Is our language
respectful? Do we recognize that
many have faced genuine
persecution, driving them to seek
refuge in the gay community? Do
we acknowledge that some of this
persecution has been committed
in the name of faith? Is Christian
charity driving us to fight
for their benefit, as well as for the
benefit of society, or are we
merely fighting for an agenda?
This is not to dismiss the real
persecution suffered by those
heroically fighting in defense of
traditional marriage. Yet in the
fight to preserve the institution of
marriage against efforts of the gay
community to dismantle it, there
is the danger of becoming lost in
the polemics. In the end, it is not
enough to win the debate; what is
important is that we change
hearts as well as minds.
Pope9 Proclaiming the
%ospel =ot an
Assault on
Freedom
Francis Airms .$angeli7ation
Is .ssential to
Christian Identit"
By Kathleen Naab
VATICAN CITY, August 06, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Francis is again
calling the faithful to be bold in
proclaiming the Gospel,
countering any claim that publicly
witnessing to Christ is an assault
on others' freedom.
The Pope said this in his message
for World Mission Day, which was
released by the Vatican today.
190
World Mission Day falls this year
on Oct. 20 and it will bring to a
close the Year of Faith initiated by
Benedict XVI.
In the message, Francis called
faith "God's precious gift" and said
that it is "not reserved for a few
but offered with generosity."
"Everyone should be able to
experience the joy of being loved
by God, the joy of salvation," he
said.
This gift cannot be kept to oneself,
the Pontiff continued, saying that
the "strength of our faith, at a
personal and community level,
can be measured by the ability to
communicate it to others, to
spread and live it in charity, to
witness to it before those we meet
and those who share the path of
life with us."
"Each community is therefore
challenged, and invited to make
its own, the mandate entrusted by
Jesus to the Apostles, to be his
'witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria
and to the ends of the earth' (Acts
1:8) and this, not as a secondary
aspect of Christian life, but as its
essential aspect: we are all invited
to walk the streets of the world
with our brothers and sisters,
proclaiming and witnessing to our
faith in Christ and making
ourselves heralds of his Gospel,"
the Pope stated.
A proposal
Francis commented on an obstacle
to evangelization that comes from
the idea that "proclaiming the
truth of the Gospel means an
assault on freedom."
Quoting Paul VI in Evangelii
Nuntiandi, he said: "It would be ...
an error to impose something on
the consciences of our brethren.
But to propose to their
consciences the truth of the
Gospel and salvation in Jesus
Christ, with complete clarity and
with total respect for free options
which it presents ... is a tribute to
this freedom."
Francis said we must always have
"the courage and the joy of
proposing, with respect, an
encounter with Christ."
Martyrs
The Bishop of Rome also
mentioned in his message those
who "experience difficulty in
openly professing their faith and
in enjoying the legal right to
practice it in a worthy manner."
"They are our brothers and
sisters, courageous witnesses --
even more numerous than the
martyrs of the early centuries --
who endure with apostolic
perseverance many contemporary
forms of persecution," he said.
"Quite a few also risk their lives to
remain faithful to the Gospel of
Christ. I wish to reaffirm my
closeness in prayer to individuals,
families and communities who
suffer violence and intolerance,
and I repeat to them the consoling
words of Jesus: "Take courage, I
have overcome the world.'"
;pus &ei Prelate at
1<& Meets 1ith
H'000 <outh
&iscuss Friendship'
Conession' 0ocation
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, August
06, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Six
thousand young people from
around the world gathered during
the 2013 World Youth Day at the
Centro de Convencoes Sul
191
America [South American
Conventions Center] in Rio to
meet with the prelate of Opus Dei,
Bishop Javier Echevarra.
The number of young people who
wished to attend the event -
university and high school
students, faithful of the Prelature
and their friends - obliged the
organizers that same morning to
double the places available (the
hall had a capacity for 3,500
people).
Very numerous among those
attending were the Brazilians and
Argentines (800), but also
noteworthy were the
representatives of Oceania as well
as Europe, Africa and Asia.
In a colorful and family-like
atmosphere, the prelate spent
close to two hours chatting and
answering questions posed by the
young people.
The theme was the invitation to
continue doing daily what Pope
Francis requested the day of his
election: to pray for him and for
his intentions. In addition, the
young people asked the prelate
about the value of friendship, the
importance of Confession, the
sense of modesty and especially
about when and how to discover
their own vocation.
The question on the Sacrament of
Reconciliation was asked by a 17-
year-old girl who had arrived in
Rio from Wellington, the capital of
New Zealand, and who is the
eldest of a family of nine children.
"Confession is like a medicine,"
Bishop Echevarra said. "When
you have a headache you take an
aspirin so that it will go away,
although you know it could come
back in three days. Something
similar happens with Confession:
its always worthwhile to go to this
Sacrament."
Francis+ Message or
1orld Mission
&a"
5Faith is %ods precious git5
VATICAN CITY, August 06, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a Vatican
translation of Pope Francis'
address for World Mission Day.
The message is dated the feast of
Pentecost, and was released by
the Vatican today.
World Mission Day falls this year
Oct. 20.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This year, as we celebrate World
Mission Day, the -ear of
.aith' which is an important
opportunity to strengthen our
friendship with the Lord and our
journey as a Church that preaches
the Gospel with courage, comes to
an end. From this perspective, I
would like to propose some
reflections.
1. Faith is Gods precious gift,
which opens our mind to know
and love him. He wants to enter
into relationship with us and allow
us to participate in his own life in
order to make our life more
meaningful, better and more
beautiful. God loves us! Faith,
however, needs to be accepted, it
needs our personal response, the
courage to entrust ourselves to
God, to live his love and be
192
grateful for his infinite mercy. It is
a gift, not reserved for a few but
offered with generosity. Everyone
should be able to experience the
joy of being loved by God, the joy
of salvation! It is a gift that one
cannot keep to oneself, but it is to
be shared. If we want to keep it
only to ourselves, we will become
isolated, sterile and sick
Christians. The proclamation of
the Gospel is part of being
disciples of Christ and it is a
constant commitment that
animates the whole life of the
Church. Missionary outreach is a
clear sign of the maturity of an
ecclesial community" (BENEDICT
XVI, ;erbum Domini, 95). Each
community is "mature" when it
professes faith, celebrates it with
joy during the liturgy, lives
charity, proclaims the Word of
God endlessly, leaves ones own
to take it to the "peripheries",
especially to those who have not
yet had the opportunity to know
Christ. The strength of our faith,
at a personal and community
level, can be measured by the
ability to communicate it to
others, to spread and live it in
charity, to witness to it before
those we meet and those who
share the path of life with us.
2. 1he -ear of .aith, fifty years
after the beginning of the Second
Vatican Council, motivates the
entire Church towards a renewed
awareness of its presence in the
contemporary world and its
mission among peoples and
nations. Missionary spirit is not
only about geographical
territories, but about peoples,
cultures and individuals, because
the "boundaries" of faith do not
only cross places and human
traditions, but the heart of each
man and each woman. The
Second Vatican Council
emphasized in a special way how
the missionary task, that of
broadening the boundaries of
faith, belongs to every baptized
person and all Christian
communities; since "the people of
God lives in communities,
especially in dioceses and
parishes, and becomes somehow
visible in them, it is up to these to
witness Christ before the nations"
(Ad "entes' 37). Each community
is therefore challenged, and
invited to make its own, the
mandate entrusted by Jesus to the
Apostles, to be his "witnesses in
Jerusalem, throughout Judea and
Samaria and to the ends of the
earth" (Acts 1:8) and this, not as
a secondary aspect of Christian
life, but as its essential aspect: we
are all invited to walk the streets
of the world with our brothers and
sisters, proclaiming and
witnessing to our faith in Christ
and making ourselves heralds of
his Gospel. I invite Bishops,
Priests, Presbyteral and Pastoral
Councils, and each person and
group responsible in the Church to
give a prominent position to this
missionary dimension in formation
and pastoral programmes, in the
understanding that their apostolic
commitment is not complete
unless it aims at bearing witness
to Christ before the nations and
before all peoples. This missionary
aspect is not merely a
programmatic dimension in
Christian life, but it is also a
paradigmatic dimension that
affects all aspects of Christian life.
3. The work of evangelization
often finds obstacles, not only
externally, but also from within
the ecclesial community.
Sometimes there is lack of
fervour, joy, courage and hope in
proclaiming the Message of Christ
to all and in helping the people of
our time to an encounter with
him. Sometimes, it is still thought
that proclaiming the truth of the
Gospel means an assault on
193
freedom. Paul VI speaks
eloquently on this: "It would be...
an error to impose something on
the consciences of our brethren.
But to propose to their
consciences the truth of the
Gospel and salvation in Jesus
Christ, with complete clarity and
with total respect for free options
which it presents... is a tribute to
this freedom" (Evan"elii
Nuntiandi' 80). We must always
have the courage and the joy of
proposing, with respect, an
encounter with Christ, and being
heralds of his Gospel. Jesus came
among us to show us the way of
salvation and he entrusted to us
the mission to make it known to
all to the ends of the earth. All too
often, we see that it is violence,
lies and mistakes that are
emphasized and proposed. It is
urgent in our time to announce
and witness to the goodness of
the Gospel, and this from within
the Church itself. It is important
never to forget a fundamental
principle for every evangelizer:
one cannot announce Christ
without the Church.
Evangelization is not an isolated
individual or private act; it is
always ecclesial. Paul VI wrote,
"When an unknown preacher,
catechist or Pastor, preaches the
Gospel, gathers the little
community together, administers
a Sacrament, even alone, he is
carrying out an ecclesial act." He
acts not "in virtue of a mission
which he attributes to himself or
by a personal inspiration, but in
union with the mission of the
Church and in her name" (ibid.
60). And this gives strength to the
mission and makes every
missionary and evangelizer feel
never alone, but part of a single
Body animated by the Holy Spirit.
4. In our era, the widespread
mobility and facility of
communication through new
media have mingled people,
knowledge, experience. For work
reasons, entire families move
from one continent to another;
professional and cultural
exchanges, tourism, and other
phenomena have also led to great
movements of peoples. This
makes it difficult, even for the
parish community, to know who
lives permanently or temporarily
in the area. More and more, in
large areas of what were
traditionally Christian regions, the
number of those who are
unacquainted with the faith, or
indifferent to the religious
dimension or animated by other
beliefs, is increasing. Therefore it
is not infrequent that some of the
baptized make lifestyle choices
that lead them away from faith,
thus making them need a "new
evangelization". To all this is
added the fact that a large part of
humanity has not yet been
reached by the good news of
Jesus Christ. We also live in a time
of crisis that touches various
sectors of existence, not only the
economy, finance, food security,
or the environment, but also those
involving the deeper meaning of
life and the fundamental values
that animate it. Even human
coexistence is marked by tensions
and conflicts that cause insecurity
and difficulty in finding the right
path to a stable peace. In this
complex situation, where the
horizon of the present and future
seems threatened by menacing
clouds, it is necessary to proclaim
courageously and in very
situation, the Gospel of Christ, a
message of hope, reconciliation,
communion, a proclamation of
God's closeness, his mercy, his
salvation, and a proclamation that
the power of Gods love is able to
overcome the darkness of evil and
guide us on the path of goodness.
The men and women of our time
need the secure light that
194
illuminates their path and that
only the encounter with Christ can
give. Let us bring to the world,
through our witness, with love,
the hope given by faith! The
Churchs missionary spirit is not
about proselytizing, but the
testimony of a life that illuminates
the path, which brings hope and
love. The Church - I repeat once
again - is not a relief
organization, an enterprise or an
NGO, but a community of people,
animated by the Holy Spirit, who
have lived and are living the
wonder of the encounter with
Jesus Christ and want to share
this experience of deep joy, the
message of salvation that the Lord
gave us. It is the Holy Spirit who
guides the Church in this path.
5. I would like to encourage
everyone to be a bearer of the
good news of Christ and I am
grateful especially to missionaries,
to the .idei Donum priests, men
and women religious and lay
faithful - more and more
numerous - who by accepting the
Lord's call, leave their homeland
to serve the Gospel in different
lands and cultures. But I would
also like to emphasize that these
same young Churches are
engaging generously in sending
missionaries to the Churches that
are in difficulty - not infrequently
Churches of ancient Christian
tradition - and thus bring the
freshness and enthusiasm with
which they live the faith, a faith
that renews life and gives hope.
To live in this universal dimension,
responding to the mandate of
Jesus: "Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations" (Mt 28,
19) is something enriching for
each particular Church, each
community, because sending
missionaries is never a loss, but a
gain. I appeal to all those who feel
this calling to respond generously
to the Holy Spirit, according to
your state in life, and not to be
afraid to be generous with the
Lord. I also invite Bishops,
religious families, communities
and all Christian groups to
support, with foresight and careful
discernment, the missionary
call ad "entes and to assist
Churches that need priests,
religious and laity, thus
strengthening the Christian
community. And this concern
should also be present among
Churches that are part of the
same Episcopal Conference or
Region, because it is important
that Churches rich in vocations
help more generously those that
lack them.
At the same time I urge
missionaries, especially the .idei
Donum priests and laity, to live
with joy their precious service in
the Churches to which they are
sent and to bring their joy and
experience to the Churches from
which they come, remembering
how Paul and Barnabas at the end
of their first missionary journey
"reported what God had done with
them and how he had opened the
door of faith to the Gentiles"
(Acts 14:27). They can become a
path to a kind of "return" of faith,
bringing the freshness of the
young Churches to Churches of
ancient Christian tradition, and
thus helping them to rediscover
the enthusiasm and the joy of
sharing the faith in an exchange
that is mutual enrichment in the
journey of following the path of
the Lord.
The concern for all the
Churches that the Bishop of Rome
shares with his brother Bishops
finds an important expression in
the activity of the Pontifical
Mission Societies, which are
meant to animate and deepen the
missionary conscience of every
baptized Christian, and of every
community, by reminding them of
the need for a more profound
195
missionary formation of the whole
People of God and by encouraging
the Christian community to
contribute to the spread of the
Gospel in the world.
Finally I wish to say a word
about those Christians who, in
various parts of the world,
experience difficulty in openly
professing their faith and in
enjoying the legal right to practice
it in a worthy manner. They are
our brothers and sisters,
courageous witnesses - even more
numerous than the martyrs of the
early centuries - who endure with
apostolic perseverance many
contemporary forms of
persecution. Quite a few also risk
their lives to remain faithful to the
Gospel of Christ. I wish to reaffirm
my closeness in prayer to
individuals, families and
communities who suffer violence
and intolerance, and I repeat to
them the consoling words of
Jesus: "Take courage, I have
overcome the world" (Jn16:33).
Benedict XVI expressed the hope
that: "The word of the Lord may
spread rapidly and be glorified
everywhere" () 1hes 3:1): May
this Year of Faith increasingly
strengthen our relationship with
Christ the Lord, since only in him
is there the certitude for looking
to the future and the guarantee of
an authentic and lasting love"
(/orta fidei, 15). This is my wish
for World Mission Day this year. I
cordially bless missionaries and all
those who accompany and support
this fundamental commitment of
the Church to proclaim the Gospel
to all the ends of the earth. Thus
will we, as ministers and
missionaries of the Gospel,
experience "the delightful and
comforting joy of evangelizing"
(PAUL VI, Evan"elii Nuntiandi,
80).
From the Vatican, 19 May 2013,
Solemnity of Pentecost
FRANCIS
Pope Francis+ Message
or the Feast o
!aint CaBetan
VATICAN CITY, August 07, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the video-message
sent to the faithful of Argentina on
the feast of St. Cajetan (San
Cayetano de Thiene), the patron
saint of Bread and of Work. Also
included is an explanation
released by the Holy See Press
Office on the celebrations that
take place in Argentina to
commemorate the saint.
* * *
The Feast of Saint Cajetan
The Shrine of Saint Cajetan (San
Gaetano da Thiene), patron of
"Bread and of Work of Argentina,
is in the Buenos Aires district of
Liniers, on the outskirts of the
city. Every year on August 7,
liturgical memorial of the Saints
death, thousands of faithful queue
to pass in front of the statuette of
Saint Cajetan, kiss the glass of
the small niche that contains it
and make the sign of the cross.
The queue winds through 15
streets of the city and lasts the
whole day. Waiting can be as long
as 10 hours. Every hour Holy Mass
is celebrated at the Shrine. The
main celebration is at 11:00 am.
As Archbishop of Buenos Aires,
the then Cardinal Bergoglio
presided over the celebration on
the feast of Saint Cajetan and, at
the end of the Mass, went in the
196
inverse direction of the queue of
the faithful to speak with them, to
hear their stories and to bless the
children.
