SUMMARY:
-
The Pope addresses press on the return flight from Strasbourg: “I
never give up a cause for lost”
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General Audience: the Church on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven
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Francis asks for prayers for his trip to Turkey
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Pope Francis' message to the International Pastoral Congress on the
World's Big Cities
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First International Prayer Day and reflection on human trafficking
-
In brief
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Other Pontifical Acts
______________________________________
The
Pope addresses press on the return flight from Strasbourg: “I never
give up a cause for lost”
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – During his return journey from
Strasbourg, where he addressed both the European Parliament and the
Council of Europe, Pope Francis answered questions posed by the
journalists who accompanied him on the flight. The questions and the
Holy Father's answers are published below.
Q:
“Your Holiness addressed the European Parliament with pastoral
works that may also be regarded as political words, and which may be
linked, in my opinion, to a social-democratic stance - for example,
when you say that we must ensure that the true expressive force of
populations is not removed by multinational powers. Could we say that
you are a social-democrat Pope?”
Pope
Francis: “This would be reductive. It makes me feel as if I am part
of a collection of insects: 'This is a social-democratic insect ...'.
No, I would say not. I don't know if I am a social-democrat Pope or
not. I would not dare to define myself as belonging to one side or
another. I dare say that this comes from the Gospel: this is the
message of the Gospel, taken up by the social doctrine of the Church.
In reality, in this and in other things – social and political –
that I have said, I have not detached myself from the social Doctrine
of the Church. The social Doctrine of the Church comes from the
Gospel and from Christian tradition. What I said – the identity of
the people – is a Gospel value, is it not? In this sense, I say it.
But you have made me laugh, thank you!”
Q:
“There is almost no-one on the streets of Strasbourg this morning.
The people say they are disappointed. Do you regret not visiting the
Cathedral of Strasbourg, that celebrates is millennium this year? And
when will you make your first trip to France, and where? Lisieux,
perhaps?”
Pope
Francis: “No, it is not yet planned, but one should certainly go to
Paris. Then, there is a proposal to go to Lourdes. I have asked to
visit a city where no Pope has yet been, to greet the citizens. But
the plan has not yet been made. No, for Strasbourg, a visit to the
cathedral was considered but it would have mean already making a
visit to France, and this was the problem”.
Q:
During your address to the Council of Europe I was struck by the
concept of transversality, especially with reference to your meetings
with young politicians in various countries, and indeed you spoke of
the need for a sort of pact between generations, an intergenerational
agreement at the margins of this transversality. Also, if I may ask,
is it true that you are devoted to St. Joseph, and have a statue of
him in your room?”
Pope
Francis: “Yes, it is true. Whenever I have asked something of St.
Joseph, he has granted it to me. The fact of 'transversality' is
important. I have seen in dialogue with young politicians in the
Vatican, from different parties and nations, that they speak with a
differetn music, that tends towards transversality, and this is
valuable. They are not afraid of coming out of their own territory,
without denying it, but coming out in order to engage in dialogue.
They are courageous! I believe that we must imitate this, along with
intergenerational dialogue. This tendency to come out to find people
of other origins and to engage in dialogue: Europe needs this today”.
Q:
“In your second discourse, to the Council of Europe, you spoke
about the sins of the sons of the Church. I would like to know if you
have received the news on the events in Granada [alleged sexual abuse
of minors by priests in the archdiocese, Ed.], that in a certain
sense you brought to light...”
Pope
Francis: “I received the news – it was sent to me, I read it, I
called the person and I said, 'Tomorrow you must go to the bishop',
and I wrote to the bishop asking him to begin work, to start the
investigation and go ahead. How did I receive the news? With great
pain, with very great sadness. But the truth is the truth, and we
cannot hide it”.
Q:
“In your addresses in Strasbourg, you spoke frequently of both the
threat of terrorism and the threat of slavery: these are attitudes
that are also typical of the Islamic State, which threatens much of
the Mediterranean, which threatens Rome and also threatens you
personally. Do you think it is possible to engage in dialogue with
these extremists, or do you think this is a lost cause?”
Pope
Francis: “I never give something up as a lost cause: never. Perhaps
dialogue is not possible, but never close the door. It is difficult,
one might say almost impossible, but the door is always open. You
have used the word 'threaten' twice: it is true, terrorism is a
threat. … But slavery is a real situation embedded in the today's
social fabric, and has been for some time. Slave labour, human
trafficking, the trade in children … it is a crisis! We must not
close our eyes to this. Slavery, today, is a reality, the
exploitation of people … And then there is the threat of these
terrorists. But there is another threat, and it is State terrorism.