This year the 11 oclock Mass will
be presided over by Archbishop
Aurelio Poli of Buenos Aires and
Primate of Argentina. At the end
of the celebration, Archbishop Poli
will also greet the pilgrims. The
theme of the celebration this year
is "With Jesus and Saint Cajetan
We Go to Meet Those Most in
Need. The celebrations foresee a
novena of prayer, from August 1-
9, with specific prayer intentions
every day: the family, rulers, the
suffering, the deceased, the
unemployed, solidarity.
The Popes video-message is
broadcasted cyclically on Buenos
Aires Catholic television station
(Channel 21) and on large screens
at the entrance of the Shrine
beginning at midnight local time
(5:00 am in Italy) so that the
faithful who approach in the
queue can see and hear him.
--- --- ---
THE HOLY FATHERS VIDEO-
MESSAGE
Good afternoon.
As every year, after having gone
through the queue, I speak with
you. This time I went through the
queue with my heart. Im a bit far
away and I cant share with you
this very lovely moment -- this
moment in which you are walking
towards the image of Saint
Cajetan. Why? To meet with him,
to meet with Jesus. However
today, the motto of this
pilgrimage, a motto chosen by
you, selected among many
possibilities, the motto speaks
today of another meeting, and it
says: "With Jesus and Saint
Cajetan, We Go to Meet Those in
Most Need It speaks of the
meeting with people in greater
need, those who need us to give
them a hand, to look at them with
affection, to share their pain and
anxieties, their problems.
However, whats important is not
to look at them from afar, or to
help them from afar. No, No! Its
to go and meet with them. That is
what a Christian is! That is what
Jesus teaches us: to go and meet
with those in most need as Jesus
did, who always went out to meet
people. He went to meet them.
We must go out and meet the
neediest.
Sometimes I ask a person: "Do
you give alms?
They say: "Yes, Father.
"And when you give alms, do you
look at the eyes of the people to
whom you give alms?
"Oh, I dont know, I wasnt
thinking.
"Then you didnt meet him. You
tossed the alms and left.
"When you give alms, do you
touch the hand of the needy
person, or do you toss a coin to
him.
"No, I toss the coin.
"And you didnt touch him? If you
didnt touch him, you didnt meet
with him.
What Jesus teaches us first is to
meet with one another and in our
meeting, to help. We need to
know how to come together. We
need to build, to create, to
construct a culture of coming
together. So many disagreements,
troubles in the family, always! --
problems in the neighborhood,
197
problems at work, problems
everywhere. And disagreements
dont help. What we need is the
culture of coming together, of
going out to meet one another.
And the motto says, to meet with
the neediest, namely, with those
who are in greater need than I
am. To meet with those who are
going through a bad time, worse
than the one Im going through.
There is always someone who is
having a worse time. Alas! There
is always, always someone! Then I
think, Im going through a bad
time. I come to the queue to meet
with Saint Cajetan and with Jesus,
and then I go out to meet with
others, because there is always
someone who is worse off. It is
with these that we must come
together.
Thank you for listening to me.
Thank you for coming here today.
Thank you for all that you bear in
your heart. Jesus loves you very
much. Saint Cajetan loves you
very much. He only asks one thing
of you: that you come together!
That you go out and seek and find
one in greater need! But not alone
- with Jesus, with Saint Cajetan!
Am I going to go out to convince
someone to become a Catholic?
No, no, no! You are going to meet
with him, he is your brother!
Thats enough! And you are going
to help him, the rest Jesus does,
the Holy Spirit does it. Remember
well: with Saint Cajetan, we the
needy go to meet with those who
are in greater need. And,
hopefully, Jesus will direct your
way so that you will meet with
one in greater need.
When you meet with the one in
greater need, your heart will begin
to enlarge, to enlarge, to enlarge!
Because our coming together
multiplies our capacity to love -
our meeting with another enlarges
our heart. Do it! "But I dont know
how to do it. No, no, no! With
Jesus and Saint Cajetan <you
can>!
May God bless you and may you
end well Saint Cajetans day. And
please, dont forget to pray for
me. Thank you.
Pope Francis 0isits
2om( o Paul 0I
Commemorates 3#th
Anni$ersar" o
Predecessor+s &eath
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 07, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On Tuesday
afternoon, Pope Francis visited the
Vatican Grottoes, located below
the St. Peters Basilica, and
prayed in front of the tomb of his
predecessor Pope Paul VI. The
visit was to commemorate the
35th anniversary of his death.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini
was elected Pope on June 21,
1963. In taking the name Paul
after his election, the late Holy
Father wished to emphasize the
need to evangelize and spread the
Gospel all over the world. Paul VI
also continued the Second Vatican
Council which began under his
predecessor, Blessed John XXIII.
Paul VI died on August 6, 1978 on
the Feast of the Transfiguration.
His beatification process began 15
years after his death and on
December 20, 2012, Pope
Benedict XVI declared him
Venerable.
According to a report by Vatican
Radio, Pope Francis met with a
group of young people from
Brescia, who came to Rome on a
198
vocational pilgrimage to
commemorate the death of Paul
VI, who was born in the same
province. The Holy Father met
with the group in the plaza in
front of the Domus Sanctae
Marthae in Vatican City.
Fr. Alessandro Tucinardi, the
director of the Vocations Office for
the Diocese of Brescia, told
Vatican Radio that the Holy Father
encouraged the youth, exhorting
them to not live their lives as if it
were a game but to live life in "a
full and serious way.
"He invited the youth to be
responsible, Fr. Tucinardi said in
the interview. "He blessed each
person and finding an exact word
for each one. He asked who we
were, knowing that the group
consisted of people who were
choosing a different vocation. The
Vocations director went on to say
that the youth were touched by
the Holy Father s words and re-
awakened a desire in each of
them to be heralds of the Gospel.
Pope !ends 0ideo
Message to
Argentinian
Faithul
Commemorates Feast o !aint
CaBetan o 2hiene
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 07, 2013
(Zenit.org) - In a video message
sent to the faithful of Argentina,
Pope Francis sent his greetings as
thousands gather to
commemorate the feast of Saint
Cajetan of Thiene, who is
venerated in the Popes homeland
as the patron saint of "Bread and
of Work.
According to a communique
released by the Holy See,
Argentinian Catholics line up in
front of a statue of Saint Cajetan,
where they kiss the glass encasing
of the statue and make the sign of
the cross. "The queue winds
through 15 streets of the city and
lasts the whole day, the
communique stated. "Waiting can
be as long as 10 hours.
During his time as Archbishop of
Buenos Aires, the then Cardinal
Bergoglio presided over the Mass
and after, would walk in the
inverse direction of the line to
speak to the faithful and bless
their children. The Holy Fathers
video message will be broadcasted
cyclically on Channel 21, Buenos
Aires Catholic TV station as well
as on large screens at the
entrance to the Shrine for all to
see.
Pope Francis began his message
reminiscing past celebrations that
he attended, saying that although
he could not greet them on the
queue, he would do so "with my
heart. Commenting on the theme
of this years celebration, "With
Jesus and Saint Cajetan, We Go to
Meet Those in Most Need, the
Holy Father emphasized the need
to share in the sufferings of the
poor.
"It speaks of the meeting with
people in greater need, those who
need us to give them a hand, to
look at them with affection, to
share their pain and anxieties,
their problems, the Pope said.
"However, whats important is not
to look at them from afar, or to
help them from afar. No, No! Its
to go and meet with them. That is
what a Christian is! That is what
Jesus teaches us: to go and meet
with those in most need as Jesus
did, who always went out to meet
people. He went to meet them.
199
We must go out and meet the
neediest.
Build, Create, and Construct a
Culture of Coming Together
The 76 year old Pontiff called on
the faithful to follow Jesus
teaching to help one another as
well as to learn how to come
together. "We need to build, to
create, to construct a culture of
coming together. So many
disagreements, troubles in the
family, always! he exclaimed.
"Problems in the neighborhood,
problems at work, problems
everywhere. And disagreements
dont help. What we need is the
culture of coming together, of
going out to meet one another.
And the [theme] says, to meet
with the neediest, namely, with
those who are in greater need
than I am. To meet with those
who are going through a bad time,
worse than the one Im going
through. There is always someone
who is having a worse time. Alas!
There is always, always
someone!
Concluding his greeting, Pope
Francis renewed his call for unity
while inviting the faithful go out
and look for those in most need,
not to convince them to become
Catholic but more importantly to
meet them as a brother.
"And you are going to help him,
the rest Jesus does, the Holy
Spirit does it. Remember well:
with Saint Cajetan, we the needy
go to meet with those who are in
greater need. And, hopefully,
Jesus will direct your way so that
you will meet with one in greater
need.
Francis .ncourages
Fnights in 2heir
Pu(lic 1itness
!a"s Patrimon" o Moral
2ruths Must Be
Protected
By Kathleen Naab
VATICAN CITY, August 08, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The Pope's secretary
of state sent a letter on Francis'
behalf to the Knights of Columbus,
expressing his appreciation for the
Knights' public witness in
protecting believers' rights to
participate in the public square.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent the
note on the occasion of the
Knights' 131st Supreme
Convention, which is concluding
today in San Antonio, Texas.
The convention's theme, "Be
Protectors of God's Gifts," is
drawn from the Pope's homily at
the inauguration of his papal
ministry.
The letter draws from the theme,
saying that the Pope invites each
Knight and each of their councils
to "bear witness to the authentic
nature of marriage and the family,
the sanctity and inviolable dignity
of human life, and the beauty and
truth of human sexuality."
"In this time of rapid social and
cultural changes, the protection of
Gods gifts cannot fail to include
the affirmation and defense of the
great patrimony of moral truths
taught by the Gospel and
confirmed by right reason, which
serve as the bedrock of a just and
well-ordered society," Cardinal
Bertone stated.
200
The letter affirms that "His
Holiness once more expresses his
appreciation of the clear public
witness offered by the Knights of
Columbus in protecting the right
and duty of believers to
participate responsibly, on the
basis of their deepest convictions,
in the life of society."
"In his Encyclical Lumen Fidei, he
pointed out that faith, precisely
because it embraces Gods truth,
sheds light on the authentic
meaning and purpose of life,
strengthens the bonds uniting
individuals and communities, and
thus serves as a trustworthy
foundation for building a just and
humane society (cf. 50-51),"
Cardinal Bertone added. "As the
present Year of Faith draws to its
close, the Holy Father asks each
Knight to rekindle through
personal prayer, ongoing
catechesis and works of charity,
the light of faith - Lumen Fidei -
which expands our horizons,
opens our hearts to love and
guides our steps as individuals,
families and nations along the
path of hope to which God
constantly guides us and all of
human history."
Pope ./presses !upport
or 5More or
:ess5 Campaign
In$ites Argentinian Faithul to
!upport 2hose in
=eed
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, August 08, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis sent an
affectionate greeting today to
Argentinian Catholics who will
take part in the "More for Less
National Collection. The campaign,
which is promoted by the local
bishops, will reflect on the theme
"We Trust In Your Help.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Vatican Secretary of State, sent
the message on behalf of the Holy
Father who encouraged the
faithful to "assume the Christian
commitment of solidarity inspired
by the faith in God who has given
us everything.
Cardinal Bertone also stated that
the Pope invited all Argentinians
to "identify themselves more with
Christ, cultivating His friendship
with prayer and the celebration of
the Sacraments, and to find the
strength to give - without ceasing
- a precious service of support to
those in need, in particular, the
poorest.
According to Vatican Radio, last
years collection yielded $2.9
million for the campaign which
financed several initiatives
throughout the poorest dioceses
of Argentina.
Francis Issues Motu
Proprio on More
Financial 4eorm
Ponti 4eairms 6ol" !ee+s
Commitment to
Pre$ention o Mone"
:aundering'
2errorism Financing
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 08, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The Holy See
announced today that Pope
Francis has issued a Motu Proprio
regarding the prevention and
countering of money laundering,
the financing of terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.
201
A Motu Proprio, which in Latin
means "on ones own initiative, is
a document released solely by the
Holy Father.The document
reaffirms the Vaticans
commitment in preventing such
illegal activities, which began with
Pope Benedicts Motu Proprio
issued in December 2010.
The Motu Proprio released this
afternoon adds several measures
which includes broadening the
scope of the Vatican laws to
include all dicasteries of the
Roman Curia as well as other
entities that are dependent on the
Holy See.
The Vaticans Financial
Information Authority was also
given broader "supervisory and
regulatory function. The actions
follow the recommendation of the
MONEYVAL Committee, a council
responsible for evaluating
European member States with
respect to anti-money laundering
systems.
A communique released by the
Holy See stated that the Motu
Proprio also confirmed the
establishment of a Financial
Security Committee. The
committee would coordinate "the
competent authorities of the Holy
See and the Vatican City State in
the area of prevention and
countering of money laundering,
the financing of terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.
2ools or %etting to
Fno, Francis
A :oo3 at Boo3s on the =e,
Pope
By Edward /entin
ROME, August 08, 2013
(Zenit.org) - So much was
unknown about Pope Francis after
his election in March that
publishing houses have been
pulling out the stops to try and
help readers get to know him
better.
And to a large extent, they appear
to have succeeded.
Of the dozen or so books in
English about the Holy Father
listed on Amazon.com, almost all
achieve at least a 4 out of 5 star
rating. They range from
background facts on the new
Pontiff and his election, to in-
depth research into the life of
Jorge Mario Bergoglio and
conversations with him before he
became Pope. Some have clearly
been rushed out and suffered as a
result; others have been more
considered and better researched.
Taking the albeit rather
unscientific measure of Amazon
ratings, arguably the most popular
books are those in which the Pope
himself speaks, either as
archbishop of Buenos Aires or as
the new Vicar of Christ. Of these,
one leading contender appears to
be a work that was actually
published in Spanish in 2010.
In the book titled "Pope Francis:
Conversations with Jorge
Bergoglio: His Life in His Own
Words," Sergio Rubin, an award-
winning Argentinian author, and
Francesca Ambrogetti, an Italian
journalist, have assembled a
series of extensive interviews with
the future Pontiff conducted over
a two-year period.
Unlike his more studious
predecessor, Jorge Bergoglio has
never written a memoir, but this
comes the closest to being one.
Within its 304 pages, the former
202
cardinal discusses his childhood,
family life, the importance of his
first job and discovering his
vocation to the priesthood.
Published by Putnam books, it first
appeared at the end of April.
Readers have described it as
"inspiring and "invaluable and
that it shows the Pope to be
someone who "understands
people and is filled with the love
of God and others.
Another similar book, titled "On
Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis
on Faith, Family, and the Church
in the Twenty-First Century," also
appeared in Spanish in 2010. The
256 pages contain conversations
between Cardinal Bergoglio and
Rabbi Abraham Skorka, and has
received a 4.6 out of 5 rating on
Amazon based on 69 reviews.
Among the many revealing
passages, the book highlights the
new Popes particular closeness to
the Jews, and his fervent wish for
dialogue. Published in English in
April by Random House, I
reviewed the book here.
A more up to date publication
containing the Popes own words
comes from the respected Catholic
Truth Society in Britain. Called
"First Addresses of Pope Francis,"
the booklet is put together by the
veteran British Catholic author
Peter Jennings. It offers an early
indication of Pope Francis
priorities and his sense of the
Churchs mission, as well as
providing uplifting insights into the
Holy Fathers humanity and
spirituality. Jennings reflections in
the introduction also recall the joy
and surprise many of the faithful
felt when learning that the
cardinal electors had chosen the
first pope from Latin America and
the first Jesuit pontiff.
Moving on to more personal
analyses of Pope Francis, one
book that stands out is Robert
Moynihans "Pray for Me: The Life
and Spiritual Vision of Pope
Francis, First Pope from the
Americas. Published by Image
books in April, the 256 page work
has received a star rating of 4.9
out of 5 from 21 reviews.
Known for his vivid and incisive
newsletters as editor and founder
of Inside the Vatican magazine,
Moynihan has pieced together an
enlightening introduction to the
life and spiritual teachings of the
new Pope. One reviewer said the
book made him feel as if he knew
the Pope "on a first-name basis,"
and said it "lifted my heart and
contains "good storytelling prose.
Another personal analysis comes
from Matthew Bunson, an
American professor of Church
history, whose book "Pope
Francis takes the reader through
the entire conclave as well as
providing background to Pope
Francis life, his ideas, his mission,
and his challenges and
opportunities. The book includes
16 pages of full color photos from
Pope Francis' past and present.
One reviewer called it a "joy to
read while another described it as
a "good primer on our new
Pontiff. It has received a 4.3 star
Amazon rating out of 5 from 42
reviewers. Running to 224 pages,
it is published by Our Sunday
Visitor. ZENIT interviewed the
author here.
One of the first studies on the new
Pope was "Francis: Pope of a New
World by the doyen of
Vaticanistas, Italian author Andrea
Tornielli. He told ZENIT about his
book here. Like others, he tries to
decipher the mind of Francis,
looking at his background, ideas
and worldview. The book also
includes Torniellis own
observations of the Conclave,
203
providing context to the reader
from the worlds foremost Vatican
observer. Running to 200 pages
and published by Ignatius Press, it
has so far received a 4.5 star
rating from 66 reviewers. It
serves as another useful primer,
with one reviewer saying it is a
"great book for anyone trying to
understand how Pope Francis
"ticks. But as one of the first
books to appear on Pope Francis,
it suffers from appearing rushed
and, uncharacteristically for
Tornielli, has been criticised for
lacking sufficient original research.
A more favourably reviewed book,
possibly because it appeared a
month later, is "Pope Francis: The
Pope From the End of the Earth
by best-selling author Thomas J.
Craughwell. (See a review
published here in ZENIT). The
book is "beautifully illustrated
with over 60 full-colour
photographs and a foreword by
Cardinal Sean OMalley. It also
includes the Popes first homilies
and has supplemental sections on
the Catholic faith, practices and
traditions. One prominent
reviewer describes it as a book
that presents what we know so far
"while emphasizing interesting
facts and underappreciated
nuances. Published by Saint
Benedict Press, it runs to 176
pages and has received an
Amazon star rating of 4.8 from 15
reviewers.
A booklist on the new Pope
wouldnt be complete without an
entry by John Allen, the respected
veteran Vaticanista for the
National Catholic Reporter. In his
"10 Things Pope Francis Wants
You to Know Paperback," Allen
examines the qualities that have
defined Pope Francis from his days
as a cardinal and the early days of
his papacy. The American author
draws on the most recent, as well
as archived, interviews with Pope
Francis and those who know him.
He also describes Francis vision of
leadership and evangelism.
Published in April by Liguori and
running to just 48 pages, it has
received a 4.8 star rating out of 5
from 28 reviewers. The book has
been described as "concise and to
the point.
Another book from the United
States, "A Call to Serve: Pope
Francis and the Catholic Future is
the work of author Stefan von
Kempis and Philip F. Lawler, editor
of the Web site Catholic World
News. Reviewers have described it
as "an outstanding photo journal
featuring 150 full colour
photographs to explain the story
of Pope Francis, and a "really
inspiring and moving book.
Published in May by The Crossroad
Publishing Company, it runs to
160 pages and has a 4.8 star
rating from six reviewers.
The secular world has also had a
stab at deciphering Pope Francis
in these early days of his
pontificate. The Wall Street
Journal has published a 109-page
book called "Pope Francis: From
the End of the Earth to Rome,
which has received a 4.2 star
rating from 64 reviewers. The
book has been described as "very
insightful and provocative but
also criticised for being "slapdash
and poorly edited. The editors of
LIFE and Time magazine have also
produced their own books on the
surprise new pope.
Meanwhile, anyone wishing to
know the Holy Father even better
might wish to look out for two
forthcoming books. The first, by
the British journalist Paul Vallely,
is titled "Pope Francis: Untying the
Knots. Already published in the
UK, it will be available in the US
on Sept 24. Its publicity material
204
says the book "lays bare a Pope of
paradox - a man who is a radical
but not a liberal, an enabler with
an authoritarian streak, a self-
confident man in constant need of
forgiveness, who combines
religious humility and political
guile. The publicity goes on to
say that Vallely uncovers the
hidden past of Jorge Mario
Bergoglio and "illuminates the
kind of pope Francis will become.
Although some have criticised the
standard of the editing - possibly
another casualty of the rush to
publish - others have described it
as "unputdownable, surprisingly
well researched given the short
time since the Popes election, and
of high journalistic quality.
Finally, Ignatius press will soon
publish "In Him Alone Is Our
Hope: The Church According to
the Heart of Pope Francis -
further comments from then-
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
taken from a retreat he led for the
bishops of Spain. Ignatius
promises "a rich, captivating text
with a strong, uncompromising
message.
2he =arro, 0ie,
Being A,are o 1ho <ou Are'
1here <ou Are and
1h" <ou Are
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 08,
2013 (Zenit.org) - By Kathryn
Cunningham
When you take stock of your
"world what do you see? You
know, all the places where you
have presence: your home, place
of work, church, neighborhood
and anywhere else that you
frequent. Is your sphere narrow
or broad? If you think you are
operating in a very limited scope
you might be surprised! Youre
Catholic, right? As a person of
faith you need to be completely
aware of who you are, where you
are and why you are. Its easy to
get distracted by what we have
decided are the necessities that
we must tend to as part of our
identity; Mom, Dad, teacher, teen,
boss, student, daughter, son,
banker, CEO, or any other
responsibility that you might
identify with.
As a person who professes the
Faith you are among the elite of
the world, not just here and
today, but in all of time and
eternity. You should have keen
knowledge of this if you want to
have a faith life that upholds you
rather than one that just gives
you a "title when people ask if
you have a religion. Unlike any
other religion on earth Catholicism
gives you the actuality of a living
and active God and your personal
connection with Him. Paramount
to that is eternal life. This is not a
concept that "happens at some
time in the future but rather a
reality that is occurring at this
very moment. The Mass, of
course, is the very breath of this
concept. This is the time when we
are face to face with the living
God. There is more to Mass,
though, than just the moment of
consecration and our reception of
God himself. +1he Mass is a
mi"hty brid"e which brin"s the
entire Church > livin" on earth
now and those "one on to eternal
life?to"ether in an unbrea!able
unity @ 8A:e are not alone' we
wal! in a "odly com&any of saints
and martyrs@#Bur hori7ons
become wider than all the
universe' for they s&an time and
eternity#, (Servant of God
Catherine DeHueck Doherty).
205
The idea that the only thing we
affect or are affected by is our
current time and surroundings is a
great deception. That is a view
that is inaccurate because it is too
narrow. As Catholics we are a
living part of time and eternity.
With God there are no barriers of
time and space, no death. He and
we are ever present. We reach
back into history and family for
assistance, wisdom and support.
We reach into the future to be the
channel for hope, blessing,
miracles, things we never
believed were possible, not only or
ourselves, but for others. That is
a life we are living in the present.
It is not something we put off and
anticipate by being "good
enough. Be aware of your
position and responsibilities.
Do you sometimes have the
feeling that your spiritual life is in
a rut and nothing has moved
forward for a long time? If that is
the case, expand the view of who
you are in the spiritual realms.
Abandon the narrow view and
take on the mantle of someone
who is functioning in time and
eternity because thats the truth
about who you really are! Thats
by Gods plan, not yours!
Papal :etter to
Fnights o
Colum(us
:auds pu(lic ,itness in
5protecting the right
and dut" o (elie$ers
to participate
responsi(l"' on the
(asis o their deepest
con$ictions' in the
lie o societ"5
VATICAN CITY, August 08, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a letter
written on Francis' behalf by his
secretary of state, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, to the Knights of
Columbus.
The Knights are concluding their
Supreme Convention today in
Texas.
* * *
From the Vatican, 19 July 2013
Dear Mr. Anderson,
His Holiness Pope Francis was
pleased to learn that from 6 to 8
August 2013 the 131st Supreme
Convention of the Knights of
Columbus will be held in San
Antonio, Texas. He has asked me
to convey his warm greetings to
all in attendance, together with
the assurance of his closeness in
prayer. He has also asked me to
express his esteem for the ideals
of faith and fraternity embodied
by your Order, its commitment to
the Churchs mission, and the
many works of charity and
evangelical witness undertaken by
the Knights in their local Councils,
parishes and communities. In
these first months of his
pontificate, he has been comforted
by the messages of prayerful
encouragement and spiritual
solidarity which he has received
from so many Knights and their
families.
His Holiness was pleased to learn
that this years Supreme
Convention has drawn its theme
- "Be /rotectors of %odCs %ifts" -
from his homily at the Mass
inaugurating his papal ministry,
which by a happy coincidence fell
on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
As protector of the Holy Family,
the humble carpenter of Nazareth
is a model of the manly virtues of
206
quiet strength, integrity and
fidelity which the Knights of
Columbus have sought to
preserve, cultivate and pass on to
new generations of Catholic men.
It was in fact as a protective
association that your Order was
founded in the late nineteenth
century, in response to the need
to promote the material and
spiritual welfare of working men
and their families, the dignity of
labor and the demands of social
justice, and the advancement of
the Churchs mission. In fidelity to
this founding vision, the Knights
continue to play an outstanding
role in helping Catholic men to
respond to their vocation to be
"protectors of creation, protectors
of Gods plan inscribed in nature,
protectors of one another and of
the environment (3omily, 19
March 2013).
Among the first acts of his
pontificate, the Holy Father
wished to add the name of Saint
Joseph to each of the Eucharistic
Prayers of the Mass. It is his hope
that the Knights, in venerating the
memory of this great Saint, will
beg his intercession for the
protection of the many blessings
which the Lord has poured out
upon them and their families, and
work with ever greater
commitment for the spread of the
Gospel, the conversion of hearts
and the renewal of the temporal
order in Christ (cf. A&ostolicam
Actuositatem, 7). Conscious of the
specific responsibility which the
lay faithful have for the Churchs
mission, he invites each Knight,
and every Council, to bear witness
to the authentic nature of
marriage and the family, the
sanctity and inviolable dignity of
human life, and the beauty and
truth of human sexuality. In this
time of rapid social and cultural
changes, the protection of Gods
gifts cannot fail to include the
affirmation and defense of the
great patrimony of moral truths
taught by the Gospel and
confirmed by right reason, which
serve as the bedrock of a just and
well-ordered society.
For this reason His Holiness once
more expresses his appreciation of
the clear public witness offered by
the Knights of Columbus in
protecting the right and duty of
believers to participate
responsibly, on the basis of their
deepest convictions, in the life of
society. In his Encyclical umen
.idei, he pointed out that faith,
precisely because it embraces
Gods truth, sheds light on the
authentic meaning and purpose of
life, strengthens the bonds uniting
individuals and communities, and
thus serves as a trustworthy
foundation for building a just and
humane society (cf. 50-51). As
the present Year of Faith draws to
its close, the Holy Father asks
each Knight to rekindle through
personal prayer, ongoing
catechesis and works of charity,
the light of faith - umen .idei -
which expands our horizons,
opens our hearts to love and
guides our steps as individuals,
families and nations along the
path of hope to which God
constantly guides us and all of
human history.
With these sentiments, His
Holiness commends the
deliberations of the 131st
Supreme Convention to the loving
prayers of Mary, Mother of the
Church. Assuring the members of
the Supreme Council, and all the
Knights and their families, of a
grateful remembrance in his
prayers, he cordially imparts his
Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of
joy and peace in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
207
Please accept my own prayerful
good wishes for the occasion.
Yours sincerely,
Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
Secretary of State
Pope Francis Ma3es
!urprise 0isit to
0atican Industrial
Area
Po,er Plant 1or3ers ./press
Jo" at Pontis
%reeting
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 09, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Workers at the
Vaticans Industrial area received
a surprise this morning as Pope
Francis made an unannounced
visit. The Holy Father visited the
employees of the woodworking
station and the Vatican Power
Plant, as well the blacksmiths and
plumbers of Vatican City.
According to a report by Vatican
Radio, workers were joyful at the
opportunity to meet and greet the
pope up close. Alessandro Gisotti,
an employee at the Vaticans
Power Plant recalled his shock at
the arrival of the Holy Fathers
vehicle. "When we saw we said,
"How is this possible? It looks like
the Pope. Indeed, it was the
Pope. He made a well-desired and
well-received visit to the [plant],
Gisotti recalled. "In almost 10
years of work, this has never
happened.
The Vatican power plant employee
went on to say that although most
of the employees have seen the
Pope during morning Mass at
Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Holy
Fathers surprise visit was an
emotional encounter.
;n Man+s 2rue 2reasure
VATICAN CITY, August 11, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Father's
address before and after the
recitation of the Angelus today
from the window of the Apostolic
Palace to the pilgrims gathered in
St. Peter's Square.
--- --- ---
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
This Sundays Gospel (Luke 12:32-
48) speaks to us of the desire for
the definitive meeting with Christ,
a desire that makes us always
ready, with our spirit awake,
because we await this encounter
with our whole heart, with our
entire self.
This is a fundamental aspect of
life. There is a desire that we all
have in our heart, whether explicit
or hidden, we have it in our heart,
we all have this desire in our
heart. It is important to see this
teaching of Jesus too in the
concrete, existential context in
which he transmitted it. In this
case, the evangelist Luke shows
us Jesus, who is walking with his
disciples towards Jerusalem,
towards the Passover (Pasqua) of
death and resurrection, and on
this journey he teaches them,
confiding to them what he has in
his heart, the intimate attitudes of
his soul. Among these attitudes is
the detachment from earthly
208
goods, the confidence in the
Fathers providence and, precisely,
interior vigilance, the active
expectation of the Kingdom of
God. For Jesus it is the
expectation of returning to the
house of the Father. For us it is
the expectation of Christ himself,
who will come to get us to bring
us to the feast without end, as he
has already done with his Mother,
Mary Most Holy: he brought her to
heaven with him. This Gospel
wishes to tell us that the Christian
is one who carries within himself a
great desire, a profound desire:
that of meeting with his Lord
together with his brothers, with
his companions on the road. And
all of this that Jesus tells us is
summed up in this well-known
saying of his: Where your treasure
is, there your heart is too (Luke
12:34). The heart that desires...
But we all have a desire! How
poor are those people who lack
desire! The desire to go forward
toward the horizon, and for us
Christians this horizon is the
encounter with Jesus, the real
encounter with him, who is our
life, our joy, what makes us
happy. But I will ask you 2
questions. The first: Do all of you
have a desiring heart, a hear that
desires? Think and answer in
silence and in your heart: Do you
have a heart that desires, or do
you have a closed heart, a heart
that is asleep, a heart that is
anesthetized against the things of
life? The desire: to go forward to
the enco unter with Jesus. And the
second question: Where is your
treasure, that which you desire?
Because Jesus told us: Where
your treasure is, there your heart
is too and I ask: Where is your
treasure? What is the most
important, most precious reality
for you, the reality that pulls at
my heart like a magnet? What
pulls at your heart? Can I say that
it is the love of God? Is there the
will to do good to others, to live
for the Lord and for our brothers?
Can I say this? Everyone answers
in his heart. But someone might
say to me: But, Father, Im
someone who works, who has a
family. For me the most important
thing is to move my family ahead,
to get ahead in work... Of course,
it is true, it is important. But what
is the power that unites the
family? It is precisely love, and
God is the one who sows love in
our hearts, the love of God: It is
precisely the love of God that
gives meaning to the little daily
duties and also helps us face the
great trials. This is mans true
treasure. Going forward in life
with love, with that love that the
Lord sowed in the heart, with the
love of G od. And this is the true
treasure. But what is the love of
God? It is not something vague, a
generic sentiment. The love of
God has a name and a face: Jesus
Christ, Jesus. The love of God
manifests itself in Jesus. Because
we cannot love air... Do we love
air? Do we love everything? No, it
is not possible! We love persons,
and the person whom we love is
Jesus, the gift of the Father
among us. It is a love that gives
value and beauty to everything
else; a love that gives strength to
the family, work, study,
friendship, art, to every human
activity. And it gives meaning
even to negative experiences
because this love allows us to go
beyond these experiences, to go
beyond, not to remain prisoners of
evil, but makes us go beyond, it
always opens us up to hope. So,
the love of God in Jesus always
opens us up to hope, to that
horizon of hope, to that ultimate
horizon of our pilgrimage. In this
way even our struggles and falls
have a meaning. Our sins too
have meaning in the love of God,
be cause this love of God in Jesus
209
Christ always forgives, it loves us
so much that it always forgives
us.
Dear brothers and sisters, today
in the Church we recall St. Clare
of Assisi, who, in the footsteps of
Francis left everything to
consecrate herself to Christ in
poverty. St. Clare gives us a very
beautiful witness to todays
Gospel. May she help us, together
with the Virgin Mary, to live it also
ourselves, each one according to
his own vocation.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father greeted
those present:]
Dear brothers and sisters,
Let us remember that Thursday is
the solemnity of Marys
assumption. Let us think about
Our Mother, who arrived in
heaven with Jesus, and let us
celebrate with her on that day. I
would like to offer a greeting to
Muslims throughout the world, our
brothers, who a short time ago
celebrated the conclusion of the
month of Ramadan, dedicated in a
special way to fasting, to prayer
and to almsgiving. As I wrote in
my message for this occasion, I
hope that Christians and Muslims
work to promote reciprocal
understanding, especially in the
education of new generations. I
greet with affection the Romans
and pilgrims who are present.