When the situation becomes critical, and each State believes it has
the right to massacre the terrorists, many who are innocent fall prey
alongside the terrorists. This is a form of high-level anarchy that
is very dangerous. It is necessary to fight terrorism, but I repeat
what I said during my previous trip: when it is necessary to stop an
unjust aggressor, it must be done with international consensus”.
Q:
“In your heart, when you travel to Strasbourg, do you travel as
Peter's Successor, as the bishop of Rome, or as the archbishop of
Buenos Aires?”
Pope
Francis: “As all three, I think. My memory is that of the
archbishop of Buenos Aires, but I am no longer in that role. Now I am
the bishop of Rome and Peter's Successor, and I think that I travel
with this memory but with these realities; I travel with all these
things. Europe worries me at the moment; it is good for me to go
ahead in order to help, as the bishop of Rome and Peter's Successor;
in this respect I am Roman”.
General
Audience: the Church on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father dedicated the
catechesis of this morning's general audience to “a fundamental
truth that Vatican Council II kept clearly in mind, and which must
never be forgotten: the Church is not a static reality, still, an end
in itself, but is instead continually in progress through history,
towards the final, marvellous destination that is the Kingdom of
Heaven, of which the earthly Church is the seed and the beginning”.
He continued, “When we face this horizon, we realise that our
imagination stops and discovers that it is only just able to intuit
the splendour of the mystery that overcomes our senses. And certain
questions arise spontaneously in us: when will this final passage
take place? What will the new dimension in which the Church enters be
like? What will become of humanity? And of the Creation that
surrounds us? But these questions are not new; they had already been
posed by Jesus' disciples in those times”.
Francis
explained that, faced with these questions, the Council Constitution
“Gaudium et spes” affirms that “we are unaware of when the
earth and humanity will come to an end, and we do not know how the
universe will be transformed. Certainly, the appearance of this
world, deformed by sin, will pass away. However, we know from
Revelation that God prepares a new home and a new land, in which
justice will abide, and whose joy will superabundantly satiate all
the desires for peace that arise from the heart of man. … We will
finally be clothed in joy, peace and God's love, completely and
without any limit, face to face with Him”.
In
this way, the Pontiff emphasised that it is good to perceive that
there is a basic continuity and communion between the Church in
Heaven and the Church in her earthly path, without forgetting that we
are always invited to offer good works, prayers and the Eucharist to
alleviate the suffering of souls that still await endless beatitude.
“From a Christian perspective the distinction is no longer between
those who are already dead and those who are not, but between those
who are with Christ and those who are not. This is the decisive
element for our salvation and for our happiness”.
“At
the same time, the Sacred Scripture teaches us that the fulfilment of
this marvellous plan cannot but affect all that which surrounds us
and which emerged from the thought and the heart of God. … What we
expect, as the completion of a transformation that is in reality
already in process ever since Christ's death and resurrection, is
therefore a new creation; it is not, therefore, the annihilation of
the cosmos and all that which surrounds us, but rather bringing
everything to its fullness of being, of truth, of beauty. This is the
plan that God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, has always
wished to fulfil, and is fulfilling”. He concluded, “when we
think of these stupendous reality that awaits us, we realise the
extent to which belonging to the Church is truly a wonderful gift,
that leads towards the highest vocation”.
Francis
asks for prayers for his trip to Turkey
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – Following today's catechesis, the
Pope offered special greetings to the Arab-speaking faithful, in
particular those from Iraq and the Middle East. “The violence,
suffering and the seriousness of the sins committed must lead us to
leave all to the justice of God, who will judge each one according to
his works. Be strong and cling to the Church and to your faith, so as
to purify the world with your confidence; transform with your hope
and heal with your forgiveness, with the love and patience of your
witness. May the Lord protect and support you”.
Finally,
during his greetings in Italian, and recalled that tomorrow his
three-day apostolic trip to Turkey will begin, he invited those
present to pray that “Peter's visit to his brother Andrew may bring
fruits of peace, sincere dialogue between religions and harmony in
the Turkish nation”.
Pope
Francis' message to the International Pastoral Congress on the
World's Big Cities
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father
sent a message to Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of
Barcelona, Spain, on the occasion of the International Pastoral
Congress on the World's Big Cities, held in the Catalan capital.
“I
am glad to learn of the work accomplished and encourage all to
continue to reflect creatively on the way to face the task of
evangelising in great urban centres, in increasing expansion, and in
which everyone needs to feel the closeness and mercy of God, who does
not abandon”, writes the Pope.