Today too I have the joy of
greeting groups of young people:
first of all those who have come
from Chicago, on pilgrimage from
Lourdes to Roma; and then the
young people of Locate, of
Predore and Tavernola
Bergamasca, and the Scouts of
Vittoria. I repeat to you too the
words that were the theme of the
great meeting in Rio: Go and
make disciples of all nations.
To all of you, and to everyone, I
wish a good Sunday and a good
lunch! Goodbye!
56ello Michele' It+s
Pope Francis5
Pope Ma3es !urprise Phone
Call 2o %rie !tric3en
Man
By Salvatore Cernu7io
ROME, August 12, 2013
(Zenit.org) - On the hot midday of
Wednesday, August 7, the mobile
phone of Michele Ferri, 40, brother
of Andrea, an owner of several
gas stations, who was killed two
months ago by an employee and
his accomplice , began to vibrate.
The display read that the caller
was "Unknown. Curious, Michele
answered Pronto? "Hello
Michele, its Pope Francis, he
heard in reply.
His heart began to beat rapidly.
First the surprise, then the panic
of "and now what should I say?
and then doubt, "perhaps its a
joke. However, a small light lit in
Micheles head: a short time ago,
torn by grief over the loss of his
brother, he had written a very
private letter to the Pontiff. And,
totally unexpectedly, the Pope
answered him courteously.
Pope Francis "spoke to me
immediately about the letter I had
210
written him and no one knew that
I addressed it to him, recalled
Michele, speaking to "Il
Messaggero. On his Facebook
profile he then posted: "Today an
unexpected phone call arrived .
on my phone. Pronto? A voice
answered saying `Hello Michele,
its Pope Francis. A unique
emotion.
The Holy Father "told me that he
wept when he read the letter Id
written, said Ferri -- confined for
years to a wheelchair -- to his
social network friends, without
revealing, however, other details
of the contents of this special
phone call. Michele then told
journalists that he asked the Pope
for "the kindness to call my
mother, "because I wrote that
letter also for her, to give her
hope. And so he did, "after I gave
him the number of our home.
Naturally, Michele let his mother
know ahead of time, to avoid the
risk of her putting down the
receiver thinking it was a joke.
"He also told my mother that he
was moved in reading my letter,
added Michele. "The Pope was
most kind, and this is also a gift of
his, together with a great
humanity. Without taking
anything away from those who
preceded him, Michelle
stressed ."This Pope is special, he
has something more than his
predecessors.
"I would have liked to ask him so
many other things, but my mind
was completely blank, I couldnt
even articulate a thought. "I felt
something different, and he
demonstrated this to me. He,
certainly, doesnt need this
publicity: people already know
who he is and what he does, he
added.
To the question about how his
family feels after the Supreme
Pontiffs phone call, Ferri
answered: "The Pope is able to
transmit great serenity and he has
given us hope, and this phone
call was "a sign that has alleviated
our grief somewhat. However,
the demise of his brother is a
wound that is slow in healing.
"For all of us, Andreas death is
an event that will stay with us
forever, he said. "Im not ready
to forgive the killer, he stated, "I
would like to ask him first why he
did it.
Pope Francis Calls on
Faithul 2o !ee3
2he 52rue
2reasure5 o the
:o$e o %od
%reets Muslims at Conclusion
o the Month o
4amadan
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 12, 2013
(Zenit.org) - During his Sunday
Angelus address, Pope Francis
called on the faithful gathered in
St. Peters Square to search for
the true treasure of love in their
lives. THe Holy Father reflected on
the Sunday Gospel from St. Luke
where Jesus instructs the disciples
to seek "an inexhaustible treasure
in heaven that no thief can reach
nor moth destroy.
The Holy Father said that Christs
instructions to his disciples
focused on the detachment from
earthly goods, the confidence in
Gods providence and the "interior
vigilance for the coming of the
Kingdom of God.
211
"For Jesus it is the expectation of
returning to the house of the
Father. For us it is the expectation
of Christ himself, who will come to
get us to bring us to the feast
without end, as he has already
done with his Mother, Mary Most
Holy: he brought her to heaven
with him, the Pope said.
"This Gospel wishes to tell us that
the Christian is one who carries
within himself a great desire, a
profound desire: that of meeting
with his Lord together with his
brothers, with his companions on
the road. And all of this that Jesus
tells us is summed up in this well-
known saying of his: `Where your
treasure is, there your heart is
too.
The Pope went on to reflect on the
desires of ones heart, asking the
pilgrims present to ask
themselves on where their
treasure truly is and "what pulls at
your heart.
Can I say that it is the love of
God? Is there the will to do good
to others, to live for the Lord and
for our brothers? Can I say this?
the Holy Father asked. Everyone
answers in his heart. But someone
might say to me: `But, Father, Im
someone who works, who has a
family. For me the most important
thing is to move my family ahead,
to get ahead in work. Of course,
it is true, it is important. But what
is the power that unites the
family? It is precisely love, and
God is the one who sows love in
our hearts, the love of God: It is
precisely the love of God that
gives meaning to the little daily
duties and also helps us face the
great trials.
Concluding his address before
reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis
stated that Mans true treasure is
to move forward in life with the
love that is sown in mans heart:
the love of God which is reflected
in His Son, Jesus Christ.
"The love of God in Jesus always
opens us up to hope, to that
horizon of hope, to that ultimate
horizon of our pilgrimage. In this
way even our struggles and falls
have a meaning. Our sins too
have meaning in the love of God,
because this love of God in Jesus
Christ always forgives, it loves us
so much that it always forgives
us, the Pope said.
Greeting to Muslims
After the recitation of the Angelus,
Pope Francis greeted Muslims who
celebrated the conclusion of the
month of Ramadan recently. The
Holy Father reiterated the
message he personally wrote to all
Muslims last week.
"As I wrote in my message for this
occasion, I hope that Christians
and Muslims work to promote
reciprocal understanding,
especially in the education of new
generations, the Holy Father
said.
Pope Calls on Athletes
to Be %ood 4ole
Models
&iscourages 2urning !port
Into Merel" a Big
Business
VATICAN CITY, August 13, 2013
(Zenit.org) - This morning Pope
Francis met with members of the
Italian and Argentinian national
soccer teams. They are in Rome
212
for a friendly match that has been
organized for Wednesday night in
honor of Pope Francis.
Speaking in both Italian and
Spanish, the Holy Father
expressed his hope that the match
would truly be a friendly one. He
reminded the players that they
are role models and encouraged
them to take that responsibility
seriously.
He asked them to foster the
beauty, generosity, and
camaraderie that sport can
produce - and called for even
professional athletes to recover
the ideals of being an amateur, of
recovering the initial vocation of
the athlete.
Pope Francis also warned about
letting sport become simply a big
business. He called on managers
to "do your work in such a way
that the sporting character will not
be lost.
Turning to Spanish, the Pope
spoke about his memories of
going to soccer matches with his
family as a young boy in Buenos
Aires - and spoke fondly about his
memories of the Gasmetro
Stadium in Buenos Aires, and the
winning season of 1946. He called
on players to "live your sport as a
gift from God, an opportunity not
only to improve your talents, but
also a responsibility."
And he returned to the idea that
athletes are examples and role
models, encouraging them to set
an example of loyalty, respect,
and selflessness.
He said: "Dear players, I would
like to remind you especially, that
you are a point of reference in life
in the way you behave, both on
the field as well as outside it. Last
Sunday I talked on the telephone
with some boys of a group. They
wanted to greet me. I chatted
with them for about half an hour
and, of course, the great topic of
those boys was tomorrows
match. They mentioned several of
you and said: 'no, I like this one
for this reason, this one for that,
and this other one for this.' You
are an example, you are points of
reference. The good you do is
impressive. You do good with your
conduct, with your game, with
your values; people look at you --
take advantage of this to sow
goodness. Even if you dont
realize it, you are models, for
good or evil, for so many people
who look at you with admiration.
Be conscious of this and give an
example of loyalty, respect and
altruism. You are also architects of
understanding and social peace,
architects of understanding and
social peace that we so need. You
are a reference for so many
youths and model of values
embodied in life. Im confident of
all the good you can do among
youths."
Pope Francis ended his remarks
by praying that the athletes will
continue to be able to pursue the
"noble vocation of sport - and he
asked them to pray for him, too,
"that on the playing field that the
Lord has placed me, I can play the
game honestly and courageously,
for the good of all."
Pope+s :etter on 200th
Anni$ersar" o
Me/ico Cit"
Cathedral
5A strong spiritual stimulus to
assume Bo"ull" the
great tas3 that e$er"
(apti7ed person has
213
toda" to (e a disciple
and missionar" o
Jesus Christ5
VATICAN CITY, August 13, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of a letter Francis wrote to
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera,
archbishop of Mexico City, on the
occasion of the Jubilee for the
200th anniversary of the
conclusion of the construction of
the Metropolitan Cathedral of the
Mexican capital. The anniversary
will be observed Aug. 15,
solemnity of the Assumption of
the Virgin Mary and patroness of
the Cathedral.
* * *
To the Lord Cardinal
Norberto Rivera Carrera
Archbishop of Mexico
Dear Brother,
With your letter of the 4th of this
month you were kind enough to
point out to me that on the
forthcoming day of August 15,
solemnity of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary to the
glory of Heaven, the celebrations
will begin to commemorate the
200th anniversary of the
conclusion of the building of the
Cathedral of that Primate
Archdiocese of Mexico.
In this significant circumstance,
through your good offices, I wish
to have my cordial greeting reach
all those who rejoice over this
event and the assurance that I will
unite myself to all the pastors and
faithful of that particular Church in
thanksgiving to God for the gifts
received. This commemoration is
an occasion to look at the past, to
strengthen the present and to
glimpse the future.
We can draw lessons for our
Christian life from the history of
this church. How many persons
will have visited it to encounter
the Lord! Its stones are silent
witnesses of the many that have
entered it to open their heart to
God, to ask for forgiveness, to
pray for favors, to praise and
bless Him for all the love He
manifests to us every day. Let us
gather the best of that spiritual
heritage and continue lifting our
hearts to Heaven in this house,
which is Gods, and that of all
those who form the great diocesan
family.
But its not just about looking
back. An opportunity such as this
one must become a strong
spiritual stimulus to assume
joyfully the great task that every
baptized person has today to be a
disciple and missionary of Jesus
Christ. In the Cathedral, heart of
the diocese, the Bishop carries out
the most venerated and holy
action that can be realized: the
Eucharist, memorial of the Death,
Passion and Resurrection of Our
Lord. Let us participate in it with
devotion and draw from the table
of the Lord the strength to give
witness everywhere of the love
that God has for us, in every
environment where we find
ourselves and with all those
around us, especially the most
underprivileged.
Let us also assume the challenge
of looking to the future with hope.
Let no one rob us of hope! Let us
nourish it, instead, by coming to
the first diocesan church. The
Word of Life that resounds in the
Primate Cathedral of Mexico must
be prolonged in the future; it must
be rooted in the heart of children,
of adolescents and of young
214
people. They are an open window
to hope and enthusiasm. We must
give them the best that we have:
Christ, Savior and Friend who
never fails. This is the
responsibility, first of all, of
fathers and mothers of families,
who have in the Christian
education of their children the
greatest commitment, of which
they cannot tire, and which they
must carry out not only trusting in
their energies but, above all,
supported by prayer.
I entrust all these good desires to
the maternal protection of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, our Heavenly
Mother. May she be for the whole
Archdiocese of Mexico the
compass and star that leads to
Christ, fruit of her womb. May she
guard with her protection and
maintain faithful in the path of
sanctity all the priests, men and
women religious, seminarians and
faithful of that Archdiocesan
community.
Dear Brother, I ask you, please, to
pray and have others pray for me
in that Cathedral. I need it very
much. With these sentiments, I
impart my heartfelt Apostolic
Blessing, pledge of copious divine
favors.
Fraternally,
Francis
Francis+ Address to
!occer
&elegations
5.$en i "ou don+t reali7e it'
"ou are models' or
good or e$il' or so
man" people ,ho
loo3 at "ou ,ith
admiration5
VATICAN CITY, August 13, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is a translation
of the address Francis gave today
when he received in audience
the delegations of the national
soccer teams of Argentina and
Italy, on the occasion of the
friendly match that will be played
in his honor tomorrow evening in
Romes Olympic Stadium.
* * *
Dear Friends,
I thank you for your visit on the
occasion of the friendly match
between the National Soccer
Teams of Italy and Argentina. It
will be a bit difficult for me to be a
fan, but fortunately, its a friendly
one . and I hope its really so, I
urge you!
I thank the directors of the Italian
Federation of the Game of Soccer
and those of the Argentine
Federation. I greet the athletes of
the two National Teams.
You, dear players, are very
popular: people follow you a lot,
not only when you are on the field
but when you are off it. This is a
social responsibility! Ill explain
myself: In the game, when you
are on the field, there is beauty,
gratuitousness and comradeship.
If a game lacks this it loses
strength, even if the team wins.
There is no room for individualism
but, for the team, everything lies
in coordination. Perhaps these
three things: beauty,
gratuitousness and comradeship
are summarized in a sports term
that must never be abandoned:
"dilettante, amateur. Its true
that the national and international
organization professionalizes the
sport, and it must be so, but this
215
professional dimension must
never leave aside the initial
vocation of a sport or of a team:
to be amateur, "dilettante, does
good to society, builds the
common good from the values of
gratuitousness, comradeship and
beauty.
And this leads me to think that,
before being champions, you must
be men, human persons, with
your merits and your defects, with
your heart and your ideas, your
aspirations and your problems.
And then, even if you are
personalities, always be men in
the sport and in life - men bearers
of humanity.
To you, directors, I would to give
encouragement in your work.
Sport is important, but it must be
true sport! Soccer, as some other
disciplines, has become big
business! Work so that it wont
lose its sports character. You too
must promote this attitude of
"dilettante that, moreover,
eliminates definitively the danger
of discrimination. When the teams
follow this path, the stadium is
humanly enriched, violence
vanishes and families turn to see
one another on the steps.
I remember that as children we
went as a family to %asometro'
we went as a family, father,
mother and children. We returned
home happy, of course, especially
during the campaign of 46! Lets
see if one of you dares to make a
goal like Pontonis, there, no? I
greet in a special way the
Argentine directors and
sportsmen. Thank you for this
visit, so pleasant for me. I ask you
to live the sport as a gift of God,
an opportunity to make your
talents fructify, but also a
responsibility. Dear players, I
would like to remind you
especially, that you are a point of
reference in life in the way you
behave, both on the field as well
as outside it. Last Sunday I talked
on the telephone with some boys
of a group. They wanted to greet
me. I chatted with them for about
half an hour and, of course, the
great topic of those boys was
tomorrows match. They
mentioned several of you and
said: "no, I like this one for this
reason, this one for that, and this
other one for this. You are an
example, you are points of
reference. The good you do is
impressive. You do good with your
conduct, with your game, with
your values; people look at you,
take advantage of this to sow
goodness. Even if you dont
realize it, you are models, for
good or evil, for so many people
who look at you with admiration.
Be conscious of this and give an
example of loyalty, respect and
altruism. You are also architects of
understanding and social peace,
architects of understanding and
social peace that we so need. You
are a reference for so many
youths and model of values
embodied in life. Im confident of
all the good you can do among
youths.
Dear friends, I pray for you, that
you will be able to carry forward
this very noble vocation of sport. I
ask the Lord to bless you and the
Virgin Mary to guard you. And,
please, I ask you to pray for me,
so that I too will be able to play
an honest and courageous game,
in the "field in which God has
placed me, for the good of us all.
Thank you.
Pope Francis+ :etter to
the &iocese o
Inmaculada
216
ConcepciMn'
Argentina
VATICAN CITY, August 14, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of Pope Francis' letter
to Bishop Jos Mara Rossi of the
Diocese of Inmaculada Concepcin
in Argentina on the occasion of
their 50thanniversary.
* * *
Dear brother,
In these days, the diocese of the
Immaculate Conception
(Inmaculada Concepcin) will
celebrate its 50thanniversary. I
wish, on this occasion, to be close
to all of you. I cannot forget the
days I spent there during the
Clergy Exercises. I remember the
faces of the priests and I pray for
them.
Now I extend my gaze and widen
my heart towards each one of the
faithful and unite myself with the
celebration and the joy of every
one of you. In these fifty years
you have walked and have made a
path of disciples of Jesus and
announcers of the Gospel:
disciples and missionaries, so that
all in the diocese may have life in
abundance.
To walk, to become a disciple and
to announce. Three words. "To
walk": You know that I am afraid
of settled Christians. They end up
like still water. "To become a
disciple": I also am afraid of those
who believe that they "know it
all", the sufficient. Without
knowing, they close their heart to
the Lord; they end up centered in
themselves. They are the
Christians that we make may call
"Christians with themselves and
for themselves.
When one finds themselves with
Jesus, they live the wondrous awe
of that encounter and feel the
need to look for Him in prayer, in
the reading of the Gospels. They
feel the need to adore Him, to
know Him. and feel the need to
announce him. And this is the
third word: "to announce",
meaning, missionaries, to bring
his name, the teachings, and the
gestures of Jesus to the brothers.
The Christian walks, becomes a
disciple and announces. They are
not settled, they come out of
themselves: they come out of
themselves to announce the Good
News of Jesus to the brothers.
Dear brothers of the diocese of
Concepcin, may the great
celebration of these 50 years be
long-lasting in your lives. That,
like our Mother, you may come
out of yourselves to adore as well
as to announce. Be unsettled
because the love of Jesus is worth
it. I wish you all a happy
50thanniversary and, please, I ask
that you pray for me. May Jesus
bless you and the Holy Virgin care
for you.
Affectionately yours,
Francis
Pope Francis Cele(rates
!olemnit" o
Assumption in
Castel %andolo
Calls on Faithul to Pra" to
Mar" 1ho 5!ustains
Cs In Battle5
By Junno Arocho Esteves
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY,
August 16, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
217
Pope Francis celebrated the
Solemnity of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary yesterday
at Mass held at the Piazza della
Liberta, located in front of the
Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo.
The Holy Father focused on three
key words regarding the Blessed
Virgin Mary: struggle, resurrection
and hope.
Reflecting on the first reading
from Revelations, which spoke of
the vision of the "struggle
between the woman and the
dragon, the Pope stated that the
image of the woman represents
the Church today which although
glorious and triumphant, is "still in
travail.
"If in heaven she is already
associated in some way with the
glory of her Lord, in history she
continually lives through the trials
and challenges which the conflict
between God and the evil one, the
perennial enemy, brings, the
Pope said.
"And in the struggle which the
disciples must confront - all of us,
all the disciples of Jesus, we must
face this struggle - Mary does not
leave them alone: the Mother of
Christ and of the Church is always
with us. She walks with us always,
she is with us.
The Pope went on to say that
Mary accompanies us in prayer,
particularly in the prayer of the
Rosary, which he said, "sustains
us in the battle against the "evil
one and his accomplices.
Regarding the second reading,
Pope Francis stated that it focuses
on the resurrection, due to Pauls
letter to the Corinthians which
stated that "being a Christian
means believing that Christ is
truly risen from the dead.
"Our whole faith is based upon
this fundamental truth which is
not an idea but an event. Even the
mystery of Marys Assumption
body and soul is fully inscribed in
the resurrection of Christ, the
Pope said.
"The Mothers humanity is
`attracted by the Son in his own
passage from death to life. Once
and for all, Jesus entered into
eternal life with all the humanity
he had drawn from Mary; and she,
the Mother, who followed him
faithfully throughout her life,
followed him with her heart, and
entered with him into eternal life
which we also call heaven,
paradise, the Fathers house.
Mary, he continued, in uniting
herself to the Passion of Her Son,
was given the gift of the
resurrection, saying that Mary is
the first fruit of the redeemed, the
first of `those who are in Christ.
She is our Mother, but we can also
say that she is our representative,
our sister, our eldest sister, she is
the first of the redeemed, who has
arrived in heaven, the Holy
Father said.
Pope Francis reflected on the final
word "hope, saying that it is the
virtue of those who believe in the
"victory of love in the midst of
conflict and suffering. The Holy
Father also stated that the
Magnificat recounted in the
Gospel, is itself a song of hope
and "the song of the People of
God walking through history.
"It is the song many saints, men
and women, some famous, and
very many others unknown to us
but known to God: moms, dads,
catechists, missionaries, priests,
sisters, young people, even
children and grandparents: these
have faced the struggle of life
218
while carrying in their heart the
hope of the little and the humble.
The Holy Father concluded his
homily, saying that the Magnificat
resonates in places today where
"the Body of Christ is suffering the
Passion.
For us Christians, wherever the
Cross is, there is hope, always. If
there is no hope, we are not
Christian. That is why I like to
say: do not allow yourselves to be
robbed of hope. May we not be
robbed of hope, because this
strength is a grace, a gift from
God which carries us forward with
our eyes fixed on heaven, Pope
Francis said.
+&o =ot Be 4o((ed o
6ope+
Castel %andolo 4esidents
1elcome Pope+s 0isit
By Edward /entin
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY,
August 16, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
From the early hours, pilgrims
began descending on Castel
Gandolfo, eager to join Pope
Francis celebrate his first Feast of
the Assumption Mass as Roman
Pontiff.
His visit was made all the more
special as he had earlier in the
year decided to break with
tradition to spend a "working
vacation in the Vatican, away
from the papal summer residence.
Indeed, as Pope, this was only the
third time he had visited the
apostolic palace in the Albano hills
just outside Rome, and the first
Mass he had celebrated there.
But the prolonged absence of a
pope residing at Castel Gandolfo
was somewhat compensated by
another innovation: celebration of
the Mass not in the courtyard of
the summer residence, as
previous popes have done, but in
Piazzale della Liberta - the towns
small, main square - so the
maximum number of pilgrims
could take part. An elevated altar
was erected in front of the main
gate of the palace, allowing the
many attending to gain some
glimpse of the new Pope.
The local authorities estimated
that around 10,500 pilgrims filed
into the small square and
adjoining street, including a large
number of young Argentinians,
Mexicans, and a group from
Guinea. The Holy Fathers
compatriots were naturally the
most jubilant and vocal, filling the
small space with joyful folk songs
in anticipation of his arrival.
"Pope Francis is the best - he is
Argentinian!, said Sol, a girl from
Buenos Aires. "He is very humble
- austere I would say - and
friendly. I think it is what the
Church needs.
The Holy Father travelled the 21
miles or so by car instead of the
usual helicopter in order to cut
costs. He made a short visit to a
local Clarissan monastery on
arrival before appearing soon after
10.30 to a roar and applause from
the crowd.
The charged atmosphere was also
somewhat tense, exacerbated by
the confined space and the hot
August sun. At least two people
fainted and were carried off in
stretchers. Meanwhile, one couple
near me at the front, became
angry at being moved on by
stewards and started complaining
so loudly that it forced Pope
Francis and cardinals at the altar
to pause and give them icy stares
until they quietened down.
219
But these incidents couldnt hold
back the crowd from warmly
embracing the Pope.
In his homily, the Holy Father
explained how the Assumption of
the Virgin Mary into heaven
prompts us to focus on three key
words: struggle, resurrection and
hope.
The Church and Our Lady never
leave us in our struggles, he said:
the Church is "glorious and
triumphant but must continually
struggle against evil. But just as
the Church never leaves us in the
struggle, neither does Mary.
The Pope then adlibbed, asking
those present: "Do you pray the
Rosary every day?, to which the
crowd shouted "Yes!. "But Im
not sure you do, Francis replied,
smiling. "Really? The people
laughed, but Francis stressed that
the Rosary is important in the
"battle against the evil one and
his accomplices.
He then explained how Marys
humanity is "attracted by the Son
and his own passage from death
to life, and that she, too,
experienced the martyrdom of the
Cross. "Christ is the first fruits
from the dead and Mary is the
first of the redeemed, the first of
`those who are in Christ, he said.
She is, he added, "our Mother, but
we can also say that she is our
representative, our sister.who
has arrived in heaven.
Having shared how Mary helps us
in our struggles and leads us to
Christs resurrection, he
underlined the importance of
"hope by reflecting on the
Magnificat. It is a "song of hope,
the "song of the People of God
walking through history, he said.
The Magnificat, he added, "is
particularly strong in places where
the Body of Christ is suffering the
Passion. Looking up from his
prepared remarks, he said: "For
us Christians, wherever the Cross
is, there is hope, always. If there
is no hope, we are not Christian.
That is why, he said, he likes to
warn the faithful not to be "robbed
of hope, because this strength is a
grace, a gift from God which
carries us forward with our eyes
fixed on heaven. And Mary, he
said, "is always there, near those
communities, our brothers and
sisters, she accompanies them,
suffers with them, and sings the
Magnificat of hope with them.
He closed by calling on all the
faithful to "unite themselves to
this song of "patience and victory,
of struggle and joy. The
Magnificat, he said, "unites the
triumphant Church with the
pilgrim one, earth with heaven,
and that joins our lives to the
eternity towards which we
journey.
Before praying the Angelus, Pope
Francis called for prayers for
"peace, dialogue and
reconciliation after the "painful
news in Egypt where more than
400 people have been killed
during unrest there in recent
days. He said he wished to assure
"all victims, their families, the
wounded and those who suffer of
his prayers.
He also recalled the 25th
anniversary of Blessed Pope John
Paul IIs apostolic letter, Mulieris
dignitatem, on the dignity and
vocation of women. "This
document," he said, "is full of
ideas that deserve to be taken up
and developed. At the base of it
all is the figure of Mary. And he
called on the faithful to recall the
prayer at the end of the document
so that "by meditating on the
220
biblical mystery of women,
condensed in Mary, all women
may find themselves and the
fullness of their vocation."
The pilgrims present were
enthused and energised by Pope
Francis presence. Victoria from
Buenos Aires said she appreciated
how he "tries to be like one of us
and is "changing a lot of things.
"As an Argentinian, I feel very
close to him, she said. "I have
never felt so close to a pope. I
think he will be very effective in
drawing people to the Church.
Another Buenos Aires native,
Lucilla, said the Pope is no
different to how he was as
archbishop. "He fights for his
convictions and his principles are
the same, she said. "He is not
afraid to denounce what is wrong
and hes very ascetic, austere.
Tattiana from Romania said she
thought Francis was "outstanding
and similarly admired his
simplicity and "rapport with
people, while Gloria from
Catania, Sicily, said: "I love him,
Im fascinated by him, and added
that she was curious about how
he will reform the Curia.
***
In the run up to the Assumption
Mass, Italian media had been
reporting on disgruntlement
among residents of Castel
Gandolfo whose businesses are
suffering due to the absence of a
pope at the apostolic palace.
As neither Pope Emeritus Benedict
XVI nor Pope Francis are staying
in the salubrious air of the papal
summer residence this year,
Italian news agency ANSA
reported that many of Castel
Gandolfos 9,000 residents feel
"orphaned. One has to go back to
1978 and the "year of the three
popes to find such a lengthy
period of vacancy. "The
atmosphere in the city is very
sad, the news agency reported
August 12th.
Andea Di Bernadini, owner of a
gift shop on the piazza, said
traders were "very disappointed
and that business "is collapsing.
Another gift shop owner, Patrizia
Gasperini, told ANSA that when
she heard the Pope wasnt staying
this year, she thought it was a
"joke. "I understand the reasons,
but for us its very difficult, she
said. "The summer was for us the
period that helps us through the
winter, she said. "Now its no
longer the case, we have to
rethink everything a little.
But in comments to ZENIT,
traders were more upbeat. "We
have a high regard for Pope
Francis, said Diana, owner of an
art shop. "He has chosen not to
take a vacation, to keep working
and maybe that is a good thing.
"People here like the Pope, she
said. "He is very direct. We want
him here and hopefully hell come
next year!
Meanwhile, Carla, owner of a
souvenir shop, said although the
absence of a pope has caused
some hardship, she liked his
"austere approach to things. But
she similarly hopes - and is
confident - hell be back next
year.
Castel Gandolfos mayor, Milvia
Monachesi, said the town needs to
find a new economic model, one
not based solely on religious
tourism. She argued the town in
itself has a lot to offer, including a
"superb location close to Rome,
and overlooking a beautiful lake.
221
Some have proposed opening up
the gardens of the apostolic
palace to visitors as a way of
attracting more tourists.
Monachesi, however, was
confident this was just a small
bump in the road, and took
comfort in the fact that Pope John
XXIII also didnt visit the town
during the early years of his
pontificate. And she noted that
celebrating Mass in the square
was an unexpected good sign.
"Im sure the Pope will come to
Castel Gandolfo in the coming
years, she said.
Like many of the towns residents,
she is heeding the Popes
instruction to resist being "robbed
of hope.
;n the !olemnit" o the
Assumption
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY,
August 16, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
Here is the translation of the Holy
Fathers words prior to the
recitation of the Angelus, at the
conclusion of the Mass celebrating
the Solemnity of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters,
At the conclusion of this
Celebration we turn to the Virgin
Mary with the prayer of the
Angelus. The path of Mary
towards Heaven began with that
"yes pronounced in Nazareth, in
response to the celestial
Messenger who announce the will
of God for her. And in reality it is
just like that: every "yes to God
is a step towards Heaven, towards
eternal life. Because this is what
the Lord wants: that all his
children have life in abundance!
God wants everyone with Him, in
his house!
Unfortunately, painful news has
come from Egypt. I wish to ensure
my prayers for all the victims and
their families, the injured and all
those who are suffering. Let us
pray together for peace, dialogue
and reconciliation in that dear
nation and throughout the world.
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Let's all say it, Mary, Queen of
Peace, pray for us.
I wish to recall the 25th
anniversary of the Apostolic Letter
Mulieris di"nitatem, of Blessed
Pope John Paul II, on the diginity
and vocation of women. This
document is full of ideas that
deserve to be taken up and
developed; it is at the base of all
that is the figure of Mary, in fact it
was released on the occasion of a
Marian Year. Let us make our
prayer placed at the end of this
Apostolic Letter (cfr. n.31) so
that, meditating the biblical
mystery of the woman, condensed
in Mary, all women will find
themselves and the fullness of
their vocation, and in the whole
Church may deepen and
understand more the great and
important role of women.
I thank all present, citizens of
Castel Gandolfo and pilgrims! I
thank you and the people of
Castel Gandolfo, thank you very
much. And all the pilgrims, in
particular those from Guinea with
their bishop.
I greet with affection the alumni
from the Passionist College
"Michael Ham from Vicente
Lpez, Argentina; as well as the
youth from musical band from the
Colegio Jos de Jess Rebolledo of
Coatepec, Mxico.
222
And now, all together, we pray to
Our Lady:
[After the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father said:]
I wish you a happy feast today,
day of Our Lady: happy holiday
and have a good lunch!
Pope+s 6omil" at Mass
o !olemnit" o
the Assumption
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY,
August 16, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
Here is the translation of the
Pope's homily at yesterday's Mass
of the Solemnity of Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary at Castel
Gandolfo.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
At the end of its Constitution on
the Church, the Second Vatican
Council left us a very beautiful
meditation on Mary Most Holy. Let
me just recall the words referring
to the mystery we celebrate
today: "the immaculate Virgin
preserved free from all stain of
original sin, was taken up body
and soul into heavenly glory,
when her earthly life was over,
and exalted by the Lord as Queen
over all things" (no. 59). Then
towards the end, there is: "the
Mother of Jesus in the glory which
she possesses in body and soul in
heaven is the image and the
beginning of the church as it is to
be perfected in the world to come.
Likewise, she shines forth on
earth, until the day of the Lord
shall come" (no. 68). In the light
of this most beautiful image of our
Mother, we are able to see the
message of the biblical readings
that we have just heard. We can
focus on three key words:
struggle, resurrection, hope.
The passage from Revelation
presents the vision of
the struggle between the woman
and the dragon. The figure of the
woman, representing the Church,
is, on the one hand, glorious and
triumphant and yet, on the other,
still in travail. And the Church is
like that: if in heaven she is
already associated in some way
with the glory of her Lord, in
history she continually lives
through the trials and challenges
which the conflict between God
and the evil one, the perennial
enemy, brings. And in the struggle
which the disciples must confront
- all of us, all the disciples of
Jesus, we must face this struggle -
Mary does not leave them alone:
the Mother of Christ and of the
Church is always with us. She
walks with us always, she is with
us. And in a way, Mary shares this
dual condition. She has of course
already entered, once and for all,
into heavenly glory. But this does
not mean that she is distant or
detached from us; rather Mary
accompanies us, struggles with
us, sustains Christians in their
fight against the forces of evil.
Prayer with Mary, especially the
rosary - but listen carefully: the
Rosary. Do you pray the Rosary
every day? But Im not sure you
do. 8the &eo&le shout
D-es5D: Really? Well, prayer with
Mary, especially the Rosary, has
this "suffering" dimension, that is
of struggle, a sustaining prayer in
the battle against the evil one and
his accomplices. The Rosary also
sustains us in the battle.
The second reading speaks to us
of resurrection. The Apostle
Paul, writing to the Corinthians,
insists that being Christian means
believing that Christ is truly risen
from the dead. Our whole faith is
223
based upon this fundamental truth
which is not an idea but an event.