“The
Church has the mission of ensuring that the Good News of Jesus Christ
and His salvific love reaches all environments, without fear of
pluralism and without any form of discrimination. She does not
consider it a loss to go out to the peripheries or to change the
usual preconceptions, when necessary. Like a mother, whose primary
concern is the wellbeing of her children, without sparing any effort
or sacrifice, may she ensure they never lack the light of the Gospel
that fills life with hope, joy and peace; that they never lack
acceptance to feel integrated within a community, in circumstances of
disintegration or in cold anonymity; that there grows in them the
spirit of authentic solidarity with all, especially with those most
in need”.
First
International Prayer Day and reflection on human trafficking
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – The Pontifical Councils for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and for Justice and
Peace, in collaboration with the international male and female Unions
of Superior Generals (UISG and USG) have convoked an international
conference for prayer and reflection on human trafficking, to be held
on 8 February 2015, feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese
slave canonised in 2000.
According
to a press release, “human trafficking is one of the worst examples
of slavery in the XXI Century. This concerns the whole world.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) roughly 21 million
people, often very poor and vulnerable, are victims of trafficking
for sexual exploitation, forced labour and begging, illegal organ
removal, domestic servitude and forced marriages, illegal adoption
and other forms of exploitation. Each year around 2.5 million people
are victims of trafficking and slavery: 60 are women and children.
They often suffer abuse and unspeakable violence. On the other hand,
for traffickers and pimps, this is one of the most lucrative illegal
activities in the world, generating a total of 32 billion dollars a
year. It is the third most profitable 'business' after drugs and arms
trafficking”.
“The
primary objective of the International Day is to create greater
awareness on this phenomenon and to reflect on the overall situation
of violence and injustice that affect so many people, who have no
voice, do not count, and are no one: they are simply slaves. Another
goal is to attempt to provide solutions to counter this modern form
of slavery by taking concrete actions. For this, it is necessary to
stress the need to ensure rights, freedom and dignity to all
trafficked persons, reduced to slavery. On the other hand, we must
denounce both the criminal organisations and those who use and abuse
the poverty and vulnerability of victims to transform them into goods
for pleasure and gain”.
In
brief
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) –
CARDINAL
JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR
Interreligious Dialogue is participating in the 9th Colloquium
between the aforementioned Pontifical Council and the Centre for
Interreligious Dialogue (CID) of the Islamic Culture and Relations
Organisation (ICRO), held in Teheran, Iran from 25 to 26 November on
the theme “Christians and Muslims in constructive dialogue for the
good of society”. In his address, the cardinal remarked that the
term “construction” normally refers to the building of a house on
strong foundations, and emphasised that “we need to be sure that we
are doing good work, on solid foundations, to be sure of the hoped
results for our present and our future”. Other themes to be
considered during the meeting are spirituality, religious values as a
response to extremism and violence, and the role of the media in
promoting a culture of dialogue. Cardinal Tauran remarked that, when
agreeing the sub-themes during the preparatory meeting, no-one
imagined that extremism and violence would become as dramatic as they
are today. “We cannot remain silent or indifferent to the extreme,
inhuman and multi-form violence to which Christians and Yezedis have
been subjected. Many of them, as we know, have preferred death to
renouncing their faith. They are true martyrs. … Nothing can
justify these heinous acts. Invoking religion to justify these crimes
would be a crime against religion itself as well”.
ARCHBISHOP
DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI, SECRETARY FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES yesterday
addressed the plenary assembly of the Australian Catholic Bishops'
Conference in Sydney, in a discourse devoted to the diplomatic
activity of the Holy See, with special reference to the situation of
Christians in the Middle East. “The Holy See's diplomacy has
various particular aims, which flow from its primarily spiritual
mission. These include the defence of the Church's rights and
freedom, and of religious liberty in general, the promotion of an
ethical vision in the various questions which affect human life,
society and development, the defence of human dignity and rights, the
promotion of reconciliation and peace, the promotion of integral
human development and humanitarian interests, the protection of the
environment and, when requested, the mediation of disputes”.
The
Holy See, he added, “is very concerned about the tragic situation
currently unfolding in the Middle East. It does not propose technical
solutions but it is tirelessly involved in raising international
awareness and in appealing to the international community to
intervene as a matter of urgency to stop the aggressor, provide
humanitarian aid and address the root causes of the present crisis”.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Fr.
Celestin Hakizimana as bishop of Gikongoro (area 2,057, population
582,159, Catholics 248,471, priests 51, religious 70), Rwanda. The
bishop-elect was born in Kigali, Rwanda in 1963 and was ordained a
priest in 1991. He holds a doctorate in theology from the San Tommaso
Faculty of Theology in Naples, Italy, and has served in a number of
pastoral roles, including parish vicar in Rutongo, diocesan
representative for Catholic education, director of the St. Paul
National Pastoral Centre in Kigali, and director of GEMECA-Rwanda. He
is currently secretary general of the Conference of Catholic Bishops
of Rwanda.
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