Even the mystery of Marys
Assumption body and soul is fully
inscribed in the resurrection of
Christ. The Mothers humanity is
"attracted" by the Son in his own
passage from death to life. Once
and for all, Jesus entered into
eternal life with all the humanity
he had drawn from Mary; and she,
the Mother, who followed him
faithfully throughout her life,
followed him with her heart, and
entered with him into eternal life
which we also call heaven,
paradise, the Fathers house.
Mary also experienced the
martyrdom of the Cross: the
martyrdom of her heart, the
martyrdom of her soul. She lived
her Sons Passion to the depths of
her soul. She was fully united to
him in his death, and so she was
given the gift of resurrection.
Christ is the first fruits from the
dead and Mary is the first of the
redeemed, the first of "those who
are in Christ". She is our Mother,
but we can also say that she is
our representative, our sister, our
eldest sister, she is the first of the
redeemed, who has arrived in
heaven.
The Gospel suggests to us the
third word: hope. Hope is the
virtue of those who, experiencing
conflict - the struggle between life
and death, good and evil - believe
in the resurrection of Christ, in the
victory of love. We heard the Song
of Mary, the Ma"nificat= it is the
song of hope, it is the song of the
People of God walking through
history. It is the song many
saints, men and women, some
famous, and very many others
unknown to us but known to God:
mums, dads, catechists,
missionaries, priests, sisters,
young people, even children and
grandparents: these have faced
the struggle of life while carrying
in their heart the hope of the little
and the humble. Mary says: "My
souls glorifies the Lord" - today,
the Church too sings this in every
part of the world. This song is
particularly strong in places where
the Body of Christ is suffering the
Passion. For us Christians,
wherever the Cross is, there is
hope, always. If there is no hope,
we are not Christian. That is why I
like to say: do not allow
yourselves to be robbed of hope.
May we not be robbed of hope,
because this strength is a grace, a
gift from God which carries us
forward with our eyes fixed on
heaven. And Mary is always there,
near those communities, our
brothers and sisters, she
accompanies them, suffers with
them, and sings the Ma"nificat of
hope with them.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, with all
our heart let us too unite
ourselves to this song of patience
and victory, of struggle and joy,
that unites the triumphant Church
with the pilgrim one, earth with
heaven, and that joins our lives to
the eternity towards which we
journey. Amen.
Pope !ends Message to
Participants o
=ational
Missionar"
Congress in
Argentina
2han3s 2hem For Missionar"
Jeal In !preading the
%ospel
By Staff
VATICAN CITY, August 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis sent a
message to participants of the
224
Fourth National Missionary
Congress, which concludes today
in Catamarca Argentina. The 800
faithful at the annual meeting
reflected on the theme
"Missionary Argentina, Share Your
Faith.
According to Vatican Radio, the
Holy Father sent his greets to the
participants, as well as thanking
them for their zeal in their
missionary work.
"I encourage you to go out of
yourselves and go to the
peripheries, both geographical and
existential, to proclaim Jesus and
make known his message, the
Pope said.
"May the Holy Spirit give you
strength and make you
courageous, without fear and with
bravery. The Pope also prayed
that the faithful may be free from
"being tempted by that which is
comfortable.
"Over the course of these days,"
the Popes message concluded, "I
will be closely united with you in
prayer and in the Eucharist. I ask
that you please pray for me. May
Jesus bless you, and may the
Blessed Virgin care for you.
Pope Francis9 +Faith and
0iolence Are
Incompati(le+
Pra"s or 0ictims o 0iolence in
.g"pt' Ferr" &isaster
in Philippines
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - During his weekly
Sunday Angelus address, Pope
Francis called on the faithful to
look to God for strength in times
of turmoil. The Holy Fathers
remarks come at turbulent time in
the world where violence rages on
in Egypt and a ferry disaster
claimed the lives of more than 50
people in the Philippines.
The Holy Father reflected on the
words of Christ in Sundays Gospel
that he said needed to be
explained "so that they are not
misunderstood. The Gospel of
Luke recounted Jesus telling his
disciples: "Did you think that I
came to bring peace to the earth?
No, I say to you, I came to bring
division (Luke 12:51).
"What does this mean? It means
that the faith is not something
decorative, ornamental; living the
faith is not decorating life with a
little religion, as if life were a pie
and faith like the whipped cream
that you use to decorate it, the
Pope explained. "No, faith is not
this. Faith entails choosing God as
the basic criterion for life, and God
is not empty, God is not neutral,
God is always positive, God is
love, and love is positive!
The Pope continued saying that it
is not Christ who intends to divide
men against each other, rather
the choice to follow Jesus may
divide us "even from the closest
bonds.
"Following Jesus means rejecting
evil, egoism, and choosing the
good, truth, justice, even when
that requires sacrifice and
renunciation of our own interests,
the Holy Father said. "And, yes,
this divides.
The Holy Father also reminded the
faithful that the Gospel in no way
authorizes the use of force in
spreading the faith, saying that
the true force of Christians "is the
force of truth and love
225
"Faith and violence are
incompatible! Faith and violence
are incompatible!, he exclaimed.
"But faith and strength go
together. The Christian is not
violent, but he strong. And with
what strength? That of meekness,
the force of meekness, the force
of love.
Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father lead the
pilgrims gathered in St. Peters
Square in praying for the violent
situation occurring in Egypt,
where hundreds have died and
numerous Christian Churches
were looted, vandalized and burnt
to the ground.
"Let us continue to pray for peace
in Egypt. All together: Mary,
Queen of Peace, pray for us! the
Holy Father told the faithful.
The Holy Father also prayed for
the victims of a tragic disaster
that occurred in the Central Port
of Cebu, where a passenger ferry
collided with a cargo ship on
Friday night, killing over 50
people.
;n Faith and !trength
VATICAN CITY, August 19, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of the Holy Fathers
address before and after the
recitation of the Angelus on
Sunday to the faithful gathered in
St. Peters Square.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
In todays liturgy we listen to
these words from the Letter to the
Hebrews: "Persevere in running
the race that lies before us while
keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith
(Hebrews 12:1-2). This is a
statement that we should
highlight in a special way in this
Year of Faith. We too, during this
whole year of faith, should keep
our gave fixed on Jesus because
faith, which is our "yes to the
filial relation to God, comes from
him, it comes from Jesus. He is
the only mediator of this
relationship between us and our
Father who is in heaven. Jesus is
the Son and we are sons in him.
But the Word of God this Sunday
contains words of Jesus that put
us into crisis and need to be
explained so that they are not
misunderstood. Jesus says to the
disciples: "Did you think that I
came to bring peace to the earth?
No, I say to you, I came to bring
division (Luke 12:51). What does
this mean? It means that the faith
is not something decorative,
ornamental; living the faith is not
decorating life with a little religion,
as if life were a pie and faith like
the whipped cream that you use
to decorate it. No, faith is not this.
Faith entails choosing God as the
basic criterion for life, and God is
not empty, God is not neutral,
God is always positive, God is
love, and love is positive! After
Jesus has come into the world we
cannot act as if we do not know
God, as if God were something
abstract, empty, a mere name;
no, God has a particular face, he
has a name: God is mercy, God is
fidelity, he is life that is given to
all of us. This is why Jesus says: I
came to bring division; not that
Jesus wishes to divide men
against each other. On the
contrary, Jesus is our peace, he is
our reconciliation! But this peace
is not the peace of a grave, it is
not neutrality, Jesus does not
bring neutrality, this peace is not
a compromise at all costs.
Following Jesus means rejecting
evil, egoism, and choosing the
good, truth, justice, even when
226
that requires sacrifice and
renunciation of our own interests.
And, yes, this divides; we know
that it divides us even from the
closest bonds. But remember: it is
not Jesus who divides! He posits
the criterion: living for ourselves
or living for God and for others;
be served or serve; obey
ourselves or obey God. This is the
way that Jesus is a "sign of
contradiction (Luke 2:34).
So, these words of the Gospel do
not authorize in any way the use
of force in spreading the faith. It
is precisely the contrary: the true
force of the Christian is the force
of truth and of love, which means
rejecting all violence. Faith and
violence are incompatible! Faith
and violence are incompatible! But
faith and strength go together.
The Christian is not violent, but he
strong. And with what strength?
That of meekness, the force of
meekness, the force of love.
Dear friends, even among Jesus
relatives there were some that at
a certain point did not share his
way of living and preaching, which
the Gospel tells us (cf. Mark 3:20-
21). But his Mother always
followed him faithfully, keeping
the gaze of her heart fixed upon
Jesus, the Son of the Most High,
and his mystery. And in the end,
thanks to Marys faith, Jesuss
relatives will become part of the
first Christian community (cf. Acts
1:14). Let us ask Mary to help us
too to keep our gaze carefully
fixed upon Jesus and to follow him
always, even when it costs us.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus, the Holy Father made the
following remarks to those who
were present:]
Remember this: following Jesus is
not something neutral. Following
Jesus means getting involved
because faith is not something
decorative, it is the strength of
the soul!
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you with affection, Romans
and pilgrims: families, parish
groups, young people... I would
like to ask for your prayers for the
victims of the ferry that sank in
the Philippines, for the families
too... so much sorrow!
Let us continue to pray for peace
in Egypt. All together: Mary,
Queen of Peace, pray for us! [The
people then repeated the phrase:
"Mary Queen of Peace, pray for
us!]
I greet the Polish folk music and
dance group from Edmonton,
Canada.
A special greeting to the young
people of Brembilla - Aha, look! I
see you very well! - near
Bergamo, and I bless the torch
that they are transporting on foot
from Rome to their town.
And I greet the young people of
Altamura.
I wish everyone a good Sunday,
and a good lunch! Goodbye!
Pope Congratulates
6ungarians on
=ational Feast
;n 2oda"+s Feast o !t)
!tephan' Francis
Pra"s or Future o
Peace
VATICAN CITY, August 20, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Francis sent a
message today to the president of
Hungary, as that nation celebrates
227
its national feast day, the feast of
St. Stephan.
The Pope's message to Jnos der
assures the president of his
prayers for him and the citizens of
Hungary.
"On the occasion of Hungarys
national feast day," the Pontiff
wrote, "it is my pleasure to
cordially address Your Excellency
and your fellow citizens. I ask God
that the Hungarian people might
find within themselves, and their
human and spiritual heritage, the
moral resources necessary in
order to build a future of peace
and fraternity. Upon Your
Excellency, on all your nations
leaders, and upon the whole
Hungarian people, I invoke an
abundance of Divine blessings.
Mass for the feast of St. Stephan
marks the occasion, as well as the
procession of the saints right
hand, otherwise known as the
"Holy Right.
Saint Stephen founded Hungary
nearly 1,000 years ago, and
worked to convert the nation to
Christianity. He was canonized in
1083 by Pope Gregory VII.
Pope Francis Meets
1ith !tudents
From Japan
.mphasi7es Importance o
&ialogue Founded on
Mee3ness
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 21, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis stressed
the importance of dialogue during
an audience with a group of
Japanese high school students
from Japan today. Teachers and
students from the Seibu Gauken
Bunri Junior High School in Tokyo
met with the Holy Father in the
St. Damasus Courtyard of the
Vatican.
The Pope expressed his joy at
their visit and hope that their
exposure to another culture will
help them grow in their own lives.
The Holy Father explained that if
one becomes in isolated, then it is
impossible to grow culturally.
"If we go in search of other
people, other cultures, other ways
of thinking, other religious, we
come out of ourselves and begin
that beautiful adventure that is
called `dialogue, the Pope said.
"Dialogue is very important for
ones maturity, because in relation
with other people, relations with
other culture, also in healthy
relations with other religions, one
grows; grows, matures.
However, Pope Francis warned,
there is a danger if one closes
themselves and fights in dialogue
with another. Such fights, he
continued, can be prevented if
dialogue is founded in
"Meekness, Pope Francis said, is
"the ability to find people, to find
culture, with peace; the ability to
make intelligent questions.
Differences in opinions should not
be a catalyst for animosity
between two parties.
The Holy Father emphasized as
well that peace cannot be
achieved without dialogue. `All
wars, all struggles, all problems
that are not resolved, with which
we face, are due to a lack of
dialogue, the Pope told the
Japanese students.
228
"When there is a problem,
dialogue: this makes peace. And
this is what I wish for you in this
journey of dialogue: that you may
know how to dialogue; how this
culture thinks.
Pope Francis concluded his
address by expressing his hope
that the students will continue
grow culturally in their journey in
Rome.
Benedict X0I 0isits
Castel %andolo
By Salvatore Cernu7io
ROME, August 21, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The Pope Emeritus
on Sunday spent a few hours at
Castel Gandolfo, at the residence
where he passed his summers as
Pope.
According to reports from Vatican
sources, Benedict XVI spent about
three hours at the papal summer
residence, walking in the palace
gardens, praying the rosary and
attending a piano concert of
classical music. He then returned
in the evening to the Mater
Ecclesiae monastery, where he
now lives.
The four consecrated women of
Communion and Liberation who
cared for Benedict XVI's papal
apartments, and continue to take
care of his living quarters,
accompanied him on his
excursion.
Mystical
Now more than six months after
the announcement that shook the
world, Benedict's decision to live a
hidden life is still being reflected
upon. Some have had the
privilege to listen to the Pope
Emeritus himself speak about his
choice. Despite his cloistered life,
Benedict has allowed --
sporadically and only on certain
occasions -- some private visits at
Mater Ecclesiae.
One such visitor, who met with
the Pope Emeritus several weeks
ago, reported that Benedict spoke
of his motivations for resigning.
"God had told me," he said,
clarifying that it was not any kind
of apparition or phenomenon of
that kind, but rather a "mystical
experience in which the Lord had
developed in his heart an
"absolute desire to remain alone
with Him, withdrawn in prayer.
Ratzinger, the anonymous source
revealed, declared that this
"mystical experience has lasted
all these months, increasing more
and more the longing for a unique
and direct relationship with the
Lord. In addition, the Pope
Emeritus reflected that the more
he observes the "charisma of
Pope Francis, the more he
understands that his choice was
"the will of God."
Pope+s Address to
Junior 6igh
!chool !tudents
rom Japan
VATICAN CITY, August 21, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Here is the
translation of Pope Francis
address to a group of students
and professors from Seibu Gakuen
Bunri Junior High School in
Saitama, Tokyo (Japan)
* * *
Good Morning.
229
I can see that you understand
Italian.
I greet you. This visit gives me
pleasure. I hope this journey for
you will be very fruitful, because
to meet other people, other
cultures is always good for us, it
helps us grow. And, why? Because
if we are isolated in ourselves we
only have what we have, we
cannot grow culturally; instead, if
we go in search of other people,
other cultures, other ways of
thinking, other religious, we come
out of ourselves and begin that
beautiful adventure that is called
"dialogue.
Dialogue is very important for
ones maturity, because in relation
with other people, relations with
other culture, also in healthy
relations with other religions, one
grows; grows, matures.
Of course, there is a danger: if in
dialogue one closes themselves
and gets angry, or fight; it is the
danger of fighting, and this is not
good because we dialogue to find
ourselves, not to fight.
And what is the most profound
attitude that we should have in
order to dialogue and not fight?
Meekness, the ability to find
people, to find culture, with
peace; the ability to make
intelligent questions: "Why do you
think this way? "Why does this
culture does that? To listen to
others and then talk. First listen,
then talk. All of this is meekness.
And if you do not think like me -
well, you know...I think in a
different way, you do not convince
me - but we are still friends, I
have listened to how you think
and you have listened to how I
think.
And do you know what, one
important thing? This dialogue is
what makes peace. You cannot
have peace without dialogue. All
wars, all struggles, all problems
that are not resolved, with which
we face, are due to a lack of
dialogue. When there is a
problem, dialogue: this makes
peace. And this is what I wish for
you in this journey of dialogue:
that you may know how to
dialogue; how this culture thinks;
"how beautiful this is, "this i dont
like, but in dialogue. And thus it
will grow. I wish you this and I
wish you all a good trip in Rome.
I wish all the best for you, for
your school, for your families. God
bless you all. Thank you.
A young girl addressed the
Pope on behalf of the group:
We are happy to have had the
possibility to meet you
and listen to your words;
from now on we will put
into practice in our lives
that which we have
heard from you. We
would also like to thank
you for allowing us a bit
of your precious time.
Pope Francis
Commemorates
102#th
Anni$ersar" o
the Baptism o
Fie$an 4us
./presses 6ope that
Anni$ersar" ,ill
Pro$ide a =e,
Impetus or the
.$angeli7ation o
C3raine
230
By yubomyr .erens
ROME, August 22, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
underlined the conversion of
Kievan Rus, a federation of Slavic
tribes that lived between the 9th-
13th century. Their conversion to
Christianity took place "within the
context of an undivided Church in
which there continued to develop
various church traditions, but in
union with one another. This fact,
in his opinion, serves as a
reference point for an ecumenical
dialogue among Christian
communities who today rely on
the spiritual heritage of Saint
Volodymyr.
"The celebration of the 1025th
anniversary of the Baptism of
Kievan Rus demonstrates that the
road to full unity among all the
followers of Christ -- is not a
luxury, but a deep need, crucial
for the consistent and active
proclamation of the testimony of
Christ, as well as for a real
testimony of that union for which
Christ begged the Father, in
approaching the highest act of his
sacrificial love, he explained.
Pope Franics wrote of his
conviction that the
commemoration of the act of
Baptism of Rus-Ukraine becomes
for the Ukranian Greek Catholic
Church (UGCC) a new impetus in
evangelization and pastoral
activities. The Holy Father went
on to name the steadfast
orientations of the Church in this
sphere: the Word of God, Holy
Sacraments, Divine Liturgy,
formation of the faithful and the
clergy, development of charitable
acts.
Concluding his statement, the
Supreme Pontiff expressed his
hope that the celebration of the
1025th anniversary of the Baptism
of Kievan Rus becomes a time of
grace for the whole Ukrainian
nation and for all people:
"May this commemoration become
a call to the real feeling of
responsibility from the side of
state institutions and each person
in particular, to follow the
example of Saint Volodymyr to
work for the common material and
spiritual good of the nation; a call
to ecumenical responsibility, to
ask God for the gift of unity
among all Christians and to
oneself become the builder of this
unity; a call to activate the issue
of evangelization and pastoral
activities in all of their dimensions.
I send His Beatitude Sviatoslav,
the UGCC Bishops, and all Holy
Gods people in Ukraine, my
blessing.
Pa3istan Arch(ishop9
Pope Francis Is a
0alua(le !ource
o Inspiration
!eminar in Farachi Focuses on
!ocial
2ransormation and
Change
By Junno Arocho Esteves
KARACHI, August 22, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Archbishop Joseph
Coutts of Karachi, President of the
Episcopal Conference of Pakistan,
called Popes Francis humility "a
valuable source of inspiration
during a meeting with
professionals, managers and
political leaders in Pakistan.
"If you really want to become
agents of transformation and
social change, I suggest you keep
your eyes on Pope Francis,"
Archbishop Coutts said according
to Fides.
231
In his message, the Archbishop of
Pakistan mentioned Pope Francis
as a possible model to follow,
particularly due to his humility.
"He is working in an excellent way
for change. He chose the name
Francis referring to St. Francis of
Assisi, a saint who is loved not
only by Christians but also by
Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists for
his works of peace, the
Archbishop said.
"The Popes power is not political
but a power of service and love:
he chose to leave his papal
apartment and has been living in
simplicity. He visited prisoners
and washed their feet. He loves to
meet and spend time with
ordinary people,
The Archbishop spoke to an
audience of graduates,
professionals and leaders
gathered in the Institute Notre
Dame of Karachi, at a seminar
held recently, entitled "Social
transformation and change",
which was organized by the
Catholic association "Jesus Youth
Pakistan" ( JYP).
The goal of the seminar was to
help leaders in the field of
business, politics and education in
promoting effective change in
society that focuses on the dignity
of human beings. Fr. Peter
Moughal, O.F.M., a Franciscan
priest, also addressed the
conference telling the participants
that in order to lead, one "must
serve with humility.
"Jesus gave his life for others, and
each of you has a special mission
of evangelization, Fr. Moughal
told the participants.
Pope Francis9 5Be
Christians and
%i$e 1itness to
the Faith5
Ponti 4elects on Christ+s Call
to 5.nter B" the
=arro, &oor5
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY, August 26, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Jesus does not
exclude sinners, on the contrary
he "prefers sinners to forgive
them. Pope Francis emphasized
this during his Sunday Angelus
address to the thousands of
pilgrims gathered in St. Peters
Square.
Reflecting on Sundays Gospel,
which recounted Jesus response
to the question on who will be
saved, the Holy Father stated that
Christ does not focus on how
many will be saved, but rather,
how to know the way to salvation.
"Try to enter by the narrow door,
because many will try to enter but
will not succeed, the Gospel of
Luke states was Jesus response.
"What does Jesus wish to say?
What is the door by which we
should enter? And why does Jesus
talk about a narrow door?, the
Holy Father asked. "The image of
the door appears various times in
the Gospel and reminds us of the
door of a house, of the domestic
hearth, where we find security,
love, warmth. Jesus tells us that
there is a door that permits us to
enter into Gods family, in the
warmth of the house of God, into
communion with him. This door is
Jesus himself.
The Door of Faith
232
Pope Francis told the faithful that
no one is excluded from entering
this door, even those feel that
they are excluded because of their
sins.
"One might try to tell me: `But,
Father, surely I am excluded,
because I am a great sinner: I
have done ugly things, many ugly
things in my life. No, you are not
excluded!, the Pope exclaimed.
"Precisely because of this you are
preferred, because Jesus prefers
the sinner, always, to forgive
them. Jesus is always waiting for
you, to embrace you, to forgive
you. Do not be afraid: he is
waiting for you. Wake up, take
heart to enter his door. Everyone
is invited to enter by this door, to
enter the door of faith, to enter
into his life, and to let him enter
our life, so that he transform it,
renew it, give us complete and
lasting joy. "
The Gospel, he continued, calls on
all of us to reflect on which door
we wish to enter. The 76 year old
Pontiff encouraged the faithful to
not be afraid "to enter the door of
faith in Jesus and allow him to
enter in our lives. In doing so, one
leaves behind their selfishness
and indifferent to others while
illuminating their lives.
"It is not fireworks, it is not a
flash! No, it is a tranquil light that
lasts forever and gives us peace.
This is the light that we encounter
if we enter the door of Jesus, the
Holy Father said.
Concluding his address, Pope
Francis stated that Christs
message in the Gospel is that
being a Christian is not having a
label, but rather, to be a Christian
is to be in the truth.
"Each one answer for himself!
Never Christians by label!, the
Pope exclaimed. "Christians in
truth and of the heart. Be
Christians and witness to the faith
in prayer, in works of charity, in
promoting justice, in doing good.
Our whole life must pass through
the narrow door that is Christ.
;n the =arro, &oor
2hat Is Christ
VATICAN CITY, August 26, 2013
(Zenit.org) -
Here is the translation of Pope
Francis' address before and after
the recitation of the Angelus to
the pilgrims gathered in St.
Peter's Square on Sunday.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters, hello!
Todays Gospel invites us to
reflect on the topic of salvation.
Jesus going up from Galilee to the
city of Jerusalem and along the
way someone - the evangelist
Luke says - comes up to him and
asks him: "Lord, will only a few
people be saved? (Luke 13:23).
Jesus does not answer the
question directly. It is not
important to know how many will
be saved, rather, it is important to
know the way to salvation. This is
how Jesus responds to the
question: "Try to enter by the
narrow door, because many will
try to enter but will not succeed
(Luke 13:24). What does Jesus
wish to say? What is the door by
which we should enter? And why
does Jesus talk about a narrow
door? The image of the door
appears various times in the
Gospel and reminds us of the door
of a house, of the domestic
hearth, where we find security,
love, warmth. Jesus tells us that
233
there is a door that permits us to
enter into Gods family, in the
warmth of the house of God, into
communion with him. This door is
Jesus himself (cf. John 10:9). He
is the door. He is the way of
salvation. He leads us to the
Father. And the door that is Jesus
is never closed, this door is never
closed; it is always open and to
everyone, without distinction,
without exclusions, without
privileges, because, as you know,
Jesus does not exclude anyone.
One might try to tell me: "But,
Father, surely I am excluded,
because I am a great sinner: I
have done ugly things, many ugly
things in my life. No, you are not
excluded! Precisely because of this
you are preferred, because Jesus
prefers the sinner, always, to
forgive him. Jesus is always
waiting for you, to embrace you,
to forgive you. Do not be afraid:
he is waiting for you. Wake up,
take heart to enter his door.
Everyone is invited to enter by
this door, to enter the door of
faith, to enter into his life, and to
let him enter our life, so that he
transform it, renew it, give us
complete and lasting joy.
Today we pass by many doors
that invite us to enter, promising
a happiness that we then realize
lasts only an instant, that
exhausts itself and has not future.
But I ask you: What door do we
wish to enter? And who do we
want to let in through door of our
life? I want to say firmly: let us
not be afraid to enter the door of
faith in Jesus, to let him enter
more and more into our life, to
leave behind our egoism, our
closedness, our indifference to
others, so that Jesus illuminate
our life with a light that never
goes out. It is not fireworks, it is
not a flash! No, it is a tranquil
light that lasts forever and gives
us peace. This is the light that we
encounter if we enter the door of
Jesus.
Of course, Jesus is the narrow
door, not because it is a place of
torture. No, that is not the reason!
It is because he asks us to open
up our heart to him, to recognize
ourselves as sinners in need of
salvation, of his forgiveness, of his
love, of having the humility to
welcome his mercy and be
renewed by him. In the Gospel,
Jesus tells us that being Christians
is not having a "label! I ask you:
Are you only Christians by label or
are you Christians in truth? Each
one answer for himself! Never
Christians by label! Christians in
truth and of the heart. Be
Christians and witness to the faith
in prayer, in works of charity, in
promoting justice, in doing good.
Our whole life must pass through
the narrow door that is Christ.
We ask the Virgin Mary, the Door
of Heaven, to help us to enter the
door of faith, to let her Son
transform our existence as he
transformed hers to bring
everyone the joy of the Gospel.
[Following the recitation of the
Angelus the Holy Father greeted
those present. Here are his
remarks:]
With great suffering and concern I
continue to follow the situation in
Syria. The growth in violence in a
war between brothers, with a
multiplication of massacres and
atrocities that we have all been
able to see in the terrible images
of recent days, moves me once
again to call in a loud voice for the
fighting to cease. It is not conflict
that offers a perspectives of hope
for resolving problems, but it is
the capacity for meeting and
dialogue.
234
From the depths of my heart, I
would like to manifest my
nearness in prayer and in
solidarity to all the victims of this
conflict, to all those who suffer,
especially the children, and invite
everyone to keep the hope of
peace alive. I appeal to the
international community to show
itself to be more responsive to this
tragic situation and to do all it can
to help the beloved Syrian nation
find a solution to a war that sows
destruction and death.
Let us all pray together -
everyone together pray to Our
Lady, Queen of Peace: Mary,
Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Everyone: Mary, Queen of Peace,
pray for us.
I greet with affection all the
pilgrims who are present: the
families, the numerous groups and
the Albergoni Association. I
especially offer greetings to the
Sister Teachers of Saint Dorothy,
the young people of Verona,
Siracusa, Nave, Modica and
Trento; the confirmands of the
pastoral groups of Angarano and
Val Liona; the seminarians and
priests of the Pontifical North
American College; the workers of
Cuneo and the pilgrims and the
pilgrims of Verrua Po, San Zeno
Naviglio, Urago dOglio, Varano
Borghi and Sao Paolo in Brazil. For
many people this is the end of
summer vacation. I wish everyone
a happy and productive return to
normal daily life, looking to the
future in hope.
I wish everyone a
good Sunday and a good week!
Have a good lunch and goodbye!
Pope Meets Fing and
@ueen o Jordan
Peace' !ta(ilit" in Middle .ast
Central 2heme o
&iscussions
By Ann Schneible
VATICAN CITY, August 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - The king and queen
of Jordan met with Pope Francis in
the Vatican today, speaking with
him about the need for peace and
stability in the Middle East.
Although Pope Francis is still on
what's been called his summer
working-vacation, the meeting
was arranged due to rising
tensions throughout the region,
particularly in Syria. Jordan, which
shares a border with Syria,
recently declared it will refuse to
serve as a launch pad for attacks
from other nations against the
already war-torn country where
the two-year civil war has left
more than 100,000 dead.
Upon their arrival this morning,
Pope Francis greeted King
Abdullah II and his wife, Queen
Rania, saying to the king in
English, "Welcome, your majesty."
King Abdullah told the Holy
Father: "I have tremendous
respect for what you are doing
and for what the Catholic Church
does."
Pope Francis then had a private
meeting with the king and queen
for about 20 minutes, after which
he greeting the seven other
members of the delegation.
Following his meeting with Pope
Francis, King Abdullah, along with
several delegates, met with
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Pope's secretary of state,
and Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti, secretary for Relations
with States.
235
The Vatican released a statement
indicating that a broad range of
topics were touched upon,
including the negotiations that
have resumed between Israelis
and Palestinians, as well as the
question of Jerusalem.
According to the Vatican's press
statement, a subject that was
given special attention was the
crisis in Syria. One point that was
reiterated in the meetings, said
the statement, was that "dialogue
and negotiation between all
components of Syrian society,
with the support of the
international community, is the
only option to put an end to the
conflict and to the violence that
every day causes the loss of so
many human lives, especially
amongst the helpless civilian
population."
King Abdullah was commended for
his commitment to interreligious
dialogue, the statement
continued.
In September, a conference will
be hosted in Amman which will
focus on the challenges Christians
are going to have to face,
especially at a time of socio-
political upheaval.
The Vatican statement also said
recognition was given to the
"positive contribution" Christian
communities offer to the local
society, "of which they play an
integral part".
Pope Francis Cele(rates
Mass ,ith
%eneral Chapter
o the
Augustinian
;rder
4elects on the !t) Augustine+s
4estless Jeal or the
:o$e o %od
By Junno Arocho Esteves
ROME, August 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis
celebrated Mass at the Basilica of
Saint Augustine with members of
the Augustinian Order on the
occasion of their 184thGeneral
Chapter. The Church is the site of
the remains of St. Monica, mother
of St. Augustine.
Beginning his homily, the Holy
Father reflected on the
restlessness of the human spirit,
as described by St. Augustine in
the first book of his "Confessions":
"You have made us for yourself, O
Lord, and our heart is restless
until it rests in you."
The Holy Father focused on three
aspects of Augustine's
restlessness: "the restlessness of
the spiritual quest, the
restlessness of the encounter with
God, the restlessness of love."
Regarding the restlessness of the
spiritual quest, Pope Francis
recalled the early life of the Bishop
of Hippo who although raised in
the Christian faith, distanced
himself in order to pursue the
burning questions of his life.
"Augustine is an 'accomplished'
man, he has everything, but in his
heart remains the restlessness of
the search of the profound
meaning of his life; his heart is
not asleep. I would say that it is
not anesthetized by success, from
things, from power," the Pope
said.
"Augustine does not close in on
himself, he does not rest, he
continues to search for the truth,
236
the meaning of life, he continues
to search for the face of God. Of
course he makes mistakes, he
also takes wrong paths, he sins,
he is a sinner; but he does not
lose the restlessness of the
spiritual quest. And in this way he
discovers that God was waiting for
him, on the contrary, that He
never gave up looking for him
first"
The Holy Father called on not only
those who have strayed from the
faith, but those within the Church
who distance themselves from
God in small ways in their
everyday life, to look within
themselves and ask if their heart
still desires something greater.
The Restlessness of the Heart and
Love
Speaking on the second aspect,
the restlessness of the encounter
with God, Pope Francis told those
gathered that upon his
conversion, Augustine is
compelled to discover God every
day in his role as Pastor of Hippo.
St. Augustine, he said, seeks to be
the image of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, who carries with him
"the scent of his flock".
The restlessness of the encounter
with God, he continued, beckons
all Christians to announce the
Word of God and make Christ
known to all.
"We can ask ourselves: am I
restless for God, to announce him,
to make him known? Or do I let
myself be enchanted by that
spiritual worldliness that urges to
do all for love of one self?" the
Pope asked.
Reflecting on the final aspect,
Pope Francis used the image of St.
Monica as an example of one's
restless love for another. The Holy
Father encouraged those mothers
who today weep for their
children's conversion, exclaiming:
"Do not lose hope in God's grace!"
The tears of St. Monica, the Pope
continued, sowed the "seed of
restlessness" in St. Augustine that
moved him to seek the well-being
of his flock. "Here, then, the
restlessness of love: always
seeking, without stopping, the
good of the other, of a loved one,
with that intensity that leads to
tears," the Holy Father said. The
Pope also warned those in
consecrated life of being closed in
on themselves, saying that such
an attitude leads to the
temptation of living the
community life as "comunita-
comodita" [community-comfort].
Concluding his homily, the Holy
Father called on the Augustinians
to carry within them the
restlessness of love that "gives us
the gift of pastoral fruitfulness."
"Let us ask the Lord for you, dear
Augustinians, who begin the
General Chapter, and for all of us,
that he may preserve in our heart
the spiritual restlessness to search
Him always, the restlessness to
announce with courage, the
restlessness of love towards every
brother and sister," the Pope
concluded.
Pope Francis9 +%o
Against the
Current o this
Ci$ili7ation+
Ponti Meets ,ith #00 <outh
rom the &iocese o
Piacen7a>Bo((io
By Junno Arocho Esteves
237
VATICAN CITY, August 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Yesterday afternoon,
Pope Francis met with over 500
youth from the Italian diocese of
Piacenza-Bobbio who were on a
Year of Faith pilgrimage in Rome
reflecting on the theme of "Upon
this Rock."
Delivering an unprepared address,
the Holy Father admitted to the
youth that he met with them out
of "selfishness". "Do you know
why? Because I like being with
you!" the Pope exclaimed.
The Holy Father said that he liked
being with the because of the
promise of hope that they bear in
their hearts, calling them the
"craftsmen of the future. "It is a
beautiful thing to go towards the
future, with illusions, with so
many beautiful things," he said.
"It is also your responsibility to
become craftsmen of the future."
Each young person, he continued,
carries within themselves to do
great things, despite the
difficulties and challenges facing
the world in today's day and age.
"When a young person tells me:
'What horrible times these are,
Father, we can do nothing!'
Please! I'll send him to a
psychiatrist!" the Holy Father
exclaimed.
"Because, it's true, it can't be
understood! It can't be
understood that a young person, a
young man, a young woman, who
does not to do a great thing, to
bet on great ideals, great for the
future. Then they will do what
they can, but, the bet is for great
and beautiful things. And you all
are craftsmen of the future. "
Beauty, Goodness & Truth
Young men and women carry
within themselves three desires,
the Holy Father explained to the
Italian youth: beauty, goodness
and truth. Beauty reflected in
music, theatre, or art is a
manifestation of their search for
beauty.
Youth, he said, "are the prophets
of goodness." "You all like
goodness, to be good. And this
goodness is contagious, it helps
others," the Pope said.
The third desire, the Pope
continued, is the search for the
truth. Pope Francis said that while
many may think they have it,
truth is not something that can be
possessed or owned, but rather,
experienced.
"These three desires that you
have in your heart, you should
bring them forward, to the future,
and make a future with beauty,
with goodness and with truth," the
Pope said.
Going Against the Current
Closing his remarks, Pope Francis
called on the young men and
women of Piacenza to accept the
challenge of manifesting these
three desires while encouraging
them go out and "make noise."
Encouraging them to go against
the current of today's civilization,
the Pope warned the youth
present that they will face
temptations, such as drugs and
alcohol, to impede them from
going forward in life.
"No! Go against the current of this
civilization that is doing so much
harm. Do you understand this? To
go against the current; and this
means to make noise, to go
forward, but with the values of
beauty, of goodness and of truth,"
the Pope urged.
238
Pope Francis concluded his
address, inviting the youth to seek
the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of
beauty, goodness, and truth."
"Let us ask her, who is in Heaven,
who is our Mother, that she give
us the grace of courage to go
forward and against the current,"
the Holy Father said.
Pope Francis+ 6omil" at
the Mass o the
1E4th %eneral
Chapter o the
Augustinians
ROME, August 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Yesterday afternoon,
at 6 pm, at the Roman Basilica of
Saint Augustine in Campo Marzio,
the Holy Father Francis celebrated
the Holy Mass for the opening of
the 184th General Ordinary
Chapter for the Order of Saint
Augustine (Augustinians).
Here is a ZENIT translation of the
homily proclaimed by the Pope.
>>> >>> >>>
"You have made us for yourself, O
Lord, and our heart is restless
until it rests in you." (Confessions,
I,1,1). With these words, which
became famous, Saint Augustine
turns to God in the Confessions,
and in these words is the
synthesis of his whole life.
"Restlessness". This word strikes
me and makes me reflect. Let me
begin with a question: What
fundamental restlessness did
Augustine live in his life? Or
perhaps I should say, what kind of
restlessness invites us to be
mindful of and keep alive in our
lives this great man and saint? I
propose three: "the restlessness
of the spiritual quest, the
restlessness of the encounter with
God, the restlessness of love.
1. The first: the restlessness of
the spiritual quest. Augustine lives
an experience that is very
common today: quite common
with today's youth. He was
educated by his mother Monica in
the Christian faith, even if he did
not receive Baptism, but growing
up he begins to distance himself,
he doesn't find in that the answer
to his questions, to the desires of
his heart, and he is attracted by
other proposals. He then enters a
group of Manicheans, he devotes
himself diligently to his studies, he
does not renounce light-hearted
fun, in the spectacles of that time,
intense friendships, he knows
intense love and embarks on a
brilliant career as a master of
rhetoric that takes him all the way
to the imperial court of Milan.
Augustine is an "accomplished"
man, he has everything, but in his
heart remains the restlessness of
the search of the profound
meaning of his life; his heart is
not asleep. I would say that it is
not anesthetized by
success, by things, by power.
Augustine does not close in on
himself, he does not rest, he
continues to search for the truth,
the meaning of life, he continues
to search for the face of God. Of
course he makes mistakes, he
also takes wrong paths, he sins,
he is a sinner; but he does not
lose the restlessness of the
spiritual quest. And in this way he
discovers that God was waiting for
him, on the contrary, that He
never gave up looking for him
first. I would like to say to those
who feel indifferent towards God,
towards the faith, to those who
are far from God or have
abandoned Him, even to us, with
our "distances" and our
"abandonment" of God, small,
239
maybe, but there are so many in
our everyday life: look deep within
your heart, look deep within
yourself, and ask yourself: do you
have a heart that desires
something greater or a heart that
is asleep with things? Has your
heart preserved the restlessness
of searching or do you let it
suffocate from things that end up
leaving it atrophied? God is
waiting for you, he is looking for
you: what will you respond? Do
you realize this situation of your
soul? Or do you sleep? Do you
believe that God is waiting for you
or is this truth only just "words" to
you?
2. In Augustine, there is this
restlessness of the heart that
leads him to the personal
encounter with Christ, it leads him
to understand that God that he
searched for far from himself,
is the God close to every human
being, the God close to our heart,
more intimate to us than
ourselves (cfr ibid.,III,6,11). But
also in the discovery and
encounter with God, Augustine
does not stop, he does not rest,
he doesnt close in on himself as
one who has already arrived, but
instead continues the way. The
restlessness of the search for the
truth, of the search of God,
becomes the restlessness to know
him more and to come out of
himself to make him known by
others. It is the restlessness of
love. He would like a quiet life of
study and prayer, but God calls
him to be Pastor of Hippo, in a
difficult moment, with a
community divided and war at
their gates. And Augustine lets
himself be disquieted by God, he
does not tire of announcing Him,
of evangelizing with courage,
without fear, he looks to be the
image of Jesus, the Good
Shepherd who knows his sheep
(cfr Jn. 10,14), indeed, as I love
to repeat, he "smells of his flock",
and goes in search of those that
are lost. Augustine lives that
which Saint Paul tells Timothy and
every one of us: announce the
Word, in season and out of
season, announce the Gospel with
the great magnanimous heart, (cfr
2 Tm, 4,2) of a Pastor who is
restless for his sheep. The
treasure of Augustine is precisely
this attitude: to go out always
towards God, to go out always
towards the flock.He is a man in
tension, between these two exits;
not "privatizing" love.always on
the way! Always on the move,
Father would say. Always
restless! And this is the peace of
restlessness. We can ask
ourselves: am I restless for God,
to announce him, to make him
known? Or do I let myself be
enchanted by that spiritual
worldliness that urges to do all for
love of one self? We who are
consecrated think of personal
interests, the functionalism of
works, of careerism. There are so
many things we can think of.Am I
"accommodated", so to speak, in
my Christian life, In my priestly
life, in my religious life, also in
my community life or do I
preserve my strength of the
restlessness for God, for His
Word, that leads me to "go out",
towards the others?
3. We come to the final
restlessness, the restlessness of
love. Here I can't fail to look at
the mother: this Monica! How
many tears were shed by that
holy woman for the conversion of
her son! And how many mothers
today shed tears so that their own
children return to Christ! Do not
lose hope in God's grace! In the
Confessions, we read this
sentence that a bishop said to St.
Monica, who had asked him to
help her son to rediscover the way
of faith: "It is not possible that a
240
son of so many tears would
perish" (III,12,21). The same
Augustine, after his conversion,
turning to God, writes: "For my
love my mother wept before you,
always faithful, shedding more
tears than have ever been spilled
by mothers at the death of their
children (ibid., III,11,19). Restless
woman, this woman, who, in the
end, says those beautiful words:
cumulatius hoc mihi Deus
praestitit! [my God has satisfied
me sufficiently] (ibid., IX,10,26).
That for which she cried for, God
gave it to him abundantly! And
Augustine is heir to Monica, from
her he receives the seed of
restlessness. Here, then, the
restlessness of love: always
seeking, without stopping, the
good of the other, of a loved one,
with that intensity that leads to
tears. I am reminded of Jesus who
weeps before the tomb of his
friend, Lazarus. Peter, who, after
denying Jesus, meets the rich
gaze of mercy and of love and
weeps bitterly. The father who
awaits on the terrace for his son
and when he is still far, runs to
meet him; I am reminded of the
Virgin Mary who with love follows
Her Son Jesus to the Cross. How
are we with the restlessness of
love? Do we believe in the love of
God and towards others? Or are
we nominalists on this? Not in an
abstract way, not only in words,
but the real brother that we meet,
the brother who is next to us! Do
we let ourselves be restless for
their needs or do we remain
closed in ourselves, in
our community that many times
for us is a "comunita-comodita"
[community-comfort]? There are
times where you can live in an
apartment without knowing who
lives next door; or one can be in a
community, without truly knowing
his own brother: with pain I think
of those who are consecrated that
are not fertile, that are "zitelloni"
[elderly bachelors]. The
restlessness of love urges us
always to go meet the other,
without waiting for the other to
show his need. The restlessness of
love gives us the gift of pastoral
fruitfulness, and we should ask
ourselves, every one of us: how is
my spiritual fruitfulness going, my
pastoral fruitfulness?
Let us ask the Lord for you, dear
Augustinians, who begin the
General Chapter, and for all of us,
that he may preserve in our heart
the spiritual restlessness to
search for Him always, the
restlessness to announce with
courage, the restlessness of love
towards every brother and sister.
So be it.
Pope+s Address to <outh
From the &iocese
o Piacen7a
VATICAN CITY, August 29, 2013
(Zenit.org) - At 4pm yesterday
afternoon, at the Altar of the
Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica,
the Pope received in audience 500
youth from the Diocese of
Piacenza-Bobbio, accompanied by
Bishop Gianni Ambrosio, who
participated in the pilgrimage
"Upon this Rock" on the occasion
of the Year of Faith. During the
course of the meeting, Pope
Francis addressed the youth in an
off the cuff discourse.
Here is a ZENIT translation of his
remarks.
--- --- ---
Thank you for this visit!
The bishop said that I made a
great gesture in coming here. But
I did it out of selfishness. Do you
know why? Because I like being
with you! So this is a selfishness.
241
Why do I like being with the
youth? Because you all have
inside your heart a promise of
hope. You are bearers of hope.
You all, it's true, live in the
present, but looking towards the
future.you are authors of the
future, craftsmen of the future.
Then - and this is your joy - it is
a beautiful thing to go towards the
future, with dreams, with so many
beautiful things - and it is also
your responsibility. To become
craftsmen of the future.
When someone tells me: "But,
Father, these are horrible times.
Look, we can do nothing!" What
do you mean nothing can be
done? And I explain that many
things can be done! But when a
young person tells me: "What
horrible times these are, Father,
we can do nothing!" Please! I'll
send him to a
psychiatrist! Because, truly, one
can't understand, one can't
understood a young man or a
young woman who doesn't want
to set his or her sights on a grand
ideal, grand [plans] for the future.
Afterward, they end up doing
whatever they can, but their
longing is for great and beautiful
things. And you all are craftsmen
of the future. Why? Because inside
of you all you have three desires:
the desire of beauty.
You like beauty, and when you
make music, do theatre, make
paintings - things of beauty - you
are searching for that beauty, you
are researchers of beauty. First.
Second: you are prophets of
goodness. You all like goodness,
to be good. And this goodness is
contagious, it helps all others. And
also - third-, you are thirsty for
truth: to search for the truth.
"But, Father, I have the truth!"
But you are mistaken, because
you can't have truth, we don't
carry it, it is found. It is an
encounter with the truth, that is
God, but it must be looked for.
And these three desires that you
have in your heart, you should
bring them forward, to the future,
and make a future with beauty,
with goodness and with truth.
Do you understand? This is the
challenge: your challenge. But if
you are lazy, if you are sad - and
this is something ugly, a sad
young person - if you are
sad...that beauty will not be
beauty, that goodness will not be
goodness and that truth will be
something or other. Think about
this: setting your sightson a great
ideal, the ideal of making a world
of goodness, beauty and truth.
This, you can do, you have the
power to do it. If you do not do it,
it's because of laziness. This is
what I wanted to tell you, this is
what I wanted to tell you.
I wanted to tell you this, to tell
you: courage, go forward, make
noise. Where there is youth, there
should be noise. Then, we'll adjust
things, but the dreams of a young
person always make noise. Go
forward! In life there will always
be people with proposals to curb,
to block your way. Please, go
against the current. Be
courageous, courageous: go
against the current. And that
there will be someone who says:
"No, but this. I drink a bit of
alcohol, take some drugs and I'm
getting ahead." No! Go against the
current of this civilization that is
doing so much harm. Do you
understand this? To go against the
current; and this means to make
noise, to go forward, but with the
values of beauty, of goodness and
of truth. This is what I wanted to
tell you. I want to wish you all
well, a good work, joy in the
heart: joyful youth!
242
And for this I would like to give
you the Blessing. But first, all
together, we will pray to Our Lady
who is the Mother of beauty, the
Mother of goodness and the
Mother of truth, that she gives us
this grace of courage because Our
Lady was courageous, she had
courage, this woman! She was
good, good, good! Let us ask her,
who is in Heaven, who is our
Mother, that she give us the grace
of courage to go forward and
against the current. All together,
as you are, we pray a Hail Mary to
Our Lady.
[Hail Mary]
[Blessing]
And I ask you all to pray for me,
because this work is an
"unhealthy" job, it doesn't do
well.[laughter] Pray for me!
Pope Bac3s Foundation
Promoting :egac" o
Cardinal Martini
Marks 1st Anniversary of Milan
Prelate's Death
VATICAN CITY, August 30, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Francis today
encouraged the work of the
Fondazione Carlo Maria Martini on the
occasion of the first anniversary of
the death of the cardinal, who was
archbishop of Milan from 1979 until
he retired in 2002.
Cardinal Martini died Aug. 31, 2012,
at the age of 85.
Members of the foundation,
accompanied by the provincial for
Italy of the Jesuits, met with the Holy
Father today. Cardinal Martini was a
Jesuit, as is Pope Francis.
Vatican Radio reported that during
the brief meeting, the Pontiff
recounted his memories of Cardinal
Martini, in particular his address on
faith and justice during the 1974
General Congregation of the Jesuits.
Francis called Cardinal Martini a
prophet of peace, and encouraged the
Foundation in its work, recalling the
duty of children to their fathers. He
said Cardinal Martini was a father in
the Church, not only for his diocese,
but for countless people.
"We, at the ends of the world, said
Pope Francis, "received from him a
great contribution to biblical
knowledge, but also because of his
spirituality and life of faith, were
nourished by the Word of God.
Francis Mourns &eath o
Jam(ia+s 1st Cardinal
Former Archbishop of Lusaka Died
Thursday at 81
VATICAN CITY, August 30, 2013
(Zenit.org) - Pope Francis today sent
a telegram to the archbishop of
Lusaka, Zambia, expressing his
condolences at the death of Cardinal
Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, the
nation's first cardinal.
Cardinal Mazombwe died Thursday at
age 81, after a long battle with
cancer.
In the telegram to Archbishop
Telesphore George Mpundu, the Holy
Father praised Cardinal Mazombwes
"unfailing commitment to the spread
of the Gospel in Africa and his tireless
efforts on behalf of the poor.
"I offer to you, the clergy, religious
and lay faithful of the Archdiocese my
heartfelt condolences and the
assurance of my prayers," the Pope
said. "With gratitude to Almighty God,
I recall his unfailing commitment to
the spread of the Gospel in Africa and
his tireless efforts on behalf of the
poor."
The Bishop of Rome assured his
prayers "that God the Father of
mercies may grant him the reward of
his labors and welcome his noble soul
into the peace and joy of heaven."
243